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The following are excerpts from the book:
M E M O I R of the FAMIILY OF M'COMBIE
A BRANCH OF THE CLAN M'INTOSH
COMPILED FROM HISTORY AND TRADITION
BY WILLIAM M'COMBIE SMITH
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXVII 1887
The Capture of John McComie Mor ~
But the quarrel about the kain, as might be expected, did not end here. The Earl of Athole, as superior of the district, could not brook the insult of having his retainers routed, and his kain withheld by a vassal. A well-armed band was, therefore, sent from Athole to Glenshee, to bring M'Comie Mor to Blair Athole dead or alive. In due time they reached Finnegand, and surprised the laird unarmed in the house. But M'Comie Mor had sagacity and wit, as well as strength and courage. The Athole men having explained their errand, he frankly admitted that, in the circumstances, he was powerless to gainsay them. However, it was a pretty long way to Blair Castle, and both they and himself would be better off having some refreshment before setting out.
Orders were at once given for refreshments to be set down in the other end of the house; the Athole men and the laird being, at this time in the kitchen. While the servants busied themselves in preparing a substantial repast, M'Comie Mor, by his frank and genial bearing, soon put the Athole men at their ease. When it was intimated that their repast was ready, the laird courteously requested them to lay aside their arms and plaids, that they might be at more freedom while eating and drinking. As he himself was unarmed, and all distrust of their entertainer had vanished under the influence of his unexpected affability, the Athole men piled their arms in a corner of the kitchen; and removing their plaids, followed the host to the other end of the house, where they found a profuse abundance of Highland cheer set forth.
Charmed by their host's genial frankness, and softened by unlimited uisge-beatha, the Athole men were now completely at their ease, and were doubtless mentally congratulating themselves on the unexpected ease and pleasure with which they were carrying out a mission which they had calculated would be one of no little danger and difficulty. When, therefore, their host at length asked permission to go and give some necessary instructions to his family about the management of his affairs while he would be absent, rendered necessary by his being so unexpected called away without notice, the permission was at once granted, without the slightest recline of mistrust on the part of the Athole men. Accordingly, M`Comie Mor went out, telling them he would send word when he was ready.
After waiting a short time, a servant announced that her master was ready. The Athole men at once proceeded to the kitchen to resume their plaids and arms, and found M`Comie Mor standing fully armed, their plaids all laid out on a table, but not a single gun nor sword to be seen in the corner where they had so imprudently left them. Their lately so genial host then informed them in a haughty tone, that as they had been sent for him, they were at liberty to try and take him with them, but that he was determined to defend his liberty to the utmost of his power. The dismay of the Athole men may be imagined. Even had they been again armed, they knew full well by this time how extremely dangerous a task it would have been to have overpowered him; as it was, it would have been but throwing their lives away to have attempted his capture. There was nothing for it then but to resume their plaids, and return unarmed to Athole, and explain, as they best might, the ignominious failure of their mission.
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Slaughter of the Caird ~
Another incident of his life while at Finnegand marks both the proud spirit of M`Comie Mor and his determination not to put up with any slight to himself or family, and also shows the lawlessness of the time, and the little regard for human life. One day on coming home to Finnegand, he found his wife and the female servants in a very excited state, and on inquiry found that a big strong caird had called, and finding no man about the place, had behaved very rudely to his wife. Ascertaining that the caird had gone up the glen, he took two swords with him, and immediately followed in pursuit. Coming up with him opposite Broughdearg, he gave him his choice of the swords, and the result of the fight that followed between then was the slaughter of the caird, who was buried where he fell, and the place is still known as Imir-a-Chaird, the Caird's ridge or field.
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M'Comie Mor's Puttingstone & Well ~
After obtaining the wadset of the barony of Forter, and building the mansion-house at Crandart, M'Comie Mor left Finnegand and resided at Crandart, the house of which was built in 1660. By the time he came to reside there he was past his prime, and had become less desirous of exerting his personal strength, it is therefore probable that his famous feat with the stone, which since then has been known as M'Comie Mor's Puttingstone, was performed while he was yet a young man at Finnegand.
