Corncrake Body 1

ADVERTISEMENT
There are still some vacancies in September. There are self-catering vacancies at Seaview from the middle of the month - please ring Annie Lawson at 01951 200315 for details.
And there is availability in one of the chalets at Scalasaig - details are on the webpage or telephone 01951 200320.

WHALE STRANDED

A 14ft 6 inch (5 metre) minke whale was discovered washed up on the shore at Port Lobh by Ronnie Anderson on the morning of 26 June. Later, there was a story that a visitor had found it whilst it was still alive, but was uncertain for what to do. If true, this would be a pity since it would have been possible to refloat it. Then again, perhaps it was dying and deliberately beached itself?

The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust was informed and spoke of conducting a post mortem examination. But they had better be quick - the Council asked Nigel to use a mechanical shovel to bury it as soon as possible. Rumour had it that it was the responsibility of the Coastguard to dispose of such remains, so the team is probably a bit disappointed.

Foot and Mouth Precautions
The threat is not yet past, although it is understood that island farmers are hopeful of an "all clear" fairly soon. There are no restrictions within the island, but all visitors are asked to continue to take a few simple steps. 1. Wash all outdoor footwear before leaving home and pack it so as to be available for treatment on arrival at Colonsay. 2. Wash any pet dog using a veterinary shampoo. 3. Arrive at Oban with time to use a car-wash (e.g. Tesco's).

THE SCHOOL TRIP

The Primary School Trip went off wonderfully well. Every morning there was swimming instruction and a games session at Atlantis Leisure Centre, Oban. For anyone who has not visited for years, it is almost unrecognisable - facilities are quite simply first class, the staff are professional and extremely helpful. The Kilchattan children had Andrew as their special tutor and all of them developed great confidence in the water; they all made tremendous progress and had brilliant fun. The "flume" was pretty exciting, but Mrs. MacNeill unfortunately forgot to have her go. The three adults in charge of the children threw themselves into all the sports, but your correspondent had to keep an eye on the jerseys.

On Monday afternoon there was a visit to Inveraray Jail - an excellent exhibition, much enhanced by a big surprise in the smallest room. Then there was a trip to the Wildlife Park, with big bags of grain to be distributed. On Tuesday afternoon, there was a visit inside the Hollow Mountain of Ben Cruachan, and on Wednesday CalMac generously assisted with a trip to Mull. Duart Castle was very exciting - the parapet is a bit high but proved no match for Hamish.

When everybody else got down to join him, the party boarded the Mull Railway (a miniature steam train) for the journey from Torosay Castle back to Craignure; the driver was a star, and let some of the children have a go at the controls. Perhaps it was that night that there was a visit to the "Oban at War" exhibition on the North Pier; the school has been studying World War II so there was a lot of interest in everything. Oban was a flying-boat station, and the children were fascinated by the Catalina engine which was recently recovered from the Bay and painstakingly conserved. A diary by a Canadian airman, Don MacFie, makes very interesting reading.

Goodness knows what happened next, but there were visits to the Sea Life Centre, to Dunstaffnage Castle and even to the Phoenix Cinema. It is surprising how far a bag of popcorn will go - almost as far as the front stalls in the end. Then there was a visit to the Police Station - the police computer took only a moment to check up on the school bus (and to discover that the owner had failed to register a change of address since 1998). The CCTV system was just extraordinary - you can actually read the newspaper in a pedestrian's hand. The grand finale, surely the highlight of the week, was Horse Riding on Friday afternoon. The children are from 6 - 11 years of age, and one or two had their doubts when it came to the bit - but they overcame all fear and trotted off in wonderful style. One way and another it was a wonderful week, one which was of great credit to the children and the responsible adults. The other adult had a splendid time as well.

GONE MISSING - update
In the last issue, it was reported that Irene's tortoise has gone AWOL again, and has been missing for a fortnight. We have since had a confirmed sighting from one Mr. Clyde Lawson, who surprised it whilst apparently stalking a sheep in the Kilchattan area. Although our reader was unable to capture the creature single-handed, he did manage to secure photographic evidence.

ARANDORA STAR

In earlier editions of "The Corncrake", the story of the "Arandora Star" was recounted, in which many civilian internees lost their lives. John Clark has drawn attention to an article in the Scotsman of 9 July, which highlights the more shameful aspects of the case, the bigotry of the populace and the extraordinary behaviour of the late Winston Churchill. The story as recounted in Colonsay was always very disturbing and the Scotsman coverage fully supports the local record.

Further enquiries suggest that the victim who was buried on Eilean nan Ron was never disinterred, in which case a modest marker might be in order. Some years ago, a local resident was asked to remove all traces of the grave because an official memorial was to be provided in Kilchattan graveyard. The resident in question quietly failed to co-operate, and it was noted that no memorial ever appeared.

THE "SPENCER"

Not all our readers are prepared to plough through to the very end of every "Corncrake", so they might miss the fact that 2006 will be the bicentenary of the sailing of the "Spencer", direct from Colonsay to Prince Edward Island. There were 115 Colonsay emigrants on board - for example, Grizal ("Grace") McNeill, who has more than 2,500 known descendants.

There is a great deal of information available about the "Spencer"… Should 2006 be "The Year of the "Spencer"" here in Colonsay? Could we arrange for Colonsay children to visit PEI, and for islanders to host an exchange visit? Could some lasting benefit be arranged - perhaps a book, a research facility, or a scholarship?

If anybody has any suggestions, please put them forward. With modern communications, we could set up a small committee regardless of location - it would be exciting to try to unite Colbhasachs world-wide in a project of this type.

THE AIR SERVICE?

The following piece was forwarded by a reader. A report also appeared in the "Oban Times".

"Alastair Jamieson.
A GROUNDBREAKING venture is offering a seaplane service to the islands.
Tourism bosses are already excited about the plans, which could see wealthy visitors flying to spots such as Mull and Skye, from Glasgow.
The Scottish Seaplane Service, aims to have a 10-seat plane flying between islands normally only accessible on Caledonian MacBrayne's ferry network.
The route aims to overcome many of the problems associated with travelling to the remote and the islands, with tourists facing long journeys by car and infrequent ferries.
Operators hope to have the service extended to islands including Skye, Mull, Tiree, Colonsay, Jura, Islay, and Arran.
A test flight was yesterday run from Oban Airport to Taychreggan Hotel on Loch Awe for potential investors.
Teams in charge of the project approached Robbie Coltrane for backing for their idea. The actor, 51, once presented a Channel 4 programme called Coltrane's Planes and Automobiles a few years ago.
Operational manager, Stuart McInnes, said: "He is into cars, motors and airplanes I thought it would be great to have him backing the project."
(c) The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
SCOTSMAN 12/06/2001 P6"

Many thanks to the reader who kindly contributed an interesting piece about sheep, gardens and the theory of Zen. There was enough trouble when c*mperv*ns were mentioned, goodness knows what would happen if something as controversial as this appeared… so discretion overcame our valour.

THE COLONSAY WEBSITE

The following extract is from a visitor's letter, confirming a reservation in Colonsay:

"We are both extremely impressed by Colonsay's website and have found it extremely helpful in planning our trip. I am certain that without the helpful advice in the "Getting to Colonsay" section we would have given up trying to organise transport from Gloucester to Oban in time to meet the ferry. The warning that public transport does not fit in well with the ferry sailings has proved to be unfortunately true!

On a more positive note, were it not for the website, we still would not know that Colonsay existed; as it is we were "sold" on the idea of visiting extremely quickly. All those who have worked on the site should be very proud - please pass on our thanks."

This is a very encouraging comment, and to be honest is not unusual. Here is another comment:

"Thanks for all the information. We have now managed to get a cottage for the whole of our fortnight without having to move properties.
Have to say the information about the island is excellent. Website is first class and we are really looking forward to the visit.
Thanks again for all your help and hope you have a good season. "

All fundamental credit for our website goes to Dominic Cornford, who set it up and keeps it running nicely; and its value has been enhanced by the content, which is the work of a wide number of people. Some people contribute to "The Corncrake", others have given permission for us to use copyright materials elsewhere on the site, and of course innumerable individuals have boosted the content and value of the overall site by virtue of their own area of interest.

