Clan Neish

Clan Neish or MacNeish is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered and Armigerous clan. The clan is also sometimes considered a sept of the Clan MacGregor or the Clan MacInnes. The Neishes are also sometimes called the M'llduys.

The traditional lands of the Clan Neish are in Perthshire, Scotland. The Neishes also possessed lands in the upper part of Strathearn and inhabited the lower part of Loch Earn and Neish Island. The Neishes are remembered by tradition for a long feud with the Clan MacNab and for living on Neish Island where there are the remains of their small castle. [http://www.incallander.co.uk/gallery/stfill4.jpg]

Very little is known of the early history of the clan Mr. Tod, in his book, suggests that the Macnishes are descended from the ancient kings of Dál Riata, as are the MacNabs. However, he gives no source for his contention. They appear to have been almost exterminated or scattered early in the sixteenth century. Frank Adam and Sir Thomas Innes of Larney in their source book 'The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands' merely lists MacNeish as a sept of the MacGregor and state “This small sept were all but exterminated during a feud with the Macnabs.” Various traditional accounts have been handed down in Strathearn concerning them, and the written records of the county contain only notices of individual members of the clan.

During the fifteenth century the Neishes of Upper Strathearn commenced a struggle with the Clann an Aba (the MacNabs). During the 16th century the MacNabs carried on the deadly feud with the Clan Neish or MacNeish. Many battles were fought between the MacNabs and Neishes with various success. The last battle between them was the Battle of Glenboultachen in 1522 where the MacNabs were victorious. The battle was fought, by the present farm of Littleport, in the wild Glen of Boultachan. The Neishes were killed almost to a man, including their chief. The aged MacNishe chief fought with great strength and activity and unparalleled bravery, but the MacNabs eventually bore all before them, and the aged chief, on beholding three of his sons perish by his side, placed his back to a large rude granite block, which still marks the scene of the conflict. His vast stature, his known strength and bravery with his Claymore, as he towered above the fray, with his white hair streaming in the wind, the blood streaming from his forehead, which had been wounded by an arrow, and from his huge sword, which had a remarkable accessory in the shape of an iron ball that slid along the back of the blade to give an additional weight to every cut. However some Neishes survived and continued to live on which they called Neish Island. Apparently the Neishes continued to plunder the MacNabs and feuds continued.

During the 17th century, almost a hundred years after the Battle of Glenboultachen, the Christmas of 1612, the chief of MacNabs sent his servant to Crieff for provisions however on his return he was attacked and robbed of all provisions by the Neishes. He survived and returned empty handed to the MacNab chief. The chief had twelve sons who were all men of great strength but one above all was exceedingly athletic and the strongest of them all. He was called in gaelic "Iain mion Mac an Appa" of "Smooth John MacNab". The brothers set out carrying on their shoulders a fishing boat. They arrived at Loch Earn where they launched the boat and passed over to Neish Island. The MacNabs killed all of the Neishes who were taken by surprise. However two Neishes, a man and a boy survived by hiding under a bed. Carrying any plunder they could secure, the youths returned to their father. A short account of the Clan Neish and Clan MacNab feud is also given in the Statistical Account of Scotland, published in 1838.

References

*The History of the Clan Neish or MacNish of Perthshire and Galloway by David MacNish and William A Tod. Published by William Blackwood and Sons. [http://www.incallander.co.uk/gallery/stfill4.jpg]

External links

* [http://www.neish.net/neish_family_history Neish pages]
* [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/boultachan.htm Battle of Glenboultachen]
* [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/gazetteer/vol5page100.htm Neish Island @ electric scotland]