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Clan Maclachlan, also known as Clan Lachlan,Adam, p. 161. Clann Lachainn (Argyll), and Clann Lachlainn, is a Highland Scottish clan that historically centred on the lands of Strathlachlan (Srath Lachainn "Valley of Lachlan") on Loch Fyne, Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. Origins of the Clan Retrieved on 2007-12-14 The clan claims descent from Lachlan Mor, who lived on Loch Fyne in the 13th century, and who has left his name upon the countryside he once controlled: places such as Strathlachlan, Castle Lachlan and Lachlan Bay.Moncreiffe of that Ilk, pp. 87–92. Tradition gives Lachlan Mor a descent from an Irish prince of the O'Neill dynasty, Ánrothán Ua Néill, son of Áed, son of Flaithbertach Ua Néill, King of Ailech and Cenél nEógain, died 1036. Clan Maclachlan has been associated with other clans, such as Clan Lamont, Clan Ewen of Otter, Clan MacNeil of Barra, and the Clan Sweeney: as all claim descent from Anrothan O'Neill who left Ireland for Kintyre in the 11th century. From this descent the clan claims a further descent from the legendary Niall Noigíallach, High King of Ireland, who lived from the mid 4th century to the early 5th century.
The clan took part in the Jacobite risings as loyal supporters of the Stuart kings of Scotland. The seventeenth Scottish chief of the clan was killed in the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Following the Jacobite defeat, a Government warship is said to have damaged the clan seat of old Castle Lachlan.MacGibbon & Ross, 357–363.
Today the clan is alive and lives as the Clan Maclachlan Society and the Lachlan Trust. The Lachlan Trust is a registered Scottish charitable organisation which takes donations to preserve the heritage of Clan Maclachlan. Lachlan Trust Retrieved on 2007-12-20 The Clan Maclachlan Society consists of eight branches around the world, including Australia, Britain & Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States of America. Branches Retrieved on 2007-12-20
According to the historian G. W. S. Barrow, Gillespie Maclachlan appears in the Ragman Rolls, when the magnates of Scotland signed their allegiance to Edward I of England, in 1296, "clerks of this period writing Anglo-French documents often had difficulty with the name Lachlan, and rendered it by some form of the more familiar name Rothland, or Roland. Thus, unnoticed by historians of Clan Lachlan, Gillespie MacLachlan figures on the Ragman Roll as 'Gilascope fiz Rouland, de counte de Perth'".Barrow, p. 347.
Sometime between 1306 and 1322 Gillespie received, in charter from Robert I of Scotland, the ten pennyland of "Schyrwaghthyne" (Strathlachlan) and other lands. He also appears on the list of Scottish magnates who sat at the first Parliament of the king of Scots at St Andrews,Eyre-Todd, pp. 347–352. in 1309. Gillespie was one of the sixteen Scottish magnates who signed a letter to Philip IV of France in 1309. The King of France had asked for Scottish assistance in a Crusade he was forming, with the Scots answering that they were at war with England and had their hands full.Campbell, p. 67. His name appears on one of the seal tags with that letter, though the actual seal that had been attached to the tag has since been lost.
In 1314 "Guyllascop Maclouchlan in Ergadia" (Gillespie Maclachlan of Argyll) Liber Collegii Nostre Domine, p. XLIII, 152–153. granted forty shillings Sterling silver to the Preaching Friars of Glasgow, the sum of which were to be paid from his pennylands of Killbride near Castle Lachlan. Origines Parochiales Scotiae, p. 75–76. ("juxta castrum meum quod dicitur Castellachlan"). Gillespie was dead by 1322 and was succeeded by Patrick his brother. Patrick married a daughter of James the Steward of Scotland, and had a son, Lachlan, who later succeeded him. In 1410 Iain Maclachlan, lord of Strathlachlan, ("Johonne Lachlani domino de Straithlaon"), witnessed a Lamont charter. In 1456 Lachlan's son, "Donaldus Maclachlane dominus de Ardlawan" ("Ardlachlan", or Castle Lachlan), Liber Collegii Nostre Domine, p. 179–180. like his ancestor Gillespie, granted the Preaching Friars of Glasgow six shillings and eight pence per year, from the same pennylands of Killbride beside his home Castle Lachlan.
One tradition of the Maclachlan lairds was thought to date from the era of the Crusades. The tradition was that the laird of Strathlachlan (Maclachlan of Strathlachlan) and the laird of Strachur (Campbell of Strachur) would attend the funerals of each other and "lay his neighbour's head in the grave". This tradition was thought to originate from the Crusades because, "it is said the heads of these two families went together to the war, and each solemnly engaged with the other to lay him in his family burying-place if he should fall in battle".
Not long after assuming the chiefship, Lachlan Og was forced to resign some of his lands to the chief of the Lamonts, because of the murder of Robert Lamont of Silvercrags by Lachlan Maclachlan of Dunnamuch. Lachlan Og led the clan in the Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll's campaign against Sir James Macdonald of Islay and his rebellion in 1615.
