THE GALLOWAY MACKAYS

The Galloway McEths are divided into two main branches, the M'Ghies of Balmaghie and the M'Kies of Larg, of which the former may be the older, but the latter has the more numerous offshoots. They are one and the same family originally, although the names appear slightly different in script - a difference which was at first very much a matter of taste, but which custom petrified to some extent. The striking affinity between the arms of the two branches also indicates a close relationship. The arms of Balmaghie are blazoned by Sir George Mackenzie, "Sable, three leopards' heads erased, argent". The crest consists of a leopard's head erased, langued, proper, with the motto Quae Sursum Volo. Corresponding to the leopards (Scots, lions) of M'Ghie, the M'Kies of Larg carry a lion in chief. Thus both branches bore the lion with a difference.

THE BALMAGHIE M'GHIES

I. Gilbert M'Gy, Lord of Balmage, appears in the Exchequer Rolls of 1460. He was succeeded by William.

II. William M'Gye, had sasine of Slogarie in 1471, and on the 16 Aug 1482, had a charter under the Great Seal of Balmage and Slogarie. As this charter bears, he married Blanch de Levenax, widow of Fergus Macdowell of Spottis. This document is witnessed by a William Makgye of Pluntoun, who had a charter of the lands of Pluntoun, 14 Aug 1484. William of Balmage had a son Nicholas.

III. Nicholas, married Elizabeth Maxwell, who bore him two sons: - Gilbert; and William, who succeeded

Gilbert, who predeceased his father, left two daughters (Register of Acts and Decreets 149, 315): -

1. Marion, married John Redick of Balharro
2. Janet, married Robert Charteris of Kelwood

VI. Robert, married Grissel, daughter of John Charteris of Annisfield, and by her had

1. a son John
2. a daughter Marie (Register of Acts and Decreets, 492, 155), who married William Gordon of Airds.

VIII. Alexander, married first, Margaret, daughter of Archibald M'Kie of Myretoun-M'Kie, now Merton Hall, but had no issue by her.
He married secondly, Elizabeth Stewart, by whom he had a son and two daughters: -

1. William
2. Elizabeth, married John, eldest son of Robert Ferguson of Craigdarroch (Dumfries Sasine, 1682);
3. Florence, married first, Roger, son of John Gordon of Airds, secondly, James, son of Robert Charteris of Kelwood, and thirdly, Thomas M'Lellan of Balmangan

XI. Alexander, succeeded in 1732, and left a son, John.

XII. John, succeeded in 1739, and had a son Alexander, who predeceased him.
Alexander, however, married Grissel, daughter of Alexander, Viscount Kenmure, and had a daughter Grissel, who married Captain James Anderson of the Marines, without issue.

William M'Ghie, merchant in Edinburgh, and his wife Eleanor M'Dowall had sasine of the estate of Balmaghie on 6 May 1761, but in 1786 it was sold to Thomas Gordon.

THE M'GHIES OF AIRIE AND AIRDS

I. James M'Ghie, had sasine of Airie and Culquhassan in Dec 1642.
He married first, Janet Gordon, and secondly, Anna Kennethie, by the latter of whom he had Alexander, who succeeded.

II. Alexander, married first, Anna Fullarton, and secondly, Florence Maxwell (Dumfries Sasine, 29 Dec 1703, and 15 Nov 1705).
By the second wife he had Alexander, who succeeded.

III. Alexander, bought the estate of Airds 24 May 1744, and was afterwards known as of Airds. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Gordon of Airds, and widow of Hugh Cairns of Lochhill (Dumfries Sasine, 29 Sep 1724), issue one son Alexander.

IV. Alexander, married first, Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Todd, banker, London, with issue: -

1. John
2. Mary, married Mr. Maclellan, and died in 1817
3. Jessie, married David Blair of Borgue

V. John of Castlehill, married Jane, daughter of the Rev. William Donaldson, Parton, by whom he had six daughters: - Mary; Isabella; Elizabeth; Jane; Wilhelmina; and Anne.
The eldest, Mary, married Rev. James Anderson, Stoneykirk, to whom she bore one surviving child, Jeanie (now (1905) Mrs. Captain Webster, Heathfield, Helensburgh).

THE LARG ETC. M'KIES

The first notice of the lands of Cumloden is the following in Robertson's Index: - "Carta Gilberti, fil. Nigelli, terrain partem terre de Cameleden, in vie. de Dumfries", which may be translated, charter of Gilbert, son of Neil, of the third part of the lands of Cumloden, in the sheriffdom of Dumfries - "terrain partem terre" being probably intended for "tertiam partem terre". According to the Exchequer Rolls, Cuthbert M'Makay paid £3 13s. 4d. for relief of lands in the county of Wigton, 1330.

I. Malcolm M'Kie of Cumloden, is the first, however, from whom a direct descent can be traced. He had two sons: - Patrick and Gilbert, married Marion de Keth, by whom he got the third part of the barony of Craichlaw, Longaster, and Barmagachrie, c 1450 (Reg.Mag.Sig. v, 69).

II. Patrick, had sasine in 1471 of the lands of Cumloden-M'Kie, Fynataloch, Cloncert, Barnrower, and Baryarrak. He married Marion Makmakene, by whom he got the lands of Drumnagarne (Reg.Mag.Sig., VII., 302), and had a son Patrick.