The place where the feat was performed, and the stone itself, and the stance, are all remarkable. The source of the Prosen, a right-bank tributary of the South Esk, is at the west end of the slope that reaches back from the summit of the Mayar, 3043 feet, whose eastern side rises abruptly over Glen Prosen. At the west end of this slope, in two slight depressions which spread out like a V, are gathered the headwaters of the Prosen, a short distance from the source of the Cally, a left-bank tributary of the Isla. Between the two depressions is a comparatively level meadow of short benty grass, and from the surface of this meadow the upper edge of an earthfast stone, about 4 or 5 feet long, projects for about 6 inches above the surface. This projecting edge of the boulder forms the stance and about 26 feet beyond this stance is embedded in a round hole in the ground a round-shaped rough surfaced stone of about 35 lb. in weight and local tradition for over two hundred years has handed down the hole in which the stone lies embedded to about half its diameter as the mark to which M'Comie Mor putted the stone from the stone stance. On many of the surrounding heights pieces of ground as smooth and level may be got; but so good a natural stance and natural putting-stone is extremely rare if not altogether unique on a mountain-top.
It is easy to understand that all the conditions and materials being found so handy for such a national pastime as putting the stone by the young men of the surrounding glens when on hunting expeditions or looking after their flocks the place would soon become well known; the marks of noted throwers would be pointed out and every noted putter would be anxious to put a best on record down if possible. There is nothing improbable therefore in believing that the mark put in over two hundred years ago by admiring contemporaries and kept fresh by succeeding generations points out the exact spot to which M'Comie Mor putted the present stone from the present stance. Many athletes of the present day have made a pilgrimage to it when passing between Clova and Glenisla and to both them and their forefathers stance stone and mark have ever remained the same. What renders it still more probable: is that the same stone could be putted the same distance by one or two of the leading athletes of the present time. Most traditionary putting stones of bygone heroes are of a weight or have been putted a distance that at once stamps the accounts given as absurd nonsense.
On the west side of the westmost arm of the V a strong spring gushes out and is known as M'Comie Mor's well. From the top of the Mayar looking north to the top of Benachie, beyond the vale of Alford, may be seen through a gap, as it were among the intervening, mountains. Perhaps it was a glimpse of distant Benachie from this point that led young Donald M'Combie in after-years, when the fortunes of his family were on the wane in Forfarshire, to seek his fortune in the Vale of Alford. Besides that of the well-known putting-stone, other traditions exist of M'Comie Mor's great personal strength. Two stones used to be pointed out in Canlochan, with which he performed feats altogether beyond the power of ordinary men.
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Subdues a Bull ~
He is also said to have become possessed of a bull in the Stormont district, which had become unmanageable from its fierce temper, on very easy terms from his point of view. M'Comie Mor hearing the owner of the bull saying he would have to destroy him, as he had become unmanageable and unsafe, laughed at the idea of a man being beat by a bull. The owner, said to have been Mercer of Meikleour, nettled at being laughed at said that if M'Comie Mor could manage the bull unaided, he would get him home with him as a present. This offer being accepted, they proceeded to the enclosure where the fierce brute was confined, which no sooner saw them than he rushed bellowing to the side of the fence. M'Comie Mor, reaching over the fence, with his left hand seized the bull's right horn, then vaulting over the fence, seized his other horn with his right hand, and in a moment had the now infuriated brute on his back. Then allowing him to regain his feet, he immediately overthrew him a second time, and this he repeated till he was thoroughly subdued, when he was afterwards taken home in triumph by his conqueror.
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Supernatural Incidents ~
In an age when witches were still believed in by ministers of the Gospel, and duly punished or exorcised, and the black art had its schools of learning, it is quite natural that several traditionary incidents in M'Comie Mor's life should contain supernatural elements. There is still pointed out a large stone forming the lintel of the limekiln at Crandart, which, after baffling the efforts of the old chief and his sons, was placed there by one man. The story goes that this man, Knox Baxter, alias Colin M'Kenzie, by name, who was suspected of being possessed of black art, came to Crandart as M`Comie and his sons were trying ineffectually to get the stone into its place.
