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Note: 1. Death cert.
2. Marriage cert.
3. McPhail, Peter is found in Lot 29, Agricultural Census of 1861. Prince
Edward Island, Canada.
4. McPhail, Peter is found in pg. 71 Census of Ca. Co. of Santa Barbara. 1880.
5. His craft was carpentry, locating in Crapaud, PEI. , Lot 29.
6. Following is a letter that was transcribed by my grandmother, Carolyn
Hayward Bardwell. It is from H.A.C. McPhail, in about 1897 or 1898.
"The MacPhails of Inverairnie" In Sir Eneas MacKintosh's Memoirs of Clan Chattan, the MacPhails appear in
the list as no. 14 of the tribes, and they took protection of MacKintosh about
1500.
In the Kinrara History of the MacKintoshes, it is said that in the time of
Duncan the 8th (1456-96) lived "Paul Gow, good Sir of Sir Andrew MacPhail, the
priest of whom the Clan Phail had their beginning."
This Sir Andrew, grandson of Paul, first of the MacPhails, according to the
Kinrara History, wrote the third of the three historics of Clan Chattan, upon
which Kinrara founds in part his history. He adds that Sir Andrews' history
began with Shaaw, the 1st MacKintosh, and ended with William the 15th, murdered
at Strathbogie in 1550.
The Rev. Lachlan Shaw, the historian, when dealing with the parishes od Daviot and Dunlichty, refers to "MacPhail of Inverairnie, the chief of that
ancient tribe of Clan Chattan."
The family did not acquire "Inverairnie" until 1631, but the name is to be
found at a much earlier period, and was common among ecclisiastics. The first
MacPhail I have noticed was named Gillies. He died prior to 1500, his place of
residence not being mentioned. He married Margaret MacKintosh, who bore to him
John, Paul, Alison, Margaret, Catherin, and Agnes. In 1496, David Dunbar of
Durris prusues MacKintosh and the following, his men and dependants-"Gillies
MacPhail, Donald MacGillivray, Farquhar Auchins' son, Auchen MacRuari, and
Alezander MacAllister," for the wrongeous occupation and laboring of the lands
of Durris, with the pertinents lying within the Sheriffdom of Inverness," for
the space of one year last bye past."
In 1558-Donald MacDonald, vic Phail, is found, and in the same year John Reoch MacPhail.
In 1560-Sir John MacPhail is one of the Procurators in the Sheriff Court of
Inverness.
In 1561-James MacWilliam, vic Phail, is found. After the Reformation, the MacPhails appear in force as ecclisiastics. We
find Mr. Andrew MacPhail, reader at Petty and Bracklie in 1547; settled at
Kirkhill in 1575; transformed to Kinggussie in 1581, and to Dores in 1590.
In a deed dated at Inverness, 26th April 1594, two of the witnesses are "Andrew MacPhail, Minister of the Word of God at Croy, and Severinus MacPhail,
Minister of the Church of Petty." Neither of these gentlemens names appear in
the Fasti as holding office in Croy and Petty.
There is notice of Souverance Makpharlane or MacPhail, as having been presented by James 6th to Alvie in 1585-6, and that he was continued to 1594,
no doubt the same person referred to as Minister of Petty.
Several MacPhails are found in the County of Southerland in the early part of
the 17th century, and were burgesses of Dornock.
The MacPhails dod not acquire a heritable right to Inverairie until the year
1631, when Hugh Rose, then of Kilravock, in respect of a thousand pounds scots,
granted a wadset right and long tack of Invernairie to:
1st-Duncan MacPhail, therein described as "of Invernairie." This original grant is dated May 19th, 1631. The lands of Invernairie, facing the
River Nairn, lie within the Barony of Straithnairn, and Parish of Dalarossie,
and have for more than a century been divided, the upper portion next to Farr,
having been acquired by the family of Farr, and still forming part of that
estate, the other and lower portion adjoining Wester Lairge, being acquired by
Macgillivray of Dunmaglass. Both portions are watered by the River Airnie,
which falls into the Nairn river adjoining to Lower Inverairnie; and forming a
portion thereof, lies on the high grounds betwixt Strathnairn and Strathdearn,
a very extensive muir called the "Shalvanach," of old capital grazing, and now
excellent shooting grounds.
The Inverairie estate also comprehended the lands of Duglass, and Duletter,
in Strarthdearn, practically adjoining but facing the River Findhorn and the
south. These lands formed that part of the present estate of Glenmazeran,
acquired from the MacKintoshes od\f Aberarder, sucessors to Invernairie in
Strathdearn.
