The Magazine Section

Falkland Island Wreck

The following information about a ship named "Colonsay" with a local-named captain might be of interest to those with maritime proclivities:

"1860 Colonsay British 598 ton barque Capt. McAllister. On voyage from Callao to England. Struck heavily on Speedwell Island at 1 a.m. on August 14th 1860 The Captain, his wife and crew were saved under very difficult conditions."

New Information about Early Emigrants to North Carolina

As far as is known at the present time, the earliest indentifiable emigrant from Colonsay was a member of the Currie family, specifically "Murdoch Currie, native of Colonsay, Scotland, died in 1775 aged 60 years", who is buried in the McEachern Cemetery on the Mill Prong Estate, by Raft Swamp (3 miles east of Wagram, North Carolina). The associated graves are those of "Angus Currie, born in the island of Colonsay, Scotland, 17 September 1770, came to America in 1791 and died, 10 June 1845. He was long a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church"; and "Flora, consort of Angus Currie, born in the island of Cantyre 20 May 1774, came to America in 1775 and died 19 September 1834".

From a careful study of historical indications in Colonsay, it seems likely that the Currie family were significant landholders (as tacksmen) in Colonsay, and that their establishment of Ballievurich lay in Lower Kilchattan, based upon the ancient farmstead of Dun Meadhonaich (in a dwelling which was identified in issue # 30 as "Dun fear driseag). The McNeill lairds of Colonsay had close family connections with the leading members of the emigrants aboard "The Thistle" of 1737, which had founded the successful and enduring "Argyll Colony"; furthermore, the current laird, Archibald McNeill is thought to have visited the Carolinas. According to Loder "he may have been on the staff of Lord William Campbell, a brother of the 5th Duke of Argyll, who was Governor [of South Carlina] at the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1775". Thus one can see the background to a situation in which an ambitious and old-established family decided to make a new and independent start for themselves, but there the matter has rested.

Information published on the website of the Kintyre Historical Society may now help to advance our knowledge. In original research by Frank Bigwood, published originally by the Scottish Genealogy Society, it was discovered that partial details exist for a voyage of the "Edinburgh" in 1771. (Scottish Record Office, Box SC54/2/106). This was a brigantine of 79.25 tons built at Leith in 1765, of 51 feet in length and 19feet 6 inches in beam, owned by a syndicate of four persons including a Campbeltown lawyer, Alexander McAlester. His surviving papers include a proposed passenger list and details of accommodation allocated. It seems highly likely that this vessel carried the earliest Colonsay emigrants. On 29 August 1770, the "Edinburgh" cleared out of Campbeltown with only 7 crew and the master on board, but rather heavily victualled with 41 barrels of Irish beef and 80 cwt (4 tonnes!) of bread.

Despite her having left Campbeltown without passengers, the McAlester papers show that a number of people had pre-paid for a passage on board her, to Cape Fear; these included "John Curry" and "Donald Curry", who had each purchased 5 berths in the hold. The accommodation list confirms these details as "Jno Curry: 5 berths, Jno Curry wife & three daughters" and "Donald Curry, 5 berths, full".

It is known that passengers were regularly uplifted from their own islands by prior arrangement for direct passage across the Atlantic, and it seems reasonable to suppose that the "Edinburgh" could have called at Colonsay in early September to uplift the Curries, having collected about 46 passengers elsewhere (possibly Gigha, Jura and/or Islay). It is intriguing to imagine that our "Murdoch Currie" could have been one of the folk sharing Donald's compartment. In al sources consulted, the "Edinburgh" is said to hgave arrived at her destination in 1771, despite having cleared-out in 1770.

It is to be hoped that further details will emerge in due course, but in the meantime one can readily imagine the situation that emerged. The emigrants arrived into a society that was moving inexorably towards revolution, and communications with home will have been difficult. The authorities by 1775 were actively (if unsuccessfully) prohibiting emigration and it was not until 1791 that the next known Colonsay emigrants were able to set sail - 138 souls aboard "The General Washington" and bound for Wilmington, North Carolina.

(Even if it had NOT been published by House of Lochar, one would recommend at this point the newly-published historical novel by Oonagh Morrison for background reading. Entitled "For Promised Joy", it describes the experiences of Flora MacDonald and her family, who followed this same route in the autumn of 1774 and was glad enough to retrace her steps five short but harrowing years later.)

As for Murdoch, we know that he is buried in a family plot, and had presumably found employment at Mill Prong. It was on a route "of passage of many Revolutionary War soldiers from both sides. During the last year of the Civil War General Sherman passed nearby on his way to the Battle of Bentonville." The estate was owned by successful Scots: "John Gilchrist (1740-1802) and Colonel Archibald McEachern (1788-1873) .. both lived at Mill Prong. Gilchrist served in the North Carolina legislature in the 1790's. Col. McEachern purchased the Mill Prong House from John Gilchrist Jr., and was operating a large plantation with Mill Prong as its center on the eve of the Civil War…" (George Roussos).

