her, Roderick, John, Murdoch, and Flora. He was killed at the battle of Glenlivet, October 3, 1594. Roderick, his eldest son, succeeded him in Barra. John and Murdoch were hostages for Sir Lachlan Mor of Duart, in the hands of Angus Macdonald of Islay, in 1587. They were liberated in 1589, and allowed to return to Barra. Flora was married to Charles Maclean, great-grandson of the famous Ailein nan Sop. Roderick died before his father.
X. Roderick, son of Rory Og, is described in the Macfarlane MS. as ‘a valiant and stout man of war.’ Gregory calls him Rory the Turbulent. In a bit of an old song he is referred to as Ruairidh Tartar, or Rory the Tartar. It is tolerably certain that he was really known as Ruairidh ’n tartair, or Rory of the noise, bustle, or ostentation. He may of course have been spoken of as Ruairidh tartarach; but Ruairidh tartarach and Ruairidh ’n tartair mean the same thing. If he were living to-day, it is quite possible that he would be known as Rory the Hustler. He had a legal claim to the lands of Boisdale as well as to the Island of Barra. About the year 1604 Donald Macdonald of Moydart entered Boisdale with a strong force, attacked Murdoch Macneil, Rory’s brother, and defeated him. By this defeat Rory was deprived of the lands of Boisdale. He seized an English ship near Barra and carried off its cargo. He was arrested by the Tutor of Kintail in a mean and tricky manner, and taken to Edinburgh to answer for his piratical operations. After a short detention he was pardoned and allowed to return to his island home. He handfasted with a Maclean woman by whom he had two or three sons, the second of whom was known as Niall Og. He married Marion, daughter of Allan Macdonald of Moydart, and grand-daughter of Hector Mor Maclean of Duart, and had by her Niall Uisteach and other sons. About the year 1612 the sons of the first and the second family quarrelled bitterly and fiercely with regard to the chieftainship, and caused a great deal of annoyance and trouble to their father. According to one account Rory was succeeded by Niall Og, whilst Niall Uisteach received Skirval
