Official Clan MacTavish Society

                                    since 1997

International a.k.a.  Dunardry Heritage Association supports Clan MacTavish interests worldwide and includes both the Dunardry and Stratherrick Clan MacTavish sites.

MacTavish International a.k.a.  Dunardry Heritage Association supports Clan MacTavish interests worldwide and includes both the Dunardry and Stratherrick Clan MacTavish sites.

Reiving (cattle rustling) had become a way of life of the Highlanders. The obtaining of cattle and other animals from another clan (reiving) was an understood (if impractical) and accepted way of life and did not make the clans who participated in it "thieves" anymore than a Sioux or an Apache brave in the Western US. The young clan Chief could prove his worth with a successful raid into hostile territory. Although this led to may conflicts, 'reiving' of cattle had been done for centuries and by almost all clans.

With this in mind we are nearly set for the story of the massacre at Glencoe. Of all the bloody incidents that stained the history of Highland clans, one above all, still has the power to shock, after more than 300 years.

The story of the MacDonalds of Glencoe thus begins in 1692. The MacIan MacDonalds were active in many unsavory affairs including support for Montrose in his many campaigns for the Jacobite cause, and the reiving of cattle from lands to the south - Campbell lands in Argyll. In the eyes of the southern people, they were a clan to make an example of. They MacIan MacDonald's were a small clan of no more than 300-400 strong. They'd lived in these lands for centuries and felt themselves the owners of the area.

In February of 1692, under government orders, a regiment of government soldiers from the Duke of Argyll's (Campbell) militia, came into the glen. Most of the troops were Campbells, or septs of the Campbells [James Hunter, Author/historian], but the strict code of hospitality required the MacDonald Chief, and his people, to give food and shelter to the unwelcomed guests. But as will be seen, this was no social visit.

                                   Tragedy at Glen Coe (Glencoe)
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In 1688, William of Orange the Dutch Prince, invited to Britain as King, for fear of the Stuarts, asked the English Parliament to oust the current King James VII of Scotland and James II of England because of James II's own rule that stated: "...attending a Covenanting (a secret meeting of Scots Presbyterians) act of worship was a capital crime", and many Scots Presbyterians paid the penalty, losing any love for James II they might have had. James II alienated all the peoples support he depended on, and he was ousted from the throne of England and Scotland in 1688, the last of the Stewart Kings.

He had been ousted, primarily, by William of Orange, a Dutchman invited to England and with the strong of encouragement and support of the Parliament. Whilst James II accepted his exile, others did not, and they fought back. The intensely brutal battles went back and forth. Scots Protestants fought English Protestants, both fought the Catholics.

Many Highlanders, who still had Catholic and/or Episcopalian beliefs, or at least empathy for their Irish cousins, fought with zeal against the English church and especially against the Lowland Scots Covenanters (later Presbyterians). Here is an eyewitness account of the Highland anger from battle of Killecrankie: "The regular (English and Lowland Scots governmental British) troops followed their routine of firing a musket volley and then fixing bayonets to charge. They had no time to fix the bayonets before the wild Highlanders were on them, screaming and flailing their Claymores" (6 foot 2-handed sword). "General MacKay's , (British) men were killed in the hundreds".

The fierce battles went on.......................