Individual Details

Elizabeth Macdonald

(1377 - Abt 1416)


== Biography ==There is some conjecture regarding the name of this lady. She is known as Margaret in The Genealogy of Clan Donald, by Rev MacDonald (Vol 3, page 181), but Elizabeth in a Charter, by her brother [[Macdonald-273|Donald]], as Lord of the Isles, in 1415, of a grant of lands, to her and her husband Angus Du Mackay. This has been copied into Balfour Paul's work, The Scots Peerage, Vol 5, page 40 and is thus used here.[[#S-4]] Balfour Paul; Vol 5, page 40[[#S-3]] Balfour Paul; Vol 7, page 160 The issue is discussed at depth in the work by Angus Mackay (The Book of Mackay).[[#S-1]] Angus Mackay; page 61. As Angus Du married a Margaret MacDonald, a niece to Elizabeth, after the death of Elizabeth it can be supposed that Rev. MacDonald is in error.
Angus Du Mackay fought against Donald MacDonald at the Battle of Dingwall in 1411. As a result of the battle Angus Du was imprisoned "at a castle on the west coast" (of Scotland). It seems likely that this was at Finlaggen and where Elizabeth, probably his youngest sister, was living.
After Harlaw, Donald MacDonald never returned to Dingwall or Ross. The Earl of Mar was at Inverness and Dingwall in September. Shortly after his return to Finlaggen we note that Macdonald has betrothed his sister, Elizabeth, to Angus Du, his prisoner, and under a treaty released him.[[#S-4]] Balfour Paul; Vol 5, page 40 There is no date for this.
It is known that MacDonald granted him lands, 8 Oct 1415 (a grant which will prove worthless; the date is significant as it was just after Euphemia, Countess of Ross resigned her titles and became a nun after which Donald claimed right to the title but was refused), and we can suppose the marriage occurred prior to this date. This is presumed in the birth of a son, Neil Vass, about 1414.[[#S-3]] Balfour Paul; Vol 7, page 160
Elizabeth must have been of some age by this time. John, Lord of the Isles, had died in 1386 (ref: Skene; 1387; Balfour Paul) and Elizabeth is thought to have been born to the same mother as Donald MacDonald, Lord of the Isles. The marriage of her parents is noticed as 1350 and she is likely the youngest of eight children. Thus born, probably around 1366/70. She was thus over 40 when betrothed. The relationship was unlikely from a perspective of alliance and thus might be supposed to have been "accidental". She died shortly after 1415.

There was one male child from this marriage:
* [[Mackay-1313|Neil Vass Mackay]]. Born about 1412 and will spend much of his early life a prisoner at Bass Rock.



== Footnotes ==


== Sources ==
* Source S-1}
* Source S-2}
* Source S-3}
* Source S-4}

-- MERGED NOTE ------------

[[Category:Declaration of Arbroath, Stewart Family Worklist]]
}
== Biography ==There is some conjecture regarding the name of this lady. She is known as Margaret in The Genealogy of Clan Donald, by Rev MacDonald (Vol 3, page 181), but Elizabeth in a Charter, by her brother [[Macdonald-273|Donald]], as Lord of the Isles, in 1415, of a grant of lands, to her and her husband Angus Du Mackay. This has been copied into Balfour Paul's work, The Scots Peerage, Vol 5, page 40 and is thus used here.[[#S-4]] Balfour Paul; Vol 5, page 40[[#S-3]] Balfour Paul; Vol 7, page 160 The issue is discussed at depth in the work by Angus Mackay (The Book of Mackay).[[#S-1]] Angus Mackay; page 61. As Angus Du married a Margaret MacDonald, a niece to Elizabeth, after the death of Elizabeth it can be supposed that Rev. MacDonald is in error.
Angus Du Mackay fought against Donald MacDonald at the Battle of Dingwall in 1411. As a result of the battle Angus Du was imprisoned "at a castle on the west coast" (of Scotland). It seems likely that this was at Finlaggen and where Elizabeth, probably his youngest sister, was living.
After Harlaw, Donald MacDonald never returned to Dingwall or Ross. The Earl of Mar was at Inverness and Dingwall in September. Shortly after his return to Finlaggen we note that Macdonald has betrothed his sister, Elizabeth, to Angus Du, his prisoner, and under a treaty released him.[[#S-4]] Balfour Paul; Vol 5, page 40 There is no date for this.
It is known that MacDonald granted him lands, 8 Oct 1415 (a grant which will prove worthless; the date is significant as it was just after Euphemia, Countess of Ross resigned her titles and became a nun after which Donald claimed right to the title but was refused), and we can suppose the marriage occurred prior to this date. This is presumed in the birth of a son, Neil Vass, about 1414.[[#S-3]] Balfour Paul; Vol 7, page 160
Elizabeth must have been of some age by this time. John, Lord of the Isles, had died in 1386 (ref: Skene; 1387; Balfour Paul) and Elizabeth is thought to have been born to the same mother as Donald MacDonald, Lord of the Isles. The marriage of her parents is noticed as 1350 and she is likely the youngest of eight children. Thus born, probably around 1366/70. She was thus over 40 when betrothed. The relationship was unlikely from a perspective of alliance and thus might be supposed to have been "accidental". She died shortly after 1415.

There was one male child from this marriage:
* [[Mackay-1313|Neil Vass Mackay]]. Born about 1412 and will spend much of his early life a prisoner at Bass Rock.



== Footnotes ==


== Sources ==
* Source S-1}
* Source S-2}
* Source S-3}
* Source S-4}

Events

Birth1377Finlaggen castle, Islay, Scotland
DeathAbt 1416Strathnaver, Sutherland, Scotland
Reference No10553526
Reference No11169739
Reference No60

Families