John Matheson (abt. 1492 - 1539)

Born about 1492 in Lochalsh, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Unknown (Mackenzie) Matheson — married 1531 in Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Died 1539 at about age 47 in Eilean Donan, Lochalsh, Scotland

Biography

Iain Dubh Matheson is a member of Clan Matheson.

Captain of Eilean Donan Castle.

Better known as Iain 'Dubh' Matheson. Dubh (pronounced Duff) means black. According to local genealogist Matheson^[1] there were probably two men named Iain Dubh and they have been conflated in histories. An extract from his analysis:

"As to the identity of Johne Duff Makalester, it is important to establish an approximate chronological framework. If his father was Alasdair mac Mhurchaidh, one of the chiefs who appeared before James I at Inverness in 1428, he must have been very elderly in 1492, and this accords with the fact that by then he had four sons old enough to be associated with him in a foray to the Black Isle. As shown in the previous paper on clan traditions, the chief of 1428 was slain in battle ten years later with four of his sons. At least one other son might have survived because he was too young to take the field. Thus, on the assumption that Johne Duff Makalester was a son of Alasdair mac Mhurchaidh, his date of birth could be as late as c. 1430, and those of his sons as late as c. 1460-75. Even so, however, he could not be the same as the Iain Dubh who fell defending Eilean Donnan[sic] Castle against the MacDonalds in 1539. But his son John could. Bearing the same name, the two might easily be confused in oral tradition."

He married the "Widow Mackenzie". No record of her name has been found. According to Matheson's analysis above Iain Dubh is the brother of Dubhghall mac Iain (confusing because father and son were both John/Iain) and Murchadh Buidhe is in fact descended from their cousin Alasdair who died in 1506.

So the tradition based on the chief title being passed father to son:

Alasdair mac Mhurchaidh (d1438)>Iain Dubh (d1539)>Dubhgall Ruadh mac Iain>Murchadh Buidh

is replaced by:

Alasdair mac Mhurchaidh (d1438)

>son 1 Iain Dubh>Iain Dubh (d1539)>Dubhgall Ruadh mac Iain

>son 2 Ruaidhri>Alasdair mac Ruaidhri (d 1506)>Murchadh Buidhe

Hence this person would be Iain Dubh "the younger" or mac Iain.

In 1539, Donald Gorm Macdonald of Sleat attacked the Mackenzie lands of Kinlochewe. Donald Gorm learned that Eilean Donan was weakly garrisoned and launched a surprise attack. Two people were in the castle: the constable Iain Dubh Matheson and the warden. He died while defending the castle of Eilean Dolan^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Genealogies of the Mathesons, by William Matheson, is an article published in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness 47 (1971-72): 172-217
2. ↑ .[1]

See also:

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p46225.htm#i462247