Readers Write
From: Alan Gloria Burtenshaw Cook
Date: 14 July 2001 17:59
Subject: MacCallum Connection
WE are visiting Colonsay from Sept 12th. Quite by chance we have discovered a family connection with the island. The connection is one Lachlan MacCallum born to Christine Buchanan in May 1844. His grandson George Buchanan McCallum lives in New Jersey and my daughter, who was Sian MacCallum ,stayed with his family. They will be very interested to find out as much information as possible. I understand they have already accessed the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census records and found Lachlan's grandfather George Buchanan appearing on them. I will be required to make a pictorial record of anything I can find out about the family. Have you anything on your data base.? Lachlan emigrated in 1888. He married his first cousin liz. Hope to hear from you.
Gloria Cook formerly MacCallum
REPLY:
I notice that in 1841 George Buchanan was a 60 yrs Merchant Seaman in Glassard, with wife and three children, and by 1851 he was the "packetmaster"; his unmarried daughter Jean was still at home, a "shewster", together with a grandson Lachan, 7 years. The whole family was born on Mull, except for Lachlan, born Colonsay.
On April 14 1845, "Lauchlain" was baptised, son to Donald McCalum by Janet Buchanan. No Donald McCalum appears in the 1841 or 1851 census, and his name does not appear in the Old Parish Register.
Perhaps readers can help? - Editor
From: roger maccallum
Date: 18 July 2001 19:01
Subject: Buchanan/MacCallum genealogy
Dear Kevin,
My sister-inlaw Gloria forwarded your messages to me.
I have a family tree on computer which includes George Buchanan, Jean/Jane/Janet Buchanan and Lachlan McCallum (plus about 1700 others!). I have extracted from it the connections with Colonsay, the descendants of former Colonsay residents and the links to my family. If you have PAF or something similar, I will willingly generate a GEDCOM and email it to you. If, that is, it would be of any use or interest. It contains about 100 individuals down from the 1700. Please let me know. I have prepared prints of it for Gloria on her visit to Colonsay.
I cannot claim any credit for this part of our tree, it was put together by N. American cousins George Buchanan McCallum, Alison May, nee McCallum and Colin MacCallum.
There are many direct descendants of George - Jean - Lachlan living in N. America. The names have been preserved through the generations to the present day.
Lachlan's father Donald was the brother of my G grandfather, Alexander. Donald, having fathered Lachlan on Colonsay, returned to the mainland and married Christine Cameron! Lachlan also moved to the mainland and ended up marrying his cousin Elizabeth Carmichael McCree. She was the daughter of Beatrice McCree, nee McCallum, sister to Donald!
George Buchanan was married to Mary McKillop from Mull. We have no information on the descendants of any of their other children/grandchildren apart from Jean/Jane/Janet and Lachlan. The other children were Sarah born 1811, Neil born about 1826 and Mary born about 1828. On the 1851 census, a grandson John McMillan is shown. It seems possible that he is the son of Sarah who may have married a McMillan but we have no evidence for this.
We have Jean/Jane/Janet marrying a Hugh McPhee in 1865, not Angus Campbell, the same Hugh being the informant of George's death in 1870.
It would be fascinating to know if there are any lateral descendants still on the Island or if there are any "out there" who have been tracing their ancestry.
The Colonsay website is a wonderful piece of work.
Best wishes, Roger MacCallum,
REPLY:
Many thanks for your kind offer. Am not sure what PAV is, but if it is like Adobe Acrobat etc., I either have it or could get it. The file you describe would be very useful to have, partly for "pure research" and partly because as we establish such material in Colonsay archives it becomes increasingly possible to assist new researchers. Since it would be likely to include living individuals I would think that it should not be posted as a complete entity in "The Corncrake", but I would be very glad to publish your letter on the subject. It might inspire others to forward additional material on other families... and, of course, it might produce even more information on your own one. - Editor
From: Donald Beck
Date: 20 July 2001 03:20
Subject: Curries and Macdonalds of Colonsay
On my pedigree chart I have the following which so far I haven't seen in the Corncrake.
James Macdonald b. 1780 in Colonsay m. Christine Brown, 6 Jul, 1812 in P.E.I. I don't know when they emigrated to P.E.I.
(Malcolm) Neil Currie b. 1807 in Colonsay m. Ann Bell b.1811 in Colonsay.
