Alexander Chisholm, 19th of Chisholm

Biographical Summary

"XIX. Alexander Chisholm

Generally known as "An Siosal Og," or the Young Chisolm. On the 26th of November, 1657, we find a disposition by William Fraser of Culbokie (who on the 22nd of February, 1636, acquired the lands in question from Hugh Lord Lovat), by Hugh Fraser his son, and by Christina Chisholm, his wife, all with one consent, in favour of Alexander Chisholm, of the lands of Wester Comar, alias Comar Croy. This disposition was implemented by two charters of the same date, followed by an instrument of sasine, dated the 3ist of May and registered, as in the last case, on the 8th of June, 1658. He has a precept of Clare Constat of these lands from Lovat's trustees already mentioned, dated the 23rd of March, 1678, upon which a sasine follows on the 8th, which is duly registered on the I5th of November in the same year.

Alexander is served as heir general on the 19th of June, 1677, and has a sasine following thereon on the 11th of April, 1678, duly registered in the Particular Register for Inverness-shire on the 19th of the same month. On the 23rd of March in the same year he has a precept of Clare Constat by Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, third Earl of Seaforth, Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat, and Hugh Fraser of Belladrum, Lord Lovat's trustees, as heir of his father, Alexander, of the town lands of Comar Croy or Wester Comar. Sasine follows on this precept on the 8th of November in the same year, and it is registered in the Particular Register of Sasines for the county on the 15th of that month. On the same date he has a similar precept from the same parties of the lands of Easter and Wester Erchless and of Comar Kirkton, with a sasine following thereon, duly registered on the 18th of November, 1678. He was Sheriff-Depute of the county of Inverness from 1689 to 1695.

In 1689 General Livingston found it necessary to send troops to disperse bodies of Highlanders, who, after the battle of Killiecrankie, which was fought in that year, continued in arms for the House of Stuart. A detachment of the Strathnaver and Grant regiments, from Brahan Castle, and the garrison of Castle Leod, accompanied by a party of horse under Lieutenant-Colonel Lumsden, were ordered to march against one of these bodies of Highlanders who had collected in Strathglass, and taken possession of Erchless Castle, the seat of the Chisholms, in which they resolved to defend themselves. It was, however, carried by storm, and a great quantity of provisions found within it was secured. Major Mackay, with four companies of the Grants, was left to defend the Castle and as a check on the disaffected, but the following summer he and his garrison were attacked by some five hundred Highlanders, by whom they would have been compelled to surrender had not Livingston promptly marched from Inverness and relieved them by a successful attack on the besieging Highlanders.

Alexander married the eldest daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, I. of Applecross, with issue

• John, his heir and successor.
• Theodore, of whose family in their order.
• Jean, who married Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, I. of Coul, created a baronet on the 16th of October, 1673, by Charles II., with issue
  • Alexander, his heir and successor
  • Simon, first of the Mackenzies of Torridon and Lentran
  • John, first of Delvine
  • Roderick, who married a daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, VIII. of Davochmaluag
  • a daughter, who married Colin Mackenzie, IV. of Redcastle, with issue
  • Agnes, who married Sir John Munro of Fowlis, with issue
  • Jane, who married Alexander Baillie, IX. of Dunain
  • Christian, who married John Dunbar, younger of Bennetsfield
  • Lilias, who married John Munro of Inverawe, with issue
  • Mary, who married Kenneth Mackenzie, VI. of Davochmaluag, with issue; and
  • a daughter, who married Gordon of Cluny.

He was succeeded by his eldest son."

SOURCE: History of the Chisholms, with genealogies of the principal families of the name; Alexander Mackenzie; 1891; page 56