COUNT VON MOLTKE A MACLEAN OF COLL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1509, 17 March 1887, Page 2

COUNT VON MOLT KE A MACLEAN OF COLL.

Mrs Mary Mackellar the poetess, Bonds the following interesting genealogical note to the " Scotsman ": — Having travelled one day lately from Inverness to Bauavie by steamer, I he*rd two gentlomen digisUßß thewirliko policy of the ao-called Dane, Count Von Maltke. We were at that time pisslog the farmhouse of Strone, situated on the Caledonian Canal, on Lochiel's estate; aud the conversation referred to recalled to mo U.at >his was the very spot which might be called the cradle of Count Von Moltke'B race. Aft r tho battle of luvorlochy, fought m 1431, between the royal forced and the followers of the Lord of thelales, Donald Uubh, Chief of Lcohiel, was so oppressed that ho had to flee for hfo life to Irolaud, and tho Lord of the Isles gave his lands to John Grave Maclean, the firßt laitd of Coll, and brother to the fourth laird of Duart, Onbf of the Ma;l«»ns. The Oamerona fooght bravely to keep possession of their lands, and their chief rotamed to dsfend them ; but st'll the Maeleflni claimed Lochabor, or at )oa«i tho extensive parts of it granted to them by the Lord of the Islea. John Grave died, and hla sou, tho second laird of Coll, entered Into possession, and carried on the fend mere bitterly than hia father. At hst they fought a docesivo battle at Corpaeh, to which place they had recently cowe to reside, with the intention of koepiug possession of tho place. Tin M^cleana wore sorely defeated and slain, and among tho fallen was their chlafcaln, John, the eecond laird of Coll.

The Macgilloniet of Strone seem at this !me t-> have acted again-it the interests of

heir Chief, Lochiel, and to have secured

the fuvor of the Lwd of the Isles, for the name a of their lands are not m (ho Charter that was given to John Grave for the other places m L'.chaber. On this occasion, then, when the Macleans were defeated, the young widow fhd wilh her child to St- one, and placid him under the protection of the Miicgi'l.>nioo, who acted v mo it

riondly part to iiim, and rearud him caro-

fu!y until m the course of time ho waa featt-red to his kinsmen. He bacame a sfalwarl man m tho course of yearß, and he waa known ac John of Loch»ber, Jaiu Abrach, which torra continued as. the patronymic of (he lairda of 001 l uutil thoy ceaaod to exlifc as such.

Count You Moltke is the direct de*oend6nt of this child so kindiy Biioltorad m Strone ; m fact, he is a Macloan of the hoaae of Mao Jain Abrach, hta grandfather having boim a lOQ of one of the lairds of 0011. The grandfather and ono of hie brothers went »■» „ oans; men to Copenhagen, where thuy were succseeful m pushing on to good positions, and the ■'ounfc has proved true, to tli3 warlike proolivitie.4 of hla raoo. ihe Count is not the only distinguished deecandant of lain ibrach whose name haa been known to 'hlB generation, fot the laic Hob.irt Pußha wae a great grandson of the laird of 0011, v»lk sj daughter was married to the Earl of Backiugham^hire. The present excellent chief of the Cian Oamoron the late M. P. for Ir,verneßß<Bhire • ia also the greatu;riuicißoii of this 'If aceudant of tho ancient foe of Mb hins», through hia mother, Lady Vere Hobut; and nmong tho cthor3 wo may mnution tho naxie of Commander Caiotrjn, of Afrioiu farao, who ia the great-^randion of a lady of the houce, of 0011. This lady'B hniband was the sou of Or Archibald Cameron, tho brother c f fio gentle Lochlel of the '45. and their son Hie op, the pcand?atbcr of CommancVCameron, wacb rnln OLan. This Ihd i

was a dis'iuguifhod. aoldter, and * ; .,. Mayor of Paris during the occupation of the allies afior t! c capture tf ilapolfcon