Chapter I: ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, his eldest son and heir, who was born

on the 5th of February, 1740, and afterwards became first of Portmore, settled as a W.S. in Edinburgh; but all his life he kept up a close connection with his native county, having intimate business relations with all its principal landowners. He was a man of undoubted ability, and the personal friend of many noted literary men of his day. He purchased the estate of Seaton, in East Lothian, but afterwards sold it to the Earl of Wemyss, after which he purchased the estate of Portmore, Peebleshire, from the Conyears Earls of Portmore. He married on the 25th of February, 1766, Anne, eldest daughter of Colin Mackenzie, VI. of Kilcoy, by Martha, eldest daughter of Charles Fraser of Inverallochy and Castle Fraser, whose mother was Lady Marjory Erskine, eldest daughter of James, seventh Earl of Buchan.

Lady Marjory married secondly, Charles, last Lord Fraser of Castle Fraser, who, dying without issue, left his estate to his step-son, Simon Fraser of Inverallochy. On the death, without issue, of Martha's three brothers, she and her sister Elizabeth became co-heiresses of Inverallochy and Castle Fraser, and on Elizabeth's death Martha became sole heiress. She left the estates to her distinguished son, Lieutenant-General Alexander Mackenzie, who assumed the additional name of Fraser. Thus the families of Kilcoy and Portmore deduce descent from the Royal Houses of Stuart and Plantaganet, as also from the Dukes of Burgundy, and Raymond Count of Provence. Alexander had issue -

1. Alexander, who died in infancy in 1767.

2. Alexander, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding the 21st Dragoons. He died before his father at Cape Malo, St. Domingo, West Indies, in July 1796, aged 27, unmarried.

3. Colin, who succeeded his father at Portmore.

4. John, who was born in 1771, and died young.

5. George Udny, born in 1773, and died young.

6. Charles, born in 1779, and died in 1783.

7. WILLIAM MACKENZIE, I. of Muirton, Ross-shire, W.S. in Edinburgh, Deputy-Lieutenant for Ross, Sutherland, and Cromarty. He was born on the 1st of October, 1780, and married first, on the 6th of July, 1805, Mary, daughter of James Mansfield of Midmar, Aberdeenshire, by Marion, daughter of Dalrymple Horn-Elphinstone of Horn and Logie-Elphinstone, eldest surviving son of Viscount (now Earl of) Stair, with issue - (1) ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, II. of Muirton, and of Meikle Scatwell; a W.S., Edinburgh. Alexander, who was born on the 28th of February, 1812, married his cousin, Maria, second daughter and co-heiress with her three sisters of John Mansfield of Midmar, with issue - William Garloch, who died unmarried at Gibraltar, on the 22nd of May, 1876; John Mansfield, W.S., Edinburgh, who died unmarried - the last of six sons - in 1892; Alexander James, who died in Natal in 1887, unmarried; Douglas Hay, who succeeded to the estate of Meikle Scatwell by the will of his aunt, Mrs Douglas (Jemima Mansfield), and, dying unmarried at Clifton on the 9th of June, 1873, bequeathed it to his father; George Vansittart, a merchant in Leith, who died unmarried in 1891; and James Dalrymple, who died in New Zealand, unmarried, in 1887. Alexander Mackenzie, II. of Muirton, sold that estate to Colonel Ainslie, and Meikle Scatwell to Sir William James Bell, LL.D., now of Scatwell. (2) James Mansfield, who died unmarried in 1838, aged 25. (3) William, M.A., in Holy Orders, who married Isabella Trotter, Natal, with issue - George Charles, born in 1857, heir of his uncle, John Mansfield; Alexander Frederick, born in 1859 Harry James Mansfield, born in 1863; John, born in 1866; Mary Marion; Thomas Mansfield, born in 1866; and Grace Isabella. The Rev William died in Natal in 1887. (4) Marion, who married Captain Frederick H. De Lisle, R.N., Guernsey, and died without issue in 1879. William Mackenzie, I. of Muirton, married secondly, Alice, daughter of Andrew Wauchope of Niddry Marischal, County of Midlothian, without issue. He died in 1856, and was succeeded in the lands of Muirton by his eldest son, Alexander, II. of Muirton, as above.

8. Sutherland, manager of the Scottish Union Insurance Company, who was born on the 31st of January, 1785, and died unmarried on the 26th of March, 1853.