The next MacPhail I find is, II.-Paul MacPhail in 1689, probably a grandson of the above Duncan. Paul
MacPhail acquired on March 13, 1689, from Kilravock, the reversionary rights to
the lands, in respect of a "fer duty" of two hundred and nine merks and other
presentations. Paul is infest on 7th Dec. 1689. He married, first Elspet Shaw
of Tordarrock, and by her had two sons, Duncan and Forbes; Paul married
secondly- a lady described as "Jean Forbes", niece to the laird of Culloden."
Wishing to favour a son by the second marriage, Paul MacPhail made a new
arrangement with Kilravock on July 4th, 1699. By Jean Forbes, Paul MacPhail
had a son John, described in 1765 as "now surveyor of the Customs at Fort
William", who took infestment as heir of provision in 1754. To fortify the
title of the son by the second marriage, Paul MacPhail assigned his estate to
William MacPhail, merchant in Inverness, and Margaret MacKintosh, his spouse.
But William MacPhail favored the heir male, and on Sept. 15, 1716,-gave over
his rights to Robert, eldest surviving son of Paul MacPhail. Paul was
succceeded by his second, but eldest surviving son.
III-Robert MacPhail, and in 1721, Robert is in full possession of the estate.
He dies in 1745, when he was succeeded by his son. IV-Alexander MacPhail, who made up titles to the estate in 1756. In 1759-60, Alexander, the heir male, at great cost settled with John MacPhail
before mentioned, the heir of provision.
Alexander MacPhail was now undisputed owner of Invernairie, but the consideration paid to his relative, John, and the litigation with Kilravock,
the Superior, proved fatal, and necessatated a sale of the estate.
Thus the weakness of Paul, second in this list, and the cupidity of his second wife, brought about the ruin of the family. Kilravock by himself and
others in right of the large fou, attempted to take possession of the estate,
and remove Alexander. He fought hard for years to maintain his position,
having at length tyo succumb, when Inverairie was acquired by Farr and
Dunmaglass jointly, the estate being divided.
It was with Dunmaglass, Invernairie chiefly dealt, and numerous transactions
passed in form of money and documents before a final clearance.
Alexander MacPhail, as formerly mentioned, signed the bond in favour of MacKintosh redeeming the Laggan lands in 1756, as head of the MacPhails. In
his struggle to retain his estate, Alexander executed a transfer to a relative,
Paul MacPhail. The deed is writted by Alexander himself, and was signed at
Invernairie on the 14th of April, 1763, in presence of John McPhail, youngest
lawful son of the late Robert MacPhail of Invernairie, and Donald MacPhail,
tenant in old town of Invernairie, and Donald MacPhail in Lynrich of Farr. I
shall only make one further reference to Alexander MacPhail, whose ill-fortune
I deplore. Before finally settling with William MacGillivray of Dunmaglass,
documents, as I said, were given one obligation coming into the hands of the
notorious Farquhar MacGillvray of Dalcrombie as door for Dunmaglass. I will
mention it in poor Invernairie's own words, from a petition to the Sheriff
craving release from prison. Invernairie says, "that notwithstanding his
having settled with Dunmaglass, Farquhar MacGillvray of Dalcrombie, without
having any special mandate from the said Captain William MacGillivray, who was
out of kingdom, in Georgia, upon Monday last, the 6th Dec. 1773, came with a
party of 12 men, armed with guns and staves, and upon the high road attacked
the petitioner, and by the strong hand held him about two hours in the snow, by
violence without having a caption or a warrant, or messenger or officer of the
law with him," and had him conveyed to prison."
Sheriff MacQueen on the 9th of Dec., on a petition by Invernairie, ordered
answers within 48 hours. By a marking on the paper dated 13th of Dec, no
answers had been given in. There were towards the end of the last century no
two more determined ans unscrupulous men in the County of Inverness than John
MacPHerson in Ballachroan, and Farquhar MacGillivray of Dalcrombie.
Not only have the MacPhails disappeared from Invernairie, but there are none
of the name occupying land in Strathnairn and Strathdearn. The last I knew was
Mr. Angus MacPhail-tenant in Mid Lairgs under MacIntosh, a most worthy man, who
with his excellent helpmate, had a high and deserved reputation in the
churches. Some of his descendants, I believe, are in Melbourne, Victoria.
