Donald mac Iain Matheson (abt. 1704 - bef. 1776)

Born about 1704 in Isle of Lewis, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died before 1776 before about age 72 in Isle of Lewis, Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Donald, son of Iain Matheson and Janet Morison, who left Uig and became a tenant in Arnol, parish of Barvas, most probably in 1740, when the chamberlain of Lewis, Colin MacKenzie (Cailean Dearg), was responsible for a considerable movement of tenantry all over the island. Donald Matheson appears on record in Arnol as Donald McEan (Domhnall mac Iain) at various dates between 1753 and 1773, but a son succeeded him by 1780. He married, but the only clue to his wife’s identity is that in 1776 “Anny Matheson in Arnol, a widow” is found in a list of tenants who sold cattle to a Lochcarron drover, Farquhar Matheson, tacksman of New Kelso. Donald Matheson left issue:

(1a) John (Iain Bàn), who was a tenant in Gàsaig, North Bragar, where he appears as John bane McCoil vic Ean (Iain Bàn mac Dhomhnaill mhic Iain) at various dates from 1771 to 1808. He had no sons, but his daughter Ann married Donald MacLeod (Domhnall mac Dhonnachaidh mhic Ghille-crìosd), Arnol, and their descendants are the MacLeods at 32 Arnol. Before her marriage Ann Matheson had a son Murdoch by Donald Murray (Domhnall mac Coinnich Ghobha), South Bragar, who brought him up, and there are descendants at 21 and 30 South Bragar.

(2a) Norman, in North Bragar, who enlisted in Saighdeirean Choinnich Oig, that is to say, the original battalion of the 78th (Seaforth) Highlanders, raised in 1778; but he died soon after joining the Army. He married Margaret, daughter of Kenneth Macleay (Coinneach mac Dhomhnaill mhic Fheatchair), Arnol, and left one son Angus, who lived at Sandwick, Stornoway. Norman Matheson’s widow appears as tenant in North Bragar in 1780 and 1787.

(3a) Angus, on record in North Bragar as Angus McCoil vic Ean (Aonghus mac Dhomhnaill mhic Iain) at various dates between 1780 and 1796. He emigrated with his family to Cape Breton.

(4a) Donald (Domhnall Og), who succeeded his father as tenant in Arnol, where he is entered in the rental of 1780 as Donald McCoil vic Ean (Domhnall mac Dhomhnaill mhic Iain). But in the rental of 1787 his name is deleted and that of his brother Malcolm written above. The reason was that in the interval he had married Marion (Mòr), daughter of Murdoch Ross (Murchadh mac Uilleim), tacksman of Melbost Borve, and went to live there. Murdoch Ross has died, leaving a family of daughters, of whom Marion was the eldest. The only child of the marriage was John Matheson (1784-1852), who succeeded as tenant in Melbost Borve. He married Catherine (1783-1863), daughter of Murdoch Nicolson (Murchadh Cléireach), South Galson, with issue, William (who submitted evidence to Lord Napier’s Commission in 1883), Murdoch In the Army), Christina (married to Malcolm MacLeod, Barvas), Angus who……grandfather, and Malcolm. At the time of the clearances (in 1853) the four brothers moved to Upper Shader, and there are descendants living there at the present time.

(5a) Malcolm, who, as Malcolm McCoil vic Ean (Calum mac Dhomhnaill mhic Iain), is on record as tenant in Arnol (1787, 1796, 1808). He had two sons, both tenants in South Bragar. Donald married Ann Buchanan, and had an only son Angus in Brue, who left descendants there (No. 4). Norman had no sons, and was the last male representative of the family in Arnol or Bragar.

^[1].

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