Arran mac Somairle - Sources?

Started by Sharon Doubell on Sunday, October 25, 2020
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10/25/2020 at 12:08 AM

What primary sources validate this profile?

Disconnecting as a child of Somerled, “King of the Isles”, pending primary sources

cf Brother [and sister], parents not known:
*1. [Somerled, “King of the Isles” SOMERLED] (-killed in battle 1164). Balfour Paul says that the first reference to Somerled records him as living in the district of Morven with his father Gillebride, but he does not cite the precise source[1019]. Lord of Argyll. He acquired control of the Western Isles and assumed the title "King of the Isles". The Chronicle of Melrose records that Somerled Lord of Argyll landed at Renfrew in 1164, after 12 years of rebellion against Malcolm IV King of Scotland, with a large army from Ireland but was defeated and killed with his son[1020]. The Extracta ex Cronicis Scocie records that "Sumerlendus regulus Ergadie" rebelled against King Malcolm for 12 years, landed at Renfrew from Ireland, and was killed "et filium suum Gillecolanem", among passages dealing with events in 1164[1021]. The Annals of Ulster record that "Somharlidh Mac Gilla-Adhamhnain and his son were killed" in 1164[1022]. The Book of Clanranald records that that no battle was fought and that Somerled was killed in his tent, after which his followers dispersed[1023]. m [Ragnhildr Óláfsdóttir, of Man --- of Man], illegitimate daughter of OLAV King of Man & his mistress ---. The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that “Olavus filius Godredi Crovan” had many concubines by whom he fathered “filios tres…Reignaldum, Lagmannum et Haraldum et filias multas”, adding that one daughter married “Sumerledo regulo Herergaildel”[1024]. Balfour Paul names her "Ragnhildis" but he does not cite the corresponding primary source[1025]. Somerled & his wife had five children:
>*a) [Dougal MacRory, 1st of Dunollie and of Lorn DUGALD] (-after 1175). The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum names “Dulgallum, Reginaldum, Engus et Olavum” as the four sons of “Sumerledo regulo Herergaildel” and his wife the daughter of Olav King of Man[1026].
>*b) [Ragnall mac Somhairle, Lord of the Isles REGINALD] . The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum names “Dulgallum, Reginaldum, Engus et Olavum” as the four sons of “Sumerledo regulo Herergaildel” and his wife the daughter of Olav King of Man[1027]. The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that Engus, son of Somerled, defeated his brother Reginald in 1192[1028].
>*c) [Angus of Bute & Arran ANGUS] (-killed 1210). The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum names “Dulgallum, Reginaldum, Engus et Olavum” as the four sons of “Sumerledo regulo Herergaildel” and his wife the daughter of Olav King of Man[1029]. The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum records that Engus, son of Somerled, defeated his brother Reginald in 1192, adding in a later passage that Engus was killed in 1210[1030]. Balfour Paul states that Angus inherited "Bute, with a part of Arran, and the Rough Bounds (Garmoran) extending from Ardnamurchan to Gleneig"[1031]. m ---. The name of Angus’s wife is not known. Angus & his wife had one child:
>*d) [Olav OLAV] . The Chronicon Manniæ et Insularum names “Dulgallum, Reginaldum, Engus et Olavum” as the four sons of “Sumerledo regulo Herergaildel” and his wife the daughter of Olav King of Man[1035].
>*e) [Gilliecolum mac Somairle GILLECOLAN] (-killed in battle 1164). The Chronicle of Melrose records that he was killed in battle with his father[1036]. The Extracta ex Cronicis Scocie records that "Sumerlendus regulus Ergadie" rebelled against King Malcolm for 12 years, landed at Renfrew from Ireland, and was killed "et filium suum Gillecolanem", among passages dealing with events in 1164[1037].
>*f) [Gall "the Foreigner" mac Somairle GALL Macsgillin] . Balfour Paul names "Olave and Gall Macsgillin" as two other possible sons of Somerled, but does not cite the corresponding primary source[1038]. Olav is named in the Chronicon Manniæ (see above) but not Gall.]
>*g) [Bethoc, Prioress of Iona BEATRICE] . Balfour Paul names "Beatrice prioress of Iona" as the daughter of Somerled, but does not cite the corresponding primary source[1039]. Olav is named in the Chronicon Manniæ (see above) but not Gall.]

*2. [Unknown sister of Somerled, of the Isles --] . Her parentage and marriage are confirmed by John of Fordun’s Scotichronicon (Continuator) records that "Summerledus regulus Ergadiæ et sui nepotes, filii…Malcolmi Macheth" rebelled against King Malcolm IV in the first year of his reign[1040]. This assumes that the term "nepos" should be interpreted as "nephews" in that source. Her marriage date is estimated assuming that it is correct that her husband was imprisoned from 1134, before which his two children must have been born. There would be no such restriction on the date if Malcolm son of King Alexander I and Malcolm MacHeth were two different persons as suggested by Duncan[1041]. m ([1130]) [Malcolm MacEth, Earl of Ross MALCOLM MacEth] … ([1105/15]-23 Oct 1168). He was created Earl of Ross in 1162 or before.]
*http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTTISH%20NOBILITY.htm#_ftnref1019

10/26/2020 at 12:15 AM
10/26/2020 at 10:04 AM

Allrighty then!

Getting nothing out of Arran, the supposed son of Somerled, I researched his supposed daughter.

In 1917, Elmer McCurdy selfpublished an Historical Genealogy of the McCurdy Family, and it it we find this:

"Reid says in the history of Bute, "Upon the death of Somerled, the kingdom of the Isles of Man reverted to Godred, whose descendants retained it until it was, long after, finally ceded to Scotland." Those portions however, which had been settled upon the sons of Somerled appears to have been claimed by them. Dugald received Mull, Coll, Tiree, and Jura. Reginald got Islay and Kintire; and Angus obtained Bute, while Arran seems to have been a bone of contention between the latter two and is supposed by Mr. Gregory to have been the occasion of the deadly battle between them in 1192, mentioned in the Chronicles of Man.

In 1210, Angus and his three sons were killed at Skye and Reginald is thought to have claimed both Bute and Arran as he then bestowed Bute, and perhaps Arran also upon Ruari or Roderick whose descendants were called Macruari.

Soon after the death of Angus, Walter Steward, the son and heir of the High Steward of Scotland, married Jane MacSomerled, a daughter of James, the son of Angus, and in her right claimed both the islands of Bute and Arran, but James finally ceded the islands to Scotland."

Ok! So according to this uncited information from a McCurdy in 1917, Jane McCurdy -- we have her at the moment as Jean Makirdy of Isles -- was the great grand daughter of Somerled, through his son Angus, who had a son James.

Therefore.

Arran MacSomerled is actually Angus MacSomerled, and James disappeared.

Arran and his daughter Jean are vexed duplicates and can be deleted.

10/26/2020 at 10:27 AM

I call this information uncited -- it comes two paragraphs after a citation. Perhaps that citation is supposed to cover this paragraph too.

Let's go see -- this is John Eaton Reid's "History of the County of Bute," published in 1864, and it is out of print.

So whether or not the information about Jane MacSomerled is in his book, I cannot say.

10/26/2020 at 10:35 AM

Many thanks :-)

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