McLaurins in Appin and Ardchattan parishes, compiled after Culloden

The two contemporaneous rosters of McLaurins in Appin and Ardchattan parishes, compiled after Culloden.

6 July 1746 at Islandstalker, List of persons within the parish of Lismore and Appin who have not delivered up thier Arms.

“The Stonefield list adds substantially to our understanding of the composition of the Appin Regiment 1745-46. In the absence of indications to the contrary it is assumed that these rebels served with the Appin Regiment.” Angus Stewart, Q.C. And A. T. B. Stewart, C.B.E. “The Stonefield list challenges the notion that the MacLarens who fought under the Appin banner were all Balquhidder men motivated by a centuries old bond between the clans. The MacLarens in the Stonefield list are local tenants and retainers.” Angus Stewart, Q.C. And A. T. B. Stewart, C.B.E.

Auchiblair: Lachlan McLearan, Euan (Hugh) McLearan, Duncan McLearan, Tenants

Glenourock: Lachlan McLearan, Doctor - see below, Donald McLearan, his servant - see below, Learan McLearan, also his servant, John McLearan, Boat Carpenter, McIan vic Euen vic Lauchlan, The Doctor’s herder

Blar-nan-laogh: John Bane McLearan, Servant to old Lauchlan McLearan, Tenant

Fasnacloich: Donald McLearan, Servant to Fasnacloich, Euan McLearan, Miller

Campbell of Glenure in Ardchattan Parish Euan Bane (John the Pale) McLearan, Servant to Duncan Campbell Barcaldine’s Brother, Duncan McLearan his other servant, John McLearan brother to the above an idle man. McLaurin Rebels = 13

3 May 1746, List of Heretors Tennants Servants and Cottars 3 May 1746, List of Heretors Tennants Servants and Cottars that are at home and of those that are abroad in the Present Rebellion out of the Country of Appine and Glencoe Those at home in the Ten pound land of Airds only excepted. Compiled three weeks after Culloden, by Dougal Stewart, 10th chief of Appin. A legal document submitted to chief of the Lord Justice-Clerk, Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton. “The list has 294 names, 132 at home and 162 abroad (rebels). If the chiefs were tempted to maximize the number of stay-at-homes, he must have been under pressure to give the names of all rebels in the district.” “The beleaguered chief of Appin was undoubtedly trying to give the impression that, on the question of support for the Prince, the clan was almost equally divided. Whether this was in fact correct cannot be stated without knowing the age and fighting quality of the men who stayed at home. The stay-at-homes might have been home guard material. The possibility 46 cannot be excluded that some of them took part in local operations. This would be consistent with observations made at the time by the commander of the Redcoat garrison at Castle Stalker.” The Stewarts, Vol XX #3, 1998

The MacLaurins in Appin’s List are reproduced here with the original spellings. “Abroad” means that they were out fighting with the Regiment. “At Home” means just that they stayed home and were the “Home Guard”

The Appine’s Estate: Sallachan: At home Duncan McColl and Duncan Mclarine Blarnaloe: At home Lauchlane Mclarine and John Mclarine his son - Lauchlane is Duncan at Invernayhle’s father.

Glenouroch: Abroad Lauchlane McLarine, John McLarine, Donald McLarine

Kenlochlaich: Abroad John Mclarine, a large farm

Sheunay: Abroad Ewen Mclarine

Elerick: Abroad Hugh Mclarine, Tack to Campbell of Glenure (who was murdered in 1752)

Carmichael, Baron of Annat’s Estate Croft of Annat: Abroad Hugh Mclarine and Hugh McColl

Campbell Aird’s Estate: Auchblar: At home Donald Mclarine (holder) Abroad Duncan Mclarine, Hugh (Euan) Mclarine, Donald McColl

Ardsheal’s Estate: Acharr: Abroad John Mclarine and Donald Mclarine - the next generation immigrated to North Carolina on “Jupiter of Lorne” with McColls and Stewarts in the 1770’s, arriving in time for the Revolutionary War. Petition signed by Catherine Colquhoun, relict of John McLaren of Acharr a Culloden survivor. In 1755 a Letter of Complaint signed at Duror by Donald McLearin of Acharr a Culloden survivor. Extracts from “Journal of the MacColl Society” or “Cuairtear Chloinn Cholla” July & August 1969

Ballichelishes Estate Laroch: At home Donald Mclarine

Fasnacloich’s Estate Fasnacloich: At home Donald Mclarine Abroad Ewine Mclarine

Invernayhle’s Estate Invernayhle: At home Duncan Mclarine - Probably Ba- Duncan who went to North Carolina in 1790, interred in Stewartsville Cy near Laurinburg.

McLaurin At home = 8, Abroad = 12

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"Representative of the Clan from the Principal Branch"

Anybody who was anybody was a peer in 19th century Britain. You could become a peer by matriculating Armorial Ensigns in the lowest court in the land, The Court of the Lord Lyon. Daniel McLaurin (who changed his spelling from McLaren) from a solicitor in London, too Head of the Principal branch, the House of Auchleskine of the imaginary clan McLaren in Balquhidder.

