STEWART, Unknown of Auchorachan ¹

   User ID: J497.

  General Notes:

According to Burke this line of Stewarts was "an illegitimate branch of the Stewarts of the clan Allan, derived from the Earls of Athol, or Badenock."

This seems a simple statement of descent but it has its difficulties.

In the 12th century the tirle 'Earl of Atholl' was held by a Celtic (rather than Norman) family. Badenoch was also linked with the Comyn family, and Malcolm, 2nd Earl of Atholl married Hextilda, widow of Richard Comyn. In the 14th century David of Strathbogie. Earl of Atholl, married Joan Cornyn, eldest daughter of John Cornyn,
Lord of Badenoch, whom Robert Bruce had killed in 1306. After Bruce's victory at Bannockburn, the Comyn power waned and the title passed back to the crown.

The 'Earl of Atholl' title passed through a number of creations. It was held in the 14th century by a Campbell, then by a Douglas. The Stewarts held it after that, first by the grandson of Robert Bruce, son of his daughter Marjory who married a Stewart, who became King Robert II of Scots, then by his son John, who became King Robert III of Scots. and later by David Stewart, grandson of Robert II, who died in 1402. Other sons of Robert II held it: Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany who died in 1420, and Walter Stewart, who died in 1437. The 8th creation of the title was held, along with the designation 'Lord of Balveny', by the Stewart half-brother of King James II; this produced five earls inheriting in the same family. The 9th creation, along with the Stewart designation, 'Lord Innermeath', was held in the 16th century. Later the Murray family held the title, leading eventually to Duke of Atholl.

Alexander Stewart (1343-1394), Earl of Buchan, son of Robert II of Scots by his first wife, was known to later history but apparently not in his own time, as the "Wolf of Badenoch'. The 'Lord of Badenoch' title became forfeit after the defeat of the Comyns, and later was incorporated in the lands of Randolph, Earl of Moray. After the 3rd Earl of Moray's death it again passed to the crown. Alexander Stewart probably received it from the benefit of his father's second marriage, to Euphemia Countess of Moray. Alexander was officially made Lord of Badenoch in March 1371, on his father's accession to the throne.

As well as his marriage to Euphemia, which had its own problems, Alexander Stewart had a mistress, otherwise described as a handfasted wife, Mairead inghean Eachainn. It simply means she was not his wife by church law or riyual. Mairead cohabited with Alexander in the last decades of the century, and together they had a number of sons including Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. Other names mentioned are Duncan and Robert. Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar, also held the title Lord of Badenoch between 1427 and 1435. This younger Alexander Stewart had two marriages, but died without any legitimate heirs. He had illegitimate children, including Thomas, who died before August 1432, and Margaret who married Lachlan Maclean, chief of the Macleans of Duart. ^{1 2 3}

  Research Notes:

AUCHORACHAN

Also 'Achorachan'.
A number of prominent families were linked at different times to Auchorachan, including Gordons, Grants and Stewarts.

"Auchorachan is about a mile north by northeast of where the Burn of Nevie flows from the east into the River Livet - and to the immediate east of Highway B9008, about half way between Auchbreck to the north and Tomnavoulin to the south, which are about 3 miles apart. The Glenlivet Distillery is about 1 1/2 miles west by northwest of Auchorachan - across the River Livet and just beyond Blairfindy Castle. Dufftown is about 14 miles to the northeast of Auchorachan on Highway B9009. The Braes of Glenlivet are about 9 miles to the southeast of Auchorachan."

Note:

For further information about Auchorachan see Research Notes in the file 'William Gordon of Bogfoutain, at Auchorachan, Jacobite 1745; (user ID J510) on this site. ⁴

Unknown married.