According to an old book from 1891 written by Donald MacLeod, the farms of Prestalloch, Stockidow and Innerlaurin were once owned by three brothers named Peter, James and Humphrey McAuslane.

In his 1894 book, Past Worthies of the Lennox, Donald MacLeod mentions a character known as “Baron” Sandy McAusland and it is possible that the information above may have come from him.

The Stewart of Appin Connection

Donald MacLeod also mentions in his 1891 book that “The great grandmother of the brothers named (i.e. the Rev Dr Alex. McAuslane, Rev John McAuslane and Wm T. McAuslane LLD), who in her day was celebrated for her beauty, was a daughter of Stewart of Ballachullish, while her uncle, Colonel Charles Stewart of Ardshiel, led the clan in the different battles fought on behalf of Prince Charles Edward Stewart.”

The tree below shows the family tree of the McAuslands from Alexander Stewart, 4th of Ballachulish, via his daughter Isabella, the great beauty mentioned in Donald MacLeod’s book, to her great grandsons, Alexander, John and William McAusland.

Lt.-Col. Charles Stewart of Ardshiel who led the Stewart of Appin regiment was actually Isabella’s step-uncle, being the brother of her father’s second wife, Anna Stewart.

Lt.-Col. Charles Stewart of Ardshiel’s younger brother was James Stewart of the Glen who is believed to have been a Captain in the Appin regiment during the ’45. He was arrested and executed on 08 November 1752 as an alleged accessory in the Appin Murder of “The Red Fox”, Colin Roy Campbell of Glenure on 14 May 1752. The Appin Murder features in Robert Louis Stevenson‘s 1886 novel Kidnapped.

Alexander Stewart, 4th of Ballachulish, father of Isabella Stewart, served as a captain in the Appin Regiment in 1745-46 as did many others in the clan.

At Culloden, Annand states that “Whilst all the casualties suffered by the officers were with the surname of Stewart (with the exception of one MacLaren) the remainder, 69 killed and 40 wounded bore other names…. Of these the greatest number were MacColls with 18 killed and 15 wounded….“

It is believed that Isabella Stewart’s second husband, John MacColl may have been the John MacColl who served as an officer of unknown rank in the Appin Regiment.

The possible Breadalbane connection?

What of the statement that “This great grandmother was a niece of the then Marchioness of Breadalbane“? This is rather more difficult to understand. John Campbell, 1st Marquis of Breadalbane (30 March 1762 – 29 March 1834) married Mary Gavin, daughter of David Gavin in 1793. Isabella Stewart was born circa 1710 so could not have been the niece of the Marchioness.

If we go back to the great great grandfather of the first Marquis of Breadalbane, Robert Campbell ninth of Glenorchy, we find that his daughter Jean married Duncan Stewart, seventh of Appin. Could she be the Breadablane-Appin connection who Donald MacLeod was referring to? Interestingly she was married three times and was the mother of Robert Campbell of Glenlyon – commander at the Massacre of Glencoe – and niece-in-law of Alasdair MacGregor. 11th Chief of Clan Gregor, who lead the clan at the battle of Glen Fruin which took place in the McAusland homeland.