GRANT, James in, then of Auchernack, 'Chief of Clan Allan' 2
- Born: About 1550
- Marriage (1): WIFE, First 1
- Marriage (2): CALDER, Janet by 1581 1
- Marriage (3): Unknown
- Died: by 1614 1
Another name for James was GRANT MCALLAN, James.1
User ID: F929.
General Notes:
"The lands of Auchnarrows, Downan, and Port, which, as already stated, formed part of the half of the old barony of Freuchie possessed by Marjory Lude, formed no part of the later barony of Freuchie. They were purchased by the Grants of Freuchie from James Grant of Auchernach in 1586, and shortly after their acquisition, as will afterwards be shown, were incorporated into a new erection of the barony of Cromdale." (page XXXV11)
"Among the wadsetters of Abernethy, there were several families of considerable importance, including that known as the Clan Allan, the chief of which was Auchernach. Others were Gartinmore, Tulloch, Lurg, Glenlochy, and Lettoch." (page lxxiii)
"Twenty years previously, in 1589, the same Laird of Freuchie had purchased from James Grant of Auchernach, the lands of the two Auchnarrows, Downan, and Port. These lands had formerly pertained to the barony of Freuchie, and had been bestowed by Marjory Lude upon her son, Patrick Reoch (or Roy) Grant, by charter, dated 28th July 1473. On his death in 1513, the lands became the property of his grandson and heir, Nicholas Cumming, but they were apprised from him by James Grant of Auchernach." (pages lxxv and Ixxvi)
"Grants of Auchernach, Chiefs of the Clan Allan branch of the Grants.- Gules, a star argent betwixt three antique crowns, or : Crest, a burning hill : Motto, Stand sure. [Matriculated by James Grant of Auchernach, I8th June 1677.] In connection with this branch of the family of Grant, ..two .. documents show the transference of the chieftainship from a senior to a junior line, the Grants of Burnside" (page 532)
from Chiefs of Grant
"Contract matrimoniall betuix Mr. James Grant of Ardnelie, and Katherene Ros dochter to W""- Ros of Kilrawokis, at Kilrawokis the aucht day of Junii 1602 . . . the said Maister James Grant bindis him ... to sufficientlie infeft the said Katherene Ros ... in the liferent of his townis and laudis of Edinwillie and Kethak, with the myll thairof ... to be haldin be twa seueral iufeftments, the ane to be haldin of the said Mr. James himself, and the wther to be haldin of the said Mr. James his immediat superioris, to wit, of the airis of wmquhile Johne Erle of Athol Lord Balwenie . . . and in all and liaill the landis of the Kirktoun and Kirkhill of Keyth . . . to be haldin of my Lord of Spynie . . . For the quhilkis Mr. Wm. Ros of Kilrawokis bindis him to pay to the said Mr. James Grant in doit and tocher, the sowme of fywe thowsand merkis, guid and vsuall Scottis money . . . Befoir thir witnessis Hucheon Ros apperand of Kylrawokis, Hucheon Gray, Wm. Ros and Walter Ros seruitouris to the said Wm Ross of Kylrawokis, Thomas Hay burges of Elgin, Duncane Grant and George Grant sones to James Grant of Auchernik, and John Hay writer of the premissis."
quoted in Family of Kilravock
"In the east end of the parish (of Abernethy) is Conegess, a mortgage pertaining to Mr. William Grant late minister of Abernethie; and a half mile above Conegess, is a bridge of four arches over Spey built on the military road in 1754.
A mile further up is Achernack, for about 300 years the residence of the Head of the Clan Allan. About the year 1560, James Grant of Achernack had a family of eight sons, whereof Duncan was heir: a 2nd, Gregor, founded the family of Gartmore; a 3rd, James, was ancestor of Auchterblair, now Carron; a 4th, John, was the first of the Grants of Easter Lethendie and Burnside; a 5th, Allan, was ancestor of Mulachard; a 6th, Mungo of Conegess; a 7th, Robert of Nevie; and the 8th, Andrew.
Near to Auchernack is a passage boat.
At the mouth of Nethie is Coulnakyle, a pleasant seat, where Sir James Grant has built a neat new house.
