| Administrative History | George Forbes, 1st of Skellater (d 1632) was the 2nd son of William Forbes of Towie and Barns (d before 1600). He married 1st Euphram Skene, 1593 and 2nd, before 1631, Margaret Forbes. His son by his first wife, William Forbes 2nd of Skellater (baptised 1615-1700), sided with the King against the Covenanters, 1688. He married 1st, Isobel Forbes of New (d 1656); 2nd, Mrs MacGillivray of Drumnaglass; 3rd, before 1666, Agnes, daughter of McIntosh of Kylachie; 4th, Isobel Gordon; and 5th Janet. He was succeeded by his only son, by his 3rd wife, John Forbes of Inverernan (born c 1666-1716). Known as 'Black Jock', he was a Jacobite and was baron baillie for Kildrummie. He married 1st Elspet Stewart, 1684; 2nd Margaret, daughter of Thomas Alexander, Minister of Logie Coldstone, 1709. He died the night before his execution from wounds he had received at Sheriffmuir in 1715.
Alexander Forbes (d 1787), John Forbes' son by his 2nd wife, succeeded him. He married Jean, the daughter of Alexander of Auchmull, 1732. Their eldest son, John Forbes of Inverernan (1808) entailed the property, 1807 and he was succeeded by his brother, Captain Alexander Forbes of Inverernan, 97th Regiment (1744-1819). He married Elizabeth, the daughter of James Grant of Clurie, 1774, and the property was passed to his eldest son, Major Alexander Forbes of Inverernan, 71st Highlanders (1775-1830). He married Margaret Sarah (d 1868), daughter of Forbes Mitchell of Thainston, 1809, and was succeeded by his sister, Mary Ann Forbes of Inverernan (d 1848). Mary Ann married the Rev George Forbes, DD of Blelach, the brother of Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Bt of Newe (d 1834). They had two sons and six daughters, and their eldest son, Gen Sir John Forbes, G C B of Inverernan (1817-1906) had a distinguished military career and married Amelia Sandelia, daughter of Col Adam Augustus Drummond. They had six sons and five daughters.
William Forbes of Belnabodach married Agnes Forbes, youngest daughter of William Forbes elder of New, 1697.
Charles Forbes of Auchernach, Corgarff, ran his estate, 1745-1790. He was Barrackmaster at Corgaff, 1778. His son, Cornet George Forbes was commissioned as Adjutant to the Governor of Madra's Bodyguard, 1792, and in 1792 as a lieutenant of calvary in the East India Company. He was then commissioned as a lieutenant in the King's army in the East Indies, 1793. His brother Nathaniel was an Ensign in the 8th Battalion, Ongole.
John Forbes was Comptroller of Customs in Aberdeen, 1795, and his brother Lieutenant Nathaniel Forbes granted him power of attorney, 1795, during his absence in India. |