History of Skye MacAskills

These excerpts are taken from History of Skye by Alexander Nicolson. It's published by MacLean Press, 60 Aird Bhearnasdail, by Portree, Isle of Skye. Tel: 01470 532 309. ISBN #0951602276. The second edition is copyright 1994, first edition 1930. This copy came from Dunvegan Castle's gift shop in 1998. It's the most thorough history written about the Isle of Skye, it's families, literature, and social conditions.

From the very early days this sept occupied the district of Rubha an Dunain, where the ruins of the family residence may still be seen. Before the MacDonalds took possession of Dun Sgathaich, it is said to have been held by the MacAskills as wardens of that fort under the Norse kings of Man. In after days, when rieving prevailed, they filled the office of comes litoris, or coast-watcher, to the MacLeods and one of them always did duty as commodore on board the pincipal galley of the chief of that clan.

In 1395 an incident occurred in which William Cleireach, Fifth Chief of MacLeod, was destined to further enhance his own fame and the fame of his clan. At that time a powerful personality was dominating the north and the west, where he was endeavouring to establish a Celtic dynasty. This was Donald, the son of John, Lord of the Isles, and Margaret Stewart, the daughter of Robert II. In order to placate his older half-brothers, whose power and possessions he had usurped, Donald conspired, among other designs to wrench his lands in Skye from the chief of the MacLeods and to confer them on one of his own brothers. At that time the Island of Skye formed part of the earldom of Ross and Donald could now assert his claims with greater confidence, in that he had become affianced to Lady Mary Lesley, who was Countess of Ross in her own right.

But the chief of MacLeod was not the man to surrender tamely to a usurping lord and he determined to resist this attempt at dispossession by every means in his power.

Meanwhile, Donald dispatched a strong force under his brother -- the redoubtable Alasdair Carrach, to invade Skye. Having evaded the vigilance of MacAskill of Rubh an Dunain, constable of Dun Sgathaich and hereditary coast-watcher of the MacLeods, the invaders effected a landing at Eynort in Minginish. Thence they rapidly made for the east, by Carbost and Drynoch, leaving a wide trail of devastation behind them.

Their progress was soon, however, to suffer an abrupt set-back, for, at the head of Loch Sligachan, they were encountered by a powerful body of the MacLeods. Here a furious battle was waged and thenatives acquitted themselves with such bravery and skill, that their opponents were thrown into hopeless confusion which soon developed into a rout. The pursuit was ruthlessly maintained by the stout-hearted islanders all the way back to the shores of Loch Eynort where a cruel fate awaited the panic-striken fugitives. On their arrival there, they discovered that their galleys had been taken possession of by the MacAskills, who had them moored some distance out to sea. Seeing that escape was now impossible the fled hither an thither in utter dispair, only to be cut to pieces by their relentless foes. It is said that not a soul of them escaped that day of carnage and, according to the MS, History of the MacLeods of Dunvegan, the heads of the slain were collected, numbered, and dispatched as trophies to be retained in the custody of of the warder of Dunvegan castle.

The MacAskills of Rubh an Dunain and their offshoot of Bracadale occupy a position of high distinction in the military history of Skye. Mention is often made about the exploits of a member of this famous family, one William MacAskill, who played such a prominent role in the discomfiture of the forces of the Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Sligachan, early in the sixteenth century. Tradition credits the clan with men of phenominal physique and extra-ordinary strength.

Many members of the family served the country, both in the Army and the Navy, and several are known to fame. Two brothers were officers in the American War of Independence: Captain John, who was tacksman of Rubha, and a younger brother, William, who aferwards rose to the rank of major-general and acted for a time as Governor of Mauritius. He died in 1815.

Another clansman who had a distinguished military career was Major-General Sir John MacAskill. He entered the service of the East India Company and took part in the fighting in India in the early years of the 18th century. After the massacre of General Elphinstone and his army by hostile Afghan tribes in 1841 and when Sir Robert Sale was dangerously beleagured in Jellalabad, General MacAskill, as second in command to General Pollock, led the relieving army and tendered distinguished service in that brilliant piece of campaigning. He was serving under Sir Hugh Gough when the Sikhs broke out in rebellion in 1845 and in a minor engagement he was mortally wounded as he was leading his men to the charge. Three of his sons attained commissioned rank, serving chiefly in India (MacInnes, J, 1899, The Brave Sons of Skye, p. 160).

1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17