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John MacDonald (Glas)¹

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• Marriage*: John MacDonald (Glas) married Catherine MacLean before 1805 in Scotland.²
• Biography*: According to Drummer on Foot:
  
  The progenitor of this family in this place was John McDonald (Glas), Iain Mac Eoghain Glas, as he was called in Gaelic. It is not to be inferred that he received this distinctive addition to his name here, on account of complexion, or other peculiar cause. He carried it with him from the “Old Land”, as an appellation connected with his ancestors, - for at least two centuries previous.
  
  He was descended from the “Clan Ranold”, (Clan’n Raounill na Ceapach), a sept of the McDonalds. This was a noted branch of that clan, had its own distinguishing flag and “coat of arms”, and most devoted to their people and brave in any emergency.
  
  In 1615 Sir James McDonald of Islay attempted to wrest his lands from a neighboring clan, but failed, and was imprisoned in Edinburgh. Alexander, called Alasdair nan Cleas, the chief of these McDonalds, with Ronald (Raonull Og) and the son of McDonald of Moidart, resolved to set their kinsman, Sir James, free. Alasdair nan Cleas contrived to make a key to open the prison, and Sir James was set at liberty. He had to leave the country, however, and escape to Spain in 1616. Alexander (Alasdair nan Cleas), and his second son, Donald Glas, joined him there in 1618. Here we are first introduced to the distinction – Glas, and find how faithful they were to the chiefs of the Isles.
  
  Sir James was pardoned in 1620 and allowed to return to London, where he died in 1626. Alasdair nan cleas was also pardoned in 1620, and allowed to return to Lochaber.
  I have not seen when or by what privileges did Donald Glas return, but it is known that his son, Alexander, (Alasdair MacDhomhnuill Ghlais), became the rightful heir to the Keppoch estate about the year 1662 or “63”, and now, was “Fear na Ceapach.” Alas, he was not permitted to enjoy it long, for he and a younger brother were made the victims of that treacherous and inhuman murder known as the “Keppoch Murder,” or “Mort na Ceapach.”
  
  These two brothers were sent to Paris, France, when quite young, to be educated, and were absent from the estate and tenantry during their minority. During this period the estate was suffered to be ruled by cousins of theirs, brothers’ sons, to the number of seven. The latter it seems, considered their own interests, rather than that of the people, and having tasted power and authority, not only ruled with an iron hand, but evidently, united the design of usurping the position of the young heir, who having now attained his majority, returned with his younger brother from France to take charge of the estate.
  
  Being rationally of kind and genial disposition, and now educated and refined, they were not slow in discovering that the people had been illused by their “interim” rulers. They immediately set to work to improve the conditions of the Tuath, (peasantry), encouraging and assisting them to build more comfortable houses and make for better life conditions generally.
  
  Their envious and conspiring cousins now saw plainly that in a short time the young ruler and his brother would gain the affection and esteem of the people, and that their own cherished ambition would miscarry. They therefore decided to put them out of the way, by stealthily entering their bedroom at night, where the kind and well disposed young boys were asleep, and most heartlessly thrusting their merciless dirks through their hearts. This was how the Donald Glas line was subverted on the estate of the Clan Ranold family in the Keppoch. Naturally the surviving descendants of Donald Glas were scattered, and evidently some of them settled in Moidart, whence came the subject of this sketch to this country about the year 1805. Wherever they went however, they clung to the distinction “Glas”, down the centuries, and John (Iain MacEoghain) brought it with him to this country. I am informed that in affixing his name to any document he always insisted on having “Glas” appended. It is used to this day as a distinction for his descendants and is likely to be perpetuated. They are known as the McDonalds (Grey), but were I one of them, I would still use “Glas”.
  
  The seven murderers were still in the Keppoch, and continued their rule of terror for two years, but retribution overtook them. It may be news to a few that this was brought about by two bards, John McDonald (Iain Lom), and Archibald McDonald (An Claran Mabacb).
  
  The former (Iain Lom) was of the Clan Ronald family, and an ardent adherent of the murdered heirs of the estate. He resided in Lochaber and was known as the “Lochaber bard”. His heart bled at the inhuman treatment of the young sons of Donald Glas, and the harsh rule of his people in the Keppoch, at the hands of the murderous usurpers. He resolved it should be avenged. He used all his powers of persuasion to arouse the Keppoch McDonalds against them but failed, not because they loved them, but because they feared them. They were really powerful, and held the people in trembling subjection. For the same reason, he failed to enlist the sympathy and assistance of the Glengarry Chieftain. He then proceeded to Sir Alexander McDonald of Slate. One account says it was to Sir James McDonald of the Isles. I am inclined to think it was the former. After much persuasion, Sir Alexander consented, and sent a message to his son, the bard Archibald McDonald, who was living in North Uist, to go to Iain Lom’s assistance.
  
  The two bards arranged to meet at Inver Lochy, about thirteen miles from the Castle at Keppoch. Iain Lom was a great schemer; Archibald (Cearan Mabacb) was a better soldier. He took with him one hundred and twenty of the bravest men of North Uist; Iain Lom mustered about fifty of the Keppoch McDonalds. He had ascertained about that the seven murderers were that very night in the castle. They travelled through the night, arrived and surrounded the castle. The door was forced open. Archibald was the first to cross the threshold; he was followed by a stalwart Lochaber man, carrying a torch, and then a sufficient number of the company. They went from room to room till they discovered the now trembling culprits. Forthwith they carried them out, held a short court martial. Iain Lom being the Judge who sentenced them to the same death they themselves had meted to the young heirs of Donald Glas, about two years before. This was quickly executed, and the seven heads were soon rolling on the grass. The Keppoch Murder was avenged. The murder was committed in 1623; it was avenged in 1665.
  
  To us here, two hundred and fifty years afterwards, the method of punishment would appear cruel. We must consider conditions. Murder merited punishment then as it does now. It is now punished by a refined system called Law. This system would be of no avail in punishing such crimes at that time and place. Crime would go unpunished. Murder and rapine would run riot. Iain Lom was right. He was intelligent. He had enforced, for the punishment and suppression of crime, the only means, the only law at his disposal. I say, “Brevo, Lochaber Bard.”.¹
• Death*: John MacDonald (Glas) died on 14 April 1850 in South River, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.²
• Burial*: He was buried after 14 April 1850 in South River Cemetery, South River, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.²
• Birth*: He was born circa 1871 in Moidart, Inverness-shire, Scotland.^1,2