Munro of Obsdale facts for kids

Munro of Obsdale coat of arms. This family later became known as Foulis-Obsdale.

The Munros of Obsdale were an important Scottish family. They were a smaller branch of the larger Clan Munro, a famous Highland Scottish clan. Their home was Obsdale House, located just north of Alness in the Scottish Highlands. Many members of the Munro of Obsdale family became very skilled Scottish military leaders in the 1600s.

George Munro, First of Obsdale

George Munro, the first of Obsdale, was the fourth son of Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis. Robert Mor was the chief of the Clan Munro. George was the first son from Robert's second marriage to Kathrine Ross, whose father was the chief of Clan Ross. George received the lands of Obsdale in Alness as his inheritance.

George married a distant relative, Catherine Munro. She was the fifth daughter of Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown. They had several children, including:

1. John Munro, who became the second of Obsdale (see below).
2. Robert Monro, who became one of the most famous military officers of his time. Robert fought under Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years' War in Europe. He became a general in that war. Later, he returned to Scotland and fought in the Bishops' Wars. In the 1640s, Robert went to Ireland. There, he led the Scottish Covenanter army during the Irish Confederate Wars. However, in 1648, his enemy Oliver Cromwell captured him. Robert was then imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was released in 1654 but had to stay in Ireland. He died around 1680.
3. Daniel Munro, who was a major in the army. He was granted lands in Ireland in 1666 for helping the Crown.
4. Ulysses Munro, from whom some French Munros claim to be descended.

John Munro, Second of Obsdale

John Munro, the second of Obsdale, was a soldier like his younger brother, General Robert Monro. He served in Europe under Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years' War. The brothers sailed from Cromarty on October 10, 1626. When they arrived, they joined the King's army. John Munro quickly became a colonel. In 1628, he returned to Scotland to gather more soldiers for his regiment.

On May 14, 1630, John Munro was part of a jury in Inverness. This jury confirmed John Gordon, the 13th Earl of Sutherland and chief of Clan Sutherland, as the heir to William, the first Earl. Other Clan Munro members present included Robert Munro of Assynt and John Munro of Lemlair.

John Munro went back to Germany in 1630 with many of his clan members. One important event in John Munro's war career was a tough battle at a pass in Oldenburg. He fought bravely and was not hurt, even though his brother Robert was wounded in the knee. For the next three years, he led a Scottish regiment for Gustavus Adolphus. John Munro, second of Obsdale, was killed at Wetteraw on the Rhine on March 11, 1633. Historian Sir Robert Gordon said he was a good man. He worked hard and gained wealth and land for himself and his children.

John married Catherine, daughter of John Gordon of Embo. They had several children:

1. John Munro, who became the third of Obsdale (see below).
2. Robert Munro, who became the fourth of Obsdale (see below).
3. George Munro, 1st of Newmore (and Culrain). The current chief of Clan Munro is descended from him. George Munro lived at Newmore Castle. He was one of the most respected members of his family. He fought with his brothers and uncle in the Thirty Years' War. There, he became a major-general. Later, he fought under his uncle Robert in the Irish Confederate Wars. He also fought in the Civil War in Scotland. Charles II knighted George Munro in 1649 in Holland. George later returned to fight in Ireland. He also took part in the Royalist rising of 1651 to 1654. After Charles II became king again, Sir George Munro, first of Newmore, commanded the King's forces from 1674 to 1677.
4. Andrew Munro of Daan, who was a lieutenant in the army.
5. Alexander Munro, who was a lieutenant-colonel in Dumbarton's regiment. He served in France. His descendants still live in France. To marry a French lady, Alexander needed her family's permission. He had to prove he came from a noble family. So, Alexander Munro asked Charles I for a "Birth Brief," which was a document proving his noble birth. He succeeded and married a French lady named Rachel Rolliack. They had children.
6. David Munro, who was a major in the army of Charles I.
7. Janet Munro.
8. Christian Munro.

John Munro, Third of Obsdale

John Munro, the third of Obsdale, also chose a military career like his father. He reached the rank of captain. However, he drowned at sea in 1639. His younger brother Robert then took over the title.

Robert Munro, Fourth of Obsdale

Robert Munro, the fourth of Obsdale, was a MP for Inverness in 1649. In the same year, he became the MP for Ross-shire. He took over from his cousin Sir Hector Munro, 2nd Baronet (who was the chief of Clan Munro). When his cousin Sir Hector died in December 1651, Robert Munro, fourth of Obsdale, became the chief of Clan Munro. He was also the Baronet of Foulis. This was because he was the closest male relative still alive of Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis. After Sir Hector, the 11th baronet, died in 1935, the chieftaincy went to his daughter. It then became separate from the baronetcy title. From 1954, the baronets were called "of Foulis-Obsdale." This helped to tell their family crest and title apart from the Munro of Foulis family. You can find more about later generations in the article: Munro baronets.

The 1700s

The Obsdale title was later used by another member of the same Munro family in the 1700s. Dr. Duncan Munro was the younger brother of Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet. He was known as "of Obsdale." They both died together at the Battle of Falkirk Muir in 1746.