He was a son of Roderick (Rory) Mackenzie of Achilty,[1] and probably a nephew of
John Mackenzie of
Kintail.[2] His mother is said to have been a daughter of Duncan McWilliam Dow vic Leod.[3]
Murdo Mackenzie became a courtier, a groom or valet of the bedchamber for
James V of Scotland from 1538.[4] It is said that Murdo was sent to join the royal household after his father, who had been a prisoner on the
Bass, impressed the king in a wrestling match with an Italian fighter. Murdo was declared legitimate for legal purposes, inheritance and property ownership, in July 1539.[5]
Murdo Mackenzie is mentioned several times in the records of the
Scottish Exchequer. He was a companion of the king in 1540 at
Stirling Castle,
Falkland Palace, and
Dudhope Castle. On 30 April 1540 the king's pursemaster
John Tennent gave MacKenzie 22 shillings to buy gunpowder in
Dundee for the king's
handguns.[6] Mackenzie, and three other grooms of the chamber, Alexander Kemp, Sandy Whitelaw, and Andrew Drummond, were given money for livery clothes in 1540, and their clothing allowance was increased.[7] In June 1542 Mackenzie was given a gift of a "composition" of the lands of Overwood worth £113.[8]
Clothes given to Murdo MacKenzie to wear on duty with the king included a
doublet of "tanny" (orange brown) velvet.[9] It is said that Mackenzie was not at court when James V died at
Falkland Palace in December 1542, and if he had been, he would have received a good legacy intended for him.[10]
Fairburn Tower and its lands
Murdo Mackenzie was granted the lands of Fairburn near Inverness and other farms on 1 April 1542.[11] For the hearths of each homestead on the estate he was to pay the feudal duty of a hen, called a "reik hen." He was instructed to build a new house, Fairburn, with orchards and a garden.[12] After he married Mariobelle or Margaret Urquhart, in 1549
Mary, Queen of Scots gave him more land in the parish.[13] A translation of Mackenzie's charter is given in the Origines Parochiales.[14] Murdo Mackenzie died on 20 December 1590 and wished to be buried with his forebears in
Beauly Priory.
Marriages and children
Isobel MacKenzie lived on Eilean Ruairidh Beag on
Loch Maree
His first wife, Margaret Urquhart, was a daughter of the Sheriff of
Cromarty. Their children included:[15]
Alexander MacKenzie of Fairburn
John MacKenzie of Towie or Tolly (died 1601), kirk minister of
Dingwall, who brought the Laird of
Glengarry to justice for the
Applecross murders
A daughter who married Ross of Priesthill
Annabella MacKenzie, who married (1) Thomas MacKenzie of
Lochluichart and
Ord (a son of Kenneth MacKenzie of Killichrist), and (2) Alexander MacKenzie.[16]
His second wife was a daughter of Rorie McFarquhar. Their children included:[17]
Isobel Mackenzie, who married John MacKenzie, a son of John MacKenzie of
Gairloch.[18] He was also known as John Roy Mackenzie and had a house on the smaller Eilean Ruaridh on
Loch Maree.[19]