The letter quoted above is very timely. We are very fortunate to have such a good site, and it has been of immense value throughout the recent months of Foot and Mouth concerns. The site is open to everyone in the island, although it is actually paid for by people who use it in conjunction with their business.

As it happens, the seedcorn funding of our site is almost exhausted and it will be necessary to address the situation shortly. The cost of the site is not very great, so only a very modest contribution will be needed from the various businesses that appear in it. On the other hand, it does take time and money to administer those subscriptions - when the time comes, a prompt response will help to keep the cost to the bare minimum required.

In the meantime, please note the significant improvements under "Other Accommodation", which are again the work of Dominic. Owners of properties are invited to notify Kevin each (say) Saturday as to any vacancies that remain - they can then be updated on the respective pages of the site. It helps our potential visitors, and it helps the owners too. Send in the details by email, or leave a note in the red minibus or at the bookshop - this is a FREE service. And, of course, visitors to the site must remember to press "refresh" in order to get the latest version...

Late News:
----- Original Message -----
From: mail@amdow.com
To: webmaster@colonsay.org.uk
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 9:19 PM
Subject: Signpost Community Website Awards 2001

Dear Webmaster,
Your website (http://www.colonsay.org.uk) has been referred to me for consideration for one of our Community Website Awards.

The review committee has completed it's work and decided to award your community a 4 signpost award. Full details of the award scheme can be found at http://amdow.com/awards.html and http://www.amdow.com/comm_links.html

The summary of the committee's review is:

"A very comprehensive community site with every aspect covered. A few shortcomings where pages are not yet fully operative. It is obvious that a lot of work has gone into this site and those involved are to be congratulated."

The committee also recommend that you resubmit the site again in a few months if further improvements are made to it.

Regards Alan Dowling
Amdow Web Design - Signpost Awards
http://www.amdow.com

Subject: Colonsay gathering of the MacFie Clan

"I need accommodations for two people for the gathering in September of 2001. [Nights of September 9, 10 and 11 I think, Ed.] Please advise if you have anything available or if you have a cancellation."

If anyone can help, please advise Kevin, who will pass it on. There have been a number of requests for these dates.

JULY SKIES

July can be a splendid time for waiting outside for the sky to get really clear. Ursa Major ("The Plough") swings low in the northwest after its springtime leap to the prime position in the sky, directly overhead.

The summer triangle, from Deneb and Vega (which are more or less overhead now), down to Altair (well up in the south), is the most prominent feature of a late evening sky in July.

One of the most beautiful things in the sky is the Milky Way - it arches through the sky from north to south. Here is where most of the stars in our galaxy lie. People living in a light-polluted area may never have seen the Milky Way to full advantage. Against a clear, dark sky it is magnificent - do look out for it!

The moon will be Full on 5th July.
Venus this month will be in the morning sky.
A Crescent Moon is close by the planet (Venus) on July 17th.
Mars is still a prominent evening object, Jupiter is not observable; Mercury is low in the morning twilight.

Happy Stargazing - Irene Campbell

What's On in Colonsay

There is an exhibition of work by Kirsty Niel in the Colonsay & Oronsay Heritage Trust building near the pier, until 13th July. Those who attended the opening report textiles and collage work, and most interesting techniques. The artist is in attendance and is happy to talk about her work in a most informative manner - not to be missed.
Every Tuesday from 10 July to 28 August in Village Hall - Pedie and Jen MacNeill "Home to you". An evening of music and song, a matchless entertainment.
Tuesday 17 July: immediately after Peed and Jen's show there will be Fergie Macdonald and his Scottish Dance Band, who may also be performing somewhere else on the island on the Sunday or Monday night.
Saturday 21 July: Hector MacFadyen and his Band, dance with licensed bar in aid of Hall Funds
Saturday 28 July: Fun Run and dance featuring "Follow that Camel" in aid of Medical Fund.
Quiz in the Hotel every Wednesday at 9.30 pm.
Barbecues, music and other events - see notices locally.
Church services every Sunday: 11 am at the Church of Scotland, Scalasaig, and 12 noon at the Baptist Church, Kilchattan.
Saturday 11 August: Community Concert for Hall Funds - all entertainers who will be here are asked to contact Pedie McNeill
Colonsay House Gardens: Open every Wednesday. Al Fresco meals, organic produce etc. (Also Friday lunchtime).
Colonsay & Oronsay Artists - Exhibition seems to have moved from VIP Lounge at Pier; possibly now in Village hall before every ferry?
Sunday 9 September: Clan Macfie membership to visit their ancestral home - (three day formal programme)
Monday 10th September: Clan Macfie ceilidh in the Village Hall

SPECIAL NOTICE
The OS Pathfinder map of Colonsay and Oronsay has been replaced with one which includes bits of Jura and Islay and lots of sea. The new map includes viewpoints, "bicycle hire" and other features, but is seriously very disappointing - it is enormous, because of all the extra "sea", and very inconvenient. Colonsay Bookshop has secured all remaining copies of the original edition, both folded and flat, in order to save them from being pulped. If your old copy is getting worn, or if you want something suitable for framing or lamination, do remember that stocks are limited. The new edition is also being stocked, to try to conserve stocks of the old edition, but supplies of the old one are unlikely to last more than a year.

SNIPPETS

Violet Hobhouse (née McNeill; novelist) in Co. Antrim was born 1864; there was a sensational electrical storm on the night of 26 June; Morag's 8th birthday was on 29 June; Geaspar is in Brisbane for the rugby; community policeman Raymond Law was here for a goodwill visit on 27 June; the Baptist Church and Church of Scotland are planning to minimise competing services and maximise joint worship in the coming winter; the school is on holiday now; David Sutherland's birthday was on 30 June - pictures to follow? forget-me-not is flowering in the widest of profusion around the golf-course; ravens have been stealing the hens eggs from Homefield croft; the Binnies' house is coming on apace, and the foundations for the Taylors' house at Cnoc na Fad are complete.

Nooks and Crannies: The Golf Course

The Golf Course is said to be over two hundred years old, one of the oldest in the country. Gaythorn Hardy describes it in the 1880's, and devotes an entire chapter to it in "My Happy Hunting Grounds". On the day that he describes, he combined a round of golf with a stalking expedition to obtain a specimen grey Atlantic Bull Seal. The specimen in question was stuffed and mounted in the appropriate manner, and may be seen to this day in the Natural History Museum in London.

The 18 hole course is 4775 yards long, par 72 and is undoubtedly very beautiful. The late David Todd and his pals named all the holes in the Edwardian period, and produced a rather good map of the course. Membership is very inexpensive (£10 a year?) and there are no green fees. There is a significant overseas membership - people in Germany, Sweden and even America have managed to bluff their way into playing on courses in those countries by showing their Colonsay cards.

Golf was formerly played in Balnahard as well, but to a slightly different system. There were no formal holes at Balnahard, but players carried a bow and arrow. The person who had "the honour" fired off an arrow, as this became the "pin" for the hole being played. Nowadays Health and Safety considerations might militate against this method of play; botanists and courting couples would be in danger of being found transfixed amongst the dunes.

The course was for many years associated with the hotel, and fell into disuse in the late 1950's on the death of David Clark. When it was re-opened in 1978, the ceremony was performed by the late Mary Clark, David's sister. At present, it is recognised as an important recreational facility for island residents and Argyll & Bute Council allows Rating Relief in respect of the taxation valuation. Unhappily, these pictures were taken in very poor weather, showing the 17th green and a view across the 2nd Tee.

View down and across 2nd Tee, on a wet day

The Magazine Section

"O'Reilly and the Big McNeill" (Donneil Kennedy)

The day I met O'Reilly it was 32 below;
The sparks were flying off me pick, I was up to me neck in snow.
His footsteps shook the basement slab, I saw the sky go black
As he roared out, "I'm your ganger now, so dig until you crack.''

He was bigger than a dumper truck with legs like concrete piles,
His face was like a load of bricks, his teeth were six inch files.
His eyes, they shone like danger lamps, his hands were tough as steel,
But a man as small as that was never a match for Big McNeill.