John Macdonald b. 1828 St. Peter's Point, P.E.I, m. Mary Currie b. 1830 P.E.I. in 1849 in P.E.I.
My ggrandfather, Neil Currie Macdonald, was b. 24 Oct. 1850 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. He m. Jemina Catherine Cameron, b. 7 Dec. 1854 10 Apr. 1882 in Crookston, Minn. USA.
I am obviously missing a generation of Macdonalds on Colonsay. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Don Beck, San Antonio, TX
REPLY:
[By a stroke of luck, the key to this story is at hand. The Editor's reply follows, but additional information or correction will be very helpful. This is a most interesting story and this may be the first time that it has been published]
After the 1745 rebellion (in which the McNeills avoided becoming involved) the infant son of the Moydart chief (MacDonald) was brought to the island and fostered here by the McNeills, where he enjoyed reasonable security.
I think that it was his son (John? MacDonald) whom you have being born here in 1780 [and who I seem to remember married a McNeill], and thus it was HIS son. James, who on July 6 1812 married Christian Brown here in Colonsay (as per the register). At a later date, James married for a second time, to Mary Brown, Christian's sister. John, your gggrandfather was therefore the son of either Christian or Mary Brown, and was the gggrandson of Moydart, a victim of the '45.
On the other side, Niel was baptised on April 6 1804 to John Currie and Marrion McFale. His most likely bride was Annie Bell, baptised Sept 12 1800 to Donald Bell and Cathrin MacMillan.
Returning to James MacDonald: there was only the one MacDonald family in Colonsay at the time, the one that descended from Moydart. I notice that Christian MacDonald emigrated on the Spencer to PEI in 1806 - she could have been an aunt of young James; she was born about 1770 and travelled with her husband John Bell (40) and daughters Mary Bell 15, Nelly Bell 12 yrs, Catherine Bell 10yrs, Janet Bell 5 yrs, John Bell 3yrs and Margaret Bell 6 months.
It seems as if a picture of the events is emerging and that your Neil's parents' marriage was a union which re-united collateral lines, and that their lives had followed a classic emigration story, whereby family links draw succeeding generations together in a common destination. I do hope that we discover more... this interesting tale of Moydart is a component of a confused "tradition" here, in which it is known that the McNeill's had a slightly obscure Jacobite connection. The story became jumbled up with a later event, in which a French man-of-war was re-victualled in the Isle of Islay by a (different) McNeill laird, and the roadstead at Oransay was used as a French refuge. - Editor
From: Campbell, Jim (UBM)
Date: 22 July 2001 23:41
Subject: Macmillans
Dear Editor,
Firstly, may I congratulate you on a very interesting read. I have spent the
last 4 years in National Newspapers and struggle to remember when I was
informed and entertained so much at one sitting.
I'm writing to you in part for my mum who turns 80 this August and part for
myself. We are trying to find out more about the family, who originated in
Colonsay and wondered whether you or some of your readers may be able to
help.
My mum's great-grandparents were, Malcom MacMillan, born c.1800 in
Colonsay, who married Margaret ??, we believe Margaret was born c.1806
(Colonsay), died 1872 in Greenock and was returned to Colonsay for burial.
We also believe that they had 5 daughters and 2 sons, but the only ones we
have been able to trace with success are Christine who died at 28 in 1870
and one son Malcom (mum's grandfather) who was born in Colonsay in 1850.
Any additional info would be greatfully received with interest. The familly
including my mother are visiting Colonsay for the second time and certainly
not the last on 10th August.
One other piece of info that was passed down is that the MacMillans
provided accommodation on the Island as an overflow to the Hotel.
Regards, Jim Campbell.
jim.campbell@unitedbusinessmedia.com
REPLY:
Looking at the records, Malcolm MacMillan was baptised 24 July 1801 to James MacMillan and Dolly Blue.
May 4 1832 Malcolm married Peggy McMillan. Their son Angus was baptised May 29 1832
Margrat MacMillan was baptised Jan 3 1807 to Duncan McMillan and Bell Currie.
In 1841 Malcolm lived at Balevurich aged 35, agricultural labourer, with wife Pegy 30, Angus 10, Pegy 5, Isabela 2 and another occupant Kate Darroch 10yrs
In 1851 he was a Plowman at Machrins aged 50, with Margaret 42, Angus 19, Margaret 14, Bell 10, Mary 8, Curstie 6, Malcolm 6 months and Elisabeth Caray, niece, 9 yrs.
