He greatly improved this estate and laid it
out in its present beautiful form. His land improvements, however,
turned out unremunerative. His Hilton property was heavily encumbered
in consequence of the part taken by members of the family in the
Risings of 1696, 1715, and 1745, and great losses having been
incurred in connection with his West Indian estates, Alexander
got into pecuniary difficulties, and all his possessions, at home
and abroad, had to be sold either by himself or by his trustees
to meet the demands of his creditors. He was a distinguished
agriculturist for his time, and was the first, along with Sir
George Mackenzie, VII. of Coul, and his own cousin, Major Forbes
Mackenzie, to introduce Cheviot sheep to the Highlands for hill
grazings.
He married Mary James, in Jamaica, with issue -
1. John, his heir.
2. Alexander, who married his cousin Charlotte, daughter of the
Rev. Dr Downie, with issue - (1) Alexander, who died unmarried; (2)
Downie, who died unmarried; (3) John; (4) Kenneth, who married
Flora, daughter of the Rev. John Macdonald, a native of Inverness,
who emigrated to and was a minister in Australia, by his wife Mary
(who died in 1878), third daughter of Neil Macleod, XI.
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