Munro of Kiltearn facts for kids
The Munros of Kiltearn were an important Scottish family. They were a part of the ancient Clan Munro, a famous Scottish clan from the Scottish Highlands. The family lived at Kiltearn House, a large, old house in the area called Kiltearn. In Scottish Gaelic, the Munros of Kiltearn are known as the Sliochd-Alastair-Mhic-Uistean. This means 'descendants of Alexander, son of Hugh'. The most well-known person from this family was Donald Monro, an important church leader.
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Alexander Munro, First of Kiltearn
Alexander Munro was the first person in his family to be known as 'of Kiltearn'. He was the son of Hugh Munro of Coul. His grandfather was George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis, who was a chief of the Clan Munro. The family's Gaelic name, Sliochd-Alastair-Mhic-Uistean, comes from Alexander. It means 'descendants of Alexander, son of Hugh'.
Alexander married Janet, who was the daughter of Farquhar Mclean of Dochgarroch. They had several children:
- Donald Monro, a church leader. He became known as the Archdeacon of the Isles in 1549. He took a famous trip around the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides islands in 1549. After his trip, he wrote his famous book, Description of the Western Isles of Scotland. This book was first published in 1744.
- Hugh Munro, who was the first of Ferrytown of Obsdale.
- Alexander Munro, who was the first of Ardullie.
- John Munro, who became the second of Kiltearn. He took over the family lands after his father.
- Farquhar Munro, who was the first of Teanoird.
- William Munro of Nether-Culcraggie. His two younger sons were killed in the Battle of Logiebride in 1597. They were fighting against the Clan Mackenzie.
John Munro, Second of Kiltearn
John Munro, the second of Kiltearn, was given the Kiltearn lands by the clan chief, Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis. This meant he held the land in return for service to the chief.
John married Christian, daughter of Thomas Urquhart. They had two children:
- Hector Munro, who became the third of Kiltearn. He was the next in line to inherit the Kiltearn estate.
- Alexander Munro, about whom not much is known.
John Munro, second of Kiltearn, passed away near the end of the 1500s.
Hector Munro, Third of Kiltearn
Hector Munro, the third of Kiltearn, married Margaret, daughter of John Sutherland of Balblair. They had the following children:
- William Munro, who became the fourth of Kiltearn. He was the next in line to inherit the Kiltearn lands.
- Robert Munro, who went with Colonel John Munro of Obsdale to fight in the Thirty Years’ War in Germany. He died in Wittemberg in 1631. Robert had a son named Major Donald Munro. Donald went with General Robert Monro to Ireland and settled there. Donald's son, Colonel Henry Monro, was the ancestor of the Monroes of Lower Iveagh. Many important people came from this family line, including John Monroe, a lawyer in Ireland, and Henry Munro of the Society of United Irishmen. Henry Munro was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and faced serious consequences.
- Janet Munro, who married George, the third son of Hector Munro, first of Fyrish.
Hector Munro, third of Kiltearn, died around 1620.
William Munro, Fourth of Kiltearn
William Munro, the fourth of Kiltearn, married Margaret, daughter of Hector Munro, second of Culcraggie. They had two children:
- John Munro, who became the fifth of Kiltearn. He was the next in line to inherit the Kiltearn lands.
- Hector Munro, who went with his uncle Robert to fight in the wars in Germany. Colonel Robert Monro wrote that Hector was a "stout and valorous gentleman" (brave and strong). He sadly died from an illness in Vertenberg.
William Munro, fourth of Kiltearn, died around 1666.
John Munro, Fifth of Kiltearn
John Munro, the fifth of Kiltearn, also went to fight in the wars in Germany. Colonel Robert Monro described him as a "resolute, fix soldier" (a determined and steady soldier). He died from a fever. Colonel Monro wrote that John was "merry and sociable" (happy and friendly) and "alive without fear before his enemy" (brave in battle). He mentioned John's name because he lived a good life and died with honor.
John Munro, fifth of Kiltearn, married Isobel, daughter of Alexander Simpson. They had one son:
- Hector Munro, who became the sixth of Kiltearn.
Hector Munro, Sixth of Kiltearn
Hector Munro, the sixth of Kiltearn, married Margaret, daughter of Dr David Munro. They had several children, but sadly, all of them passed away when they were very young.
He then married Florence, the fourth daughter of Colonel John Munro, second of Lemlair. They did not have any children. Florence was still alive in 1688 and lived to be very old. According to the historian Alexander Mackenzie, even though the family inherited the Kiltearn estates, the male line of the Munros of Kiltearn eventually ended.
Alexander Munro of Kiltearn (18th Century)
In the 1700s, the Kiltearn estate went to a different part of the Munro family. This was Alexander Munro of Kiltearn. He was a descendant of one of the sons of Hector Munro, 13th Baron of Foulis from the 1500s.
This Alexander Munro of Kiltearn signed documents in a court case involving Roderick McCulloch. Roderick was a Jacobite prisoner in London who was accused of treason. Alexander Munro "of" Kiltearn is also listed as the father of several children in the Kiltearn church records from this time, such as Jacobina Munro, born on May 23, 1753. Alexander Munro of Kiltearn later sold the estate to the clan chief, Sir Harry Munro, 7th Baronet.