Have not identified their gravestone, but suggest you all have a look at my files in August - I have transcribed all the inscriptions. - Editor
Dear Sirs,
at the beginning of August I am planning a visit to Colonsay to walk "the strand" at low tide, Any local information you or your readers of the Corncrake could give me would be helpful this may include best routes and any points of interest during the walk to and when I arrive on Oransay would be very helpful.
I would appreciate if you would put this in readers write,
yours sincerely, Gordon Frame
REPLY:
The Strand is a wonderful area to explore, comparable with Wexford's Slobs or the marshlands of Essex etc. There are no particular hazards if you are on foot, but rubber boots are better than hiking boots because of the salt. The ordnance survey map clearly indicates Abhainn a' Chuirn and also the channel to the east of Caolas na Brathan. These channels fill first on an incoming tide and if in doubt one should make ones way towards the trackway which is also clearly marked on the map, running north-south across the widest and shallowest part of the area.
There is a New moon on 4 August and therefore conditions will be ideal in the first week of August. On Thursday 2nd, for example, the Tide Table shows Low Water at 11.00hrs GMT, or 12 noon by your watch. That is within 15 minutes of the exact time, so close enough for practical purposes. On that day, a pedestrian could expect to cross the strand between 10.00 and 14.00 hrs (possibly more, dependent upon wind etc.). He could, of course, expect to spend a much longer period actually exploring the margins of the area.
I would suggest that you walk down from the golf-course (start at 9.00?) to Ardskenish, explore Traigh nam Barc and walk out to An Dunan. On the way, notice Loch Breac ("Trout loch"), which was a fishpond for the Oransay monks (to whom Garvard belonged). Just before you reach An Dunan there is a sandy cove, Port na h-Iubhraich, where St. Columba is said to have made his landfall. An Dunan is an early habitation, not recognised by RCAHM; as you come around the headland you will reach Lupa nan Eisearan (Oyster Pool). There used to be a farm of native oysters here, but all native oysters seem to have been destroyed by the pollution in the Second War - a wall across the bay marks the site. Looking south, you may see the modern oyster farm (purchase details elsewhere on this website!).
The islands to your south contain a breeding colony of Atlantic Seals, also vast quantities of kelp. As you continue along the shore you will pass the "Taigh na Cealpairean", a cave which sheltered the workers during the lengthy burning process. A kelping kiln also survives, one of a number around the shore - but they are hard to find and only the one in Oransay is in good condition.
By now, you should be able to make your way across to Oransay, possible noticing the remnants of an old berthing place beloved of Lord Strathcona's father. It will be scarcely possible to continue to describe the route, but hopefully it is already clear that there is plenty to see, much of which would be missed by the casual observer. I would make my way up Beinn Orasa, visit Dun Domhnaill and make my way down towards the southwest corner of the island, then come around in a curve to recross the Strand on the track, then follow it east along the Colonsay shore, and up along the shoreline to Traigh an Eacail before regaining the road via Balerominmor. At no point should you be more than 50 yards from something interesting - you will, for example, have passed no less than six otter holts and possibly plenty more. The flora and birdlife will defy description and the archaelogical sites run from the mesolithic through to the present day.
Oh, and there is always the Priory
- Editor
A follow up on the Vass story:
Hi Kevin
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you but we have been up to Wick in search
of my Caithness ancesters - very successful.
Since coming back to the Borders we have spent some time searching locally and in
the Edinburgh Central Library for the Vass/Watson families.
An OPR record shows that Donald Vass and Ann Watson had a son named David, Born in
Dalkeith in 1841. So it seems likely that they moved to Dalkeith fairly soon after
leaving Colonsay.
The 1861 Census shows Donald Vass, aged 61, Born in Invergordon, Ross-shire - now
we know his place of birth - something further to follow up. Ann Watson, I assume
had died because she isn't with him. There is a daughter, Jane, aged 28, born in
Colonsay which means she would have been born circa 1833 - question is "was she the
daughter with the grand name of Hester Law Howard McNeil Vass, born 25 Sept 1834"?
Son David, aged 19 - another gardener was also living with them. Their address
was 14 Back Street, Dalkeith.
The Valuation Roll 1867/68, Parish of Dalkeith shows Donald Vass, Gardener, address
as Lothians Garden House, Back Street, Dalkeith and the Proprietor was the Duke of
Buccleuch - no further information on Donald.
