Alexander Grant (1718 - 1798)

Born 6 Feb 1718 in Corrimony, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Husband of Jean (Ogilvie) Grant — married 1740 in Inverness-shire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 1798 at about age 79 in Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland

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Biography

Father was John Grant, fifth of Corrimony (1672-1726)
Mother was Mary Keith (Died 1726)

Alexander Grant, 6th of Corrimony

X. ALEXANDER GRANT, sixth of Corrimony, was born in 1717, as is shewn from an entry made by him in the Family Bible: - "This book belongs to me, John Grant of Corrimony, and Alexander Grant, his son, and Katherine Grant and Helen Grant. Written by me, Alexander Grant, in the eleventh year of my age, 1728." On the 17th April, 1727, he was retoured heir to his father, and in 1740, shortly after his marriage he built the now old mansion-house of Corrimony, over the door of which is carved the family arms, with the initials of A. G. and J.O. 174-. The year 1745 proved an eventful one in his career. On the landing of Prince Charles in Moidart, he was sent on 15th August, 1745, by Alexander Brodie of Brodie, Lyon Kings of Arms, to Ludovick Grant of Grant, to inform him of the fact. When at Castle Grant Ludovick appears to have extracted a promise from him that he would not rise in arms without his consent. This he does not seem to have observed very strictly, for soon thereafter he is found attending a meeting of the gentlemen and tenantry of Urquhart, convened by Alexander Grant of Sheuglie, a zealous Jacobine, to consult as to what should be done. Sheuglie produced a letter which he had received from the Prince, by the hands of his cousin, James Grant, and the same was read by the Rev. John Grant, minister of Urquhart, to those assembled. Sheuglie thereafter called upon all present, with their tenants, to rise in arms for the Prince, and this they seemed included to do, but John Grant, the laird's factor, having surreptiously possessed himself of the Prince's letter, made his way to Castle Grant. From thence he returned, bearing letters from Ludovick to the tenants, exhorting them to remain at home, which had the desired result; but two of Sheuglie's sons, and a number of his tenants and relations, set out for the Highland army. Alexander, however, remained at home.

Early in September, he was at Milton with all his tenants, to the number of twenty, on his way to the Prince's army. He had hoped that others would follow his example, but in this he was disappointed, so Sheuglie advised him to return home and bide his time, till he saw how the Chief would act. This he did, declaring, however, that he would go whether the Laird did or not. Shortly after this, on 14th October, he visited Lord Lovat at Castle Downie, and when there Lovat proposed he should join the Master of Lovat and the Fraser Clan, which was just then about to march for the Highland army. To this Alexander replied, that although he was so rash as to act without his Chief, he would not join a person who, while he pretended to be on the side of the Government, was actively intriguing on the other. At this Lovat flew in a passion, and ordered him to be silent in his house and threatened to inform his brother-in-law, Sir James Grant, and cause him revenge it.

The next day Alexander wrote to Ludovick Grant, and informed him of his intention to rise in arms for the Prince, and adding, that the Mast of Lovat intended to come with 300 men and force the tenants of Urquhart to go with him. On the 22nd October a meeting of the gentlemen and men of Urquhart was held at Torshee, at which he was present, together with the Master of Lovat and Coll Macdonald of Barisdale. The threats uttered by the Master of Lovat, however, angered the people, and Corrimony vowed if any of the Frasers came into the Glen he would give them a beating.

Finding none of the Urquhart men would go but those they had themselves, he, accompanied by his wife and Alexander Mackay c'Achmony, set out for Castle Grant, apparently for the purpose of renewing friendship with the Chief, or, as the factor puts it, "Corremone beleivis his lady will make his piece with you." They were received by Ludovick, who conferred with them, and thereafter they returned home.

By the month of December the tenants, declining any longer to be dictated to by the factor, went off in large numbers to the Highland army. Corrimony set a number of his, who, on account of some ancient aliance, were incorporated with Glangarry's men. At this time he appears to have quarrelled with the factor, and on the 20th of that month, writing to Ludovick, the latter says: - "Corremone and I quarald last Friday, and upon the Saturday he sent for severalls of the men of his family, who came in full arms with him to atact me, and after they came to Milltown, where I wasy, then they thought proper to le me alone."

He joined the Prince of Inverness on 15th Aprils, 1746, arriving just as the midnight march to Nairn was starting, and though he had come from Glen Urquhart that day, he immediately joined the army and took part in it.

The following day he was present at the battle of Culloden, where he received two severe wounds. Carried off the Field by John Garbh Cameron, of Carnoch, one of his tenants, he made his way home to Corrimony, where he hid himself in a cave near of the Fall of Morrall, into which a wooden bed had been carried, the remains of which existed to a recent period. While in hiding, he was unsuccessfully sought for by Ludovick Grant, who, however, plundered his lands, and carried off his, and his tenants' cattle. A party of troops was despatched to destroy his house, but the officer, whose name was Ogilvie, spared it on account of his clanswoman, Alexander's wife. On one occasion he started to give himself up to his chief, but receiving warning, he turned and went back. No further steps were taken against him. In 1764, he was engaged in a dispute with James Grant, of Sheuglie, about the right of certain mosses, and in 1771, he obtained a charter of the lands of Mulderies, from Sir James Grant. On 30th May, 1777, he executed a disposition of his estates, in favour of his eldest son, James, under the burden of provisions to certain members of the family. he died at Nairn, in 1797, aged 81.

He married (first) in 1740, to Jean, only surviving child of Lieutenant John Ogilvie, of Kempcairn, in the parish of Keith, by his wife Anna Gordon, and had twelve children. He married (second), Catherine Fraser, and had a son; and on 2nd December, 1787, he contracted himself in marriage with Alicia, daughter of the deceased Mr. Hugh Macdonald, minister of Portree.

The children of Alexander Grant and Jean Ogilvie were

1. James, see No. XI.
2. Anna, born 7th February, 1745.
3. Catherine, born 24th March, 1746.
4. John, born 23rd December, 1747.
5. Peter, born 23rd July, 1749.
6. Sophia, born 6th October, 1750.
7. Elizabeth, (twin), born 6th October, 1750.
8. Alexander, born 8th January, 1752, died young.
9. Jane, born 29th March, 1753, died about 1830, unmarried, buried at Corrimony.
10. Henrietta, born 9th December, 1756, married (first), a brother of Fraser of Culbockie, and (second) Major Cumming, of the Altyre family.
11. William, born 9th March, 1758.
12. Alexander, born 4th August, 1760.

The son of Alexander Grant and Catherine Fraser was

1. Charles, born 24th August, 1784.

Records

Sources

• The Grants of Corrimony by (Sir) Francis J. Grant -- pages 21-25