migovie
04-10-2004, 07:43 AM
Are we Mactavish or Frasers ??
This question seems to be put about from many quarters....and i am too new to this game to skillfully shed any light on it...BUT from what I can gather ....there can be NO suggestion that the Strath Mact were originally from Fraser stock.....this is clearly proven by the issue of arms to Simon Mactavish of Gartbeg in 1794....It would appear to me that Lord Lyons Office have settled that question definitely by granting Simon Mact of gartbeg a minimally differenced arms to that of Lachlan Mactavish of Dunardry proving Simon was a Mactavish and a close relation to Lachlan... it appears unfortunately that simons line of descent back to the Dunardry chief is no longer on record.....but Mathews document on garthbeg shows most of this. If there was ANY suggestion Simon Mact was of Fraser stock he would have been issued arms confirming Fraser lineage and if he was a Fraser his arms would have no relevance to Lachlans.
The Strath Mact were definitely living as a 'clan within a clan" and this is a simple numbers game for survival.....we had to obviously obey the formidably larger force of the Fraser clan just as the Dunardry Mactavish had to obey their Campbell neighbours.....had we shown any disrespect or defiance to these far superior clans none of us would be here now as all Mactavish would have been wiped out ......a simple numbers game......regardless of how brave and warrior-like we all dream are ancestors may have been....they could still not win a battle against Campbells or Frasers when out-numbered 100 to 1! (not that the strath mact ever had reason for disagreement with the frasers....far from it....the 2 clans were as 1 )
Fortunately the Strath Mactavish were not only brave, but they were trustworthy and the Fraser clan acknowledged this by offering support and fellowship....and it is still not forgotten today.....I have met many Frasers in this country and there is definitely a genuine admiration from both sides. ( more so for the conduct of the Mactavish in the past tho )
This question seems to be put about from many quarters....and i am too new to this game to skillfully shed any light on it...BUT from what I can gather ....there can be NO suggestion that the Strath Mact were originally from Fraser stock.....this is clearly proven by the issue of arms to Simon Mactavish of Gartbeg in 1794....It would appear to me that Lord Lyons Office have settled that question definitely by granting Simon Mact of gartbeg a minimally differenced arms to that of Lachlan Mactavish of Dunardry proving Simon was a Mactavish and a close relation to Lachlan... it appears unfortunately that simons line of descent back to the Dunardry chief is no longer on record.....but Mathews document on garthbeg shows most of this. If there was ANY suggestion Simon Mact was of Fraser stock he would have been issued arms confirming Fraser lineage and if he was a Fraser his arms would have no relevance to Lachlans.
The Strath Mact were definitely living as a 'clan within a clan" and this is a simple numbers game for survival.....we had to obviously obey the formidably larger force of the Fraser clan just as the Dunardry Mactavish had to obey their Campbell neighbours.....had we shown any disrespect or defiance to these far superior clans none of us would be here now as all Mactavish would have been wiped out ......a simple numbers game......regardless of how brave and warrior-like we all dream are ancestors may have been....they could still not win a battle against Campbells or Frasers when out-numbered 100 to 1! (not that the strath mact ever had reason for disagreement with the frasers....far from it....the 2 clans were as 1 )
Fortunately the Strath Mactavish were not only brave, but they were trustworthy and the Fraser clan acknowledged this by offering support and fellowship....and it is still not forgotten today.....I have met many Frasers in this country and there is definitely a genuine admiration from both sides. ( more so for the conduct of the Mactavish in the past tho )