Sitting down a little apart, he viewed unconcernedly the efforts put forth, without volunteering a helping hand. By and by the dinner hour came, without the stone having been got into position. Having excused himself from accepting the invitation given him to dinner, the stranger was left sitting by the kiln-side, where he was found when they returned to continue their work at the kiln, but the stone was now in the place where the united efforts of M`Comie Mor and his sons had failed to place it!.
It is said the old chief made no comment on this startling, feat, but quietly divesting himself of his coat with its silver buttons, he handed it to Knox Baxter as a tacit acknowledgment of the estimation he had of his powers. The old chief knew that no man unaided could have done what had been done, and deemed it prudent to propitiate his uncanny visitor.
But a still more exciting and uncanny adventure awaited him. In going, through the forest of Canlochan one day he came upon no less a being than the water-kelpie's wife, in the weird and secluded Glascorrie. Taken unawares, this redoubted fairy or elf had not time to escape to the water before M`Comie Mor had her firmly in his grasp. But how to get her to Crandart ? He knew that if he crossed running water with her she would escape from him, do what he might. He therefore set out on a long and difficult route homewards, around the head-waters of; the Brighty, along the summits of Craig Leacach, Cairn Aighe, Black Hill, and Monamenach, then cautiously threading the mountain side above Crandart, and nearly losing his precious capture while incautiously stepping over an almost invisible: streamlet, he at length landed her safely; at Crandart.
Arrived there, his unwilling visitor had to bargain for her release, the condition being that the chief should have some circumstance relating to the time, place, or manner of his death foretold him. Thereupon the fairy, taking him to the face of the hill above Crandart, pointed out a large stone and told him he would die with his head above it. Having now acquired her liberty, she departed to her own haunts again, and we may be sure was careful never to be so incautious in her future wanderings in Canlochan.
M'Comie Mor took prudent precautions that dying with his head above the stone pointed out by the fairy should prove more convenient than its then position warranted. He therefore caused the stone to be removed from the hillside, and built into the wall of his house at Crandart, so that the head of the stone was under the head of his bed, whereon many years after he died, with his head above the stone, as the fairy foretold.
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Tests His Sons Courage ~
As John M'Comie advanced in life and found his personal strength diminishing, he was anxious that his eldest son and successor might be worthy of the family name, but seems to have had some doubts on this point, as although the young man, who was also named John, had obtained the cognomen of Mor, big, from his stalwart appearance, yet his quiet peaceable disposition had led the old chief to imagine he was too gentle, had as he said, too much of the Campbell blood in him. This, according to M'Comie Mor's opinion, was not likely to increase his courage; he therefore determined to put it to the test, and thereby set his mind at rest.
Knowing that his son would be returning from Glenshee to Glenisla one evening about dusk by the pass of Glen Bainie, he there lay in wait for him at a sort of natural stone seat, still called M'Comie Mor's Chair. Having disguised himself as much as possible, he trusted to the deepening twilight sufficiently concealing his identity. No sooner, then, did his son appear, than, without uttering a word of challenge or warning, he at once sprang up, drew his sword, and attacked him.
It has been already mentioned that M'Comie Mor was distinguished by the peculiarly graceful sweep with which he drew his sword when about to fight. His son fortunately observed this, and at once suspected both who his adversary was and the reason for this unexpected attack. Keeping his suspicions to himself, however, he at once began to defend himself, while demanding the reason of the attack. His demand meeting with no attention from his silent aggressor, he gave all his attention to the matter on hand, and exerting his utmost skill, strength, and agility, he began to press his opponent in the most determined manner, and at length disarmed him, and had him completely at his mercy.
He then told his exhausted and, for the first time in his life defeated assailant, that if he wished to save his life he must at once reveal his name, and give his reason for so unprovoked an attack. At the first sound of his father's voice, his son immediately began to reproach him for thus endangering both their lives, and told him that he could have slain him more than once during the combat, and probably would have done so, had he not suspected from his manner of drawing his sword and beginning the attack who he was, and reminded him of how awful a thing it would have been for the survivor had either of them slain the other; to all of which the old chief, highly elated by his son's unquestionable courage, strength, and skill, contentedly replied that all that was of no consequence compared with the now, to his mind, clearly demonstrated fact that his son was a true M'Comie.
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