Born ‎1260 Ardmucknish Bay, Argyll, Scotland, died ‎1310 Lochawe, Argyll, Scotland‎, age 49 or 50 years

Born ‎Jan 1258 Scotland, died ‎Feb 1315 Scotland‎, age 57 years
When Sir Neil Campbell Of Lochow was born in January 1258, in Lochawe, Argyll, Scotland, his father, Colin Mor Campbell Chief of Clan Campbell, was 28 and his mother, Janet Isabel Sinclair, was 26. He married Alyse Crawford about 1280, in Scotland. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He died in February 1315, in his hometown, at the age of 57, and was buried in Lochawe, Argyll, Scotland.


Sir Neil Campbell of Lochow, also known as Niall mac Cailein and Nigel Campbell.
Neil Campbell was born prior to 1282, one of the sons of Sir Colin Campbell (also known as 'Cailean Mór'). Some sources identify him as the oldest son of Colin, some as a younger son.

By later Campbell tradition, Niall was the elder son of Cailean Mór; however, contemporary evidence seems to suggest that his brother Domhnall enjoyed this distinction. Niall's earliest appearance in the sources occurs in 1282 on a witness list to a royal charter in favour of Cambuskenneth Abbey. Niall disappears for 20 years, unless the "Master Niall" active in the service of the then Earl of Carrick, Robert, in the 1290s can be identified with Niall mac Cailein. This seems likely, because one official source styles him Mestre Neel Cambell. Another of the sources for "Master Niall" tells us that he came from the "county of Ayr"; this would tie in with the known background of the Campbells of the era, and with Niall's later affiliation with King Robert. In 1293, Niall was sent to Norway to deliver personal items to Robert's sister, Isabella Bruce, Queen of Norway. In 1296, this Master Niall swore fealty to King Edward I of England. Issued with a safe passage through England, on 12 June 1297, to return to Scotland.

The Niall mac Cailein who appears again in the source in 1302 was still in the service of the English crown. Until 1306, he remained on the side of the officially Bruce-backed English regime. Niall served in the warband of Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and in the "English" army which besieged Stirling Castle in 1305. Niall and his brother Domhnall were rewarded for their services. In 1302, Niall was given lands in Cumberland. In the same year, Niall and his brother Domhnall received the guardianship of the heiresses of Andrew de Crawford, lord of the Baronies of Loudoun, Lochmartnaham and Draffan. However, Niall and Domhnall, like their lord the Earl of Carrick, were drifting towards renewing their war against the English conquest. Niall was at Westminster in 1305, because his rights were being challenged by a knight called Robert Keith. In Spring 1305, Edward decided in favour of Keith, judging "to allow [Keith] to have these children and to distrain Sir Dovenald Chambel and Sir Nel Chambel by their lands and bodies". In the same year, Edward granted some Campbell lands to an English knight, Sir John Dovedale. Such judgments were both a cause and effect of deteriorating relations with the English crown.

When Robert de Bruce decided to raise the Scottish banner in 1306, it is not surprising that Niall and Domhnall were among the would-be king's first adherents. Niall was present at Scone in March 1306 when Robert was crowned King of Scots. After the defeats King Robert suffered at the Battle of Methven and Battle of Dalrigh, Niall was one of the men who remained faithful, as John Barbour testified later in the century. All the evidence suggests that Niall remained in King Robert's warband for the years to come, fighting both the English-side generally and the MacDougalls in the west of Scotland. Niall also acted as a representative of King Robert in negotiations with the English crown, on two occasions, in 1309 and 1314.

Niall married Robert de Bruce's sister, Mary Bruce. The date of their marriage is unknown. Niall and Mary had a son, Iain. King Robert granted the couple the lands confiscated from David Strathbogie, almost certainly so that Iain would eventually become the Earl, which is indeed what happened. This was part of a general policy by Robert of redistributing lands and titles to his extended kin. Niall, however, had been married previously to Alyse de Crawford, by whom he had at least two sons, Sir Colin Og Campbell of Lochawe and Dubhghall. In 1315, King Robert granted the baronies of Loch Awe and Ardscotnish to Cailean for the service of a 40-oared galley for 40 days per annum. This grant, in the view of the most recent historian of the subject, is the real beginning of the Campbell lordship of Lochawe. In 1326, King Robert created the post of sheriff of Argyll, and granted it to Niall's son, Dougall.

