MURDOCH MACKENZIE OF ARDROSS'S VERSION

      Although this version of Macpherson origins is contemporary with that of Sir Aeneas it is based on relatively unprejudiced Mackintosh histories dating back to the 15th century which apparently assumed a consensus of traditional knowledge about the Clanchattan and the Clann Mhuirich on the part of their readers. It states that one, Gillicattan More Mac Gillespick (Chlerich) -- Great Gillicattan son of Archibald (the Clerich) -- came from the old Irish province of Connacht to settle in Lochaber in 1215, thus founding the Clanchattan.

      Three of Gillicattan Mór 's sons founded branches of the Old Clanchattan which were of some importance in the early history of Clan Macpherson. His eldest son, Dougal Dall, "got possession [of the district] of Glenlinn (Glenloy) and Locharkaig in Lochaber, but had no written evident thereupon, for possession at that time in a powerful man's hand was esteemed a sufficient right."

      Dougall Dall had two sons: Gillpatrick, the father of Eva the heiress who married Angus Mackintosh; and Gillespick, one of whose sons, Gillmiol, founded that branch of the Clanchattan known as the Clann mhic Ghillemhaoil or MacKevoils of Lochaber. This branch of the Old Clanchattan later divided into several smaller tribes of Lochaber. Another son of Gillicattan Mór, Nevan, was the first to migrate to Badenoch where he founded the Clann mhic Ghillenaoimh or MacNivens, from the last of whose chiefs the Mackintoshes obtained the farm of Gaskmore and the Barony of Dunachtan ("the hill-fort of Clanchattan ") in the 15th century.

      Murriach, a younger son of Gillicattan Mór, founded the Clann Mhuireach, although he is not identified as the "Parson" in this version. His eldest son, Evan MacVuirrich (Ewan Bàn), was the father of "John, Murriach, Gillios & Kenneth", while a younger son, Paul MacVuirrich, founded families in Atholl, a district in Perthshire immediately to the south of Badenoch. Murriach [Jr], had only son, Farquhar Mór, but he was killed in battle, and did not establish a sliochd or lineage of the clan. This may account for its omission from Sir Aeneas Macpherson's manuscript genealogy.

      Kenneth's eldest son, Duncan, was -- according to Ardross -- "commonlie called the Parson, because he had the collection of the parsonage teinds (tithes) and viccarage of the Parish of Laggan, and of him that familie of the Clan Vuirrich are commonlie surnamed McPhersons". As this account, rather than Sir Aeneas' 12th century origin, is more consistent with the first record of the surname in northeastern Scotland, it carries the implication that the rest of Clann Mhuirich acquired the name by ascription about the middle of the 15th century.