(11 Oct. 1818-2 Jan. 1897), laird of Williamstown. (Murdoch McLennan, Murdoch F. McLennan) Born at Williamstown, GC. Parents: Farquhar McLennan and his wife Flora McLennan. His obituary in the Glengarrian newspaper of Alexandria says: “While he had been in poor health for the most part of the summer he was still able to go around until about three weeks ago, when he took to his bed. He was in his 79th year and had always resided in Williamstown. His late residence is one of the historic houses of this county. It was built about one hundred years ago by the Rev. John Bethune, and was afterwards owned by the late David Thompson, Astronomer Royal, after whom the Thompson River in British Columbia is named. From him it passed to Mr. McLennan’s father, Farquhar Mclennan,… Farquhar McLennan engaged extensively in the lumbering industry, and on his death in 1846, his son, the subject of the present sketch, succeeded him in his business. For a great many years he annually supplied the Grand Trunk Railway with large quantities of wood, furnishing employment to a great many hands. In all his transactions he was known as an honest and upright man whose word was as good as his bond. Along with his father and elder brother he was out with the Glengarry Militia in 1837-38, at Beauharnois and St. Philips. In 1870 the McGillis property passed into his possession, and with the estate the title of Laird of Williamstown, so long borne of the late John McGillis.…The funeral on Monday was one of the largest ever seen in Glengarry. According to old Scotch custom the casket was carried by hand from the residence to the cemetery…”

     He is reported also to have taken part in the building of the cairn in Lake St. Francis, after the Rebellion of 1837. Presumably he was the Murdoch Farquhar McLennan who contributed eight cords of dry wood for a victory bonfire in the “sound conservative village” of Lancaster when Donald MacMaster won GC for the Conservatives in the election of 1882. (Cornwall Reporter, 24 June 1882) Place of death: his home at Williamstown. He was never married. Two eminent GC brothers, Farquhar Robertson and D. M. Robertson, his nephews by his sister Flora, inherited from him, respectively, the Bethune-Thompson House and the Manor House at Williamstown. For other family connections, see the entry for his father Farquhar McLennan. And for the lairdship, see John McGillis.

Obituaries in Glengarrian (undated) in ASC ii, 90, 126, 127, and Cornwall Freeholder 8 Jan. 1897 * Fraser, Gravestones, I, 163 * Dumbrille, B, 136