Hugh Mackay of Bighouse
Hugh Mackay of Bighouse was a Scottish noble, soldier and a member of the Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
Early life
[edit]Hugh Mackay was the eldest son from the second marriage of his father, George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay to Janet, daughter of John Sinclair of Ulbster, Caithness.[1]
Military career
[edit]During the Jacobite rising of 1745 Hugh Mackay supported the British-Hanoverian Government and was Captain of the 2nd Mackay Independent Highland Company that fought at the Skirmish of Tongue on 25 March 1746,[2] where money and supplies were captured from a French ship,[3] and 156 Jacobites were taken prisoner.[4] He also led his Independent Company at the Battle of Littleferry on 15 April 1746 where the Jacobites were again completely defeated.[5] His Independent Company was also involved in the Raids on Lochaber and Shiramore.[6] Later he was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1st Sutherland Regiment.[1]
Family
[edit]Hugh Mackay married in 1728 to Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heiress of George Mackay of Bighouse (and this is from where Hugh took his designation) and had sasine of the Bighouse Estate in Strathhallade on 28 February 1742.[1] Hugh Mackay of Bighouse married secondly Isabella, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie of Lentran but this marriage produced no children.[7] From his first marriage to Elizabeth Mackay he had the following children:[7]
- Hugh Mackay "younger of Bighouse" who was Lieutenant in Captain George Mackay of Skibo’s Independent Highland Company.
- Colin Mackay who died in infancy.
- Janet Mackay who married Colin Campbell of Glenure who was murdered in 1752 in what is known as the Appin Murder.
- Mary Mackay who married William Ballie of Rosehall and died in 1808.
- Marion Mackay who married George Mackay, 5th Lord Reay
- Robina Mackay who died unmarried at Harrogate in 1762.
Independent Company
[edit]The names of the men in Hugh Mackay of Bighouse's Independent Highland Company during the Jacobite rising of 1745 were:[8]
- John Mckay (Lieutenant)
- Aneas Mckay (Ensign)
- Robt Mckay (Sergeant)
- John Mckay (Sergeant)
- George Monro (Sergeant)
- James Mckay (Sergeant)
- Hugh Mckay (Corporal)
- Donald Mckay (Corporal)
- Donald Mckay (Corporal)
- William Morison (Corporal)
- John McDonald (Pyper)
- Angus Mckay (Drum)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Strathmelness)
- Angus Gun (centinel) (in Craigtown)
- Hugh Mckay (centinel) (in Bighouse)
- Hugh Mckay Taylor (centinel)
- Angus Hossack (centinel)
- Hugh McLeod (centinel) (in Torr)
- Donald Mckay (centinel) (in Sartigrim)
- Hugh Mckay (centinel) (in Trantle)
- Charles Montgumerie (centinel)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Forsinard)
- Angus Mckay (centinel) (in Durness)
- John McLeod yr (centinel)
- Robert Morison (centinel) (in Oldshoar)
- Hugh Gun (centinel) (in Sculomy)
- John McKenzie (centinel) (in Portchamile)
- Hugh Mckay (centinel) (in Breckruw)
- Donald Mcpherson (centinel) (in Dalhalow)
- Donald Fraser (centinel)
- Alexr McCoull (centinel) (in Forsinain)
- Robert Campbell (centinel) (in Islandhoan)
- James McLeod (centinel) (in Coull)
- Robert Grange (centinel) (in Durness)
- Will Bain (centinel) (in Sandego)
- Geo MacKenzie (centinel) (in Kirkiboll)
- Joseph McCoull (centinel)
- Will Edie (centinel)
- John Gun (centinel) (in Skinit)
- Hugh Mckay (centinel) (in Forsinaird)
- Will Gun (centinel) (in Forsinain)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Kergarybeg)
