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Post by Thomas Cameron on Jan 18, 2011 18:44:46 GMT -6
Here's another one for you good folks. I am somewhat fascinated by little known story of Allan Cameron of Achnasaul, brother to Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel.
I know the basics, he's a younger brother (naturally), married in 1666 to a MacGregor lass, and his genealogy is documented. What I'm wondering about are his unique particulars, especially prior to 1666. Does anyone know when he relocated to Achnasaul, his various endeavors, or other items of interest. I'm also curious about their sister, Isabella, who married into the Campbell family.
Feel free to post away - I'm all ears!
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Post by SherbrookeJacobite on Feb 3, 2011 18:29:53 GMT -6
Hi Tom,
John Drummond of Balhaldy in his "Memoirs of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiell" tells a story of young Allan Cameron, Lochiel's brother, in the context of the Battle of Achdalieu (which can be read about under "The Battles of Clan Cameron" on the Clan Cameron website http://www.clan-cameron.org). Allan was determined to follow Lochiel to expel the English soldiers who were invading their homeland, stealing and mistreating the locals. Lochiel, to protect his brother, and keep him safe (he must have been not much more than a boy at this point, as Lochiel was still a young man himself), had his brother bound to a tree, whereby he would be unable to follow and participate in the upcoming fight.
Lochiel left a young boy to attend to his brother, and by and by, Allan was able to convince the boy to untie him. As we learn from reading Baldaldy's telling of the tale, it is a good thing he did, or the Memoirs of Ewen would have been much briefer.
When the Cameron clansmen came in sight of the English invaders, they could not restrain themselves from rushing to meet their antagonists. Lochiel trailed behind, and one of the enemy, who had hid in or behind a bush, stood up and made ready to shoot the young Ewen. Allan, hurrying to catch up, saw the fellow aiming at his brother and Chief, and was able to shoot him before he pulled the trigger.
How the history of our Clan may have changed if it had not been for young Allan!
It is interesting that Allan married a MacGregor. John Drummond, author of "The Memoirs of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel" was actually a MacGregor. His father (or grandfather perhaps) had married one of Sir Ewen's daughters. They had taken the name of Drummond because of the proscription of the Clan Gregor, and his family later reassumed the MacGregor name (in 1715), and were recognized by their Clan as their hereditary Chiefs.
I look forward to hearing more about Allan Cameron of Achnasaul!
Slainte,
John
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Post by Thomas Cameron on Feb 6, 2011 13:48:42 GMT -6
Hi John,
One of the things I love about the Battle of Achdalieu, as time goes by, is that we're able to identify some of the legendary 32 men that fought hundreds of English and Irish soldiers, sawyers, and workmen. I know that reports vary, but I've always gone with the total number being 32.
Allan and the tree story is fantastic, and gives a glimpse into the relationship of these brothers. When Ewen moved to the north, from Tor Castle, Allan seems to have been granted lands at Achnasaul (doubtful that Allan moved north first). The more I wonder about this interesting sibling dynamic, the more fascinating the unanswered questions become. Then, there's their sister, who married into the Campbells. I'm sure there's a story or two there as well...
For those readers unaware, Allan died while fighting along side his brother Sir Ewen, at the Battle of Killiecrankie. A sad end to his story, but one has to remember that this was 35 years after Achdalieu, and there's little doubt that the nearly 60 year old Allan survived many difficult, narrow scrapes. Perhaps the best testimony to their relationship is that Sir Ewen relinquished command of the army and went home to Achnacarry soon after Killiecrankie, never to march to the field again.
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