A mile up on Nethie, is Letoch, the mortgage of a gentleman of the Clan Allan; and a mile further up is Lurg, the seat of Robert Grant of Lurg, the 5th descent from Duncan heir of Grant, who died anno 1581.
Beyond Nethie, on the river Spey, is Gartinmore a mortgage of John Grant. "
from The History of the Province of Moray
Note:
The story of James Grant of Auchernack and his eight sons may belong to myth and not hard fact. It is typical of the kind of story to 'explain' the division of land among people who are related to one another. It is used in this database but should be treated with caution, though this is not to say that there are not some real facts at the heart of the myth.
The dates of some of the suggested relatives are not compatible, and the names listed above may be descendants of a later generation. An example of this is that George and Gregor are often conflated and the two names applied to the same person, but it seems Gregor may a couple of generations later than George. If this patriarch, James Grant, was the father of eight sons they may have been sons of different women, and possibly not all born in a married relationship. 3
Research Notes:
AUCHERNACK
Auchernack is situated in Abernethy and Kincardine parish between Nethy Bridge and Grantown-on-Spey.
There is also a place called Auchernach in Glen Nochty, north of Strathdon.
The Chiefs of Grant uses both spellings when referring to the Grants of the line that produced James Grant, Chamberlain to James Grant 7th of Freuchie.
ORIGINS
For an interesting discussion of the possible background of this family see https://clangrant-us.org/test_site/sites/default/files/clangrant_files/docs/Branch%20-%20Clan%20Allan.pdf The Clan Allan, the Grants of Auchernack and Burnside.
A summary account is provided by Shaw in The History of the Province of Moray, that contains the germ of the possible origin:
"I have dwelt thus much on the descents of the House of Grant, that the branches of it might appear, and to avoid repetitions. Besides the branches above-named, there are other three that claim a higher antiquity, viz.: - The Clan Alan, or family of Achernack; the Clan Chiaran, or family of Dillachaple ; and the Clan Phadrick, or family of Tullochgorm. These contend that they sprung from the House of Grant before they came from Stratherick into Strathspey. That the ancient residence of the Grants was in Stratherick cannot reasonably be questioned. The names of their ancient or old seats in Stratherick (as Gartmore, Gartbeg, Dillachapel, &c.) are given to their new seats in Strathspey. But at what precise time they came into Strathspey (surely not all at one time) I pretend not to determine. The Laird of Grant was designed of Freuchie before 1479, and I think it probable that they began to come to Speyside about, or before the year 1400." 4 5
James married First WIFE.1 (First WIFE was born about 1560.)
Marriage Notes:
By the mid-16th century, the chieftain of Clan Allan had moved his family across the River Spey to Auchernack, in the Lordship of Abernethy. According to Shaw, James Grant in Auchernack had eight sons. His eldest son and heir was Duncan Grant. Other sons reportedly established cadet families of varying longevity. [....]
James Grant 'in Aichkernik', also known as McAllan, is mentioned in a remission by King James VI to John Grant of Freuchie and his clan in 1569. This is the earliest known reference to the chieftain of Clan Allan. He was to become a prominent member of the clan and a close advisor to the Laird of Freuchie. McAllan was apparently married twice. His wife in 1581 was Janet Calder. [....]
"James Grant "in Auchernack" died sometime during the years 1606-1614 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Duncan .... James Grant McAllan's eldest son and heir, Duncan Grant in Auchernack, was wadsetter in Lettoch in 1623 and died circa 1638. (Dixon, opere citato) "
from The Clan Allan
James next married Janet CALDER by 1581.1 (Janet CALDER was born about 1562.)
Marriage Notes:
"James Grant in Aichkernik, also known as McAllan, is mentioned in a remission by King James VI to John Grant of Freuchie and his clan in 1569. This is the earliest known reference to the chieftain of Clan Allan. He was to become a prominent member of the clan and a close advisor to the Laird of Freuchie. McAllan was apparently married twice. His wife in 1581 was Janet Calder. " [....]
"James Grant 'in Auchernack' died sometime during the years 1606-1614 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Duncan. Other known offspring were Gregor, the eldest son by his wife Janet Calder; Allan who was alive in 1605; William who was tenant in Ochcork in Finlarig; and a daughter named Agnes."
from The Clan Allan 1
James next married.
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