Another posting on Ancestry.com, led to contact with ‘Carna’, aka Kaye Dobbie. She had been researching the MacKenzies of Dalmore and come to the conclusion that George Gillanders (senior) of Highfield had been married to Margaret MacKenzie of Dalmore. This was interesting as George MacKenzie of Dalmore (later Strathcathro) had been Factor of Lewis to the Seaforth MacKenzies, in 1761 (prior to George Gillanders), while his brother, Dr John MacKenzie had been Commissioner to Seaforth.

George McK of Stracathro, (father Kenneth McK of Dalmore) Factor of Lewis to 1761. Brother Dr J McK Commissioner to Seaforth. See http://ica-atom.tasglann.org.uk/index.php/gillanders-family-of-highfield;isad

Sister Margaret McK married (?) George Gillanders of Little Strauchen/Highfield https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/71291583/family?cfpid=36312760611&selnode=1

Colin McK of Dalmore, purchased Stracathro in 1764, then sold to his brother Dr J McK (d 1775) who had lived in Barbados and was formerly a surgeon in Jamaica. http://orapweb.rcahms.gov.uk/wp/00/WP000766.pdf

On further investigation, it transpired that George Gillanders had owned a farm at Lary, next to Glen Gairn, where the MacKenzies of Dalamore had lived, after they sold Mar Lodge to Lord Draco in 1746. It was also found that George Gillanders had been living at Little Strauchen, which was not far away, when he became Factor to the Seaforth MacKenzies in 1761.

It was also noted that the Rev Colin Mackenzie of Glack, former minister of Fodderty, who was responsible for keeping Kenneth MacKenzie, Lord Seaforth’s Lewismen out of the 1741 uprising, bought Glack, which was very close to Little Strauchen, in 1765. Rev MacKenzie’s father, Roderick MacKenzie of Brae and Longcroft, had been Chamberlain to the Seaforth MacKenzies c1730.

Rev Colin MacKenzie of Glack also crops up in other capacities. He was a renowned money lender and lent money to William MacKenzie of Gruinard in 1774 https://www.ssns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/05_Bangor-Jones_NWRoss_pp_79-117.pdf p 97; he was appointed Chaplain to the 71st Regiment, McLeod's Highlanders in 1778; his daughter Jean Mackenzie (1771-1866) married Colin Mackenzie, minister of Stornoway; another daughter, Johanna (b 1762), married Dr Miller, Stornaway and Colin’s son, Major Forbes MacKenzie, was Commissioner of Lewis to the Seaforths from 1816-1820.

Rev Colin MacKenzie certainly appears to have been a pivotal player in relation to the appointment of George Gillanders to be Chamberlain to the Seaforth MacKenzies and other events that took place on Lewis.