In the hope of further understanding the connections between the Seaforth MacKenzies; Mackenzies of Dalmore; MacKenzies of Gruinard; Gillanders and William MacGregor, I undertook a broader review of events from a historical perspective.

Kenneth MacKenzie, the 4th Earl (of Seaforth), was one of the first Knights of the Thistle, the Scottish Order of Chivalry, and he continued to support his fellow Roman Catholic King, James VII after the deposed monarch was sent into exile in 1688. James created him Marquis of Seaforth in the Jacobite peerage.

His son, William Dubh (‘Black’), the 5th Earl and 2^nd Marquis, raised an army of 3000 men in 1715 for the Jacobite Pretender and fought alongside the Earl of Mar of Braemar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Mar ) in the first Jacobite uprising of 1716 at the Battle of Sheriffmuir https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sheriffmuir before fleeing to France.

The Dalmore MacKenzies and Gillanders (who both went on to become Factors of Lewis) both lived very close to Braemar at the time, so may have also been involved.

William MacKenzie returned from France in 1719 only to be severely wounded at the Battle of Glen Shiel http://clanmackenziesociety.co.uk/clan-mackenzie/ .

Rob Roy MacGregor fought alongside the Seaforths at the Battle of Glen Shiel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Glen_Shiel ), which may have given rise to strong bonds of allegiance between the MacGregors and the Seaforth MacKenzies.

Sir John McK of Coul and George McK of Gruinard held Inverness for the Jacobites in 1716 (see Gruinard & Letterewe… p2), so were probably also sympathetic to the MacGregors, although neither was involved in the 1745 uprising. This may account for why Roderick (Rorie Buidhe) MacGregor settled in Gruinard after the Battle of Culloden)

As previously outlined, Lord Seaforth did not get involved in the second Jacobite rising of 1746, because he was warned of the impending arrival of Bonnie Prince Charles by the Rev Colin MacKenzie of Fodderty, First of Glack (son of Roderick MacK of Brae & Longcroft, Chamberlain of Lewis). https://www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info/genealogy/TNGWebsite/getperson.php?personID=I90671&tree=CC and kept his Lewis’ men from landing on the mainland.

Lord Seaforth’s wife, however, was a committed Jacobite and was responsible for urging the Earl of Cromarty and his son, Lord MacLeod to call out their clansmen, with disastrous results. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mackenzie,_3rd_Earl_of_Cromartie

A timeline of events surounding the Jacobite rising around Loch Broom are given at: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~coigach/genealogy/ardloch.htm

Details of the family links of the Mackenzies, from around Loch Broom, involved in the Jacobite uprising are shown in Donald MacDonald Ross' tree http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~coigach/genealogy/trees.htm

Rev Colin McK bought Glack in 1765, which was very close to Little Sauchen, where George Gillanders was living when he became Factor of Lewis to the Seaforths in 1761.

One of Colin MacKenzie of Glack’s daughters, Jean (b 1771), married Colin MacKenzie, Minister of Stornoway, and another, Johanna (b 1762) married Dr Miller, Stornaway, so they must have known William MacGregor. Colin MacKenzie, also lent money to William MacKenzie of Gruinard and held a bond over the Gruinard estate in 1744. https://www.ssns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/05_Bangor-Jones_NWRoss_pp_79-117.pdf

In 1773, the Hector left Loch Broom for Picton (Prince Edward Island) with 179 passengers including MacDonalds http://www.islandregister.com/ship_data1.html

The Gillanders' Papers of 1765 (ID 427/310) refer to ‘ Scroll factory by Kenneth McK of Seaforth to Alexander McK of Dalmaluach; Thomas McK of Highfield; Dr Mackenzie (of Dalamore) (late surgeon of British Hospital); the Rev Colin McK, Minister of Fodderty, and George Gillanders, Seaf Lewis, as factors of Eilleendonan (Eilean Donan), Kintail, Strathcluynie (Strahclunie), Glenlyon, Lochalsh, Strathconon, Braha Drumglast, Ussies (Ussie), Kildin, Tollies (Tolly), Breakanord, Fortrose and the lands of the barony of Lewis', so they were all closely associated.

A timeline of events relating to the Isle of Lewis is given at http://www.ceuig.co.uk/history/timeline/