His son James Donald Vass, Gardener & Journeyman born Colonsay 1828 was living in
Dalkeith 1881 Census with his wife Margaret, son James Donald aged 1 and they were
all living with Margaret's widowed mother, who was born in Innerleithen, Peebleshire
in 1805 - by coincidence we are staying with relatives in Innerleithen.
Finally Kevin, Brian and I are planning to catch the 8.15am ferry from Kennacraig
on Wednesday 25 July, spend a few hours on Colonsay and leave on the 5.35pm ferry.
Not much time, but all we can manage. Hope we are able to meet up - if not, thanks
again for your assistance.
Regards, Margaret Kellett
NOTE:
Just in case I missed anything, I had re-checked the record:
1825, May 20, marriage of Donald Vass & Ann Watson
1827, April 12, Donald Vass & Annie Watson: Margat Ann Vass
1828, Aug 2, Donald Vas Ann Watson: Isabella
1830, July 26, Donald Vass & Annie Watson: Jean
1832,Oct 29, Donald Vas & Anie Watson: James Donald
1834, Sep 25, Dond. Vass & Anne Watson Keilorun: Hester Law Howard McNeill
1837,Sep 12, Don Vass & Anne Watson John
Note that these names first appear in Colonsay at the time of the marriage.
The bride was not from Colonsay by the name "Watson". Is it an English
version of a local name? Or were both bride and groom incomers to the
island? Donald Vass is thought to have been an estate gardener, and it is
possible that Annie Watson was also employed by the estate, perhaps as a
lady's maid etc. - Editor
From: AMprime@aol.com
Date: 23 July 2001 22:37
Subject: Angus McFee b. about 1759 to 1760
Good afternoon,
Is there a way to find out if you have in your records a man of this name and
bithdate? He is my 4'th g-grandfather. We can only trace him to Connecticut,
USA in 1775 when he signed up to fight in the war. We think he came from
Scotland and Colonsay is logical. We do not know the names of his parents.
Perhaps he came without them. There was a Roseanna McFee living in
Connecticut, USA at this time and perhaps she is his sister. We don't know.
We sure would like to link our family for certain to Scotland. Any help would
be appreciated. Thank you, Georgia Maddocks
[Can anybody help? - Editor]
From: RobinFee
Date: 26 July 2001 07:32
Subject: Fee Family
Hello Kevin,
My name is Robin Fee, I know this question I have will be most complicated. It is so kind of you to help others find their roots. I am the granddaughter of the late James Burgess Fee, his dad was Finley Fee, his dad was Stephen Fee, his dad was Abner Fee, his dad was David Fee, his dad was John Fee, Jr and his dad was John Fee, Sr and this is where I am stumbling. John Fee, Sr. married Sara Stuart they both were born in Northern Ireland in the year 1730 and their son John Jr. was also born in Ireland about 1759. They came to America when John Jr. was about 7 years old. They came to Huntingdon County, PA to live and also died there except Col. John Jr. lived part of his life & died in Harlan Kentucky. They were Presyterians even in Ireland. The problem is I have been told they had a different name in COLONSAY and the reason they left Colonsay and ended up in Ireland (had to change their name to hide) is because the British ran them out, so I don't know what that name was exactly, some say MacAfee or MacPhee or McFee or something to that nature. And I definately believe they were ran out of Colonsay, they were ran out of other places too, here in the U. S. that is. Anyway I would love to know who John Fee dad is, so that I can continue my family tree. I am doing this mostly for my son Stephen who was named after my g-papaw Stephen Fee. Anyway I am sure this is probably a long shot but I would/will appreciate any help you could give me.
Thanks so much,
Robin Fee
REPLY:
Hello Robin - thank you for your message. I have to admit that at present I am unable to get you past the sticking point but you will be happy to know that you are not alone. The family tradition that you recount is one which shares a number of elements with others. All of these traditions include an origin in Colonsay, which is completely in line with historical fact. The family was here from the 13th century onwards and were put in charge by the Lords of the Isles, under whom they served. In time, they became also the hereditary Priors of Oronsay Priory. After the Lordship ended (1495) their position became more equivocal but even as late as 1608 "Donald Mcfie in Colonsay" was one of the signatories of the Statutes of Iona.