When tea came round at dinner-time, he grabbed a gallon tin,
But I said, "Better put that down, if you would save your skin.
You may be called O'Reilly but I will to you reveal
That the cup you've got your hands on, it belongs to Big McNeill.

'' Well, he laughed at me and carried on as if I hadn't spoke.
He said, ``A man from Dublin Town can always take a joke.''
But when he picked a shovel up, wee Jimmy gave a squeal -
``You'd better leave that teaspoon, it belongs to Big McNeill.''

Well, everything the ganger touched we said to leave alone,
Or else McNeill would grind him up and make plaster of his bones.
At last O'Reilly lost his head and said he'd make a meal
Out of any labourer in the squad, especially Big McNeill.

We said McNeill was sick in bed and told him where to go.
The boys all downed their tools and went along to watch the show,
And when we got to Renfrew Street, wee Jimmy danced a reel,
To see him thundering at the door to fight the Big McNeill.

When the ganger got inside he saw a monster on the bed,
A mound as big as a stanchion base with a barrel size of head.
He punched it and he thumped it and he hit about with zeal,
'Til the missus cried: ``Don't hurt the child, or else I'll tell McNeill.''

He was bigger than a dumper truck With legs like concrete piles,
His face was like a load of bricks, His teeth were six inch files,
His eyes, they shone like danger lamps, His hands were tough as steel,
But a man as small as that was never A match for Big McNeill.

The Kilchattan Letter

Sorry, this has had to be held over yet again. It is the full original text plus translation of a letter from Colonsay to Canada in 1821. The translation appeared in an early issue, but the entire thing merits publication as soon as space permits.

INFORMATION WANTED
If readers ever notice a gravestone which mentions Colonsay or Oronsay, they are kindly requested to make a note of the inscription and forward it to the Editor. Such information has already proved to be invaluable.

"The MacMhuirrich or Currie Family of Colonsay, revisited"

Buddy Blue kindly sent me "The Curries and their kin", by Rev. William Angus McLeod, first copied in 1940 and with various revisions until 1972 at least. As always, it is available here at Homefield for study by interested persons. It provided a stimulus for the following, which is an attempt to update earlier drafts which appeared in "The Corncrake" issues 11 and 27 under the titles of "The earliest pioneer emigrants from Colonsay" and "The MacMhuirich or Currie Family of Colonsay". Some parts of those articles are repeated here in an edited form, but interested persons should refer to the archives for more detail. Because new information is constantly arising, it must be remembered that all detail is liable to revision, and readers are asked to challenge or correct this further draft if they are in a position to do so.

I. Summary of an article in Issue 11, about Colonsay's earliest emigrants

In earlier articles (prior to Issue 11) there had been reference to emigration from Colonsay between 1791 and 1806 and a complete sailing list had been published for the "Spencer" of 1806, which sailed direct from Colonsay to Prince Edward Island. All the passengers on that ship were from Colonsay, and the voyage effectively represented the voluntary and almost complete emigration of the extended MacMillan and Bell families, under their respective tacksmen. Many people have researched the story of the "Spencer" and subsequent sailings, and independent research is being conducted at present by Prof. Sheets and also by Mary MacKay. In the fullness of time it is intended to review the story of Colonsay's nineteenth century emigration in these pages.

Hitherto, it has seemed sensible to try to make sense of the earliest waves of emigration, and although it was noted that information on the 18th century emigration is sparse, it is encouraging to find the broad outline is emerging. In Issue 11, the starting point was the report of Thomas Pennant, based on his visit in 1772. He wrote that at that time Colonsay with Oransay was the property of a McNeill laird "who has never raised his rents, has preserved the love of his people, and lost but a single family by migration."

A few years later, in the Statistical Account of 1794 we are told that: "A few emigrated from Colonsay to America, summer 1792; but in summer 1791, a considerable proportion of the inhabitants crossed the Atlantic."

As one writes, word has just come from Scott Buie in connection with a 1791 sailing. "The ship, brig Fortune of Greenock, John Smith, master, left Bowmore, Islay on 17 August 1792 with passengers from Jura (73 men, 60 women, 47 children")" also from Coll, Islay, Knapdale and Luing. There are slightly more passengers than are identified in the breakdown of 417 total, so it is possible that Colonsay folk were on board. (It is, of course, possible that they were included in the "Jura" total, since it was the same parish and for many people had the same laird as Colonsay).

On the basis of all the above, it seemed fair to say that "one need not expect to be able to trace very much emigration prior to 1772, and political considerations made it impossible for the decade from 1775; but from 1791 we might hope to be able to trace significant numbers." All the evidence continues to support that stance, and it is now clear that one family, the Curries, provides the link between the two periods.

The article in Issue 11 reviewed all the earliest known migrants with possible Colonsay connections. There is strong evidence of MacPhee migrants from as early as 1673, but in every known case the emigrant in question was at some remove from Colonsay, having been born or resident for a period elsewhere. It was noted that "John Mitchell, late gardner in Collonsay" was sentenced "to be transported to His Majesties plantations in America" in 1718, being convicted of theft. (Nothing is known of him, but it is interesting to note that the name of "Iain Mhitchell" is preserved in some local placenames, and he is said to have been a catholic priest).

The McNeill family of Colonsay was very closely associated with the "Thistle", which in 1739 carried many of their relations from Gigha to North Carolina, in the foundation of the "Argyll Colony". It is possible that one or two Colonsay folk were participants, but unproven.

The first little group of known emigrants direct from Colonsay to the New World appear in a cluster as follows:

c. 1769: Neil Munn emigrated from Colonsay; with his wife they had eight children, the eldest being Sarah Munn who married Hector Munn; their eldest daughter was another Sarah Munn. Exact destination is not to hand. This is almost certainly the family to which Pennant refers when he mentions that Colonsay had " lost but a single family by migration" prior to 1772.

1770: John McNeill was perhaps the first Colonsay migrant to go to Canada. Heading for St. John's ("Prince Edward Island") his ship, "Annabella" was wrecked at Bedeque.

1775 or before: "Murdoch Currie. Native of Colonsay, Scotland died in 1775 Aged 60 years." This inscription is linked with one Angus Currie of Colonsay, who emigrated to North Carolina in 1791.

As was pointed out, Murdoch could easily have emigrated as early as 1739, possibly with one Archibald McNeill of Garvard, and could have been a tacksman himself. During the American War of Independence there was no emigration, but the then laird of Colonsay, (another) Archibald McNeill, is said to have served as "Governor of South Carolina". This tradition is known to be wrong, but it would be interesting to know if he actually did serve there, in whatever capacity.

Returning to the narrative, it is known that the "General Washington" carried a large number of Colonsay residents into exile in 1791, sailing direct from Colonsay to Wilmington, North Carolina. A.I.B. Stewart wrote: "On 3rd September 1791 the Board (of Customs) enquired (from their Comptroller at Greenock) regarding a considerable number of people from Colonsay about to embark in Islay for North Carolina. British manufactures were threatened.

""You are particularly to guard against any tools or utensils used in the woolen and silk or made use of in the Iron and Steel manufactures being exported to foreign parts and to prevent the seducing of artificers or workmen employed in those manufactures to go into parts beyond the seas. We are further to observe that no Countenance (encouragement) is due to emigration."

"… Mr Malcolm Campbell, the Islay officer reported that the ship had come to Islay and then gone to Colonsay:

""to take in the passengers with all their effects which consist only of wearing apparel, as they are poor labouring people who have been deprived of their farms by their landlord and they will not be stopt by him."

"The master had refused to go to Campbeltown to make the necessary declarations but stated:

""The ship would take 150 full passengers to be landed at Wilmington in North Carolina."

"It was later reported that the ship was the "General Washington", James Miller master, and that she had the following passengers: from Islay 19 men 21 women 31 children; from Jura 1 man; from Colonsay 28 men 28 women 86 children and from Mull 4 men 4 women and 125 children.

"This was accompanied by a claim from Mr Campbell for the expenses incurred and a Protest by him against James Miller taken before Archibald McNeill of Colonsay "for all harm damage or detriment that may arise from his refusal.""