Lachlan Maclachlan of that Ilk was succeeded by his son Archibald, who is reckoned as the fifteenth chief of the clan. In 1680 Archibald had his lands erected into a barony by Charles II of England called the Barony of Strathlachlan which was centred on Castle Lachlan. To this day the chief of the clan is styled as Baron of Strathlachlan.
Lachlan, the seventeenth chief of Clan Maclachlan played a part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and lost his life leading the clan at the Battle of Culloden. Lord President Duncan Forbes estimated that the Maclachlan force of that time was about 200 men.Allardyce, p. 168. Macklachlen – In Irish Called Clan Lachlen the Laird of Macklachlen is the Chief can raise 200 Men. In 1748, Rev. John MacLachlan of Kilchoan, in a letter to Rev. Robert Forbes, wrote,
Following the Jacobite defeat a Government ship sailed up Loch Fyne and shelled Castle Lachlan, forcing the chief's family to abandon their residence, and in Edinburgh the Maclachlan Military colours were burned on the orders of the Duke of Cumberland. It had been assumed that the chiefs lands had been forfeited for his support of the Young Pretender and the Jacobite cause, but it was ruled that he had been killed before he could be attainted. The chief of the Campbells, the Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, who although helped crush the Jacobite forces, aided Donald, son of the deceased Maclachlan chief, and helped save his lands. On 12 February 1747 Donald Maclachlan of that Ilk received a charter for his lands "at the intercession of the Duke of Argyll", though it was considerably unpopular decision at the time, and Maclachlan's estates were "surveyed but afterwards found not to be forfeited".
Today the clan is alive and lives as the Clan Maclachlan Society and the Lachlan Trust. The Clan Maclachlan Society consists of eight branches around the world, including Australia, Britain & Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States of America. The Lachlan Trust is a registered Scottish charitable organisation which takes donations to preserve the heritage of Clan Maclachlan. The trust, in part with Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund, helped raise Pound sterling100,000 for the preservation of Kilmorie Chapel, the traditional burying place of the chiefs. The project was completed in 2006, as a memorial to the twenty-fourth chief (the present chief's mother). Further funding from Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund has since been approved for the conservation of the old castle and the construction of a new footbridge over the River Lachlan. Work began in the spring of 2013 with the erection of scaffolding around the west corner of the old castle. The plan is to develop the site for the enjoyment of visitors, with improved pathways, a nature trail and information points about the heritage of the area.
In the late 18th century, Donald Maclachlan oversaw the construction of New Castle Lachlan, a mansion which stands about a ten-minute walk away from the ruinous old castle. Impressive Lachlan Castle Retrieved on 2007-12-17 This new house was first built in the Queen Anne Style, then later at the end of the 19th century it was transformed into the Scottish baronial house that stands today. History Retrieved on 2007-12-17 The building, upon the estate, has been divided in two with the chief residing in one part and the second available for rent. CASTLE LACHLAN Retrieved on 2007-12-17
Many clans are also attributed pipe tunes. Clan Maclachlan's pipe music is Moladh Màiri (translation from Gaelic: "In Praise of Mary"). Clan MacLachlan Association of North America, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-12-14
| The most common "Maclachlan" tartan today. Standard, or Modern. MacLachlan Tartans Retrieved on 2008-02-04 The most popular MacLachlan tartan today. First published in Thomas Smibert's The Clans of the Highlands in 1850, MacLachlan Clan Tartan WR732 Retrieved on 2007-12-14 though "it would appear to have a longer history than might be gathered from the date of its registration". |
| The Clanlavchlan (Clan MacLachlan) tartan as published in the dubious Vestiarium Scoticum, first published in 1845. Dress tartan. The Vestiarium, shown to be a forgery, is the source of many of today's clan tartans. |
| Maclachlan hunting tartan, first published in 1893. Maclachlan hunting, or Old MacLachlan. MacLachlan Hunting Tartan Retrieved on 2007-12-14 This sett appears in the Collection of the Highland Society, 1812. Although one of the oldest tartans this sett has never been very popular with the clan. |
| Old Maclachlan tartan. Small MacLachlan, or Old Maclachlan, also known as Moncreiffe. This tartan was in the Wilsons of Bannockburn pattern book of 1790, listed as # 66. Over time the tartan had become associated with the Maclachlans. In 1974 the chief of Clan Moncreiffe, Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, asked the 24th chief of Clan Maclachlan, Madam Maclachlan of Maclachlan, to be assigned the right to use this tartan, as the colours of it matched the colours in his Coat of Arms. Today it is known as a Moncreiffe tartan. Moncreiffe (MacLachlan) Clan Tartan WR963 Retrieved on 2007-12-14 MacLachlan Old 66 Tartan Retrieved on 2007-12-14 |
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