It is an unfortunate probability that Colonsay emigrants to North Carolina saw little of the prosperity which had been enjoyed by more fortunate exiles. The venture of the Curries seems to have had no great success, possibly because of the unfortunate timing. Those who followed them in 1791 on board the "General Washington" were under-funded and apparently had not the benefit of pre-arranged assistance. What little information there is seems to suggest that, although certain individuals may have achieved some improvement in their lot, the majority will have had little to show for their translation across the Atlantic.

Any further information about this voyage of the "Edinburgh" would be invaluable. Possibly information exists about it through the families who joined her in other islands?

Hester McMillan

Mrs Margaret Veillon has written from Washington State, with information on her forebears.
"At age 80, I am finally putting together the copious notes etc. on my maternal great-grandparents, Neil MacKechnie from Mull and Hester Euphemia McMillan from Colonsay…

All my family's information indicates that Hester and her brothers Archibald and Neil came to Canada in 1835, although your census shows them on Colonsay in 1841? [Note: the census was taken with great exactitude - any body listed as in Colonsay was definitely there at the time - Ed.] They sailed from Glasgow, vessel unknown, the voyage taking 8 weeks, and she [Hester] was referred to as a "babe in arms". The MacKechnies were also aboard but the families did not meet until much later. Apparently, Hester's parents died young and she came with family friends. My mother said there was some connection to the McNeills?

The name of "Lachlan" is prevalent in the family. Could there be any connection to Effrick and Lauchlan on your census? [The name Euphemia is often given as "Effie", but its Latin form is Aphrica, so Effrick is just another alternative - Ed.]

After disembarking at Montreal, Hester and her brother (with others) first went to Walkerton and later to Paisley, Ontario. She and Neil were married in Paisley on 27th September 1861 by the Rev. Neil Sinclair at his residence. Great grandfather built her a large stone home - "The Lilacs" - and planted some one hundred of these trees, her favourite flower. All seven children were born there.

They later moved with my grandparents to Vancouver, B.C., where Hester died on April 24, 1907, the result of a fall in her home. She was laid to rest in Mountain View Cemetery."

The cemetery was later reclaimed, and Hester's remains now rest with four generations of her family at Ocean View Cemetery.kenzies). Mrs. Veillon mentions that "all this particular group of immigrants were and are known as Scotch Ontario Baptists, and lived in various places in Bruce County" - readers of "The Corncrake" will have read the recent series of articles concerning Colonsay Baptists, and will have noted the reference to Rev. Sinclair.

"Brother Neil McMillan was the postmaster in Wiarton, and brother Archibald was a farmer in Lions Head, Bruce County, Ontario. Neil McKechnie was a founder of the present city of Paisley."

In looking through the registers, one can see that a baptism on October 30 1838 was of "Hester, daughter to Lauchlan McMillan & Effie McNeill"; and on December 22 1837, "Neill, son of Lachlain McMillan & Effie McNeill". Archibald is not recorded, but he was the eldest and his father was a staunch Baptist, who possibly indulged his wife in the matter of the younger children? "Lachlan Millan & Effie McNeill" were married in the Church of Scotland August 26 1833.

In the 1841 census, the family lived at Garvard, where Lauchlan was a 35yr old Agricultural Labourer, his wife "Effrick" was aged 30yrs, Archibald was 6 years old, Neil was 5 yrs and Hester was 3yrs. In the same household was Katrine McMillan 65yrs (probably his widowed mother) and Duncan, aged 20 years, possibly a nephew.

Lauchlan was baptised February 23 1806, the son of Malcolm McMillan and Cathrine McAlder, but there is no record of Effie's baptism around 1811. There is no sign of the family in the 1851 census, so the likely date of emigration was sometime in the 1840's, probably before the death register begins (1848). Conditions were harsh in Colonsay at the time, with potato blight and smallpox both to contend with. Unfortunately, no gravestone provides additional information. But a gravestone in Rusk Cemetery, Elderslie Township, Bruce County reads "Loughlan McMillan 1858 - (blank) - Native of Colonsay" …

Website to Explore

The site mentioned this week was discovered at random, and contains extensive lists of early family groups in both Colonsay and Jura. It must have taken a great deal of work to prepare, but an email seeking the background has not yet met with a response. The author has edited some of the names and has run into one or two slight difficulties which could only have been resolved through local contacts, but this is an extraordinarily useful resource. In case it suddenly disappears, serious researchers might think it worthwhile to download for reference. Go to