Count Von Moltke a Maclean of Coll.

Evening Star, Issue 7161, 15 March 1887, Page 2

Count Von Moltke a Maclean of Coll.

Mte Mary Mackellar, the poetess, sends the following interesting genealogical noth to the ‘ Scotsman’

Having travelled one day lately from Inverness to Banavie by steamer, I heard two gentlemen discuss the warlike policy or the so-called Dane, Count Von Moltke. Wo were at that time passing the farmhouse of Strone, situated on the Caledonian Canil, on Lochiel’s estate ; and the conversation referred to recalled to me thdt this was the very spot which might be called the cradle of Count Von Moltke’s race. After the battle of Inverlochy, fought in 1431, between the Royal forces and the followers of the Lord of the Isles, Donald Duhh, Chief of Lochiel, was so oppressed that he had to flee for hia life to Ireland, and the Lord of the Isles gaVe his lands to John Garve Maclean, the first laird Of Coll, and brother to the fourth laird of Duart, chief of the Macleans. The Camerons fought bravely to keep possession bt their lands, ahd their chief returned to defend them; bat still the Macleans claimed Lochaber, or at least the extensive parts ol it granted to them by the Lords of the Isles, John Garve died, and his son (the second laird of Coll) entered into possession, and carried on the fend more bitterly than his father. At last * they fought a decisive battle at Gorpacb, to which place they had recently come to reside, with the intention of keeping possession of the place. The Macleans were sorely defeated and slain, and among the fallen was their chieftain, John, the second laird of Coll. The Macgillpnies, of Strone, seem at this time to have acted against the interests of their chief, Lochiel, and to have secured the favor of the Lord of the Isles, for the names . of their lauds are not in the charter that was given to John Garve for the other places in Lochaber. On this occasion, then, when the Macleans were defeated, the young widow... fled With her Child to Strone, and placed him--under the protectioh of the Macgilloniea, who acted a most friendly part to him, and reared him carefully until in the coarse Of time he was restored to his kinsmen. Re became a stalwart man in the coarse of years, and he was known as John of Locnaberi lain Abracb, which term continnedas the patronymic of the lairds of Coll until they ceased to exist as such. Count Von Moltke is the direct desoen- ; dant of this child so kindly sheltered'm Strone; in fact, be is a Maclean in the house of Mac lain Abrach, hia grandfather having been a son of one.of the lairds of Coll. The grandfather and one of his brothers went aa young men to Copenhagen, -where they were successful in pushing on to good positions, and the Count has proved true to the warlike proclivities of his race. The Count Is not the only distinguished descendant •of i lain Abrach whose name has been known to this generation, for the late Hobart Pasha was a great-grandson of the laird of.Coll, whoso daughter was married to the Earl of Buckinghamshire. The present excellent chief of the Clan Cameron—.the. late -M.P.. for Inverness-shire —is also the great grandgrandson of this descendant of the ancient, foe of his house, through the mother, Lady Vere Hobart; and among the others wo may mention the name, of Commander Cameron, of African fame, who Is the great-grandson of a lady of the ' house of Coll." This lady’s husband was the- son of Dr Archibald Cameron, the brother of the gentle Lochiel of the ’45, tpid their son Hector, the grandfather of' Commander Cameron, was bom in Oban. This Hector was a distinguished soldier, and was Mayor of Pans during the occupation of the Allies after the capture of- Napoleon Buonaparte. -