A few years later, in 1615, the clan chieftain misjudged a tricky position between his superior (Sir James MacDonald) and the crown and managed to fall into the crack between; by the time he got back from an enforced stay in Edinburgh (c. 1620) Colla Ciotach MacDonald (by now the chief of the remnant of the embattled Clan Donald South) was personally resident in Colonsay, and accompanied by the leading surviving members of that clan, under a strict injunction to behave correctly. Malcolm Mcfie seems to have resented the situation and within a few years was publicly executed, with leading members of his family, by Colla Ciotach in the fulfillment of his judicial responsibility. It caused a fuss at the time and the widow laid charges which led to Colla being distrained (through non-appearance in his own defence), but the matter seems to have been reviewed and Colla was evidently acquitted on all counts.
At this time, a senior branch of the McFies left Colonsay, and it appears that some at least made their way by Edinburgh and Wigtownshire across into Ireland. They were (of course) leading Catholics whilst in Colonsay and their reputation was high as far away as Rome, but by the time they reached Ireland they were Presbyterian and were therefore eligible to receive land which had been confiscated from the catholic population. I am aware of a story that they obtained land near Armagh at this time, and I know that at least one individual settled near Golds Bridge in Tyrone. The Armagh family was active in the Battle of the Boyne (for King William) and subsequently emigrated to America. Others remained in Ireland as "Duffy", causing some confusion since that family name already existed in the country. Some others returned to Scotland, and I think at least one family came back to Jura.
The period was complex historically - it is hard to follow even with hindsight, and it is surely improbable that the contemporary man-in-the-bog would be aware of the twists and turns of religious and political complexity in which he stood. As an example, Colla Ciotach's son Alasdair died at Knocknanuss in Co. Cork in the single largest battle of the Civil War, November 1647, when 12000 Irishmen fought each other to uphold the British Crown... you will find that this battle does not even appear in most histories of the period. Monmouth's rebellion, the Restoration, Episcopalian success - all these things deeply affected this part of Argyll, but people saw the effects rather than the big picture. Thus every version of your family story that I have heard has some slightly confused reference to these times; it is hard to know quite what they mean, but the common feature is that the family suffered for its Presbyterian Faith, that the King (or state) wanted to make atonement for some injustice, that there was some further persecution and an enforced change of name, then emigration.
"Fee" or "McFee" does not seem an adequate disguise, and I suggest that any genuine change of name was very short-lived, perhaps to escape from a very tight spot or to board a ship or something; but it will have been remembered in the family tradition and later used to explain away the perfectly natural variations in the modern surname.
The consolation in all this is that you are not alone in your quest. By simple calculation, you will find that c. 40,000 other people are alive today who are just as closely related to the early 18th century figure that you seek. I can happily publish your letter in "The Corncrake" issue 36 (1 - 15 August) and hope that it will be seen by someone who can help. There is an active Clan McFie society which is researching the whole affair - try the Clan secretariat macfie@ultra.net.au - Editor
From: Chris&Elisabeth Amos
Date: 29 July 2001 00:23
Subject: Conley - Islay-Colonsay?
To Whom this may concern:
I had the good fortune to surf into your Genealogy Webpage and was pleased,
as I suspected I would be, to run into some names with possible links to my
own, "Conley" family genealogy. You mention that almost a 1/4 of the
population left Colonsay on board the "General Washington" in September
1791. I am wondering if there are records of Conley's who may have lived at
Oransay-Colonsay and moved to Islay during or prior to the migration that
occured with the departure of the "General Washington", and if those records
would identify and locate the birth place of my lineage of Conley's .
Information listed below, which I received from Andrew Parker of New
Zealand; indicates that his grandmother's branch of the Conley family are
from Kintyre, who arrived there with and as a sept of the MacNeils of
Colonsay - who arrived at the Mull of Kintyre from the island of Gigha in
the 15th century - and probably related to my own branch of the Conleys. It
seems probable that the Gigha MacNeils and Conley's probably came from
Colonsay originally as they are Colonsay MacNeills. I am interested to know
if the Islay Conley's came directly from Colonsay or to Islay via the Gigha
MacNeil branch of the family: Also to discover previous generations of the
family and their data and to obtain a history of Colonsay and founders of
St. Columba's Abbey. If possible I would like to know the reason why so many
people left Colonsay in 1791. After viewing the 1841 Census of
Oransay/Colonsay it seems very possible that the marriages of my gr.gr.
grandfather's brothers may have been to women of families originating on
Colonsay.
