This clan, one of the oldest branches of the Clan Chattan Confederation, came originally from Morven and Lochaber. They were on of the principal clans in the time of the famous Somerled whose father's name was Gillebride, but they suffered as many others during the conquest of Alexander II. This may have been the reason for the statement of a 16th century historian that about 1268 Gillivray, the progenitor of the Clan vic Gillivray, took protection for himself and posterity of Farquhard Mackintosh, 5th of Mackintosh.
About 1500 the MacGillivrays settled at Dunmaglass in Strathnairn, and in succeeding years added considerably to their possessions and became very influential in that part of the country. The Clan Chattan Bonds of 1609 and 1664 were signed by three members of the clan, being gentlemen and heads of families. The MacGillivrays continued to take a prominent part in public affairs including local clan disputes. (A story is related about Captain William, a son of Farquhar, 6th of Dunmaglass. A local lady disappeared and was reported to have been carried off by the fairies. The captain, learning of wax candles of a particular virtue in possession of a MacQueen, succeeded after many attempts in obtaining the desired charm and restored the lady to her unhappy husband. The candle was preserved in the family for many generations.)
The MacGillivrays took a prominent part in the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745, and at Culloden, Alexander, chief of the clan, led the Clan Chattan regiment which almost wiped out the left wing of the Hanoverian army. The burial place of the MacGillivrays of Dunmaglass is in Dunlichity churchyard.
For more information on the MacGillivray family societies try: www.mcgillivray.us
Here is some McGillivray information that I found in the book Clan, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands.
McGillivray: This name is taken from the MacGillivray clan.
Slogan: 'Dunmaghlas' English translation-'The name of the chief's
castle'
Song: 'Spaidsearachd Chalnn Mhic Gillebhrath' or MacGillivray's
March.
"in 1791, one Farguhar MacGillivour, aged 82, who lived on the banks of the river Nairn was examined in court and in answer to a query as to what was his real name, was MacGillivour in every part of the country. That the MacGillivours were followers of the MacGillivrays, having come at the same time from the Western Islands."
From Scotland and Her Tartans, The Romantic Heritage of
the Scottish Clans and Families, Alexander Fulton, Leefung Asco
Printer Ltd. Hong Kong 1991:
Tartans: MacGillivray, MacGillivray (hunting, also known as MacAlistair
of Glenbarr)
Mottos: Be mindful; (Dunmaglass) Touch not this cat
Slogan: Dunmaglass
"The MacGillivrays, a west-coast clan with a firm base in
Mull, were among the first members of Clan Chattan. Some of the
clan pushed northwards to Dunmaglass, Strathnairn, and founded
a branch there. The Laird of Dunmaglass and his brother fought
on the Jacobite side in 1715, and the clan was led at the Battle
of Culloden in 1746 by its chief, whose death near a well is marked
today by a memorial stone."
From Scottish Highlanders, Charles MacKinnon of Dunakin, Barnes & Noble Books, 1992
While there were undoubtedly MacGillivrays in Morven and Lochaber at a very early time, and there is even a theory that the clan are connected with Gillebride, the father of Somerled who is the proud ancestor of the MacDonalds, the clan is regarded as one of the oldest and most important branches of the Clan Chattan confederation. one version of their Gaelic name is Mac Ghille-Breac, meaning 'sons of the freckle-faced one'.
Their distant origin seems to have been Dalriadic, and the clan were anciently to be found in Mull. One of the more amusing clan anecdotes concerns the Mull MacGillivrays. Around 1640 the Reverend Martin MacGillivray went out to collect his stipend from his patrons and coming across MacLaine of Lochbuie asked him for his share. Martin carried a sword, as did so many Highland clergymen in those days, and after some bantering, MacLaine dared him to take his money by the sword. This Martin promptly did, forcing the surprised MacLaine to yield to him--and the stipend was paid.
From a very early time, however, the main
branch of the Clan McGillivray was settled in eastern Iverness-shire
under the protection of the MacIntosh Captains of Clan
Chattan,
and in 1330 they took part in a MacIntosh battle against the clan
Cameron. The MacGillivray history is bound up so closely with
that of the McIntoshes that there are large gaps in it, which
is the case with so many of the Clan Chattan clans.
The MacGillivrays acquired the lands of Dunmaghlas, from which their chief took his title, and they also possessed lands at Aberchallader, Daviot, Dalcrombie and Faillie.
It was Alexander MacGillivray of Dunmaghlas who was chosen
by Lady Anne MacIntosh to lead the MacIntoshes in 1745 when her
husband Aeneas, the chief of the clan, was serving in a Hanoverian
regiment.
The Clan Chattan regiment under Alexander distinguished itself
against the Hanoverian left wing, but Alexander was killed, as
were many of the MacGillivray and MacIntosh clansmen with him,
in what was undoubtedly the hottest fighting of the Battle of
Culloden.
Of the only three officers of the Clan Chattan regiment who survived Culloden, one was William, brother of Alexander MacGillivray, who later served in the 89th Regiment, and another was Farquhar of Dalcrombie, whose grandson Neil MacGillivray of Dunmaghlas eventually became clan chief.
Donald MacGillavry
Melody -
Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,
Donald comes down the hill wild and angry;
Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly,
Here's to the king and Donald Macgillavry.
Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry,
Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly;
Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald Macgillavry.
Donald's run o'er the hill but his tether, man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi' an ether, man;
When he comes back, there's some will look merrily:
Here's to King James and Donald Macgillavry.
Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a weaver, Donald illlacgillavry,
Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly;
Gie them full measure, my Donald Macgillavry.
Donald has foughten wi' rief and roguery;
Donald has dinner'd wi' banes and beggary,
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald Macgillavry.
Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry,
Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly,
Here's to King James and Donald Macgillavry.
Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness;
Whigging and prigging and a' newfangleness,
They maun be gane: he winna be baukit, man:
He maun hae justice, or faith he'Il tak it, man.
Come like a cobler, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a cobler, Donald illlacgillavry;
Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly,
Up wi' King James and Donald Macgillavry.
Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery;
Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property;
Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man,
Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man.
Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry;
Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly,
Up wi' King James and Donald Macgillavry!
James Hogg in his 'Jacobite Relics', places this song as
belonging to one of the Jacobite risings, either in 1715 or 1745.
MacGillavry of Drumglass is
one of the chiefs mentioned in the Chevalier's Muster Roll of
1715, and in the Forty-Five rebellion the powerful clan Maclntosh
as led by a Colonel
MacGillavry. A bard belonging to this clan may well have written
the song; on the other hand, the name might have been used as
a convenient
designation for loyal highlanders.
