Petty is an ancient site of worship and traditional burial ground of the chiefs of Clan Mackintosh--leaders of Clan Chattan and important allies of the Strathnairn MacGillivrays. Though the church is now abandoned, the site is steeped in history. Yet Petty has never contained any sign to mark the presence of our gallant chief in its hallowed ground.
This omission was corrected when clansfolk, following a visit to Culloden Battlefied, convened at Petty to dedicate a plaque there to the memory of their fallen chief. An address by USA Commissioner Bruce P. McGillivray recalled Alexander's role in the battle, his death and the circumstances of his burial at Petty. Following this, the new plaque was unveiled by Mrs. Mary MacGillivray Cox of McCammon, Idaho, at whose suggestion the plaque project was undertaken.
Canon Stewart Mullin, of the Episcopal Church of St. Paul's near Dunmaglass, gave the invocation while flowers were laid at the new plaque.
Then, all gave silent homage as Clan Piper Duncan MacGillivray of Calrossie, from the upper graveyard, played the haunting lament, "The Desperate Battle," in tribute to Alexander.
Below: The Clan's Commissioners, from left: Mrs. Ishbel McGillivray-McGregor, UK; Bruce McGillivray, USA; Peter McGillivray, Australia, and Darroch Macgillivray, Canada, admire the new plaque. Its inscription is below this photo.
("ALASDAIR RUADH NA FEILE" -- GENEROUS RED-HEADED ALEXANDER),
CHIEF OF HIS CLAN AND COLONEL OF THE MACKINTOSH OR CLAN CHATTAN REGIMENT, WAS BURIED ACROSS THE THRESHOLD OF A FORMER CHURCH ON THIS SITE. HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY A MUSKET SHOT WHILE LEADING THE HIGHLAND CHARGE AT THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN 16 APRIL 1746 AND DIED AT THE "WELL OF THE DEAD." HIS BODY WAS LATER RECOVERED AND INTERRED HERE.
PLACED IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE BY THE CLAN MACGILLIVRAY. JULY 1997.