Note that 142 sailed from Colonsay, about 25% of the population. Note also the very high proportion of children; it is clear that (as in Mull), adults were persuaded in some way to take extra children with them, and that the children were being parted from their parents. As yet, we have very few names and know little of the ultimate fate of those on board, but it seems likely that they included Angus Currie. He had been born in Colonsay 17 September 1770, and he died 10 June 1845 at Mill Prong, where he is buried alongside the Murdoch Currie who had died in 1775.

In "Carolina Scots" by Douglas F. Kelly and Caroline Switzer Kelly reference is made to "the Currie family of Upper Robeson and present Hoke counties." The authors cite the family historian, Rev. W.A.McLeod jr. as mentioning in the 1930's that "the widowed mother of Angus Currie, who emigrated with her son to North Carolina from the Isle of Colonsay in 1791, and lived for many years afterwards, taught her grandchildren (all of whom were born in North Carolina) to speak Gaelic."

Angus Currie from Colonsay married Flora Currie, who had emigrated in 1775 at one year old, with her parents Archibald Currie and his wife "from Kintyre". They "settled about three miles northeast of the present Antioch Presbyterian Church between Red Springs and Raeford … He became a founding elder of Antioch Church in 1833 and is buried with his wife in the old McEachern cemetery, six miles south of Raeford." ("Carolina Scots" p. 291).

Through the kindness of the late George Roussos a framed memorial to Angus and his family exists in Colonsay and it includes the following inscriptions taken from the McEachern cemetery:

"In memory of Angus Currie, born in the island of Colonsay, Scotland, 17 September 1770, came to America in 1791 and died 10 June 1845. In memory of Flora, consort of Angus Currie, born in the Island of Cantyre 20 May 1774, came to America in 1775 and (died) 19 September 1834. He was long a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. Well done thou good and faithful servants: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

"Murdoch Currie. Native of Colonsay, Scotland died in 1775 Aged 60 years."

If the transcription is correct, it appears that Murdoch Currie must have emigrated in or before 1775, at an unspecified date. If he had a family, then by Pennant's account Murdoch will have sailed after 1772; as a single man, he could have sailed much earlier and would not have been mentioned.

II Summary of an article in Issue 27, dealing with the Currie family

In view of their role as pioneering emigrants, it seemed worthwhile to record some notes about the Currie family of Colonsay. It was stated that the Currie or MacMhuirich family has very ancient links with Colonsay, and indeed their traditional farmland in the island (Baillievurich) can be traced through all extant rental documents (e.g. "Bollevery, twa markland and ane half" in 1541, "Exchequer Rolls", quoted in Loder). Their prominence is confirmed when "sir John Makmvrich, canon of [Orwansay] monastery" was recommended as Prior in a letter from Mary Queen of Scots to Pope Julius III, 6th March 1554 (new style).

In 1625, Vatican archives record many of the family receiving the sacraments in Colonsay, the Christian names including: "Catarina, Christina, Daniel, Joannes, Ludovicus, Margareta, Maria, Maurus, Mora, Edmundus, Columba".

Despite their historic links with the Old Faith, by 1701 at least one of the family had wavered, since it is recorded that one "Mr. James McVurich" was the then presbyterian minister in Kildalton, Islay and serving Colonsay as well: "17th June 1701 - Mr James McVurich reports [to Presbytery] that he supplied Collonsa conforme to appointment".

The position of the Curries had of course changed somewhat through time. Having provided military services for generations, the advent of more peaceful times saw them transformed into hereditary tacksman, or "farmers" in a technical sense. In other words, they "farmed" a proportion of the island, for which they paid rent to the laid and from which they sought to obtain a rather larger income by subletting it to members of the labouring class. Changing agricultural practices meant that tacksmen had no future and the article sought to explore this and other factors which will have encouraged the family to break away.

From the information furnished by George Roussos it was assumed that Murdoch was the real Pioneer, and died 16 years before Angus emigrated; and because they are both buried in the same place, it was reasonable to infer a family connection.

The contrast between the two individuals was stressed: "It seems highly likely that Angus crossed aboard the "General Washington" which sailed direct from Colonsay to Wilmington in 1791, carrying a large proportion of the inhabitants, all of whom had been ejected from their holdings. On the other hand, and as a working hypothesis, one might suspect that Murdoch Currie had been a tacksman in Colonsay, had seen that there was no future in the island for him, and had freely made the decision to start a new life. He clearly made a success of his life, and provided a beacon for the coming generations."

This contrast (between the apparent affluence of a tacksman and the reported poverty of the 1791 contingent) was somewhat enigmatic and can now be addressed (see section III, below).

The article mentioned the earliest relevant baptismal records from Colonsay as follows:

1796, Donald Currie & Jeny Graham - Cathrine
1799, Donald Currie & Jeny Graham - Mary

1797, Donald Currie & Anabella Currie - Marrion
1800, Donald Currie & Anabella Currie - Barbra

1797, Donald Currie & Cathrine Darrach - Bill

1798, Niel Currie & Annie McMillan - Cathrine

1800, Malcolm Currie & Marrion McEachern - Duncan

1796, Donald McFaden & Mary Currie - Lauchlan
1798, Donald McFaden & Mary Currie - John
1800, Donald McFaden & Mary Currie - Donald

1797, Lauchlan Galbreath & Mary Currie - Mary
1800, Lauchlan Galbreath & Mary Currie - Pegy

1797, Hector McIlpheder & Effie Currie - Mary
1800, Hector McIlpheder & Effie Currie - Peggy

1797, Archibald Bell & Cathrine Currie - Duncan
1801, Archibald Bell & Cathrine Currie - Cathrine

1798, Niel McNeill & Pegy Currie - Niel
1800, Niel McNeill & Pegy Currie - John

1799, Niel Smith & Flory Currie - Mary
1801, Niel Smith & Flory Currie - Flory

There are a few weddings in the same period:

1796, Hugh Currie & Marrion Currie
1800, Archd. McEachern & Cathrine Currie
1802, Duncan MacMillan & Bell Currie
1802, Niel McCannill & Sally Currie
1803, Niel Mun & Cathrine Currie

III Additional information IIIa: The Curries in Colonsay It will be recalled that Pennant was quoted as an authority for the commencement of emigration. The same authority may be quoted again, writing of his visit in July 1772, when he states: "In both islands are between five and six hundred souls. The old inhabitants were the Mac-dufies and Mac-vurechs. The first were chief …" and held under the MacDonalds.

The status of the MacMhuirichs (Curries) is, of course, unquestionable. The story of Calum Caol MacMhuirich ("Slim Malcolm Currie") is recorded in part by Symington Grieve, by Murdoch McNeill and by John de Vere Loder; the full story has been reconstructed in detail in "Colkitto!" (Kevin Byrne 1997). For the present purpose, the summary in "Placenames of Colonsay and Oransay" (Kevin Byrne 1993) may bear repetition:

"Corr Dhunan, "Peaked Mound", O.S. Ref NR 385952

"On the slopes of this hill one can still see the remains of the house of Calum Caol MacMhuirich, at Iodhlann Chorrach ("Steep Stackyard"); a retained member of the island levy, he intervened in Blar an Deabhaidh ("Battle of the Deabhaidh"), the resistance to a MacLean raid in which the islanders suffered heavy losses. In stirring circumstances, Calum's intervention helped to save the day. That evening, returning homewards, he saw something glinting at Glaic a' Mhuirt ("Murder Hollow"), close to Torr an Tuirc; when he got there he found eight MacLeans sleeping, the evening sun having been reflected from their stacked swords. He killed them all, and they have slept since then where they were buried, at Cille Mhoire."

Glaic a' Mhuirt - sheep have been positioned to show where the MacLeans were sleeping

It is pleasant to find the name "Malcolm" echoed down the years in this family - as Calum in this mid 16th century story, as Columba in the 17th century Vatican archives, and again as Malcolm in the baptismal record on the cusp of the 18th and 19th centuries. The following record may be of interest at this point, as it probably relates to a senior member of the family: "MALCOLM CURRIE was born Abt. 1774 in Colonsay, Argyll County, Scotland, and died May 1, 1864 in Prince Edwards Island, Canada. He married SARAH MACEACHERN Abt. 1800 in Colonsay, County of Argyll, Scotland. She was born Abt. 1775 in Colonsay, Argyll County, Scotland, and died December 15, 1852 in Prince Edwards Island, Canada.