Niall probably died in 1316, leaving a strong legacy of heroism and royal favour, from which his offspring would benefit enormously.

Also known as MacCailen More, Sir Neil Campbell, Tenth Knight of Lochow. Married first Susanna Crawford. Married second Alyse Margaret Crawford. Married third Mary Bruce. Father of Dougal Campbell, John Campbell, Earl of Atholl, Duncan Campbell, Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow, Neil Campbell, Thomas Campbell, and Alexander Campbell.

Neil (or Nigel) Campbell of Lochow, Knight, joined Robert Bruce in 1296 and fought for him in almost every action between Methven and Bannockburn. He m 1st ante 1303 the yr dtr of Andrew Crawford, whose wardship had been granted to him by King Edward I, and had with other issue:
..A1 Colin, his heir [see below]

He m 2nd (it has been said) Margaret Cameron, possibly the widow of Hubert de Multon, and had by her issue:
..A2 Duncan Campbell Macdhonnachie of Inverawe, progenitor of the Campbells of Inverawe

He m 3rd, ca 1312, Mary, sister of King Robert I, dtr of Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale, and Earl of Carrick (in right of his wife), by Margaret dtr of Neil, 2nd Earl of Carrick, Regent of Scotland, by his wife Margaret, dtr of Walter, 3rd High Steward of Scotland, and was granted, together with his wife and their 2nd son John, all the lands held in Scotland by David de trathbogie, 11th Earl of Atholl. By Mary (who m 2nd, 1316, Sir Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser, Great Chamberlain of Scotland) he had issue:

..A3 John Campbell of Moulin, b ca 1313, created Earl of Atholl ca 1320, m Joanna dtr of Sir John Menteith of Rusky and widow of Malise, Earl of Strathern, and was k at the Battle of Halidon Hill 19 July 1333 leaving no issue. His widow m 3rd Sir Maurice Moray of Drumsagard (on whom the Earldom of Strathearn was conferred 1343/4 and who d 17 Oct 1346) and m 4th ante Nov 1347 William Sutherland, 4th Earl of Sutherland (d 1370). She was alive in 1367.

..A4 Dougal Campbell, living 1323, had issue:
....B1 John Campbell, whose dtr Mariota (or Margaret) m as his 2nd wife her 2nd cousin Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow [see below]

Sir Neil (Nigel, Niel, Nigellus) Campbell was born in Argyll, Scotland, the son of Sir Colin Campbell. He has been called, "practically the founder of the Argyll family."

He was made by Edward I, balie over the lands from Loch Fyne to Kilmartin in Argyll. He was knighted by Alexander III. He joined Robert the Bruce in 1296.

He was called "one of Robert the Bruce's worthies." He conquered the McDougalls and the McPhadens and assisted at the coronation of King Robert the Bruce at Scone in 1306.

He stood by King Robert the Bruce in prosperity and adversity and fought by his side in almost every battle from Methven to Bannockburn. The King had so high a sense of his service that he gave his sister, Lady Mary Bruce, to him in marriage. He was one of the great Barons in the Parliament at Ayr, 26 April 1315, which fixed the succession to the throne.

The chief stronghold of the Campbell family from this period was Innes Chonnel Castle, and it remained so until 1453 when Colin, First Earl of Argyll made Inverary his principle residence. According to one writer, "The massive walls of Innes Chonnel crown the rocky southwestern end of a small island halfway down the eastern shore of Lochawe. The island runs northeast to Southwest and is less than a hundred yards from shore.

According to Raleigh Barlowe (quoting the 1680 manuscript), "When (Robert the Bruce) fled from the wrath and the army of King Edward I of England, Sir Neil was one of those who stood by him and came to his rescue. Edward was supported by many of the leading houses in Scotland including the Lord of Lorne. Sir Neil defied them in finding food and comfort for King Robert. He provided boats to take him to Rachloy where he and Neil's brother Archibald spent the winter on an island off the Irish coast.

Sir Neil married first, ante 1303, the youngest daughter Of Andrew Crawford, whose wardship had been granted to him.
He is reported to have married second according to tradition, Mariota Margaret Cameron, daughter of Sir John Cameron, a believed to be the widow of Hubert de Multon. She was born 1160 at Locneil Argyll.