The following information may assist you to discover any links between 'my'
Conley genealogy and an origin at Colonsay:
My name is Christopher James Amos and I reside at Grafton, Ontario, Canada -
about an hour east of Toronto. My gr.gr.gr.grandfather was Donald Conley who
married Katherine Shaw. They lived on Islay before coming to Canada but
there appears to be no record of them there, or their origins, prior to
their marriage record of June 2, 1801, Killarrow, Islay. Donald's surname is
variously spelled Connally (marriage record), and Conly - Conely - Conelly -
the name are probably "MacIlconelliche - MacIlleconill - Conelliche. Andrew
Parker, in New Zealand, who is my source for this last information includes
that the name was gradually shortened to MacConley and then Conley. Donald's
grave marker in the Alton Cemetery, near Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
(northwest of Toronto & south of Collingwood on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron),
says that he was a "Native of Argylshire, North Britianny" and that he was
80 years of age in 1851 when he died - implying a birthdate in the year
1770/71. A record for this birthdate has not been found so far. (I have more
family history for the family after their arrival in Canada if you care to
know how we have fared.) Donald Conley Sr. came to Canada around 1840. He
brought a Family Bible with him from Scotland but it later came to be in the
possession of an unmarried daughter of the family who lived with a man in
the Collingwood area. When she died he was left in possession of the Bible
and it and the family records within became lost to the family.
Katherine Shaw's grave marker (next to Donald's and another for a son
Archibald) says that she was 76 years of age when she died in 1854, implying
that she was born about 1778/79. I have a record for a Katherine S(c)haw b.
Nov. 14, 1779, Rothsay, Bute, Scotland (parents Angus S(c)haw and Barbara
Leitch) but have not ascertained if this is the correct Katherine Shaw -
though it probably is.
Birth places for the 8 children of Donald and Katherine (born between 1802 &
1821) are variously placed at Killarrow and Islay House from records at the
Bowmore Parish Registry. Records for the 3 younger sons b. 1811, 1813 &
1821; whom we know came to Canada, merely indicate a birth place in
"Scotland" although the last may have been born in Glasgow. We know that at
least one of the brothers, Archibald b. 1813, (who married Mary Currie [b.
Scotland and descended from MacVurich] was literate; but that in all
probability all were literate; indicating a certain status of wealth and
access to education. He purchased 300 acres of land from the Upper Canada
Land Company and split it between himself and his two brothers with one
hundred acres each (most of the farm is still with the family of Alexander
b. 1811 [who married Euphemia MacDougall]: An old log cabin site is on the
farm as well as an old foundation remaining from a 19th century house on the
farm of my gr.gr. grandfather Donald b. 1821).
(Andrew Parker, whose grandfather did extensive genealogy research of the
family many years ago, says that the Conley name originates from St.
Congalach in the 5th century. In the book, "Clans and Tartans of Scotland"
by Iain Zaczek, Saints are named by various spellings including St. Comgall
who died c. 601 and St. Congual who is linked to Dercongal (later named
Hollyw[r]ood) in Dumbrieshire. It would be interesting ot know if the names
Congalach and Comgall are alternative spellings for "Colmcille" as they do
fit the same linguistic profile. My own research suggests a possible later
origin of the name to the 10-11th centuries with variations of Congalach and
Congalaig which occur among the O'Connor kings of Ui Failge/Offally in
Ireland and again earlier versions in the names of kings of Brega (Tara) and
Meath in the 5 - 7th centuries. One of these early "Conley's" was Fergus
Cerrbel macConnaill (grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages and father of
O'Neill, Diarmait macCerbaill ui Dubhne, who is the king defeated by Colm
Cille/St. Columba, about 561AD, and a possible source of the legendary
Fergus "Cerr-beoil" credited with being the founder of Clan Campbell/Dubhne.