Notes for MALCOLM CURRIE:
Emigrated from Colonsay to Prince Edwards Island, Canada in 1820 aboard the "Economy" with his wife Sara or Marion MacEachern and his family, settling in Little Sands P.E.I."

Iodhlann Chorrach - "X" marks person standing in ruins of the house, obscured by summer bracken

It is also pleasant that the 16th century house survives, and in surprisingly good order. There are at least four such houses which survive (including Scalasaig, Dunan a' Chullaich and Dun Ghaillionn) but only Dun Ghaillionn has been identified by the authorities and enjoys any protection; Iodhlann Chorrach is in a particularly good state of preservation. (The photographs given here may help to identify the site, but in all honesty the casual visitor would be well advised to hire a guide. Access is across very rough terrain and, in summer, the site is obscured by bracken.)

Iodhlann Chorrach from school gate - "V" indicates position of house

The writer has been interested in topography for many years, and has devoted a good deal of time to the search for Baile Mhuirich ("The Currie Homestead"). As Loder remarks "This name appears in various anglicised forms as a 16s 8d land in charters and deeds from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, but is no longer used to denote a district." Fair enough - but where was the original district actually located?

It would be tedious to recall in detail the efforts of more than twenty years, particularly when (in the light of knowledge gathered along the way) the solution now seems rather obvious. One began by tabulating all known references to Colonsay's "districts" so as to be able to trace any changes in spelling and also to detect any spatial correlation (juxtapositioning etc.) Most districts could be identified and followed quite easily through the centuries and, in many cases, it was possible to trace the ancient boundaries in the field.

One then obtained microfilmed copies of all relevant maps in the National Library, and noted the degree of accuracy and consistency with which the districts were identified. It became apparent that Baile Mhuirich lay somewhat to the north of (modern) Machrins, to the southwest of Kiloran and that it should not be confused with the two Kilchattans. It was also clear that it was in some way comparable with or contiguous to Cille Mhoire; and that Cille Mhoire had latterly transmogrified through Kerramore and was eventually known as Balerulin. The latter name seemed to be a corruption of MacMillan's Homestead, and therefore coincided with the arrival of that family into Colonsay in association with the McNeill lairds.

At this point, one was led somewhat astray. Dun Meadhonach could easily have fitted the various criteria, was close to both a port and an ancient well, and was very close to Cuidh Chatain ("St. Catan's Heel"). This latter "is a remarkable cavity in an outcropping ridge of rock which is a kind of schist… It was in charge of members of the MacVurich clan … if in ancient times he intended to leave the island and wished a favourable wind, he consulted the oracle through his fellow clansman who for the time being was in charge. The cuidh generally contains water, as it is exposed to the weather and rain gathers in it. It is said that the first proceeding was to bale out the water in the rock cavity, and then the MacVurich in charge, after going through a certain ceremonial now unknown, generally gave a favourable pronouncement to the applicant." As a result of this and other suggestions, it seemed that a part of Lower Kilchattan (Baile Iochdrach) might well have comprised the ancient Baile Mhuirich.

Recent information leads to a revision of this opinion, and the revised opinion fits more neatly with the known facts. It is known that the leading MacMhuirich lived at Iodhlann Chorrach in the sixteenth century, and it is now known that his 19th century descendant, although living close to Port Mor, had an unusual cognomen. . "His house was called "Tigh an tom dreis" (Bramble knoll house), and according to highland custom he himself was known as "Fear an tom dreis." This information was taken from Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland vol 34 (1899 -1900) "Notes on some cup marked stones and rocks near Kenmore, and their folklore" by Rev J.B. Mackenzie. (Extract - p.330).

Reference should be made to Issue 30 for the full extract, but readers are reminded that Rev. Mackenzie was speaking of Cuidh Chattain. "Like the (stone) at Riskbuie it is of the pot barley type, and cut out of the solid rock. It is [about 50ft east of the bookshop - Ed.] near the ruins of the church of St Chattan, and of the house of the chief of M'Mhurich (Currie), who owned this portion of the island. His house was called "Tigh an tom dreis" (Bramble knoll house), and according to highland custom he himself was known as "Fear an tom dreis." … The basin was called "Cuidh Chattain". It is quite a mistake to say, as I have heard at times said, that any Currie could operate the well. It was only "fear an tom dreis" himself who could do it."

As reference to a map will show, "Driseag" ("bramble-thicket") is still the name of the slope to the west of Iodhlann Chorrach. The nickname of "fear an tom dreis" had been lost from the island tradition, and has now been recovered by the discovery of Rev. Mackenzie's paper. It seems reasonable to suppose that the most senior nineteenth century Currie was indeed living in the Port Mor area, and that he had inherited the traditional title of his forebears. The origin of the name will have been in their occupancy of Baile Mhuirich itself, and therefore serves to identify its location.

To avoid doubt, the land in question was bounded to the west by Scalasaig's dyke, to the north by the margin of Loch Fada, to the east by the policies of Kiloran and to the east by the landward boundary of Kiloran east as it ran down into (and including) Glassard. It should be possible to prove this on the ground next winter, by tracing the remnants of the march dyke.

At first, one wondered if the land was adequate for a prestigious family, but closer examination reveals that it is merely degraded and that it compares favourably with a number of other farms. Inspection of the site reveals a commanding position, and it may be that the MacMhuirrich of the day held other land as well - very possibly the adjoining farm of Cille Mhoire (across the loch). From a strategic position, one can imagine these two ancient families, MacPhee and MacMhuirrich, back to back on Colonsay's central massif. From Dun Eibhinn, MacPhee looked south towards the MacDonald heartland and the social and trading route to Ireland, protected by outlying families such as MacAllister in Dun Cholla, by a lookout post at Dun Gallan, and by the sanctuary status of Oransay (of which his family were hereditary priors). An observation station at Cnoc na Faire ("Lookout Hill") provided cover of "blind" spots. A communication post at Cnoc an t-Samhla ("Reflector Hill") provided a link with that of the Lords of the Isles, above Finlaggan Loch in Islay, also called Cnoc an t-Samhla. (My thanks to Alasdair Scouller for this discovery).

From the other side of the central massif, MacMhuirich's position commanded the northern flank, looking out towards the "badlands" of Clan Dougall and MacLean. Again, there were outlying families to bear the first brunt of any attack - Bells in Balnahard, McNeills (of Barra) in Balavetchy, and unidentified retainers in Dun Uragaig and at Lamalum. From his lofty vantage point, supported by lookouts atop Beinn Gudarain, MacMhuirrich had perfect views over the hills of Balnahard, the whole of Kiloran Bay, the sea towards Jura and the whole Loch Fada valley down towards and out beyond Port Mor. He had two additional observation posts, both called Cnoc na Faire, to ensure total coverage of the area.

Incidentally, it will be seen in Loder (p. 241) that "Murdoch McVurich, mariner in Islay" was witness "as bailie" to a document guaranteeing a loan of £1,000 to Donald McNeil of Colonsay, the then laird. This can be taken as evidence that the Curries were still tacksmen in Colonsay at that time.

IIIb: The likely scenario as the farms were "improved"
It is know that a dramatic upheaval occurred in Colonsay as power was transferred from the original laird to his cousin, "the Old Laird", the notedagriculturistt. In a nutshell, John McNeill sought to create demesne land in the vicinity of Kiloran House which would be farmed on his own behalf and to rationalise the rest of the land. In order to abolish outdated post-mediaeval farming practices (and to gain more income) he sought to reduce the population to more manageable numbers, and to gain possession of vacated townships which could then be rented to lowland adventurers. The first such adventurer was to be a sheep farmer from Kintyre, c. 1806.

The project appears to have been a lengthy one, and the first physical stage was associated with the voyage of the "General Washington" in 1791, when some 25% of the population was removed. This voyage has been detailed above, and it is clear from that account that Archibald McNeill was personally present in the island when the ship departed. The effect of this emigration was to release a significant area of land, which may be taken to have included both halves of Kiloran, the whole of Balavetchy and the whole of Baile Mhuirrich. Very possibly some individuals were allowed to remain, notably the eponymous "Cailliche" of Tobar na Cailliche and the old ladies of Sguid nam Ban Truagh. (In both cases, their houses can be seen, and even their tiny areas of cultivation).

