pipers to Mac Leod of Dunvegan. There is nothing to show how or where the race originated. Some traditions state that the first Mac Crimmon came from Cremona in Italy, and was named Donald. He settled in Glenelg, and had a son named Iain Odhar, who, about 1600, became the first piper to the family of Mac Leod. This traditional genealogical tree, supplied originally by a man who had seen the wife of him who, according to the tradition, was the last of the Mac Crimmon pipers to Mac Leod of Mac Leod, shows that a direct descent from this Iain Odhar was:—
SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT A MAC CRIMMON PLAYING A SALUTE
(From Mac Ian’s Clans.)
Malcolm, married, with issue:—
1. John, who succeeded him as piper. 2. Donald (Roy), D.S.P. 3. Rachel, who married in Glendale. 4. A daughter who died unmarried.
John (Dubh) married first a Mac Askill, with issue:—
1. Donald, D.S.P., a Captain in the Army. 2. Peter, D.S.P., a Captain in the Army, and considered one of the strongest men of his day. Emigrated to Cape Coast Castle. 3. Malcolm, married in Ardrossan, with several sons. 4. Elizabeth, married a cooper of the name of Mac Kinnon, in Islay. Had two daughters—(a) Mary Ann, married Malcolm Mac Leod, Shipmaster, Lochmaddy, with issue; (b) Effie, married Chisholm, Tacksman, of Gairnish, South Uist, with issue. 5. Janet, married a Ferguson, in America, with issue, an only daughter, who resided in Greenock. 6. Flora, who married Mac Donald, Tacksman, of Pein-a-Daorir, South Uist, factor for South Uist. 7. Marion, married, with issue. 8. Catherine, married with issue.
John, married secondly Ann Campbell, with issue:—
9. Duncan, married a Mac Queen, with issue—(a) John, who went to New Zealand; (b) Donald, who married a Mac Leod, went to America, and had a family. 10. Peter, married Ann Mac Donald from Trotternish, with issue, one daughter. Married secondly Margaret Morrison, by whom he had three daughters. 11. John, died unmarried, but left an illegitimate son named John, who married a daughter of Neil Mac Sween, mason, Roag. 12. Euphemia, married Malcolm Nicholson, with issue—(a) Hector, died without issue; (b) John, married with issue; (c) Murdo, who married a daughter of James Wood; (d) John, married Janet, daughter of John Bàn Mac Leod, Lusta, with issue; (e) Donald, married a Mac Nab, with issue; (f) Catherine, unmarried; (g) Ann, married Murdo Mac Innes, Roag, without issue; (h) Marion, married Norman Mac Askill, tenant, Ullinish, with issue; (i) Effie, married Samuel Thorburn, Holmisdale, with issue.
According to this genealogy, which however does not profess to be complete, the line of hereditary Mac Crimmon pipers was very short indeed, consisting of only Iain Odhar, Malcolm, John, and John (Dubh). That this is not the complete line is undoubted, for we have historical proof that there were other Mac Crimmons pipers to Mac Leod. As a matter of fact, one of the family living in Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, as late as 1898, writes as follows:—