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The early history of the MacIain Clan


One of the great figures in Scottish history was a man named Somerled who became the first 'Lord Of The Isles'. He was an ancestor to many Scottish clans: MacDougall, MacDonald, MacDonell, MacRanald, Alexander, MacAlister, and MacIain. His grandson Donald, founded Clan Donald, and Donald's grandson Iain Sprangach was the progenitor of the MacIains. This early ancestry was as follows:

0 Somerled ca.1100-1164 
+ Ragenhildis
.. 1 Dugall
.... 2 Duncan d.1244
...... 3 King Ewin?, or John d.1282
.... 2 Dugall
.... 2 James 
.... 2 (2 unknown)
.. 1 Angus  
.... 2 Angus
.. 1 Reginald d.1207 
.. + Fonia
.... 2 Roderick
...... 3 Dugall
...... 3 Allen MacRaury
........ 4 Christine of the Isles
........ 4 Roderick d.1320
........ 4 Ronald
.... 2 Dugall
.... 2 Donald d.before 1249 
.... + (Daughter of Walter, High Steward of Scotland)
...... 3 Angus Mor MacDonald 
...... + (Daughter of Dougal McRaury)
........ 4 Alexander
........ 4 Angus Og
........ 4 Iain Sprangach "The Bold"

Historians relate that Ardnamurchan, a rocky penninsula on the west coast of Scotland, was at one time under the influence of a Norse Lord who so angered the inhabitants that they rose up and put him to death. After this act they appealed to the then Lord of the Isles, Angus Mor MacDonald, for protection against Norse retribution. He sent his third son Iain Sprangach, who took possession of Ardnamurchan and fulfilled his duty by preventing Norse incursions, and in so doing founded Clan MacIain. The succession of the MacIain clan chiefs in Ardnamurchan was as follows:

1 Iain Sprangach           (1st Chief 1260-1306, Succeeded by son Angus)
..2 Angus                  (2nd Chief 1306-1363, Succeeded by son Alexander)
...3 Alexander             (3rd Chief 1363-1411, Died at the battle of Harlaw, Succeeded by son John)
....4 John                 (4th Chief 1411-1470, Succeeded by son Alexander)
.....5 Alexander           (5th Chief 1470-1493, Succeeded by nephew John Brayach)
......6 Fynvola            (m. Hugh, 1st baron of Sleat, 3rd son of Alexander,Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles.)
......6 Florence           (m.Allan MacRory of Clanrandal)
.....5 John
......6 John Brayach       (6th Chief 1493-1518, John and his three elder sons were killed in battle. He was nominally
                            succeeded by son Alexander who was a  minor and did not reach maturity, and finally
                            succeeded  by his grandson, Alexander.)
.......7 Donald
........8 Alexander        (7th Chief 1520-1561, Succeeded by son John)
.........9 John            (8th Chief 1561-1591, Succeeded by son John Og)
..........10 John Og       (9th Chief 1591-1596, On the eve of his marriage to a daughter of  Cameron of Lockiel
                            he was slain, and succeeded by his Uncle.)
..........10 Una
.........9 Donald          (10th Chief 1596, Was slain in battle with the Camerons and succeeded by his nephew.)
.........9 Alexander
..........10 John MacAllister  (11th Chief 1596-1610, Succeeded by son Alexander)
...........11 Alexander    (12th Chief 1610-1625, Was a minor at the time of his father's death. His Uncle, Donald,
                            acted as Tutor. He was forced to give up his right to Ardnamurchan and in 1625 migrated
                            to Inverness-shire with his brother John)
...........11 John
..........10 Donald
.......7 Somerled
.......7 John of Sunart
.......7 Alexander         (Nominal Chief 1518-1520)
.......7 Catherine
.......7 Mariota           (m.MalColm MacDuffie of Colonsay, buried at Iona)

The above is an excerpt from the work of C.A.MacKain (1943) who presented material from the work CLAN DONALD by Rev. A.J MacDonald, Killearnan, and Rev. A. MacDonald, Kiltarlity.

From this family there descended a man named William MacKean, a farmer, who lived in Argyllshire, Scotland. He was a staunch Protestant, a 'Covenentor', and due to religious persecution by the King of England left Scotland and settled in Balleymoney, County Antrim, Ireland. His family prospered there and many of them eventually emigrated to America. The following is the first 4 generations of the family.

1 William(0) MacKEAN	1607-
...2 James(1) McKEAN	1633-1707
...+ Janette (Mary?) 	1641-
......3 James(3) McKEAN  1665-1756
......+ [1]Janet COCHRAN	1665-1712
.........4 Elizabeth(6) McKEEN	1696-1763
.........+ James NESMITH	1692-1767
.........4 Janet(7) McKEEN	1708-1790
.........+ John COCHRAN	 1704-1788
......+ [2]Annis CARGILL  1688-1782 
.........4 John(8) McKEEN  1714-1793
.........+ [1] Mary(20) McKEEN	
.........4 Mary(9) McKEEN  1715-
.........+ Robert BOYD	
.........4 David(10) McKEEN	1718-
.........4 James(11) McKEEN	1719-1794
.........+ [1]Elizabeth DINSMORE  1725-1752
.........+ [2]Lydia INGALLS	
.........4 Janet(12) McKEEN	1721-
.........+ William ORR	
.........4 Martha(13) McKEEN	1723-1803
.........+ John DINSMORE	1721-1793
.........4 Samuel(16) McKEEN	1725-
.........4 Margaret(14) McKEEN	1726-
.........4 Annis(15) McKEEN	1727-
.........4 William(4646) McKEEN	 1730-1802
.........+ [1]Elizabeth CHRISTIE  1740-1835
.........+ [2]Unknown 	1731-1774
......3 John(4) McKEAN	-1718
......+ Janet SEAFOAM	
.........4 Robert(17) McKEAN	1697-1755
.........+ Elizabeth [McKEAN]	1700-
.........4 John(18) McKEEN	1700-1767
.........+ Martha CARGILL	1705-1767
.........4 Samuel(19) McKEEN	1703-1784
.........+ Agnes (Mary) CLARK	1705-
.........4 James(12277) McKEAN	1708-
.........4 [1] Mary(20) McKEEN	
.........+ [2] John(8) McKEEN	1714-1793
......3	William(5) McKEAN	
......+ Susannah McCain [McKEAN]  -1730/31
.........4 William(21) McKEAN	1707-1769
.........+ [1]Annie (James) LOGAN   -1751
.........+ [2]Letitia FINNEY	-1742
.........4 Thomas(22) McKEAN [McCain - McKane]	
.........+ Unknown [McKEAN]	
.........4 Barbara(23) McKEAN	
.........+ Unknown MURRAY	
.........4 Margaret(24) McKEAN	
.........+ John HENDERSON	
.........4 James(25) McKEAN	
...2 John(2) McKEAN  1665-
...+ Unknown
......3	William(349) McKEAN  1670-1761
......+ Unknown
.........4 Hugh(6737) McKEAN	1753-1849
.........+ Jane McCAW	1763-1842
.........4 William(6738) McKEAN	
.........4 Robert(6739) McKEAN	
.........4 John(6740) McKEAN	
...2 Annis(263) McKEAN	1670-
...2 Robert(363) McKEAN	1670-
...2 Joseph(364) McKEAN	1670-


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