It is possibly that both Kilchattans were also cleared at this time, but not yet certain. At all events the vacated holdings were sufficient to permit a degree of social engineering. The next stage was to be the relocation of the labouring classes into the new crofts which were to comprehend the whole of both Kilchattans and also the Uragaig section of West Kiloran. The planning for this is clearly demonstrated in David Wilson's estate map, dated 1806 but actually created to show the new arrangements rather than to record the earlier or transitional stage.

As the project advanced, it became necessary to remove the remaining surplus population. As has been shown elsewhere, John McNeill borrowed money in January 1806 and chartered an excellent and well-found ship, the "Spencer" which sailed direct from Colonsay to Prince Edward Island in late summer. The passenger list shows that the emigrants were members of the extended Bell and MacMillan families, travelling with their own tacksmen. On arrival in P.E.I. they were clearly well-funded and properly organised, and moved without excessive difficulty into their newly allocated holdings. They are said to have sailed directly from the shore at Balnahard, and their departure led to the vacation of both Balnahard and Baille Mhoire, giving John McNeill the opportunity to carry out the final refinements to his planned improvements.

By reference to the Valuation Roll of 1751 (Loder p. 240), one can readily see that "Kerramore and Ballevourich" march together and that as such they are valued at the combined worth of Upper and Lower Kilchattan. The 1806 Estate Map shows neither farm It seems likely that significant changes had taken place to incorporate most of "Kerramore and Ballevurich" with "Killoran", and that a part of east "Killoran" had been sacrificed with part of "Ballevourich" to create the new districts. In the same way, another part of (west) "Killoran" had been sacrificed to create the new crofting district of Uragaig, and was replaced in the demesne estate by the engrossment of Baile Mhoire.

Unless they were already in place, the final tenants will have been moved into their crofts at this time. It may be that Baile Mhuirrich had been found to be less convenient to work as part of the extended demesne unit, or that some leading tenants had to be accommodated other than by 4 acre crofts, because five new units were created at this time, from the Baile Mhuirrich and East Kiloran lands. These "farmlets" comprised Glassard, Riasg Buidhe, Bonaveh, Dun Gaillion and "Clunery". A new house was built for both Bonaveh and Clunery, and pre-existing cottiers at both Glassard and Riasg Buidhe gained formal recognition of whatever traditional agricultural activities they had pursued. The houses at Dun Gaillion post-dated the original dun, but probably re-date this period. They survive as long-abandoned ruins, having been the site of a calamitous smallpox epidemic.

The original houses at Glassard can readily be located by reference to the ordnance Survey 1st Edition map; the inhabitants of both Riasg Buidhe and Glassard were in due course to derive part of their income from the sea, like many of those at Port Mor and Lower Kilchattan. The Glassard inhabitants tended to skipper and crew the island packet, and the history of Riasg Buidhe is well known from the verbal tradition.

IIIc: The Curries in North Carolina
In the article in Issue 27, there was reference to a " family historian, Rev. W.A.McLeod jr" and by the generosity of a reader (Buddy Blue) a copy of "The Curries and their Kin" by William Angus McLeod is now available for study here in Colonsay. Obviously its accuracy cannot be tested in detail, but it is extremely interesting and goes a long way to clarify various puzzles. The following information has been shamelessly quarried from that source.

Dr. McLeod mentions "Murdoch Currie, died 1776" and regrets that he knows no more about him.

One Archibald Currie from Kintyre reached North Carolina in 1775 and settled in Bladen, later known as Robeson (and now known as Hoke) County; it is noted that the ship "Jupiter" with 200 people from Argyllshire, sailed for North Carolina in that year. Archibald had a wife, an infant daughter, Flora, and a son, Randall.

By 1791, Archibald had died and been succeeded by his son Randall. The author makes something of the spelling "Raynald", but of course this is just another English variant of the name "Raonull". Flora was by now 17 yrs, and in that year 21 yrs old Angus Currie from Colonsay arrived, together with his mother.

Angus obtained work on the Cape Fear river, "poling" boats upriver from Wilmington. In due course he obtained a farm, 3 miles northeast of Antioch Presbyterian Church, of which (in 1833) he was to be a founder. His last will and testament (which will hopefully appear in a future edition of "The Corncrake") shows him to have been very successful, and there can be no doubt that his descendants have contributed mightily to the prosperity of their communities and to the wealth of nations.

Having said all that, it seems a far cry from poling boats to the kind of success that Angus enjoyed. One notes that, although the family historian did not know of a connection between the family of Angus and that of his bride, they shared a common area of origin. Their own daughter, Flora, in due course married her own first cousin, Ranald's son Adam Currie.

Can one speculate as to whether Randall's father and Angus' father had both emigrated in 1775 in some sort of joint venture, possibly as first cousins? That Angus' father had died and that Randall's had survived and prospered, using his partners capital in trust, along with his own? In due course, Angus had reached manhood, and emigrated with his mother. On arrival, he found what work he could, whilst Randall (whose father had died) made arrangements to set him up in his own right. Alternatively, Angus' father may have had no capital to leave, but Angus's mother could have stayed in touch until such time as opportunity arose for her son to make his own move.

Either way, it seems likely that Angus and his mother were of high-status background, of the tacksman class, and that their decision to go to America in 1791 will have been of significance in the Colonsay community. Note that Murdoch is the English form of "Muireach"; we have noted that Malcolm was a popular name in the family, but Murdoch is actually the patronymic. Until more can be discovered about the others people who crossed to Wilmington that year, it will not be possible to say whether or not Angus was the leader of that party. It would have been a very heavy responsibility, but it does seem likely that he had a role of some importance.

IIId: Summary and Questions to explore
The broad picture now seems to be fairly clear - John McNeill, an ambitious and efficient co-lateral of the late 18th c. laird, realised his desire to obtain possession of the island, and implemented agricultural improvements in accord with the best practices which were then sweeping through the land. He took steps to encourage emigration, possibly by simple eviction in 1791(through his influence over the then laird, Archibald), but subsequently by inducement - and he had plenty of takers.

From other sources, we know that it was common for large parties of sub-tenants to migrate under the leadership of their own tacksman, as was the case with the Bells and MacMillans. There is a possibility that Archibald McNeill, tacksman of Garvard, may have been an early migrant. The 1791 emigrants may well have relied upon the leadership of young Angus Currie.

We know that very few went before 1791, when quite suddenly 25% of the population departed. More left in the following year, again to North Carolina, and in the following years emigration to Canada began to develop. At first there was a lot of hardship, then there was a pause, then another exodus, perhaps almost 20% of the remaining, diminished native population.

Subsequent events were to reveal that John McNeill had started an exodus that he could not control, and which would give him cause for regret. In an attempt to fill a leaking sieve, inward migration from the Ross of Mull and elsewhere was instituted, but to little avail - of all the crofts that were created in 1806, only one was to remain with a native family by the end of the century and from the middle of the century the population went into a plunging decline. In the same way, the much-praised agricultural reforms led to little genuine benefit - by the end of the century, every one of the farms had passed into the hands of absentee tenants, with little incentive to maintain buildings or improve the land. All this was in the future, and may be considered in due course.

Returning to the events of the late 18th century, certain questions remain. What were the financial arrangements governing the voyage of the "General Washington" in 1791? Can we identify more of the passengers, and trace their subsequent history? Were the passengers encouraged in their decision to go by knowledge of the success of Murdoch, and by being accompanied by Angus? Were the passengers normal family groups, or was there a disproportionately high number of children in the company?

Two other lines of enquiry seem capable of simple exploration. Why did Donald McNeil borrow £1,000 in 1776 (on the security of Kiloran, Balavetchy and Balnahard, i.e. the entire north end of the island except Baile Mhuirrich)? This question might possibly be resolved by deduction, and another might be solved by something similar. If one were to use the Old Parish Register as a reference, it should be possible to reconstruct population lists for Colonsay for the years 1790 - 1810 at (say) 5 yearly intervals. Thus, it would be reasonable to suppose that somebody marrying in (say) 1805 was alive in 1790, 1795 and 1800. A baby baptised in 1798 will have survived the first and most hazardous five weeks, so could be assumed to exist in subsequent years. Persons known to have emigrated in 1806 may be assumed to have been here prior to emigration etc.