I was extremely interested to note that the monastery on Colonsay (or is it
on Oransay) was built on an Abbey that was built by Colm Cille/St. Columba,
ie. as the name of Colmcille may indeed be the origin for both the names of
Colonsay and the Conley name - of Colonsay (and perhaps the "Campbell" name
as well since that name implies "The Baillie or See [religious term relating
to diocese] of Colm", ie. 'Colm-baille'; in respect to this it would seem
that Colonsay would have been a more geographically superior location than
Iona from which religious and governmental affairs could be administered to
Argyll/Dal Riate during St. Columba's period in history. My question here is
whether the monastery referred to is the same as Oransay Priory or was it a
different location, as well to who occupies Oransay Priory at present?. A
further question, relative to the monastery, is whether Oransay Priory was
built as a Knight Templar Priory and if when. This question is of personal
interest to me as I am a member of the Order of the Temple and in an
unrelated research endeavor I have discovered that many of the earliest
members of the Order were in fact from Scotland and perhaps Ireland - rather
than all originating in France as is commonly believed. It is known
generally, of course, that many of the Templars belonged to Priories in
Scotland prior to 1307 when the King Philip of France arrested many members
of the Order and on which occassion many of the French Knights took refuge
in Scotland; and that these members of the Order provided the mounted charge
at the Battle of Bannockburn with Robert the Bruce.
I was interested to note the data on Clan MacNeill of Colonsay that their
motto is "To Conquer or Die" and that their name means "Son of Neil,
Champion", being contiguous with the French champion "Le Conquberant" (ie.
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, b. 1024, Falaise, Normandy) and
with the Gaelic term "Conchobhair" meaning and providing the motto
"Champion" for the Irish Clan O'Connor. It is perhaps worth consideration
whether the origin of the name "Conley", through the MacNeill of Colonsay,
originates with the Ui Failge (Offally) and Meath branch of Clan O'Connor
through for example: O'Connor, Congalach - King of Ui Failghe, who died in
1051 and his grandson O'Connor, Cu Faifne macCongalaig; King of Failghe who
acceded the throne in 1118 and died in 1130).
Your WebPage states that a number of emigrants from Colonsay went to Bruce
County (among other places), which is on the east shore of Lake Huron near
the southern end. Collingwood, on Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, and
Orangeville directly south of Collingwood, are several hours by car further
east. My genealogy research reveals that a number of surnames relating to
the Conley name, by marriage, are found in the Collingwood-Meaford area. It
seems that one or several Shaw's came with the Conley's to Canada since an
individual who seems to be Katherine's nephew, Duncan Shaw, b. 1815 (he
married his wife Catherine Broadley in 1839 in Glasgow just prior to
emigrating with the Conleys), appears to have arrived about the same time as
the Conley's and purchased a farm directly across the road from the Conley
farm. Earlier; the birth of Donald Conley Jr. in 1821, Glasgow suggests that
the family moved to Glasgow from Islay about 1820 to be closer to the Shaw
family for Katherine's sake or for employment; later deciding to emigrate to
Canada around 1840. Another individual who could be a fourth brother who
came to Canada with his parents is a James Conley b. abt 1818 which records
show an individual about the right age who had a farm near Collingwood.
Records so far do not provide a link with James. Some of the Shaws and
Curries apparently moved to the Collingwood area as well - perhaps for
employment with the ship-building industry in Collingwood.
Hello Chris - I am sure that you will know that Amos is a family with strong Colonsay roots - an excellent book on the Amos family and PEI exists and there is a copy here in Colonsay. I hope to include your letter in Corncrake # 36 (tomorrow until 16 August) and hope that readers will respond. You raise a number of points which may well produce correspondence - meantime I will check the Old Parish Register as soon as possible and reply again - in haste, Kevin Byrne
From: Russell H Brown
Date: 28 July 2001 00:33
Subject: Corncrake
Dear Kevin,
The item about Sea Gooseberries in Issue 33 (June 16-30 June 2001) was interesting and I am surprised the SeaLife centre was unable to supply any information.
Growing to about 20 mm long these marine 'animals' are oval shaped and translucent (transparent) and look very like real (white) gooseberries; I gather the group including sea gooseberries are in all the oceans but as far as Scotland is concerned they are important as food for herring. Sea gooseberries feed on small plankton animals catching these on two sticky tentacles and they are mainly found in Spring thru' late Summer - perhaps part of the reason for the seasonal herring anti-clockwise migration from the west of Scotland around the north coast along the drift of the 'Gulf Stream'. (how do they get back?)
For a zoological definition try the New Encyclopedia Britannica under Sea Gooseberry (Pleurobranchia pileus).
I see the contribution is from Eric Davis and he is also credited with the beautiful photograph of 'The Coal House' on the east shores of Oronsay - I'd love to know its history and where this name came from.
