Chapter I: CHARLES MACKENZIE, first of Letterewe, was the eldest son by

his third wife, Janet, daughter of John Cuthbert of Castle Hill, Inverness (marriage contract, 17th December, 1658), of Alexander Mackenzie, VI. of Gairloch. He is originally designed of Mellan Charles, no doubt so called after himself, but by his father's marriage contract he got Loggie-Wester, now Conon, which he afterwards, in 1696, exchanged with his half brother, Alexander Mackenzie, VII. of Gairloch, for the lands of Letterewe. He married, in 1684, Anne, third daughter of John Mackenzie, II. of Applecross (sasine 1687), with issue -

1. Murdoch, his heir and successor.

2. The Rev. Hector, minister of Fodderty, and previous to his appointment there, Librarian to the University of Aberdeen. He married a Miss Baillie, with issue - a daughter, who married Mackenzie of Park.

3. Alexander of Tolly, Provost of Dingwall, who married in 1740, Annabella, daughter of Sir Donald Bayne of Tulloch, with issue, among others - Alexander, from whom the Mackenzies of Portmore, and by his second wife, Katharine, daughter of Bayne of Delny, Bailie Hector Mackenzie of Dingwall, on whose death Alexander Campbell, the Gairloch Bard, composed one of the finest elegies in the Gaelic language.

4. Anna, who married Murdoch Mackenzie, II. of Kernsary (marriage contract in 1708), with issue.

5. A daughter, who married her cousin, Roderick Mackenzie, II. of Sanachan, son of Colin, second son of Roderick Mackenzie, I. of Applecross.

6. Annabella, who married John Maciver of Tournaig, and afterwards tacksman of Gress, in the Lewis, with issue.

Charles was succeeded by his eldest son,