Obviously, this approach cannot recreate the entire population list, but it might help in three ways. Analysis of the names might reveal the pattern of loss, thus helping to establish the names being sought on passenger lists and immigrant records. More importantly, knowing some of the people who were still resident in the island might permit one to follow their descendants and thereby establish their likely place of residence; if one could establish where people lived, it would help to confirm where they did not. Recreated family groups might help to establish the likely age of adult emigrants, and the likely size of their family, thus establishing how many children might normally have travelled with 56 adults.

In due course, it is hoped to reconsider the "Spencer" and to move forward to consider the "Clarendon", the "Economy" and other early 19th century sailings. The period 1806 - 1846 would cover the period from the "Spencer" to the death of the Old Laird, and bring us neatly to the famine period. It would be helpful if readers with queries or information about that period would get in touch again or for the first time. Please remember that the "Colonsay Register" elsewhere on this site lists all known emigrants from Colonsay and provides a facility foresearchersrs to indicate their interest in a given individual.

Website to Explore: A Colonsay Diary

There is any amount of information about Colonsay spinning around in the ether. Here is a link to one family's experiences over a series of visits - a gift the Giftie gi' us:
http://www.any-town.co.uk/C/Colonsay/Texts/Colonsay_APersonalAccount.asp

Regulars

Readers Write

From: Project Shelter - D.W.Angola
To:
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 12:18 AM
Subject: greetings from Africa

This is probably the most distant greeting that you have had for some time.
Well, no, perhaps you get them from Canada and Australia, but anyway it's a long way to Angola.
One or two of you may remember me, Euan's younger brother, last seen in Colonsay in 1997-8. I am learning to use the Internet and this is a little exercise, dependent on rather fragile telephone and electrical connections. It was nice to look at your pictures. Have a good summer!
Jonathan Howard

[Have asked Jonathan to consider sending us an article about life in Angola - Editor]

Anyone researching Clan Macfie names in Northern Ireland is strongly recommended to contact The Irish Room , County Hall, Castlerock Road, Coleraine, BT1 3HP -Phone: 028703 51026. The research papers of author the Rev.Dr.T.H.Mullin have been deposited there awaiting classification and indexing covering the names Macduffie - McFee and MacAfee. David Morgan

I'm looking forward to reading more about Currie's and their Kin. It's a pleasure to read articles from The Corncrake. I would also like to see a photograph of the local Golf course if possible. Mike Currie golf917@yahoo.com

Happy to oblige - the above shot (from the 15th?) on a sunny day in May, and under "Nooks and Crannies" are a couple taken yesterday in very dull weather - Editor

Dear Sir,
Can anyone help with the genealogy of this man, Captain Malcolm McNeill ? He was born on January 30th 1866 in India, son of Lt-Colonel A C McNeill and Annabella Campbell. Lt-Colonel McNeill had been in the East India Company and became an officer in the Madras Army and was awarded the CSI. I think he died in 1870 in Amritsar.

After service in the army in Punjab and Somaliland, Captain McNeill retired to Oban in 1902. He joined the Argylls at the outbreak of war and was killed in Flanders in 1917. He appears to have been unmarried.

I'd be especially grateful for any information. I suspect he was connected to Colonsay but have been unable to establish it.
Yours sincerely Donald Gillies

Editor: Unfortunately Brig. Gen. Malcolm McNeill who had 5 sons and 4 daughters was killed in India in 1852, rather too soon; and Sir Malcolm McNeill 1839 - 1919 does not fit either.

The only McNeil genealogy that I have to hand is no help, but Loder suggests Burke's "Landed Gentry", which should be available in any mainland library.

A brief search on the web revealed a McNeill genealogy preserved in Belfast which just might help … but perhaps a reader can tell us something?

Date: 19 June 2001 17:25
Subject: Genealogists beware

A study of the International Genealogical Index, possible through www.familysearch.com, indicates that Clan Macfie was never consulted when the lists were drawn up.

The outcome is that MACFIE does not even feature in UK Lists and the position is quite desperate as the following details indicate.

Instead of Macfie, the main names in the Home Countries are:
ENGLAND - McPhee
IRELAND - M'Afee
ISLE OF MAN - McPhee
SCOTLAND - MacFee

Under the main name, the IGI usually indicates connected names but Scotland has no connected names; the Isle of Man has McFey as a connected name to McPhee; Ireland has Coffey;; Cowhig; Gavvey; McVeigh; McVehy and several others BUT NOT Macfie or MacAfee. England has only McFey as a connected name.

What a mess - and what a problem in trying to search the UK records. So who is going to ask the Latter Day Saints to put it right? A good question to ask at the Parliament in September.

David Morgan Chairman - Ui Dhubhthaigh

Hello Kevin:
Many thanks for Corncrake. You are providing a great service for descendants of Colonsay folk. In the last issue I discovered that Kate Gunn and I share the same ancestors and now we are in touch. Archibald McCalder and Catherine Blue are her great, great, great grandparents and they are my great, great grandparents.

I really enjoy the newsletter; keep up the good work.
Thanks, Betty Watters

Hi Kevin - I was thrilled to see my great, great, great grandfather, Donald Vass mentioned as being the gardener of the Victorian pleasure gardens in Balavetchy, in the latest edition of the "Corncrake".

When I last wrote to you I told you that Donald's son, James Donald was a Gardener and it was only later when I was looking at James Donald's marriage certificate again that I discovered that Donald was also a Gardener, but decided to wait to see "Corncrake" before contacting you again.

Also, I have found on IGI records that James Donald Vass of Colonsay who married Margaret Hall in Dalkeith in 1859 had 8 children. They appear to have moved around a fair bit and assuming he continued his career as a gardener, I thought it might help connect him to gardens in the areas where they lived.

There was a James Donald VASS (16 Jul 1859) born in Ladhope, Roxburgh - David VASS (14 Apr 1861), my great Grandfather, who was born in Dalkeith. Then they appear to have moved to Saltoun, East Lothian where they had 4 children between 1863 and 1868. After that they moved to Tranent, East Lothian where they had 2 more children between 1871 and 1873. So I want to search in these places for any traces of the family.

My husband, Brian and I are keen to visit Colonsay. Caithness is also a must, my great Grandmother who married David Vass was born there. So we have a lot of ground to cover in 5 weeks and we are looking forward to it immensely.

Once again thanks for all your assistance Kevin.
Regards Margaret Kellett

Editor: I wonder if any kind reader has access to telephone or postal databases that could tell us where most Vass descendants live today? It might be a help to Margaret.

Why I am writing pertains to questions on my McPhee genealogy. As it happens, Dr. Earle Douglas McPhee and I are 3'd cousins, by my interpretation , anyway. My g grandfather, Donald McPhee b.1802 in Colonsay came to PEI in 1806. (Confirmed in the PEI 1880 Atlas Directory for Lot 31). In the town of Dunedin, bordering the West River on Lot 31 are two parcels, side by side, whose original settlers were Donald and Dougald McPhee.Their names are recorded on the earliest plot plan that the government has on record in the capitol, Charlottetown. (Dr. McPhee accepts Dougald as his g grandfather). The cellar hole of Donald's residence and what is believed to be Dougald's home are only about 100 yards apart.

When Donald married Catherine McQuarrie in 1833, Dougald, who was thirteen years older than Donald, was one of the three witnesses at the marriage. Dougald married Mary Shaw of St. Catherines (across the river) several years prior to Donald's marriage.(No date available)Dougald, who did not care for farming, went off to Yeo's ship yard where he worked as a ship builder. Donald, founded his own ship yard on "McPhee's Creek" which feeds into the West River from his property. The census of 1841, shows his household comprised of 19 persons, mostly men of working age and of varied religious beliefs which indicates to me that the McPhees must have boarded workers to acquire the needed talent.