 

Daniel MacLaurin of Auchleskine

Daniel and I are a lot alike, we both looked unsuccessfully, for the ancient history of Clan MacLaren. Daniel relates how he found the ancient Clan MacLaurin history, he had been looking for in vain for over forty years, in an 1845 coffee table book, McIan’s Costumes of the Clans, 1845. But, forgets that he was a Subscriber to the book, that financed the publication? A 19th Century Who's Who of Scottish Clans with color illustrations of fabricated tartans, if you will.

 

Did I tell you, in 1831, D. McLaurin Esq. was a Subscriber to The Scottish Gael written by James Logan, that has no mention of a Clan McLaren. In 1836, McLaurin, Daniel, Esq,. is a Subscriber to History of the Highlands and Isles Scotland, by Donald Gregory, that has no mention of a Clan McLaren. In 1845, Mac Laurin, Daniel, Esq,. was a Subscriber to McIan’s Costumes of the Clans of Scotland . That miraculously contains the Clan Laurin history that Daniel had been unable to find for forty years.

Daniel Mclaren, Solicitor in London, who changed his surname to MacLaurin and become ‘of Auchleskine’, one of the hand full of tacks or fermtouns associated with Mclarens in Balquhidder. In 1866 Daniel matriculates fron the Lyon Court, Armorial Ensigns and self publishes A History in Memorium of Clan Laurin with primary events coming straight from Scotland’s favorite novelist Sir Walter Scott. addenda by James Logan, an abridged version of Logans article itn McIan’s Costumes.

 

Daniel Maclaurin Matriculation 1866

Extract of the Lord Lyon's Letters Patent in favour of Daniel Maclauren Esquire dated the 23^rd day of April 1866

Wheras Daniel Maclaurin of Acacia Road, of St. John's Wood in the County of Middler sec? Esquire hath by Petition of date the fourteenth day of April current Represented unto Me that he is the only surviving son of the late John Maclaurin portioner of Leachinscridan Bulguhidder in the County of Perth and Janet his wife daughter of Hugh MacGrigor of Auchtowmore and that the said John Maclaurin was son of Duncan and grandson of Donald Maclaurin of Auchleskine, and hath Prayed that I would Grant My License and Authority to him and his descendants, and to the other descendants as his said grandfather Duncan Maclaurin to bear and use such Amorial Ensigns as might be found suitable and according to the Laws of Arms. Know ye therefore that I have devised, and do by these present's Asign Ratify and Confirm to the said Daniel Maclaurin Esquire and to his descendants and to the other descendants of his said grandfather Duncan Maclaurin with such congruent differences as may hereafter be matriculated for them, the following Ensigns Armorial, as depicted upon the margin hereof and Matriculated of even date with these presents in My Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland; veg? Or, two Chevronels Gules in base a Lymphad Sable Sails furled Flags flying and oars in action all within a Bordure nebuly of the second Above the Shield is placed a Helmet befiting his degree, with a Mantling Gules doubled Argent, and on a Wreath oof his his Liveries is set for Crest a Lions head erased proper surmounted by an Antique Crown Or between two Branches of Laurel issuing from the Wreath also proper and in an Escrol over the same thise Motto “Dalriada” and in an Escrol below the Shield this Motto "Aborigene fidus.” Matriculated the twenty third day of April 1866. James Lorimer ? Lyon Clerk

In his book, Daniel basically anoints himself “Representative of the Clan” that James Logan created in 1845, after the matriculation of Armorial Ensigns that practically any Scot could achieve. In his book A History in Memorium of Clan Laurin Daniel McLaurin states in the Introduction that

“Auchleskine, or principal branch of the “Clan Laurin,” claiming the Title of Representative of the Clan”

 That is not what the Matriculation said at all, Daniel made it all up!

Flash forward to 1957, when Donald MacLaren achieves chiefly Arms, MacLaren of MacLaren (chief of the surname) and “of Auchleskine”, because it is the “Principal Branch” based on Daniel’s claim. The 1957 MacLaren Petition to the Lyon Court, refers to the “House of Auchleskine.”

Logan manufactured the Clan MacLaren heraldry to support his Strathearn origin narrative. And the anonymous MacGregor Peter corroborated Logan, in The London Journal. Notice that Margaret MacLaren in her book The MacLarens, describes the Arms as UNRECORDED.

All you gotta do is write a book with a glossy cover to become a clan chief.

MacGregor Peter 1854

“ The London Journal,” 14th October, 1854, writing under the pseudonym of

" M'Gregor Peter,” gives an unrecorded version of MacLaren Arms as : “ Or, two chevrons ; in base, a lymphad, sails furled, oars in action. Sable : On a chief gules, a lion passant, argent. Crest : A lion’s head erased, crowned with an antique coronet {with four points), between two laurel branches;orlewise, proper.

Mottoes: Above “ Dalriada.” Under the Arms: “ Aborigine fidus ” (true from the beginning). Supporters : Two mermaids, the dexter holding a comb, the sinister a mirror, in the exterior hand proper.” The MacLarens by Margaret MacLaren, 1960

Here is the COA's of Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Auchleskine, newly created from James Logan's 1845 Clan Laurin history description, in 1957.

 

 

Donald MacLaren Matriculation 1957 

 Copyright Hilton McLaurin, Oct 30, 2025