Gaelic Ms. of 1450
Collectanea De Rebus Albanicis (Iona Club) No. 1
Genealogies of the Highland Clans

For a complete discussion of these genealogies,
see Skene's "Celtic Scotland", Vol. 3; and
"The Highland Clans," Vol. 2.
A discussion of the clans in descent from Clan Donald
in Argyle may be found in "Memorials of Argyleshire."

NOTES TO GENEALOGIES OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS


From the peculiar condition of society among the Highlanders,
the investigation of family history becomes an important instrument
in ascertaining and illustrating the leading facts of their origin and
history. The attention of the Club will, consequently, be in a
considerable degree directed to this object; and it is proposed to
include in the Collectanea, a series of the Genealogies of
Highland Clans which are still to be found in ancient MSS. In
the present number, the series commences with the contents of the
most ancient Genealogical MS. now known to exist. It was
discovered, accidentally, in the Advoate's Library last year,
and consists of eight parchment leaves, the last of which is covered
with genealogies, written in the old Irish character, but so very
much faded by time as to be read with great difficulty, and, in
many instances, to be altogether illegible. Of the authenticity
of the MS. there can be no doubt, and a strict comparison of all the
genealogies contained in it has satisfied the editor of its general
accuracy. The same careful examination shows that it must have
been written about the yeare 1450, and this conclusion, with respect
to its date, was afterwards corroborated by discovering the date
1467 written upon one of the leaves.

The author of the MS. appears
to have been a person of the name of Maclachlan, as the genealogy
of Clanlachlan is given with much greater minuteness than that of
any of the other clans; and the various intermarriages of that clan
alone are given. From this it seems probable that it once formed a
part of the well-known Kilbride Collection, which was so long preserved
by the family of M'Lachlan of Kilbride. Although a greater proportion
of the contents of this MS. has been deciphered than was at first
anticipated, a considerable portion still remains, so much obliterated
by age and exposure as to he in a great degree illegible. Should any
further progress be made in reading these parts of the MS., the result
will be communicated to the Club, on a future occasion. It would
occupy too much space here to enter into any detail of the very
important effects which this MS. must produce upon the question
of the origin of the Highland clans; it will be sufficient to state
that it seems to establish three very remarkable facts - 1st, The
existence, at a very early period, of a tradition in the Highlands
of the common origin of almost all the Highland clans; 2dly, The
comparatively late invention of many of the traditionary origins
of the different clans at present believed; and, 3dly, The mutual
relationship of various clans which have hitherto been supposed to be
altogether unconnected. It will be altogether impossible, in the
limits of this branch of the Collectanea, to illustrate these
curious genealogies as we could wish, or to do more than occasionally
point out where the MS. is corroborated by record or history.