The Hendersons of
Glen Coe, in the Highlands, take the English version of their name from the Gaelic
MacEanruig, claiming descent from a
Pictish prince, Eanruig Mor Mac Righ Neachtain, or
big Henry son of King Neachtain. Neachtain (
Nechtan mac Der-Ilei) is said to have reigned between 700 and 724. Ian Fraoch's son was Iain Abrach whose patronymic was MacIain and that became the designation of the chiefs of the
MacDonalds of Glencoe. The
Henderson Stone—
Clach Eanruig in Gaelic—is a granite boulder in a field a little south of Carnach in the
Glencoe area. Historic tradition in the area includes two separate stories involving the Henderson Stone and a warning from a Campbell soldier of the impending
massacre of 1692. One version of the story involves a soldier speaking a warning to the stone, in the presence of a local resident: "Great stone in the Glen, though you have every right to be there, if you knew what was to happen tonight you would not stay there on any account." The other version involves a Campbell piper playing a song at the stone, meant as a warning to the residents. Tradition has it that the local who heard the cryptic message escaped, but was unable to warn many others. In 1692 when the
Massacre of Glencoe took place, it is said that the chief's personal attendant and piper, Big Henderson of the Chanters, was among those killed. ==Hendersons of Caithness==