Allan Maclean

From 'The Clan Gillean,' 1899, by Alexander Maclean Sinclair:

Allan of Ardgour was a hostage in the hands of Angus Macdonald of Islay in 1587. He was only a young boy when his father was killed. His uncle Charles acted as tutor to him. Charles was a greedy and dishonest man, and succeeded by some crooked means in getting himself served heir male to the lands of Ardgour, in September, 1593. When Allan came to be of age, Charles refused to give up the estate to him. His mother's people then advised Allan to apply to the Earl of Argyll for assistance. Argyll agreed to obtain possession of the estate for him, on condition of holding it of himself as superior instead of holding it of the Crown. Allan accepted Argyll's terms, Charles was seized by a stratagem, by Stewart of Appin, and imprisoned on Stalker's Island - Eilein an Stalcaire - where he was detained for some time. Through the influence of Hector Og of Duart, to whose aunt Charles was married, Allan agreed to give to Charles Inverscadale and certain other lands, on condition of his paying to him yearly the feu-duty which was to be given to Argyll. This duty consisted of twenty-five marks Scots, and a cuid oidhche,or night's entertainment. It was afterwards commuted to fifty marks Scots, or two pounds fifteen shillings and sixpence. Allan received Ardgour in November, 1618. He was served heir to John Mac Terlach Mac Ewen, son of the brother of his great-grandfather. He married Catherine, daughter of Allan Cameron of Lochiel, and had fourteen children by her: John Crùbach, his successor; Hector; Allan; Charles, whose son John settled at Anderton near Glasgow; Donald, who was killed at Inverkeithing; Lachlan Mor; Lachlan Og; Ewen the elder; Ewen the younger; Archibald; John Og; Mary, who was married to Charles Maclean of Ardnacross; Marion, who was married to John Maclean of Totaranald; and Christy. The Rev. John Maclean, D. D., minister of Gorbals, Glasgow, was the son of John Maclean, of Anderton. He married, in 1797, Ann Ballentine, and had by her John, James, John, Patrick, William, Robert, Alexander, Walter, Margaret, Euphemia, and Elizabeth. William was a merchant in Buenos Ayres. Robert was a merchant in Manchester.


From the Seanachie, 1835

"ALLAN, 7th MACLEAN OF ARDGOUR, who being a child at the time of his father's death, the affairs of the estate were administered by Charles Mac-Allan, his uncle. The guardian was a man bold and aspiring, and did much to defraud Allan of his property. His purposes were however timely discovered, and his intentions frustrated. The young laird betook himself immediately to the assistance of his mother's relatives, the Stuarts of Appin, by whose aid Charles Mac-Allan was removed from the trust he had so much abused. It was, however, finally agreed to let him have the lands of Inverscadell and other farms, which were to descend to his posterity on condition of the payment of an annual charge of twenty-five merks or a "cuid-aoiche" (a night's entertainment), which was afterwards commuted for a sum of fifty merks yearly. {More details are given about the squabbles, but I'll omit them for now}. Allan was married to Catherine, daughter of Allan of Lochiel, chief of the Clan-Cameron, and had by her eleven sons: John Crubach, Hector, Allan, Charles, Donald, Lachlan Mor, Lachlan Oig, Ewen the elder, Ewen the younger, Archibald, and John the younger. The latter John and his brother Donald were killed at Inverkeithing. He had also three daughters: Mary, married to Charles MacLean, of Ardnacross; Marion, married to John MacLean, of Toteronald; and Christiana. The 7th laird of Ardgour lived to a great age, and at his death left to his heir a productive and an unburdened estate. He was succeeded by his eldest son, John Crubach."