HISTORY - SCOTLAND

Full Text of Isle of Bute in Olden Time 

The above link is well worth the read.  it includes the following excerpt regarding the McCaws:

1 70 Bute in the Olden Thne. 

Barrone was in 1419 the property of John Stewart the 
Sheriff, being held on a ward tenure from the Steward of 
Scotland. In the middle of the fifteenth century part of it 
was held by the king's ranger, John Scott, in payment of his 
official duties. At the end of the century James IV. granted 
the whole lands to David Lyndesay and his wife Eufame 
Stewart. 

In the redistribution of lands in 1506, Barrone was divided 
between Gilcrist Makwerich of Achamor, Gilcrist Mak- 
werich (or Macmorich of Beallelon), Archibald Stewart, and 
Gilcrist Makconochy. Before 1554 the larger portion of 
these lands had been disponed to Sheriff James Stewart 

Garrach, or The Garachtys, comprising North Garochty (now 
Plan) and South Garochty, has been tenanted from time imme- 
morial by the family of Makkaw. Three tenants of the name 
received charters in 1506 — Gilnew in North Garochty, and 
Gilpatrick and John in South Garochty. 

Sheriff Sir James Stewart obtained South Garrachty from 
John M'Caw by disposition dated 28th December 1590. In 
1699 Bannatyne of Lubas sold the Sheriff a part of Garrachty 
and Glencalum. 

Arch. M'Caw sold his half of North Garrachty to the Earl 
in 1737. 

Arch. M'Caw sold Glencalum to the Earl in 1707. 

From a clare constat executed by the Marquess in 1796, it 
appears that Daniel, son of James, son of Daniel, son of Gil- 
new, was then portioner of the west part of South Gar- 
rachty, holding in feu-farm off the Marquess for the yearly 
payment of — 

1. 25 shillings Scots at Whitsunday and Martinmas ; 

2. I boll 3 firlots of oats, and 



The Barons of Bute. 1 7 1 

3. 2 bolls bear between Christmas and Candlemas. 

4. One-fifth, one-twentieth, and one-thirtieth part of a 

lardner mart at each Martinmas in name of feu- 
duty, deducting three-ninths on account of marts 
and oats from feu -duty; heirs-male doubling feu- 
duty on entry. 


By a settlement in 1845, James M*Kay (the last of the 
Mackays), portioner, disponed the lands of South Garrachty to 
John M'Kechnie, eldest son of the deceased James M'Kechanie, 
merchant in Rothesay, and Mary M'Kay, and to his heirs ; 
failing whom, to the heirs of James M*Kechanie, on condition 
that they took the name of M*Kay. On i6th April 1875 the 
Rev. John M*Kechnie entered into possession, and on his 
decease in 1877, his widow, Mrs Mackay, succeeded to the 
property. 

In 1828, the Marquess's property extended to 103 acres 2 
roods 18 falls. 

In 1828, James M'Kay's property extended to 70 acres 2 
roods. 

MCCAWS OF GARRACHTY

According to family tradition McCaws come from the Isle of Bute and belong to the clan of the Stewarts of Bute.

Tradition is substantiated by a report on 'The M'Caws of Garrachty' written by Adam Dick MacBeth in 1908, now in the Genealogical Collection of the NY Public Library (ARD). MacBeth writes that the lands of Garrachty, occupying the southwestern extremities of the Isle of Bute, belonged to the M'Caws for four centuries, and possibly longer.

Throughout the ages, the Isle of Bute had been divided into 99 land holdings. Two of the landholdings known as North Garrachty and South Garrochty belonged throughout the centuries to M'Caws. The M'Caws were often called 'Barons of Bute' even though they were only occasionally entitled to the honorific, as Barons had to own 70+ hectares of land. Boundaries of North and South Garrachty are shown on Wilson's 'Guide to Rothsay and the Island of Bute' (1848) and mention is made in 'Bute in Olden Times' and John Blain's 'History of Bute'.

I understand the name McCaw translates from the Gaelic as 'Servant of the Saints' or as the 'Saint's man', and has reference to Adamnan (@ 624-704 AD) who was the ninth Abbot of the Monastery of Iona, who, in about 690 AD wrote 'The Life of Saint Columba' one of the earliest writings of the early Celtic Christian Church. The name probably alludes to the ancient ruins of a 6th Century monastery standing on a hill in the midst of Garrachty midway between North and South Garrachty. The ruin is now known as Saint Blaine's Chapel. Adamnan is said to have visited this holy place when Bute was still part of the Kingdom of Dalriada.

The M'Caw holdings of North and South Garrachty are very well documented. In 1506 a charter, or instrument of sasine infefting Alexander Stewart of Kerequhonlich (Kelwhinlech in 1908) recites the grants contained in the King's (James IV) charter, and the words referring to the lands of Garrachty (Gaelic for rough field house) are as follows: "Gillenow M'Caw, terras de le North Garrochach; Gilpatrick M'Caw alteram dididiatem terrarum de South Garrochachi, Johanni M'Cawm alteram dimidiatem dictarum."

Gillenow M'Caw was granted the land of North Garrachtie (also known as North Garrochty, Garrachtymor, and - as of 1908- called 'the plan' (flat place). There is no descent copied for this holding.

