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of Culnafkie in Rofs.

36

A Short Account of the BETHUNES, &c.

Bethune of Culnafkia, and his people in Rofs. fhire, are of a much longer standing than the Bethunes in Sky, if we may believe their own accounts, for they fay their right and title to the lands (1) Bethune of Culnafkia, is above five hundred years old, (1.)

Patronymick, Kenneth

There is a valiant little clan in Kintail, part of Seaforth's country, called by a M'Kraes, who when Ferquhard, father of Bethune of Leaboft refided in that country, profeffed themselves to be Bethunes, tho' they were unwilling to take the name or fubfcribe themselves fo, for fear of giving umbrage to the M'Kenzies, on whom they depended, and who had folicited them in a very earnest and preffing manner to call themselves McKenzies. The beft genealogifts of this tribe are ftill of the fame opinion with refpect to their being came at

M'Kiaes in Kintail, originally

(2) Mas originally Bethunes. And probably they Be- firft to this country from the island of Sky, (2.)

thunes.

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but gave him all manner of encouragement to take his refidence among his people in his own terriup tories. The third and laft Doctor Angus was fo much convinced of this, that he fent to the eldest branch of the Sutherland Bethunes, a gun, fword and target, as an evidence of his regard for them, and that they were defcended of his family, and as a teftimony of his defire to cultivate a friendship (1) The Beand correfpondence with them, (1.)

thunes of Sutherland Caithness.

and

It is not to be doubted, but feveral are defcended of the Bethunes of Sky, whofe names have not been recorded in the preceding account; of whom fome may be in England, others in Ireland and fo-. reign plantations.

It is certain however, there were Bethunes in Sky before Doctor Peter came to that country, families of good esteem and repute, but could give no account how or when they arrived thither. They are now almost extinct, (2.)

(2) There were Bethunes in Sky before

Others of the name of Bethune came to this Island after the Doctor had taken up his residence Dr Peter came in it, who were able and careful phyficians. A few to the illand. of them are still in that country. One of them called Neil, not finding proper education at home, went to the Scotch College in Paris, to which James Bethune last Archbishop of Glafgow, of the Popish persuasion, had been an eminent benefactor, and there he continued until he came over in the year 1715, and joined with those that were engaged at Sheriff-muir. After which he went to Spain, where fome years ago, he got a regiment. And the last time he wrote to his friends in the North, he told them he was in expectation of being made a gene- a regiment in ral, (3.)

(3.) Neil Bethune, who got

Spain.

Bethune

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BETHUNES,

In other Places of the NORTH-COUNTRY, befides thofe in the Ifland of SKY.

H

AVING in this manner finifhed the memoirs of the Bethunes of the ifland of Sky, their connections and defcendents. It will not be improper to give fome account of the Bethunes in other places of the North Country.

The Bethunes of Moydart, Morven and Lochaber, derive their defcent from a fecond fon of Doctor Peter, which indeed is very probable, tho' that fon be not recorded in the manufcript account of the family, for he might have gone from Sky to that country, and continued there on account of his relation and connection with the laird of Moydart's (1) The Be- family, (1.)

thunes of Moydart, Morven, & Lochaber.

The Bethunes of Sutherland and Caithness, derive their original from a brother of the fecond Doctor Angus, that wrote the Lilly of Medicine, and who went to that country after the death of his uncle Ferquhard junior, that died in the uninhabited island; and for whom the Earl of Sutherland had fuch a regard, that he would not allow him to return to the place of his nativity the island of Sky, but

and by her left a fon called Ferquhard, who is now a merchant's clerk in Charleston South Carolina; and two daughters, Anabella and Emilia.

Lauchlan, the fifth fon, betook himself to a military life. He died fome years ago. He never married. And

Duncan, the fixth and youngest fon, lives in Wiltshire in England, and is employed in the mercantile way. He lately married, and has a fon and a daughter.

Angus, the eldest son of this generation, was the tenth descendent in a male-line from John Bethune of Balfour, and Marjory third daughter

fifth

laird

fcendent from

four.

of David Boswell of Balmuto (1.) He refided the (1) Angus Be moft part of his life in the neighbourhood of Edin- thune, 10th de burgh. Upon his father's decease, he became John Bethune chief of the Bethunes of the island of Sky. He third of Bal died February 1766, in the 60th year of his age. In 1733, he married a Gentlewoman of the firname of Horn; and by her had fix fons, Andrew, Neil, John, William, Peter, and Angus; and four daughters, Margaret, Jean, Marion, and Euphame.

Thus have we traced the History and Accounts of the Bethunes of the island of Sky for more than two Centuries and an half. And indeed what hath been related in thefe Memoirs, fufficiently verifies the following verfes of the celebrated Pope.

Like leaves on trees the race of man is found, Now green in youth, now with'ring on the ground, Another race the following spring supplies, They fall fucceffive, and fucceffive rife; So generations in their course decay, So flourish thefe, when those are past away. (2.)

(2) Pope's Homer's Iliad, B. VI. ver. 181,

The 2,-3,-4,-5, & -6.

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