THE MACSORLIES

The MacSorlies of Glen Nevis.  This tribe is known in Gaelic by the patronymic of "Sliochd Shomhairle Ruaidh" ("Offspring of red-haired Somerled"), and is decidedly of MacDonald stock, being descended from Somerled, armiger to John of Isla, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles.

An interesting tale has been preserved which concerns Donald Dubh Cameron and John, son of Somerled, better known traditionally as Iain Dìleas mac Shomhairle Ruaidh (Faithful John, son of red-haired Somerled).  The incident about to be told happened not long after the battle of Inverlochy in 1431.  Donald Dubh was forced to fly to Ireland where he found asylum in Ulster from the Earl of Antrim.  There, he whiled away the time at dice with an Irish gentleman named O'Frail, until one day they quarrelled about the game.  Donald charged his opponent with cheating.  The quarrel, of course, was referred to the sword. O'Frail fell, and Cameron was obliged to quit Ulster.  He returned to Lochaber where he did not find things to his liking.  His old enemy, the MacKintosh, had, during his absence, uplifted the rents if his tenants in Lochaber, payable as rents were in kind.  One of Donald's supporters, known as 'Iain Dìleas' ('Faithful John'), managed to recover sixteen horse-loads of butter and cheese, which he laid near his residence in Glen Sulaig. MacKintosh, enraged at being deprived even of such a portion of his due, speedily returned to Lochaber, lifted a large 'creach' ('spoil') of cattle and succeeded in making the unfortunate Iain Dileas a prisoner.  Donald Dubh, whose return was not publicly known, quickly raised a company of men and set off in pursuit of the MacKintosh.  By some strategem he got hold of three of the MacKintosh's sons but did not overtake the MacKintosh himself until he had reached his house near Inverness.  He soon presented himself there and offered to surrender the three sons on condition of getting Iain Dileas back safe and sound.  MacKintosh refused.  Donald hanged one of them before his eyes.  Then he offered the two.  MacKintosh still refused.  He hanged the second and offered the third. MacKintosh refused.  The third was also hanged:  but Iain Dileas was not restored, nor was it ever known what was done to him.

At Dingwall, on 20th April 1456, John of Isla, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, granted to his esquire Somerled, son of John, son of Somerled, for life, and to his eldest son for five years after Somerled's death, "a davoch of the lands of Glennyves", with the office commonly called Toiseach-deora, i.e. Toiseadrach or Crowner of all his lands of Lochaber except those belonging to his alumnus (foster-son) Lachlan Makgilleon (MacLean) of Doward (Duart).

Somerled, known in old records as Sorrill McKane (Somerled, son of John), died in 1495, whether by natural or foul means, none can tell.  Tradition has it that he and his family were practically wiped out by the MacKintoshes at Cnocan na mi-chomhairle (The Hillock of Evil Counsel), Glen Nevis, with the exception of an infant grandson of the chief, who was rescued and nurtured by a faithful clansman.

Somerled's lands were held for forty-two years by the Crown on account of the non-entry of the heir.  In 1537 they were apprised and sold to Donald Cameron, heir apparent of Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, for 420 merks as the value of the non-entry which he had by gift from the King:  the old lords of the lands were to have reversion to them on paying the same sum with expenses within seven years.

In 1552 Donald MacAlister McSoirly (Donald, son of Alexander MacSorlie) of Glennyves resigned his lands in favour of George, 4th Earl of Huntly, Chancellor of Scotland, who the following year became bound to infeft the same Donald and his heirs in the lands for the yearly payment of 10 merks.  In the feu-charter he is referred to in Latin as dilecto nostro Donaldo MacAlister McTosche (to our beloved Donald, son of Alexander, son of the Toiseach or Chief).

....Glen Nevis is now the property of strangers, but even so this proud race of Somerled will always be remembered so long as the Stone and the Cave, which bear the progenitor's name, endure the ravages of Time.

The main offshoots of the MacSorlie-Camerons of Glen Nevis are those of Camghouran and Finnart, Donie and Glenmoriston.