In an earlier part of the work, at p. 316, it is shown that the
original title of Lord Mackenzie of Kintail did not come under the
attainder of William, the fifth Earl, for the part which he took
in the Rising of 1715, and therefore the Chief of the Mackenzies,
as heir male of the first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, is, in virtue
of that position, we believe, entitled to assume that ancient title.
The first formal claim to the Chiefship is one by a Captain
Murdoch Mackenzie, "of London," who claimed "the titles, honours,
and dignities of Earl of Seaforth and Baron Mackenzie of Kintail,"
in virtue of a pretended descent and pedigree from the Hon.
John Mackenzie of Assynt, second son of Kenneth Mor, third Earl
of Seaforth. This pedigree and claim is before us. According to
that document the Hon. John Mackenzie of Assynt had a son "Murdoch
Mackenzie of Lochbroom, who, having shown a disposition of enterprise
like his kinsman Earl William, left his native parish in 1729 or
1730, first for Aberdeen and afterwards for Northumberland, where,
in consequence of the unsettled state of Scotland, he resided
with his family." This Murdoch had a son, John Mackenzie, "born
in Beadnall, parish of Bamborough, county of Northumberland, in
1738, who married Miss Isabella Davidson in 1762, and died in 1780,
in his forty-second year.
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