In his book, "Some Pioneers Of Our Clan In Prince Edward Island, Canada" 1767-1881, Dr. Earle writes: "We believe that Neil McPhee landed in 1772,or thereabouts,and moved to Lot 33.His family moved to Lot 31 about 1800 and Donald (who he believes to be the gg grand father) became the first McPhee in Lot 31. He goes on to say that "A second Donald McPhee who came to Lot 31, moved to the fields adjacent to our Donald, and he eventually became a ship builder. This other Donald, made progress for a number of years as a ship builder and our family assisted him for some time in his operations. Unfortunately, one of the purchasers of his wooden boats, failed to provide adequate information to the "other Donald" McPhee, and his ship building business failed."

{One wonders if there is proof that] his (our) McPhees arrived on [Prince Edward] Island in 1772. The first McPhees to arrive there were from South Uist and were among the first Catholic settlers.

There are a number of graves in various local cemeteries that contain persons from Colonsay who came over in 1806 aboard the Spencer from Oban. On this passage there were no McPhees ,but Mc Duffies (same). They appear to be of one family: Duncan McDuffie 54, his wife Mary McNeil 40, Margaret McDuffie 20, Nancy McDuffie 19 and her husband James Currie 30, and daughter Mary 7mos., Dugald McDuffie 17, Janet McDuffie 14, Catherine McDuffie 9,Effy McDuffie 5, and Donald McDuffie 4.

Now is this just coincidence? They had just two sons, their names were Dugald and Donald, The ages conform to my family's 17 and 4 and Donald turns out to be "the second Donald McPhee, who moved to the fields adjacent to our Donald".

I realize that ship's records were not always intact or complete, but here is a McPhee (McDuffie) that fits the parts. Where the discrepancy comes is that Dr. Earle refers to the gggrandparents as Donald and Sarah (Graves unknown) and in "The Islander" March 4, 1859 there was an obituary: Died at West River on Wed. ,15'th ult.,in the 95'th year of her age,Sarah, relic of the Late Donald McPhee, The deceased emigrated to this Island from Colonsay,Argylshire, Scotland in 1806. She had left eight children, 58 grandchildren, 138 great grandchildren, and 10 great great grandchildren. " Now the date conforms (1806) ,but which are the correct names?

From what I have had passed down, the Donald and Sarah McPhee who came over in 1806 sounds right, but the McDuffie children sound like the family the McPhees brought over.

Any light you can cast on this puzzle would be greatly appreciated.
Most obliged, Bruce Levis

Editor's reply:
"Spencer" McDuff family
I agree that any unknown family emigration from Colonsay to PEI prior to the 1790's would be amazing. An article in this issue of "The Corncrake" does however mention John McNeill who (in 1770) is thought to be the first individual to have gone. By the late 1790's it becomes more likely, and we know that some Colonsay folk were on a sailing of the "Hector" at that time, and landed in Pictou.

I believe that the folk in question clearly travelled on the "Spencer". Note that the passenger list was taken on disembarkation, not at Oban. The enumerator is unlikely to have been completely familiar with Colonsay Gaelic, and by this stage many of the passengers will have been advised by crewmen and other more wordly individuals as to suitable English equivalents to give for their names.

In addition, the name "Mary" was in regular use as an English version of a Gaelic name at the time. In the decade before 1806, 19 children were baptised in Colonsay as "Mary", and 10 mothers were recorded with that name. The names "Mor" and "Morag" do not appear - I suggest that those names (which are normally translated as "Sarah") had probably been rendered into English as "Mary" at the whim of the then minister. There are religious and cultural undertones here, but it is easiest merely to note that even the Gaelic name of "Mairi" is not common in Colonsay; "Muire" is even rarer.

I had a go at reconstructing these families long ago, and with the following result:

Duncan McDuff, 54 (a.k.a. Donald McDuffie), with his wife Mary McNiel, 40 (a.k.a. Marrion McNeill) Children: Marg't McDuff 20, Dugald McDuff 17, Janet McDuff 14, Cathrine McDuff 9, Effy McDuff 5 (baptised in Colonsay on August 10 1799, daughter to Donald McDuffie and Marrion McNeill), Don'd McDuff 2.5yrs.

James Currie, 30, who had married Annie McDuffie in Colonsay December 2 1803 was with his wife, now called Nancy McDuff 19, and their baby Mary Currie aged 7 months, who had been baptised in Colonsay on 23 February 1806 to James Currie and Annie McDuffie.

Bruce Levis mentions young "Donald McDuffie 4"; I have checked my photocopy of the original and can confirm that the actual entry is "Don'd McDuff " and the age is two-and-a-half. He does not appear on the baptismal register in Colonsay. I do not think the difference between 2.5yrs and 4yrs makes any difference … and it is not unknown even today for persons to understate the age of a child when buying boat tickets.

Bruce cites the death on 15 February 1859 of "Sarah, relic of the Late Donald McPhee" at the age of 95 years, this making her c. 40 yrs old in 1806. The notice confirms that she emigrated "from Colonsay, Argylshire" in 1806.

In my view, "Sarah" is the same lady as "Mary" and "Marrion"; her real name was something like Mòr NicNeill and the minister chose to write it as either Mary or Marrion McNeill as the fancy took him. In due course, Mòr will have discovered the correct translation and will have adopted the form "Sarah".

LATE NEWS: just got this reply -
Hi Kevin,
Your explanation, of the names given my gg grandparents when they disembarked from the "Spencer" was wonderful. I do not question, but that you "hit the nail on the head"! It is wonderful to think that efforts have been made to preserve the Gaelic language spoken by our ancestors.

In accordance with your explanation, my grandfather, Alexander McPhee b1850, (grandson of Donald and Sarah) told me that his family in West River, PEI spoke only Gaelic up until he was about 12 years of age. In fact the whole community of Scots continued to use Gaelic and were dependent on a minister who was bilinqual to serve as their interpreter. Alec's father,Donald the ship builder, arranged with a Master Carpenter in Liverpool, England to take in his son as an apprentice. At age 14, Alec sailed across to start his new career. I can recall his telling me about abuse he took from other apprentices who thought his brogue made him foreign to them.

Your findings ,Kevin, provide me with the names of my gg grand- mother ( Sarah McNeil) , a ggg grandmother (Mary McDuff , 72 at the time) and 5 gg aunts as well. I feel much indepted for your help.

Would you be so kind as to provide information on reservations for the McPhee Reunion in September, or put me in touch with the proper person? The dates coincide with the start of our apple harvest, but------

My regards to all, Bruce Levis

It will be interesting to have opinions from other readers. There is a great deal of information available about the "Spencer"… is this a good moment to note that it is only 5 years until the bicentenary of her voyage? Could 2006 be "The Year of the "Spencer"" here in Colonsay? Could we arrange for Colonsay children to visit PEI, and for islanders to host an exchange visit?

If anybody has any suggestions, please put them forward. With modern communications, we could set up a small committee regardless of locations.

Finally, a small reminder from our last issue, in which Eric Davis said:
"We did find something most unusual at Balnahard. I myself remember seeing these last when I was 14 years old. These were sea gooseberries. All along the shore just a few feet above low tide were small blobs of jelly the size of gooseberries. We filled a container with sea water and gathered up a few and put them into water. They came to life with amazing colours. Although they were mainly transparent they had 5 or 6 lines down the side of small hairs which rippled and flashed with colour when they used the hairs to propel themselves."
The lady in the SeaLife Centre had unfortunately forgotten what these things are... surely one of our readers can help?

We will be happy to receive more letters and, as always, the editor would like to hear from anyone who might wish to contribute. Individual articles on news or local events will always be welcome.
Contact

the Editor - byrne@colonsay.org.uk

Editorial Policy

Corncrake is published to keep all our friends in touch with life on the island. Contributions are invited and welcomed.
Fortnightly editions will carry details of coming events, special offers etc. Please send letters and proposals for specific articles to
the Editor
Brief genealogical and related queries are also welcome from Colbhasachs overseas, as are obituaries and family traditions relating to Colonsay emigrants.
This publication will hopefully develop to reflect the interests of the readership so please feel free to make your contribution. The magazine section needs articles on flora, fauna, geology, fishing, crofting etc.