III. Patrick Makge of Larg, married Janet, daughter of Uchtred Macdowall of Garthland, and widow of Alexander Adair of Kinhilt, as a charter under the Great Seal shows, dated 1529.
An interesting relic of this couple, a monumental stone built into the wall of the old kirk of Minnigaff, bears the inscription: - "Hic jacet _ Patricus M'Kc de Caloda me fieri fecit" (Here lies _ Patrick M'Ke of Camloden caused me to be made).
The known issue of Patrick was two sons: -

1. Patrick
2. Archibald of Stranord who had three children: -
   1. Alexander
   2. Patrick of Craignyne
   3. Margaret, married Patrick Heron of Kironghtree

1. Alexander
2. Duncan of Palgown
3. Patrick

1. Patrick
2. a son who had three sons
   1. Alexander
   2. Patrick, who succeeded to Larg, 1646
   3. James of Crosbie, who had a son Robert, whose son John in 1691 succeeded to Larg and Palgown

VII. Patrick in Minnigaff, married Agnes (Bargaly Charters, under Craignell), issue one son Patrick

VIII. Patrick, was infeft in Larg in 1662, and had a son John (Galloway Charters), who married Margaret, youngest daughter of Andrew Heron of Kiroughtree.
The son predeceased the father, and his widow married secondly, James Lidderdale of St. Mary's Isle.
Patrick and John, father and son, were fined for their Covenanting principles, forfeiting their estate in 1680, which came into the administration of the Duke of Queensberry. After the Revolution the estate was restored to John of Penninghame, great-great-grandson of Alexander, and thus of the 9th generation. Of him follows.

IX. John in Penninghame, had sasine of Larg and Palgown, 2 Jun 1691. He found the estate of Larg too encumbered to recover, and it passed to the Herons of Kiroughtree.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Dunbar of Machermore (Galloway Charters), who on his death married secondly, Andrew Heron of Bargaly. The issue of John's marriage was: -

1. Alexander
2. Anthony of Glencaird
3. Margaret, married Patrick Heron, younger of Heron, and had issue

1. John
2. James, Judge-Advocate for Scotland, no issue
3. Catherine, married William Ramsay, M.D.

XI. John, succeeded his father to Palgown in 1752, and eleven years after sold it to John, Lord Garlies.
He married the Hon. Jane Ross, daughter of George, 12th Lord Ross, no issue. On his married he took the name of Ross, and was afterwards known as John Ross-M'Kie.
He was an advocate of the Scottish Bar, M.P. for the burgh of Lanark, 1741-6, and for the Stewartry 1747-68, paymaster for the Board of Ordnance, and afterwards receiver-general of Stamp Duties. He died in London 1797.

Xa. Anthony M'Kie of Glencaird, second son of John IX, married Grizel Eccles, issue three: - William; John; and Agnes. He had also by another wife, Isobel M'Kie, a son John

XIa. John, an extensive farmer along the water of Minoch, in 1777 held 13,000 acres from the Earl of Cassilis and 1400 acres from Lord Galloway.
He married first, Margaret Machutcheon, by whom he had issue: - James and Mary.
He married secondly, Jane M'William, issue: - William; and twins, John and Isobel.
He died in 1783.

XIIa. James M'Kie, purchased the estate of Bargaly 10 May 1794, bought Craignell and Brochloch in 1801, and later on bought Drambuie.
He married Ann, daughter of William M'Caa, issue: - John and Elizabeth.

XIIIa. John of Bargaly, who died 1858, M.P. for the Stewartry, married Ann, daughter of Peter Lawrie of Ernespie, issue: -

1. James
2. Peter, died at Melbourne in 1842
3. John, died in the East Indies in 1846
4. Ann, died at Carlingwark in 1841

1. John
2. Peter Lawrie, died 8 Jul 1896, married Annie, daughter of James Hamilton Kennedy (issue, Angela);
3. James Archibald
4. William Murray, married Mary, eldest daughter of John Fildes (issue, John);
5. Annie Lawrie
6. Agnes, married John William Hutchison of Edingham and Lauriston Hall, with issue;
7. Margaret Preston, married Andrew Johnston of Halleaths, with issue;
8. Eliza Nina, married John Gladstone Mackie of Auchencaion;
9. Ellen Stormonth, married Charles L. Johnstone, with issue.

That the families of Strathnaver and Galloway were related through Martin of Strathnaver was evidently accepted by Sir Robert Gordon, the northern historian. With Sir Donald Mackay of Strathnaver, his nephew, Gordon was intimately acquainted, and very probably had a personal acquaintance with Sir Patrick Mackie of Larg, so that he very likely gathered information from both. The Blackcastle MS., which is based upon an older family genealogical account, also says that a Martin of Stratlmaver settled in Galloway, and we have already shown that he must have flourished circa 1260. Thus the Blk. MS. to some extent confirms Gordon. When Mackay of Strathnaver raised his regiment in 1626, so abundant was the supply of recruits that the object was accomplished in a few weeks. In the circumstances he would naturally select his own friends as far as possible. But one of his captains was Sir Patrick Mackie from distant Galloway. When he could get plenty men nearer home why go so far afield ? May it not be that he looked upon Sir Patrick as a distant cousin ?

That the argument from similarity of armorial bearings is a treacherous one goes without saying, but the similarity in this case is very striking. Both branches of the Galloway family carry the lion on their shield, which is also the emblem of the Aberach Mackays. In our account of the Aberach Mackay banner we showed that the left hand with extended fingers was anciently inscribed upon the armorial shield of the Strathnaver Mackays. But in the gable of Glencaird House, an old M'Kie seat and now the property of Col. John M'Kie of Bargaly, may be seen a carved stone bearing the date 1694, the letters J. Mk., and A.H., two ravens, and also a left hand with extended fingers exactly as found in Strathnaver. Thus like the Strathnaver men, the Galloway Mackays bore the sinister hand appaume as well as the lion.

[Footnote: In the preparation of this account we have been generously assisted by Dr. Norman J. M'Kie, Newton Stewart, who has put at our disposal his own notes based upon a recent elaborate search of the Public Records.]

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