History Of The Clan
The name Matheson comes from the Gaelic MacMathan, "son of the bear" not to be
confused with the English Mathewson which is simply "son of Mathew". The
MacMathans were settled in Lochalsh in Wester Ross from an early period.
Kenneth MacMathan, traditionally Constable of Eilean Donan Castle, is
recorded in both the Chamberlain Rolls and the Norse account of the expedition
of King Haakon IV against Scotland in 1263 which culminated in his defeat at
Largs.
The Mathesons
fought for Donald of the Isles at Harlaw in 1411. Alasdair McMhurchaidh,
Clan Chief and leader of 2,000 men, was arrested by James 1 at Inverness in
1427, along with other Highland chiefs. Alasdair and four sons died in the
battle of Cnoc na Catach in 1438. Although the record is silent on the
immediately subsequent years a probable son, Iain Dubh Matheson the Elder
eventually succeeded to the Chiefship. Iain was followed by his son,
Iain Dubh Matheson the
Younger,
and one of
his younger sons, Donald, may have been
the forbear of the Mathesons of
Shinness.
Iain Dubh the
Younger,
Constable of Eilean Donan Castle, was killed in 1539 defending the fortress
against the Macdonalds, who were allied with his cousin, Murdoch Buidhe,
a rival claimant for the chiefship. After the death of another brother of Iain,
Dugald Ruadh, Murdoch Buidhe’s claim to the chiefship was
unchallenged.
Murdoch Buidhe’s son,
Roderick of Fernaig, succeeded him as chief. Roderick was followed
successively by three Johns, son, grandson and great grandson. The great
grandson, John (Iain Mor) Matheson, bought land on the Black Isle (East
Suddy in 1688; Bennetsfield in 1697) and with his family left Lochalsh. The
Chiefship of the Mathesons remained with this family, the Mathesons of
Bennetsfield, until 1975 when the then Chief, Colonel Bertram Matheson of
Matheson, M.C. died without issue. Meanwhile, Iain Mor’s nephew, Farquhar,
took over Attadale and his successors continued to hold land in Lochalsh until
Attadale was sold in 1825 by John Matheson IVth of Attadale.
John's eldest son Alexander
Matheson (b. 1805) (later of Ardross and Lochalsh), a 6 x great grandson of
Roderick of Fernaig and grandfather of the present Chief, went to China to join
his maternal uncle James, a Sutherland Matheson, a founder partner in Jardine
Matheson & Co. Alexander returned to Scotland in 1840 and started to buy land
in Ross-shire. In 1851 recovered the Lochalsh estate. He was created Baronet
of Lochalsh in 1882. His grandson, Major Sir Torquhil Matheson of Matheson,
6th Baronet, succeeded Colonel Bertram Matheson of Matheson, M.C., as
Chief of the Mathesons, by tanistry,in 1975 and on his death in 1993 was
succeeded by his younger brother, Major Sir Fergus Matheson of Matheson,
7th Baronet, the present Chief.
From the Sutherland Mathesons
descend Sir James Matheson , 1st and last Baronet of the Lews, of the
Shiness branch. He joined Dr.William Jardine in founding the mercantile house
of Jardine Matheson & Co. trading in India and China. On returning to Scotland
he bought the Island of Lewis in 1844 and was created Baronet of the Lews in
1851 for his exertions and generosity in alleviating the sufferings of the
inhabitants of the island during a period of famine.
Today, descendants of Lochalsh
and Sutherland (Shiness) Mathesons are to be found in many overseas countries,
particularly in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and U.S.A.
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