Gilpatrick and John M'Caw were each granted half the lands of South Garrachty, which in the reign of Alexander III, were valued at 50 shillings a year. The descent for the two portions of South Garrachties (also known as Yonder Garrachy or Garrochach, or Garoch) was listed as follows:

The M'Caws of the Southernmost portion of South Garrochtie:
1506: Gilpatrick M'Caw (or John)
1568: Gilchrist M'Caw
1603: Alexander M'Caw
????: Patrick M'Caw
1642: Alexander M'Caw
1649: John M'Caw
1677: Patrick M'Caw

The M'Caws of the Northwestrn (70 acre) portion of South Garrachtie:
1506: John (or Gilpatrick) M'Caw
1568: Gilnew M'Caw
1602: John M'Caw (son of Alexander)
1647: John M'Caw (emigrated to Ireland)
1686: Gilnew M'Caw (son of John. Married Jean Stewart, dau of James Stewart of Lagizean)
????: Daniel M'Caw (son of Gilnew)
1745: James M'Caw (son of Daniel)
1796: Daniel M'Caw (son of James)
1845: James M'Caw (son of Daniel. Married Elizabeth Barbour. Had a sister, Ephemia M'Caw)

James M'Caw, who was also known as James McKay (pronounced McKye) died in 1858. His wife, Elzabeth Barbour died in 1875. In 1890 South Garrochty, including St. Blaine's Chapel on the hill, was purchased by a Sir William McEwan, a prominent brain surgeon from Glascow, for use as his country residence and as a model farm. More recently (1980s) it has been owned by an English Judge : J. Irving Smith, The Garrochty, Kingarth, Isle of Bute, Scotland PA20 9LX (Telephone 070083-667).

As the Isle of Bute is a tiny place, it's 99 land holdings now owned almost exclusively by the current Marquis of Bute, there has long been a tradition of younger sons leaving the Island to seek their fortunes. holdings passed from elder son to elder son. Younger sons made their way to Glascow or Belfast or farther. Large numbers of men from Bute made passage from the nearby Scottish port of Largs to Belfast during the 18th and 19th Centuries. The records in Belfast are spotty. There is, however, an account of a William and a James McCaw arrested for their role in the McKee murders in March 1799 an event arising from the Rebellion of the United Irishmen in 1798 (a protestant-led, middle -class revolt patterned upon the recent French Revolution). William was executed and James was sent as a prisoner to Australia.

Irish and Scottish connection 1425

J ames the Fat.

James Mor Stewart Caned lames the Fat( Scottish Gaelic.' Seaman Mor)
1400-1429 or 1449 0 was the youngest son ofMurdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany and lsabella of
Lennox, When his father and brothers were executed by King James 1 for treason in 1425 James
led a rebellion against the king, taking the town of Dumbarton and killing the keeper of
Dumbarton Castle. His success was short lived and soon fled to Ireland, where he would spend
the remainder of his life in exile. A second attempt at rebellion in 1429 saw the fleet sail to
Ireland" to convey him home that he might be King" ,but he died before the attempt could be
made, lames's eldest son James "BEG" Stewart was able to secure a royal pardon and return to
Scotland, and was an ancestor of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich on Loehearnside , whose family
history is recounted by Sir Walter Scott in A Legend of Montrose. His youngest son.Andrew
Stewart, 1 sr Lord A vondale became Lord Chancellor of Scotland in14S9, becoming one of the
leading servants of King James 111 of Scotland.

Escape to Ireland

lames the Fat's rebellion was short lived, and in the end he was able to do nothing
to save his father and brother who were found guilty of treason by ajury of Knight
and peers ,and executed after a perfunctory trial. At a stroke, almost all the lames
family was wiped out. Only his mother, Isabella of Lennox survived the Kings
wrath. Later in 1425 threatened by the royal expedition, lames fled to Antrim
Ireland, accompanied by the illegitimate sons of his dead brother Waiter of

Lennox, to escape the Kings vengeance, Few details of his esca e surviv ~.

seems likely that he sought assistance om e ampbell's of Loch awe, to whom

he was closely linked by blood and marria~_____ - __ 0_'0,

Family and Legacy

In Ireland, lames became involved with an unknown woman with the surname
MacDonald; Some sources suggest she was one of the daughters of lain Mor
Tanistair MacDonald. 1 st Earl of Antrim, the son of John Macdonald, Lord of the
Isles and Earl ofRoss. lames did not marry, but had seven illegitimate children.

lames "BEG" Stewart ( born 1410---1470 ) was able to secure a royal pardon and
return to Scotland ,He married Annabel Buchannan, daughter ofPatrick, 14th lord
of Buchanan , and was granted the estate" Baldorran " from his cousin JaM
Stewart Damby in 1457. He is the ancestor of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich on
Lochearnnside .whose family history is recounted by Sit Walter Scott in A Legend
of Morose.

Murdoch Stewart, born c 1427 in Antrim, Ireland.
Arthur Stewart, born 1429 in Antrim, Ireland
Robert Stewart,bom 1433,in Antrim, Ireland
Marilda Stewart,bom 1435.

Alexandra Stewart,bom 1437, in Antrim, Ireland.

Andrew Stewart, 1 st Lord A vondale Born c 14 38in Antrim ,Ireland He became Lord
of A vondale in 1459,and Lord chancellor of Scotland in the same Year ,becoming
one of the leading servants of King James III of Scotland .He held the office of
Chancellor for 25 years .dying in 1488,He had no children,