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3 Celts & Company • BLACK WATCH "Independent Highland Companies"

The first Independent Companies (then known as the 'Kings Guard') are generally regarded to have been formed after the Union of the Crowns in 1603 when James VI of Scotland became James I of England. Following events of 1688, King James II of England (VII of Scotland) made a decision to secure peace throughout both the Scottish Highlands and Scottish Lowlands. The main chiefs were asked to supply a certain number of men each. By 1738 the Independent Highland Companies were known officially as 'Am Freiceadan Dubh' or Black Watch. The Independent Highland Companies took a very active part in the Jacobite rising of 1745. One of their first actions was when 600 men of the Grant, two Sutherland, Munro and Mackay companies fought in the Siege of Fort Augustus (December 1745). The fort was liberated from the Clan Fraser of Lovat, largely Jacobites.
During the Seven Years’ War a number of unidentified Independent Highland Companies were raised but were almost immediately sent south to the Scottish Lowlands or to England as new recruits and could scarcely be regarded as true Independent Companies but were more like a recruitment agency for the British Army. There were no more Independent Highland Companies formed after 1763 but from those that had been before emerged the world-famous Highland regiments during the remainder of the 18th century.

Clans: MURRAY, MENZIES, STUART, CAMPBELL, ROBERTSON, MACFARLANE, GRAHAM, GORDON, MONRO, SUTHERLAND (under GUNN), GRANT, MACKAY, MACLEOD, MACINTOSH (town of INVERNESS), MACKENZIE, MACDONALD of SLEAT, ROSS

"Independent Highland Companies." Wikipedia. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Highland_Companies]. 3 November 2013. web.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, Black Watch, clan, regiments

3 Celts & Company • "MACLEOD of Harris"

The MacLeod chiefs claim descent from Leod, nephew of Magnus the 13th-century last of the Norse kings of the Isle of Man; and from Leod's two sons Tormod and Torquill come respectively the Harris and Lewis branches. The bulk of the clan however remains of native Celtic stock. Tormod's grandson Malcolm was awarded a charter of Gleneig territory by David II, and by marriage acquired the clan's large foothold in Skye, with its famed fortress of Dunvegan as the Chief's seat. Harris was held by MacLeods as vassals to Clan Donald until the Lords of the Isles were forfeited. Thereafter clear of that entanglement, they aided the MacLeans against MacDonalds. At Worchester in 1651, the clan lost so many men for Charles II that the other clans agreed to exonerate them from further conflicts.

Septs: BEATON, BETHUNE, BETON, GRIMMOND, HAROLD, HARROLD, MACANDIE, MACCAIG, MACCLURE, MACCRIMMON, MACCUAIG, MACHAROLD, MACLURE, MACRAILD, MACWILLIAM, NORMAN, MORMAND, WILLIAMSON

"MACLEOD of Harris." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.73. Print.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, MacLeod of Harris, clan, septs

3 Celts & Company • "MACLEOD of Lewis"

The clan of Torquil (see above) early became so powerful as to dispute the superiority of the Harris branch chiefship, attaining at least an independent status. Important branches were the MacGillechallum or MacLeods of Raasay, and those of Assynt. The MacNicols (Nicolson ect.) were originally an independent clan of the Assynt district (Map E 2): they moved to the Portee corner of Skye after a 14th-century Lewis MacLeod had married their Chief's heiress.

Septs: ASKEY, AULAY, CALLAM, CALLUM, CASKEY, CASKIE, LEWIS, MACALLUM, MACASKIE, MACASKILL, MACABE, MACAULAY, MACCALLUM, MACCASKIE, MACCASKILL, MACCORKILL, MACCORKINDALE, MACCORKLE, MACCORQUODALE, MACGILLECHALLUM, MACKASKILL, MACLEWIS, MACNICHOL, MACNICOL, MACNICOLL, MALCOLMSON, NICHOLL, NICHOLSON, NICOL, NICOLL, NICOLSON, NORIE, NORRIE, TOLMIE

"MACLEOD of Lewis." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.73,74. Print.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, MacLeod of Lewis, Nichols, MacAulay, clan, septs