William McKay c1675
William is arguably the most intriquing figure in the annals of the McKays. He is not only the earliest McKay on record but it is his use of two surnames which poses the question as to which was the original.
In 1708 he is referred to as William Duff, Tacksman, Neather Clashinoir, who, according to the Judiciall Rentall of Strathavon and Glenlivat, paid “fourty pounds” of tack with “eight merks” of grassum.
By 1709 he had become
However in James Gordon of Beldornie’s 1731 tack he is for the first time mentioned as simply “William Mckay”. Similarly in the 1735 document,when he has a joint tack with his son Donald, the name of Duff has been dropped although in those days of pre-standardised spelling he signed himself “Macay”. This last tack was for nineteen years and was later disputed by Robert Gordon on the grounds that he had failed to understand the terms before signing it.
In his petition to the Duke and Duchess of Gordon he refers to William as “Duff alias Mckay” and mentions a borrowed name, but which is the borrowed one, Duff or Mckay, is open to question. In this submission of Robert Gordon’s William is referred to as the “old man”, and from this and the fact of his earlier appearance in the 1708 document, it may be deduced that he would probably have been born around the 1670s.
Family Members
Links to William’s (known) children and grandchildren sub-pages (click as required where these exist):-
- Donald McKay b.Glenlivet c1720, d.Glenlivet, year and date unknown
William McKay Legal Tack Document Text
Note: Not entirely sure if the following language is the legalese of the day or ancient Scots, or more likely a mixture of the two, however it comes from a document unearthed by Elizabeth Tulloch during her own McKay ancestry search.
At Gordon Castle the third day of May 1709 It is appointed agreed and ordered betwixt ane noble and potent primo George Duke of Gordon Heritable proprietor of the lands and others underdrawn with the portioners on the one and other parts in manner following that is to say The said noble primo be thir putts setts and in tack and assodachine for the yearly duty underdrawn and during the
space aftersaid setts to the said William McKay alias Duff his heirs subtenants and helpers of no higher degree than himself secluding assigneys all and haill the two oxgates land of Nether Clashnoir presently possessed by the said William McKay with houses biggings yeards parts pendicles and universall pertinents thereto belonging thereby and within the parochen of Inveravin Sheriffdome of Bannff and regality of Huntly and that for all its space years and terms of three years from and after the terme of Whitsunday next to come in the instant year of God seventeen hundred and nine years which is hereby declared to be the terme of his entry there-to by virtue of this putt the said noble primo oblidges him to warrand at all lands as will pay and therfor yearly lykes the said Wm McKay by his acceptance hereof binds and oblidges him his heirs and successors and intromitters with his goods and gear whatsomever to continue and pay to the said noble primo his heirs or assignees factors or chamberlands in his name or having his order for that effect All and Heill the sum of fourty pounds Scots money yearly during the cessed space payable at terms used and wont with eight merks of Grassum given to his Grace by the said Wm McKay in portion wont the which eight merks being payed formerly by the said Wm McKay with hoasting hunting customs and other services used and wont and the said Wm McKay binds and oblidges him and his successors at the expensing of this putt tack he shall come and render the same or give in his renuities in good time under the faillie of one year’s duty and also the said Wm McKay oblidges him and his successors to plant on the ground of the said lands the number of ten trees yearly and do his utmost endeavour to nourish and con-serve the same under the failly of half a merk for each unplanted tree and the said Wm McKay oblidges him and his successors to leave the bigging of the said lands in as good condition at his removal the bigging of the said lands in as good condition at his removal as they are at putt and also it is hereby provyded that if an year’s duty run in two that is ipso facto this putt tack shall be null and of no effect and farder the said Wm McKay oblidges him and his successors to oxoneret the relieve the said noble primo of all measure of impositions imposed or to be imposed on the said lands during the forto space by King Kirk or assayors and both the said parties oblidges them and their assignees to the full performance of the promises each to others under the failly of twenty pounds Scots to be payed by the party faillior to the party asservor or willing to observe the promises and that by ane allowed performance consenting to the registration hereof in any Judges book competent within this kingdome that all executorials needfull may pass heron in form as effeirs and herto constitute The Provs in witness thereof this putt and pnts be Alexander Ritchie Chamberland of Strathavin herin also subject to both the said parties second day of May seventeen hundred and nine year of God before these witnesses James Willson Servant to His Grace the Duke of Gordon and Alexander Ritchie
Signed James Willson Witness Gordon
Gordon Alexander Ritchie Witness WMK