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The Chittick Family History
as written by Erminda (Chittick) Rentoul
1890 The Lodge, Cliftonville, Belfast. Ireland
Chapter Six | The Robertsons of Strowan
“The possessions of Duncan of Athole, who is considered
as the first of the Robertsons of Strowan, consisted first of
the lands afterwards erected into the Barony of Strowan; secondly,
of the Barony of Dishor and Toyer, comprehending the greater
part of the present district of Braidalbane; and thirdly, of
Dollmagarth, called Adulia in the ancient chartularies, a property
which appears to have been originally in possession of the Earls
of Athole.”
"The only mode of accounting for their possessing them
is by supposing that Dull constituted a male fief, and that
the family which designated itself De Atholia were the male
descendants of the ancient Earls of Athole."
"It appears from the chartulary of Inchaffray that
Ewen, the son of Conan, had married Maria, one of the two daughters
and co-heiresses of Duncan, the son of Convatt, a powerful Baron
in Stratherne and of Lethindy in Gowrie. His eldest daughter
Muriel married Malise, the Seneschal of Stratherne; and their
daughter Ada carried her mother's inheritance, consisting of
the half of Tullebardine, the lands of Buchanty, etc., being
the half of Finachy and part of Lethindy, to William de Morevia,
predecessors of the Murrays of Tullebardine."
Now we find that in 1284 this Maria granted her half of Tullebardine
to her niece Ada, and William Moray, her spouse; and in 1443
we find Robert Duncanson, the undoubted ancestor of the Robertsons
Of Strowan, designating himself Dominus de Fynach, and granting
his lands of Fynach in Stratherne, consanguineo tuo Davidi de
Moravia Domino de Tullebardine. The descent of the family from
Ewen, the son of Conan, the second son of Henry, Earl of Athole,
the daughters of whose eldest son carried the earldom into Lowland
families, is thus put beyond all doubt and the Strowan Robertsons
thus appear to be male heirs of the old Earls of Athole."
Though their territorial possessions were greatly curtailed,
the Robertsons always maintained a prominent rank amongst the
Highland Clans; and yielding to none in attachment to the house
of Stuart they took an active share in every attempt that was
made to replace upon the throne of these realms the descendants
of their ancient line of kings. The exploits of Alexander Robertson,
of Strowan, (Alexander Robertson, of Strowan, formed the prototype
of the brave, chivalrous, learned, eccentric, kind-hearted,
jovial Baron of Bradwardine.) in the insurrection of 1715, the
eccentricity of his habits, his poetical genius, so rare.
"John Robertson, who died in 1806, at the age of 85,
a General in the army and Colonel of the 88th or Connaught Rangers.
He had a good taste for music, and was one of the best flute
players of the age. When Major of the 42nd, he set the words
of “The Grab of Old Gaul," written by Captain (afterwards
Sir Charles) Erskine, to music, a composition which has ever
since been in the regimental march. He left L52,000 in the 3
per cents., subject to the life-rent of his daughter, for the
purpose of establishing a professorship of music in the University
of Edinburgh, where he was educated, the salary not to be less
than L300 per annum."
John Chittick, the grandson of Elizabeth Robertson, was the
best nonprofessional musician in Ireland and especially exceeded
as a flute player, as did also his son, Hugh Chittick. Highland
chief, and the chivalrous heroism and simplicity of his character
have rendered his name familiar to every one. He was indeed
a fine specimen of the dauntless, devoted, and high-bred cavalier;
a stranger, alike to fear and to reproach; brave, learned, and
loyal; a hero in the field, but distinguished alike for his
generosity, kindliness, and humanity, as well as for his wit
and peculiarities, in the ordinary relations of life. Celebrated
in the history of the times in which he lived, he has been adopted
by tradition, which delights to rehearse his achievements, and
last of all romance has adorned one of its most magnificent
galleries with a full length portraiture of this fine old chief
and cavalier."
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