- George Gow (centinel) (in Halladale)
- Donald Mckay (centinel) (in Hevagmore)
- Robert McLeod (centinel) (in coull)
- George Mckay (centinel) (in Forsinaird)
- Will McLeod (centinel) (in Knockbreck)
- Angus Gun (centinel) (in Skinit)
- Angus Mckay (centinel) (in Coull)
- Angus Mckay (centinel) (in Craigie)
- Geo Mckay yr (centinel)
- Donald Mckay (centinel) (in Forsinaird)
- Jno McCoull (centinel) (in Dispolly)
- Angus McLeod (centinel) (in Hope)
- Will Mckay (centinel) (in Ribigill)
- Donald Gun (centinel) (in Sandego)
- Niel Morison (centinel)
- Rory McLeod (centinel)
- Will Gun (centinel) (deserted from Inverness and hanged)
- John Gow (centinel) (in Torr)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Catechist)
- Robert Mckay (centinel) (in Torisdale)
- Hector Morison (centinel) (in Tarbert)
- Patr Morison yr (centinel)
- Hu Morison (centinel) (in Kylestrome)
- Hugh McLeod (centinel) (in Tongue)
- John Bain (centinel) (in Golvell)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Melness)
- John McLeod (centinel) (in Kirktown)
- Joseph Mckay (centinel) (in Nair)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Tongue)
- Alexr McCoull (centinel) (in Corkall)
- Dond Gun (centinel) (in Cargary)
- Dond Sinclair (centinel)
- Geo Mckay (centinel) (in Torisdale)
- Will Hossack (centinel)
- Dond Ross (centinel) (in Despolie)
- Dond McLeod (centinel) (in Kergary)
- Dond Mckay (centinel) (in Hope)
- Alexr Monro (centinel)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Melvich)
- Geo Campbell (centinel) (in Knockdow)
- John McCoull (centinel) (in Corkall)
- Geo Sinclair (centinel) (in Dalhalva)
- Gilbert Down (centinel)
- Donald Mckay (centinel) (in Islandroan)
- Hugh Mckay (centinel) (in Scoury)
- Hugh McPherson (centinel)
- Neil Mckay (centinel) (in Niubeg, Durness)
- George McIntosh (centinel)
- John Monro (mason) (centinel)
- John Monro (centinel) (in Strath)
- Will Buie (Buy) (centinel)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Sartigrim)
- Will McLeod (centinel) (in Torr)
- John Gow (centinel) (in Dalhabaoy) (Dalava)
- Will Mckay (centinel) (in Knockdow)
- Hu Sinclair (centinel) (in Achervorldevin)
- Angus Mckay (centinel) (in Skinit)
- Geo Mckay (centinel) (in Tongue)
- John Mckay (centinel) (in Mussoll)
- Hu McIntosh (centinel) (in Reroy)
- John Sutherland (centinel) (in Skinit)
- Hu McKenzie (centinel)
- Hector McKenzie (centinel)
- David McLeod (centinel) (in Oldshoar)
- Niel McCoul (Tailer) (centinel)
- Hugh Morison (centinel) (in Gisgill)
- Hu Gow (centinel)
- John Monro (centinel) (in Culcairn)
- Dond Mckay (centinel)
- Hugh McLeod (centinel)
- Will Mckay (centinel) (in Breckrue)
- James Mckay (centinel) (in Erriboll)
- Murdoch McIntosh (centinel)
- Alexr Sutherland (centinel)
- Alexr Morgan (centinel)
- John Gun (centinel)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Mackay. pp. 192 – 193
- ^ Simpson. p. 135.
- ^ MacLeod. p. 338
- ^ Mackay. p. 190 – 191.
- ^ Simpson. pp. 135 – 136.
- ^ MacLeod. pp. 343 - 345.
- ^ a b Mackay. pp. 306 - 307
- ^ MacLeod, Ruairidh (1984). Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. Vol. LIII. pp. 362 and 389-391. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
Quoting from the Loudoun Papers held in the Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California
Bibliography
[edit]- Mackay, Angus. M. A. (1906). Book of Mackay. St Andrews University.
- MacLeod, Ruairidh. F.S.A. Scot. (1984). Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. Volume LIII.
- Simpson, Peter. (1996). The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 - 1760. ISBN 0-85976-432-X.