Clan MacPherson The Gillespie Highland Heritage

The MacPherson's trace their descent from Ewen Ban, second of the five sons of Muirich, Chief of Clan Chattan and Prior of Kingussie in 1173. Clan Chattans' origin is the subject of much speculation. Tradition derives the name from Gilliecattan Mhor, meaning "the big servant of St. Catan" who, according to tradition, was one of the Gaelic settlers who came over from Ireland to Scotland in those early centuries. The clan was also keepers of the Relic of St. Catan - a sacred stone. The elder line, descended from this Gilliecattan Mhor, came to an end in the person an only daughter named Eva, who in 1291 married Angus, the young chief of the MacIntoshes. The young chief was invested by his father-in-law as chief of Clan Chattan and the Relic of St. Catan was conveyed to the MacIntoshs. However, there appears to have been a younger male line descended from Gilliecattan Mhor. The representative of this younger line was Muirich, parson of the Culdee church at Kingussie. He is said to be descended from Kenneth, son of Ewen Ban. The name MacPherson-denotes "son of the Parson". A dispute between the MacIntoshes and the MacPhersons as to the chief ship of Clan Chattan was begun. In 1672, Duncan MacPherson of Cluny applied for and obtained from Lord Lyon the matriculation of arms as "the laird of Cluny MacPherson and the only true representer of the ancient and honourable family of Clan Chattan". However, MacIntosh successfully sued a reduction and Lyon apparently charged Cluny with adding supporters which had not been really granted in the text of the parchment. MacIntosh was thus held Chief of Clan Chattan. In 1873 the Lyon Court recognised Ewen MacPherson of Cluny as Chief of the Clan MacPherson.

The Gillespies were Septs of the Clan MacPherson. (Sept n.. clan, race or family, proceeding from common progenitor.-Websters Dictionary). The name Gillespie is from the Gaelic MacGille Easbuig, meaning "servant of the bishop". The founder was Gillies, a younger son of Ewen Ban. This is the MacPhersons of Invereshie branch of the clan which was sometimes called Siol Gillies. Later, they came to be known as the MacPherson-Grants.

Cluny Castle, the Macpherson's seat is a few miles south-west of Kingussie. It was purchased privately during the Second World War. The Clan MacPherson Museum is located in Newtonmore. The museum contains the Feadun Dhu or Black Chanter of Clan Chattan, which is said to have fallen from heaven to supply the loss of the chanter used by the piper who played in the famous battle of the "Threttie against Threttie" on the North Inch in 1396. Also on display is the Green Banner which bears the clan motto, " Touch Not the Cat Bot a Glove" which means "touch not the cat without a glove". The word "Cat" believed to be a play on the clan name Chattan.

Source: Highland Heritage, by Grace Campbell, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1962. Adam,Frank, F.R.G.S, F.S.A. (Scot.), The Clans, Septs, and Regimants of the Scottish Highlands, Johnston and Bacon, Edinburgh and London, 1970. Your Clan Heritage-Clan MacPherson, by Alan McNie,(condensed from Highland Clans of Scotland, by George Eyre-Todd, 1923) Cascade Publishing Co., Jedburgh, Scotland, 1989.