Clan Rosich, Na Gille Andras

The Ross Clan

Ros is a celtic word, discriptive of a brow, or point of land, and is found in the different countries which have been inhabited by that clan. The name, therefore, as a personal designation, is local, and an individual holding the land, or residing there, was distingused by the preposition de; hence there must have been individuals of this name in Ireland, Wales and even England.

The old Rosses of Scotland, however, were perfectly distinct from the others, and from their possessions lying in the extensive districts so called, the presumption must be that it was their original seat. They are, at the same time, known in the Highlands as Clan Gille Andras, or the offspring of the follower of St. Andrew, one of the ancient earls having devoted himself to that saint.

Their chief had great power, and obtained the title of earl at a very early age. In 1235, the Galwegians having risen in rebellion, Fearchar Mac a t~Sagairt, or son of the priest, then earl of Ross, went against them, and having assaulted their army, defeated them with great slaughter.

Alastair, who was earl in the middle of the thirteenth century, was grand justiciar of the kingdom, and his son, William, fell at Bannochburn, 1314, leaving a son, Aodh, or Hugh, also fell in 1333, at the battle of Halidown Hill. William, his successor, left no male heir, and his eldest daughter, Eupham, having married Sir Walter Leslie, of Leslie, Aberdeenshire. He, in her right, laid claim to the earldom of Ross.

His grand-daughter, an only child, entered a convent and resigned both title and territories in favour of her grand-uncle, the Earl of Buchan; but Walter, having had a daughter, Margaret, who married Donald, Lord of the Isles, immediately assumed the title, took possession of the lands by right of his wife, and made strenuoous preparations to vindicate his claim.

Mustering their hereditary followers ~ "the Warmen of the Isles", and raising by summons the clansmen on the mainland, the whole army joined together at Inverness.

The first campaign was a raid through Morayland, to which no resistance was given. They continued to advance with an army of close to 10,000, and the sacking of Aberdeen was though to be Donald's ulterior object. But, having marched to within sixteen miles of the city, they were met on the Muir of Harlaw by the lord of Mar, with about the same number of men.

A bloody, protracted battle followed. Victory was doubtful; Donald, by leaving the field, suffered the consequences of defeat, but Mar was unable to pursue. His losses were said to have been around 700, and those of the Highlanders about 900, many of them chiefs and daoine~uasal of note. Leslie of Balquhain, a Baron who lived in the vicinity, fell with seven of his sons.

The claim of Donald must have been held good by the various chiefs who followed his standard, and King James the 1st. on return from his captivity in England, created his son the Earl of Ross. On the forfeiture of John of the Isles in 1476, the earldom reverted to the crown, and James, second son of King James the 3rd. was invested with the title of Duke of Ross.

He soon resigned his whole lands, with the reservation of the Tomain nam Mod, or Moot Hills. Subsequently the dukedom went through several parties.

Returning to the decendants of the original family: William, last earl, had a brother, Hugh, of Rarichies, who flourished in about 1360, and received a charter of the lands of Balnagouan, in 1374, and on whom, by clan law, the chiefship devolved. The influence of his niece's husband prevented the open assertion of his claim, and Paul mac Tire, a near relation of the deceased earl, took command of the clan.

The Balnagouan branch at last resumed their acknowleged authority, but their power was sadly deminished, and the clan was nearly annihilated in a fued with the MacKays. At last the Rosses, infuriated with repeated outrages, marched against their enemies, who were led by Aongas MacAodh.

Finding themselves under fierce attack they took shelter in the church of Tarbat, where several were slain, along with Aongas, and many others were burnt to death in the building.

To avenge this'cruel slaughter' Ian riach MacAodh, assisted by some Sutherlands, began to ravage the lands of the Rosses with unappeasable fury. The Laird of Balnagouan collected all his forces and met with the invaders. After a long desperate struggle the Rosses were utterly owerthrown. Alistair, the chief, seventeen gentlemen, and a great number of others were slain.

This battle took place at Blar Ault an Charish, and the clan seems never to have recovered from it's effects.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, David Balnagouan finding himself the last of his race, sold the estate to General Charles Ross, brother of Lord Ross of Hawkshead, parties in no way related. Ross of Pitcalnie is now the representitive of the old earls.

In the twelfth century a knight of the name of Ross, came from Yorkshire to Scotland, and settled on the lands of Hawkshead, of which family we find John de Ross obtaining a salvus conductus through England to pay his respects and devotions at the shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury, in 1362. These lands were of considerable note among the barons, and were ennobled by the title Lord Ross in the time of King James the 4th.

In william, fourteenth earl, who died in 1754, the title became extinct. Sir James lockhart of Carstairs, who, by Scotish law, in marrying an heiress, gives the husband her name is ancester of of Lockhart Ross of Balgagouan, Bart. He commanded the Thirty-Eighth regiment and was wounded at Colloden. In 1427 the earls of Ross brought into the field 2000 men; in 1715 only 300, but, in 1745 it was 500.