George Mackay FRS (1678 - 1748)

Born 1678 in Reay, Sutherland, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Mackay — married Dec 1702 in Bommel, Netherlands

Husband of Mary (Dowell) Mackay — married 11 Aug 1713 in Reay, Sutherland, Scotland

Descendants

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Biography

George Mackay, born near the end of 1678,^[1] was the son to Donald Mackay, Master of Reay, and his wife, Anne Munro. He was an infant when his father died in 1680 followed quickly by his grandfather in 1681.

He appears to have been educated amongst relatives in Holland where he was heavily influenced by the non-Jacobite members of the Mackays. When the rising under Mar took place in 1715 he strongly supported the Government, and when he saw the rebellion of 1745 looming he banded himself with the Earl of Sutherland, his traditional family rival, to support the King on the throne.

In his zealous efforts to promote religion he got the district of Strathnaver erected into a new Presbytery called Tongue in 1725, and also did much to foster schools among the people. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (F.R.S.), and died at Tongue 21 March 1748.

First Marriage - Margaret Mackay

He married, firstly, Margaret Mackay, contract December 1702, at Bommel, Holland, daughter of Lieutenant General Hugh Mackay of Scourie. They had one son:

• Donald Mackay, who would become 4th Lord Reay.

Second Marriage - Janet Sinclair

He married, secondly, Janet, daughter of John Sinclair of Ulbster, and widow of Benjamin Dunbar, younger of Hempriggs. They had:

• Hugh Mackay of Bighouse, a Major in the Earl of Sutherland's Regiment in 1759 married, first (contract 15 July 1728), Margaret Mackay, coheiress of Bighouse, and by her, who died at Bighouse 26 March 1769, had a number of children; secondly, 14 Apr 1770, Isabella Mackenzie, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie of Lentran. He died at Bath. Somerset, 12 Nov 1770, without children from his second marriage.

• Ann, who died 24 November 1780. She married (contract 7 September 1725) to John Watson of Muirhouse, Edinburghshire, with issue.

Third Marriage - Mary Doull

He married, thirdly, 11 August 1713, Mary, daughter of John Doull of Thuster, co. Caithness, writer, Edinburgh, with children:

• George Mackay of Skibo, an advocate 18 January 1737; inherited Skibo from his uncle Patrick Dowell of Winterfield. He was captain of one of Loudon's independent companies in the '45; elected M.P. for Sutherland 1747 and 1754; and died at Tongue 25 June 1782. He married, at Embo, 13 December 1766, Anne Sutherland, who was born 1750, and died 15 March 1833, third daughter of Eric Sutherland, only son of the attainted Lord Duffus, by whom he had children.

• Alexander Mackay. He raised an independent company for Loudon's Highlanders in 1745, and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Prestonpans. He became M.P. for Sutherland 1761, and Commander-in-chief of the Forces in Scotland in 1780. He married, at Forde, 24 December 1770, Margaret, daughter of Sir William Carr of Etal, Bart., and died, without issue, 31 May 1789. She survived him, and married, secondly, 4 October 1792, James Farquharson of Invercauld.

• Mary Mackay, died, at Edinburgh, unmarried, 31 October 1780.

• Harriet Mackay, died at Restalrig, Edinburgh, unmarried, 5 November 1766.

• Christina Mackay, married, 15 June 1746, to the Rev. John Erskine, D.D., Edinburgh, son of John Erskine of Carnock. She died 20 May 1810, leaving issue.

• Morion Mackay, died at Edinburgh, unmarried, in 1812.

Footnotes

1. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 7, page 174

Sources

• Source S-1Sir James Balfour Paul, Editor. The Scots peerage, founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Vol. VII. Edinburgh: D Douglas, 1904. archive.org

• Book of Mackay; page 163