Mentioning Oronsay leads me to something else, especially as recently 'the Corncrake' has included items about 'The Air Service'
My Wife's Uncle was David Barclay who will still be remembered as one of the original Air Ambulance pilots. Captain Barclay retired from BEA over 30 years ago and died, aged 75, on 24 February 1981. Sometime after he retired Loganair named an Islander (plane) after him and I gather he, with Duncan McIntosh of Loganair, had a little nostalgic trip landing on Oronsay (and other islands) so the airstrip must still have been in use until at least the mid 1970's. Fairly modern Ordnance Survey maps (1979 and reviewed 1995) still show a three runway airfied about the centre of Oronsay. First time on Oronsay I did not have enough time to look for the airfield and my visit earlier this year was twarted by the RSPB sign on the south side (why not at the car park on Colonsay!) of The Strand asking visitors to keep to the road - maybe next time! Anyway, by any chance, do you have any idea of dates for the Oronsay airfield; also when the strip in the middle of Colonsay Golf Course was formed. I guess patients for the Air Ambulance from Colonsay must have included a boat trip at high tide when the airfield on Oronsay was in use!
How on earth do you find enough time to put out the Corncrake?
With kind regards - Russell Brown
REPLY: - thank you for the fascinating answer on Sea Gooseberries. The "coal house" (an tigh gual) is the ruins of an old cottage that must have been disused for about 150 years; an adjoining cottage had its gable knocked-out and was converted to a boathouse, later into a summer-house and became known as Seal Cottage. The coal-house got its name because it was where the puffer was beached when coal was delivered to Oransay - at low tide the carts could go alongside and discharge the cargo.
I will have to get advice re. the airstrips - they are all modern and I think Oransay was the first, followed by one at Machrins which runs across the field used for sports and football - unfortunately it was at 90 degrees to the prevailing wind and ran across a series of lazy-beds so was less than satisfactory. The present strip was then built as part of an army exercise - they had huge machines which are still talked about; they were inclined to go to parties in Oransay and return regardless of tide, so that seaweed would be found wrapped around them about 8ft above the ground. The present strip had a series of incidents, involving people landing across, beside or just beyond the strip, but seems to have settled down now - I think it must have been built in the late 1960's. - Editor
From: Nicholas Mander
Date: 28 July 2001 14:15
Subject: McVean of Colonsay
My great-great-grandmother was Christina St Claire McVean (1824-91), whose
parents John and Ann crossed to Nova Scotia from Colonsay "in an open boat",
according to Sir Geoffrey Manderıs record.
Christina married Henry Nicholas Paint (1830-1921), of a second-generation
shipowning family who had come from Guernsey to settle in Port Hawkesbury,
Nova Scotia, in 1815 (although the name Paint is recorded in Nova Scotia
from the 1750s).
Port Hawkesbury commands the straits dividing Cape Breton Island from the
rest of Nova Scotia. It is a mountainous, pristine and rocky country, carved
by glaciers, covered with fir trees, familiar to the predominantly Highland
settlers, dispossessed by the Clearances. Almost all the houses are white,
with rugged thatch to withstand the harsh winters.
Henry Paint in early life was a captain in the Canadian navy. He became a
member of the Dominion Parliament of Canada for Richmond county (1887-91) in
Cape Breton Island, finally retiring to Halifax. He built up the industry of
Port Hawkesbury, writing boastfully of the projects there due to his
efforts: the Dominion Warehouse and Wharf, the Strait of Canso Marine
Railway, also the first crossing of the mails at Port Hawkesbury, the first
steam ferry across the Strait, the line of steamers from Boston, "also other
public works in different parts of Cape Breton".
Their two daughters, Mary and Flora, married two first cousins: Mary married
Sir Charles Tertius Mander, first baronet, of The Mount, Tettenhall, and
Flora married Samuel Theodore Mander, of Wightwick Manor, Staffordshire, now
in the care of the National Trust. They have numerous descendants, many of
whom are recorded in the various editions of Burkeıs Peerage.
Coincidentally, my sisterıs husbandıs mother was a McNeil "of the Isles".
I cannot find the name McVean on your 1841 census, but any information you
may have on the McVeans of Colonsay would be of interest.
Nicholas Mander
REPLY:
Thank you for your letter - this is a new story to me, and I am delighted to hear it. I will check the local records for mcVean and reply in a day or two - meantime will publish your letter in "The Corncrake" in the hope that readers can help. - Editor
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.
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