MACDONELL, Geillis 'of Keppoch' ¹

   Other names for Geillis were Sile na Ceapaich,¹ MACDONELL, Giles ^{1 2} and McDONELL, Sileas.³

   User ID: G155.

  General Notes:

"This lady has left a great name as a poetess, of whom Mrs Grant, of Laggan, in her letters says :

The enthusiasm with which her character was deeply tinged, seems to have been not only poetical, but heroic, patriotic, and in a very high degree devotional. She was a Catholic too, and took every advantage that a religion so pompous and picturesque offered to embellish her poetry with the peculiar imagery it afforded. The hymns and sacred rhapsodies of Sheelah (her Gaelic name) are still the consolation and delight of all pious Highland Catholics.' It is indeed pleasing to note the sterling qualities of this good Catholic lady of two hundred years ago, and to remember that her descendants, who still remain true to the faith which was hers, had been so closely connected with the building of the present church."

from The Catholic Highlands of Scotland ³

Geillis married Alexander GORDON of Tirriesoul and Camdell, then 7th of Beldorney, son of James GORDON of Tirriesoul (Torriesoul) and Camdell and Jean ANDERSON.¹ (Alexander GORDON of Tirriesoul and Camdell, then 7th of Beldorney was born about 1655, died in 1714 ³ and was buried in 1714 in Mortlach parish, Banffshire, Scotland ³.)

  Marriage Notes:

"James (Gordon) had a son Alexander, the cousin to whom Beldorney passed. The latter married Giles or Geillis, daughter of Archibald Macdonell of Keppoch, and had a son James. (Family Pedigree referred to.)" (page 3)

" 'The Birnie M.S. continues further, that

"Tirriesoul, who had thus become Laird of Beldornie, married Giles [or Geillis].a daughter of MacDonell of Keppoch, Lochaber, and had two sons, James, who succeeded, and Alexander Gordon of Collonach, who died without issue, and two daughters : the elder was married to Michie of Buchairn, and Barbara, the younger, died unmarried at Belcherry in 1770 at nearly 90 years of age." ' " (page 8)

from Gordons of Beldorney

Note:

Children who died at a young age were at times ignored in later family accounts, which may be one explanation for the discrepancies in the reported number of children a couple had. from Gordons of Beldorney. ¹