1st Earl of Ross, Ferchar Mackinsagart & the McTaggart line?

[Forfarian]

If one checks Ferchar Mackinsagart's lineage, there is no reference to a known father or mother...strange?
If Mackinsagart was infact a close relative of the O'Beollan's or the Red Priest - why is it not mentioned officially anywhere?

Probably because it's too long ago and any written records, if they ever existed, have not survived.

[Brownbaker]

"Probably because it's too long ago and any written records, if they ever existed, have not survived."

True...!

Even still....once he was declared 1st Earl of Ross, there must have been interest in his ancestors??
Did he not know his parents names, was he keeping their identities secret and why didn't anyone else know or reveal who he was....hmm?

We are back to question....if Ferchar Mackinsagart came from nowhere, how did he command an attack that demolished two mighty clans?

[Brownbaker]

I found an very interesting post from Clanman from 2007:

 "The clan of Gilleandrais -the servant of St. Andrew, ecclesiastics of Applecross founded on the west coast of Scotland in 671 by St. Mael Rubha of Bangor. The family septs of ÓBeollain [Boland], Anderson, Cairney, Fairlie, Forbes, Foulis, Gillanders, Munro, Reid, Ross, MacTaggart and Urquhart."

Gilleandrais may purportedly be an ancestor of Ferchar Mackinsagart:

EDIT to add:
Quote: „Ferchair Mac an t'Sagairt, was the grandson or great-grandson of Gillandres, one of the six Earls (mormaers) who besieged King Malcolm IV at Perth in 1160.  The 'Celtic Scotland,' Vol. II, p.412, states that „the hereditary priests according to tradition, bore the names of O'Beollan and McVuirich in the Black Book of Clanranald“ – and says that Ferquhard (Mackinsagart) was descended from Gillapatrick the Red, the son of Roderick known traditionally, as the Red Priest.“

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=227722.msg1206090#msg1206090

[Maiden Stone]

Even still....once he was declared 1st Earl of Ross, there must have been interest in his ancestors??
Did he not know his parents names, was he keeping their identities secret and why didn't anyone else know or reveal who he was....hmm?

Because in his case his military success was more important than who his parents were ?
He may have been known as 1st Earl of Ross but he wasn't the first Earl of Ross.

[Maiden Stone]

"Malcolm MacEth (MacHeth) was displaced from Moray by King Malcom IV in 1160. His grandson, Kenneth MacEth (MacHeth) joined the rebellion against William the Lion, and was killed in 1215."

What is interesting....is that this rebellion against William the Lion, appears to be the same battle that Farquhar Mackinsagart entered and eventually conquered, the MacHeths and MacWilliams (McUilleams) both.

William the Lion is included on a website  -  title "English Monarchs". 

[Brownbaker]

@Maiden Stone

"William the Lion is included on a website  -  title "English Monarchs""

Thanks for this - yes, i've been confused by this info too.

It raises another question for me however,.....did Ferquar Macinsagart have infact English roots, perhaps not Scottish? It might explain his sudden arrival at the battle, or the ability to keep his heritage hidden?


I

[Maiden Stone]

It raises another question for me however,.....did Ferquar Macinsagart have infact English roots, perhaps not Scottish? It might explain his sudden arrival at the battle, or the ability to keep his heritage hidden?I

If Robert the Bruce (aka Robert de Brus) had "English" roots there's no reason why a lowlier person shouldn't have them. Bruce's paternal roots were transplanted from Normandy (or possibly Flanders); his mother's roots were in Galloway, hence Robert being Earl of Carrick. See various theories of Bruce lineage  - Ancestry of Robert the Bruce on Baronage website www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-03/bruce-02.html
I've no idea as to the accuracy or provenance of the information.