9. John, who was born on the 13th of October, 1787, died in 1854, and is interred in the family burying place at Dingwall. He was a banker in Inverness and Commissioner for many years for the Redcastle and Flowerburn estates. He was a man of great ability, lavish hospitality and generosity, and a keen sportsman. He exercised very considerable social and political influence, and the Burgh of Inverness presented him with a valuable service of plate in recognition of his services during Earl Grey's administration on the passing of the Municipal Reform Bill in 1833. He was unanimously elected the first Provost of Inverness after the Act came into force, and was repeatedly pressed to become a candidate for Inverness as its representative in Parliament. He was offered the Governorship of Ceylon and of the Mauritius, but he declined to accept either. He married, on the 4th December, 1817, Mary Charlotte, only child of Robert Pierson, a merchant prince in Riga, son of James Pierson of Balmadies, Forfarshire, a very old Scottish family of Scandinavian origin, recorded as landowners in Berwickshire in 1296, and described in 1634 as "very ancient." She was a most beautiful and accomplished woman, could converse in Russ, German, French, and Italian, and was an admirable musician and artist. She died in 1883 and is buried in Dingwall, leaving issue - (1) Alexander, like his father a banker in Inverness, who was born on the 18th of March, 1820, and died, unmarried, on the 20th of March, 1860; (2) JOHN ROBERT MACKENZIE, a Major-General in Her Majesty's Forces, late Colonel of the 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was in command in 1873 of a successful expeditionary force in Arabia. He was born on the 5th of June, 1822, and on the 28th of August, 1851, married Amelia Robertson, daughter of James Wilson, banker, Inverness, by his cousin, Isabella, daughter of Thomas Fraser of Newton, with issue - (a) Amelia Isabella Margery, who died, aged 17, and is buried at Inverness (b) John William Sutherland, who was born on the 17th of July, 1855, and on the 19th of July, 1881, married Matilda Henrietta, daughter of Colonel Brown-Constable of Wallace-Craigie, Forfarshire, Lord Lieutenant of the County, by Mary Christina, daughter of Colonel Francis Kenneth Mackenzie, fourth son of Captain John Mackenzie, VI. of Kincraig, with issue - John Fraser, Donald Constable Travers, Mary Amelia, and Norah Constance (c) Mary Charlotte Pierson, who, on the 13th of May, 1880, married Alfred Woodhouse, F.R.G.S., with issue - Margery Amelia Fraser, Coventry William, John Alick Edward, Alfred Frederick Bell, Hector Roy Mackenzie, and Muriel Mary; (d) Alice Marion Fraser, who died young in Madras; (e) Elizabeth Margaret Cumming, who, on the 8th of April, 1885, married Henry Gibbs, with issue - Ella Margaret; (f) Louisa Constance Harris, who died young, and is buried at Dingwall; (g) Ella Fraser Magdalene; (h) James Wilson Alexander, in Holy Orders, MA. of Pembroke College, Cambridge. He was born on the 18th of May, 1867, and married Amy Adela Magee, daughter of the Rev. John N. B. Woodroffe, M.A., with issue - John William Wilson; and (i) Hector Colin Udney, who died young; (3) COLIN MACKENZIE, a Major-General, Madras Staff Corps, who was born on the 18th of October, 1833, and on the 16th of January, 1861, married, first, Victoria Henrietta, eldest daughter of Charles Mackinnon, M.D., of the Corry family, Isle of Skye, with issue - (a) Colin John, Brevet Major, 78th Highlanders, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs), Adjutant of his Regiment, Aide-de-Camp to Lord Frederick Roberts, Commander-in-Chief in India, and Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Quetta. He was born on the 26th of November, 1861, and served in the Egyptian Campaign, medal and clasp, Tel-el-Kebir, the Burmese Campaign, the Black Mountain Expedition, and the Hunga Nagar Campaign, in Cashmere, for which he received the Brevet rank of Major. He has two medals and four clasps and the Khedive Star. (b) Charles Alexander, born on the 21st December, 1862, an indigo planter in Thiroot; (c) Ronald Pierson, M.D., born on the 12th of January, 1863; (d) Mary Charlotte; (e) Henrietta Studd, who died young; (f) Victor Herbert, born on the 17th of September, 1867, of the British East Africa Company. He died in 1892, aged 25. (g) Kenneth Lascelles, born on the 27th of November, 1869, an indigo planter; (h) Frederick William, R.N., born on the 19th of May, 1870; (i) Henry Studd, who died young; (j) Morna; and (k) Annie Stuart. Major-General Colin married, secondly, Stella Adela Newbigging, with issue - (l) Isobel. (4) Charlotte, who married, first, John Alexander Fraser, Captain 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, with issue - (a) John Alexander Mackenzie, D.S.O., Commander, R.N., who married Euphemia Ritchie, daughter of Peacock-Edwards; (b) William Forbes Mackenzie, Captain 18th Bengal Infantry, formerly of the 88th Connaught Rangers; (c) Charlotte Amelia Rose, who married Ernest Duncombe, R.N., with issue - Dorothy and Estelle Amy, twins, and Beryl; and (d) Mary Eliza Alexia. Charlotte married, secondly, the Rev. William Duncombe, M.A., with issue - (e) Francis Hay. (5) Mary Ann, who married first, George Grogan of Sutton, Dublin, Captain 6th Dragoon Guards (the Carabineers) with issue - (a) Edward George, Major 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch), who married, first, Meta, daughter of Sir William King Hall, K.C.B., Admiral Commanding off the Nore, with issue - George William St. George and Edward Harry John; (b) Meta Aileen Odetta. Mary Ann married, secondly, Colonel St. George Herbert Stepney, C.B., Commanding 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, without issue. (6) Elizabeth, who, in 1856, married Colonel George Harkness, Madras Army, with issue - (a) Henry George; Alexander Charles, M.D.; (b) George Bacon; (c) Mary Kate; and (d) Charlotte Esmi, who married Captain Carlton Cuthbert Collingwood, with issue - Ronald George; (7) Catherine, who married Captain Charles Harkness, Madras Army, and died in 1857, without issue.

10. Martha; 11. Annabella; 12. Jean; 13. Elizabeth; and 14. Catherine, five daughters of Alexander Mackenzie, I. of Portmore, all of whom died unmarried.

Alexander died on the 4th of September, 1805, was buried in the Greyfriars, Edinburgh, and succeeded by his third and eldest surviving son,