Whether there be an heir male in Invernairie I know not, but should anyone-(for
instance the rising counsel of the name) think he has a claim, now is the time
to establish his right to the honour.
There are several of this Sept. who now sign "McFall, " pronounced phonetically, being the genative of Paul, a form of Phail, Phoil, or Pol, many
Gaelic names standing in phonetics form, amongst whom may be mentioned Captain
Crawford M'Fall, of the Kings Own Light Infantry.
end. Our branch of the family left Inverness, or vicinity about 1750. My great
grandfather, Malcolm MacPhail, whose wife was a McLean of Duart, Mull,
Argyleshire, whose castle, together with the present owner, a Colonel McLean, I
saw when visiting the old McPhail home (named Ardnacross), 4 miles from Arle,
Mull, Scotland. Great grandfather, with his whole family and a number of his
wifes family and other friends, left Scotlaand in 1810 in their own ship with a
goodly supply of furniture, tools, seeds, cattle, hens, geese etc; and settled
on a large tract of land at Argyleshore, Prince Edward Island, Canada. My
grandfathers name was Neil. My fathers name, Peter, who married Margaret Ann
Lane, daughter of John Lane of De Sable, PE Island, in 1853. I was born in
Cambridge, near Boston, July 29, 1854. Moved to Lake City, Minnesota in 1866.
Moved to Santa Barbara, California, 1876. To Los Angeles in 1905.
H.A.C. McPhail Appendix
The MacPhails, page 62. This paper attracted the notice, I am happy to say,
of the head of the MacPhails, Mr. Paul MacPhail of Melbourne, wrote me under
date of Nov. 16, 1897--
"It was with much interest I hsave read your memoires of the MacPhails of
Invernairie, which appeared in the Celtic Monthly. My interest in that article
was enhanced, believing that I am the nearest surviving relative of the
Invernairie MacPhails. My grandfather, Donald MacPhail, was a tenant in
Balnult, Gask, under Dunmaglass, and was a son of Paul MacPhail referred to by
you, to whom Alexander MacPhail executed a transfer of his estate on the 14th
April, 1765. My father died when I was young, leaving a family of three. My
brother, Lachlan, died in Inverness, 1882. My sister is still alive and came to
Australia in 1852. Owing to our fathers' early death, we know but little of
the family history. One part I can vouch for certainly, that Paul MacPhail, to
whom Alexander MacPhail of Invernairie assigned his estate in 1763, was my
grandfather. I am not aware that my father had any brothers, but had a sister
who survived him by many years. I regret I cannot give you more Information in
this matter."
n reply to my suggestion that he should assert his position and settle in his
native district, Mr. MacPhail says that with every attachment to Strathnairn,
yet, being unmarried adn somewhat advanced in life, he has accepted his adopted
country in which he has prospered as his home.
As I have discovered the names of several MacPhail in connection with Tullich
and Elrig, prior to Duncan MacPhail, given on page 59, as first of the family,
I now append the note:
1500-say Conchie dhu. 1546-Marion Fraser, daughter of Thomas Barron, otherwise Thomas Ewens' son
Fraser, grants to Duncan vie Conchie dhu in Invernairie half of Tullich and
Elrig.
1553-Paul vic Conchie dhu, heir of his father, Duncan vie Conchie dhu. 1557-Paul grants charter to his son, Duncan MacPhail. 1582-Duncan is found. 1593-Duncan sells Tullich and Elrig to Lachlan MacKintosh of MacKintosh.
Page 62- Captain M'Fall has gone thoroughly into the family history, and his
researches demand publication in seperate and distinct form, for space prevents
their being dealt with at present. Amidst other interesting matterw, Captain
M'Fall refers to Leydens romantic ballad, "MacPhail of Colonsay" and "The
Mermaid of Corryvrecken".
Appendix- by Harvey Franklin McPhail
My grandfathers name was Peter McPhail; my fathers name was Albert Franklin
McPhail, the younger brother of H.A.C. McPhail (Uncle Alphonso). I was born in
Santa Barbara, Cal. Jan 12, 1892. Moved to;
Lompoc, CA. in 1895. to Reno, NV in 1900. to Sparks, NV. in 1906. to Lovelock, NV in 1915. to Lingle, WY. in 1918. to Cody, WY. in 1920. to Denver, CO. in 1923. to Wash. D.C. in 1946. My son, Harvey Franklin McPhail is the only male issue of the 3rd generation
of Peter McPhails family. He at this time resides in Denver, CO.
-End of letter-1
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