Clan MacLaine of Lochbuie

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Clan MacLaine of Lochbuie Crest: Vincere vel mori (To conquer or die)

Clan MacLaine of Lochbuie is a highland Scottish clan. This clan is a branch of the Clan MacLean. The MacLaine of Lochbuie branch of the family are descended from Hector, the brother of Lachlan, who founded the Duart branch of the MacLeans.

1 History
2 Lands
3 Clan Legends
4 Other Information

[edit] History

The Maclaines of Lochbuie, Mull are descended from Gillean-na-Tauighe, (Gillean of the Battle Axe), a fierce warrior who lived in the thirteenth century. He is said to have fought, along with his sons, at the battle of Largs in 1263. Gillean's great-grandson, Iain Dubh, or Black John, had two sons, Eachann Reaganach (Hector the Stern), and Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan the Wily). Hector and Lachlan were granted independent charters to lands on the Isle of Mull from John, 1st Lord of the Isles (MacDonald); Hector at Lochbuie, and Lachlan at Duart. Thus the two dominant branches of the family were formed: the Maclaines of Lochbuie and the Macleans of Duart (the Maclaine family used the Maclean spelling until around 1600). Many of the clansmen at Lochbuie retained other spellings of Maclaine or Maclean, such as Maclayne, McClain, and McLain. Various smaller families intermarried or banded together with the Maclaines, including the McFadyens, MacCormacks, Blacks, Beatons, MacGillivrays, Huies, MacAvoys and Pattons (all with over 200 different spellings). They were all accepted into the clan as loyal members.

[edit] Lands

Hector received his lands in the Hebrides from John, 1st Lord of the Isles in the fourteenth century, around 1350 to be precise. There on the island of Mull laid Lochbuie to the South and Duart to the East. Hector chose to build his castle, Moy Castle, at the head of the loch. Moy Castle was a beautiful Scottish towerhouse, and it remained the home of Maclaine chieftains until 1752, when Lochbuie House was built not far from the castle. Lochbuie House is a Georgian style house that sits just behind Moy Castle, overlooking Lochbuie. Moy Castle and Lochbuie House are still standing today. Lochbuie House is now owned by the Corbett family. Moy Castle is not accessible due to its old age. The years have taken their toll on the old castle. Another interesting thing about Lochbuie is its stone circle. Over the years the Lochbuie branch has held lands in Mull, Scarba, Jura, Morvern, Locheil, and Tiree. Lands were also granted in Duror and Glencoe but were never taken.

[edit] Clan Legends

The Resourceful Chief - Hector, 1st Lochbuie When Hector was granted a charter to lands on the Isle of Mull by the Lord of the Isles in the fourteenth century, he was given permission to build a castle at Lochbuie "as big as the skin of an ox." Hector cleverly cut the skin into a continuous thin sliver and laid it end-to-end to establish the size of the castle; the same story is told of Dido of Carthage.

Ewan "The Headless" Members of the Maclaine clan shun the nocturnal sound of clattering hooves and a jingling bridle. They fear the sight of a spectral horse bearing a headless rider who forebodes death. The name of the rider is Ewan, son and heir of Chief Iain Og, 5th Lochbuie. Ewan envied the Chief's wealth and position and this eventually developed into a feud between father and son. In 1538 the two men sought to settle the matter by force of arms. Father and son led their partisans into battle and Ewan was beheaded by one of Iain's followers. From that time on legend has it that Ewan "The Headless" rides to harvest the souls of Lochbuie Maclaines. Note that the central figure of this legend is not the same as The Headless Horseman, who is a fictional undead and ghost character created by Washington Irving who appeared in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.