HALLOWE'EN 2001

It seems that All Saints' Day (November 1st) originated in the seventh century, when the Pantheon at Rome was converted into a Christian place of Worhip, dedicated by Pope Boniface IV to the Virgin and all the martyrs. The origins of Hallowe'en are clearly much older, a relic of pagan times which must be connected with harvest and notions of reward.... a time for fun and entertainment.

Certainly here in Colonsay the doukin' for apples brought plenty of reward, as the youngsters gathered in Eleanor's kitchen. There was a complete turnout of ghoulies and ghosties, and even a Harry Potter to keep things right. With plenty of enthusiasm from one and all, there were visits to Rena, John and Marion, Laura, Irene, John and Diane, the Hotel, Don and Mary - the party pieces were enough to earn some treats, so no tricks had to be brought to bear.

Participants' broomsticks were in the lowest gear as they headed for home with an enormous haul of apples and sweeties. Q. "What to you call a three-legged donkey?" A. "Wonkey"

  

LOUISE'S WEDDING

Andrew Macgregor's daughter Louise Macgregor was married recently, and in the process apparently turned into a Great-aunt. The wedding was on 29th September at Wimpole Hall and our picture shows the new Mrs. Jameson with her husband Ben and their two bridesmaids.

VICTOR CLARK

Readers will be saddened to learn of the passing of Col. Victor Clark; he had been failing for some time and elected to discontinue his medications when he felt the time was appropriate.

Vic Clark founded "Argyll Colony Plus" to study and publish the historical record of the Argyll Colony which was founded in North Carolina in 1737. The emigrant party, which sailed aboard "The Thistle", consisted largely of pioneers from Gigha, Jura and Kintyre and was very much McNeill inspired. Virtually everyone on board was Colonsay-related, although nobody from Colonsay is known to have actually participated; one effect of the voyage was that the then Colonsay McNeill became the most senior member of that extended family.

Vic Clark worked closely with Scott Buie, A I B Stewart, Mr & Mrs Bigwood,Gordon Wright of Jura and many others to make invaluable reference material available to a widespread audience. Future generations in Colonsay will be grateful to his memory when they make use of the complete run of "Argyll Colony Plus" which he gifted for research purposes.

Colonel Clark asked that well-wishers remember him by supporting The Scottish Heritage Center at St. Andrews instead of sending flowers, and he has donated his body to the Mayo Clinic for research. He was a most energetic and inspiring man, whose memory will be cherished by all who had the privilege to share in his enthusiasms. Sincere condolences to all his family in their loss.

CALMAC WELCOME FLEET ADDITION

The confirmation of funding for two new ferries costing a combined total of £12.6 million has been welcomed by Caledonian MacBrayne as a major boost to the fleet. The funding was announced on Tuesday, October 23 by Transport Minister Sarah Boyack.

Orders for the two new vessels will be placed this year and they are due to come into service in the summer of 2003. A new sheltered water ferry will be commissioned for use on the Mallaig to Armadale service in the summer. It will then be deployed on the upper Clyde in the winter. The combined effect will be to free capacity to improve services from Oban during the summer.

The second vessel is a new, larger ferry for the Sound of Harris, to replace the Loch Bhrusda, which has been a huge success on the service between North Uist and Harris. The new vessel will enable the current ferry to be re-deployed on a new service between Barra and Eriskay. Funding of £2.5 million was also confirmed by the Scottish Executive for infrastructure relating to that service.

The funding package and confirmation of the new vessels has been warmly welcomed by Caledonian MacBrayne. Chairman Dr Harold Mills said: "This is a tremendous boost for the company and the two vessels are hugely significant additions to our fleet. The Loch Bhrusda is currently one of our most notable successes and has regularly been performing to full capacity. The larger vessel will open up many more opportunities in the inter-island network. The deployment of the current vessel to Barra represents a significant improvement in the service for islanders there also. In terms of the Mallaig to Armadale service there are winners all-round. Firstly, there is the knock-on effect of moving another vessel to Oban to service Mull, Coll, Tiree and South Uist, and secondly greater efficiency on the Upper Clyde during the winter, which will be a major bonus for the company. This is a very significant enhancement to our operation across the network and one which the company greatly appreciates."

TWO "NEW" VILLAGES

In recent weeks, two interesting archaeological sites have been noticed which were unknown to the writer, and neither of which is recorded by RCAHMS. One of them is an excellent example of a shieling, covering an extended site on a plateau about 150 feet above sea level on the north side of Port Ceann a' Gharraidh (approx 043981 on O.S. sheet 61). There are unusual small stone structures close to some of the huts, which it is tempting to suppose might once have been used to store butter or cheese.

The other site consists of a series of remarkably well-preserved hut circles of different ages and sophistication (just notice the thickness of the wall, clearly visible in the picture). The more modern ones are rather crude and probably not much more than two or three hundred years old, but at least two are of a very superior form and may be of significant antiquity. It would be inappropriate to give the location on this website, but if anybody knows of a tame archaeologist who will be visiting Colonsay in the coming weeks or months the Editor would be happy to act as guide.

Both these sites are, no doubt, well known to other Colonsay residents; but it is immensely gratifying to find that even after twenty years of exploration there is still so much left to discover and enjoy. Now that the bracken has died back, walking in Colonsay is at its very best - not too hot, oodles of birdlife and a brilliant opportunity to investigate the remoter corners of the island.

NOVEMBER SKIES

The November night sky offers a view of the summer stars setting in the west for the early part of the evening. The Milky way stretches almost overhead from the northeast to the southwest horizon. The southern sky is dominated by the great square of Pegasus - and below Pegasus is the distinctive circlet of stars making up the constellation of Pisces.

A second circle of stars can be found below Aries; this is the head of Cetus (The Sea Monster). Cetus stretches out towards the southern horizon, with a bright star that is easily found by drawing a straight line down from the easternmost side of Pegasus. This bright star is Deneb Kaitos (Tail of the Whale). Cetus is a large constellation representing the sea monster that nearly devoured Andromeda before her rescue by Perseus.

Two fine galaxies are found high in the south, Andromeda 9the famous spiral) and one in nearby Triangulum. Triangulum, as its name suggests, is simply a group of three stars marking the corners of an Isosceles triangle; it also resembles the Greek capital letter, Delta - the galaxy lies west and slightly north of Alpha Trianguli. These are two galaxies worth looking out for. Also worthy of attention is the Taurids meteor shower peaking November 3rd. The moon will be full on November 2nd.

Irene Campbell

HEAVENS ABOVE!

Dominic and Annie Cornford were here last week, and were rather pleased to see the unmistakeable lights of Aurora Borealis. On the same night there was a meteorite shower and one particular meteor was quite spectacular; it is difficult to gauge height etc. but it seemed to pass over the graveyard at about 1500 feet and disappeared into the sea behind Donald Gibbie's house - it was quite close enough to be plainly heard, in a rising a falling wave of sound like "(h)issss… (h)issss".

The solid part was perhaps a bit bigger than a tennis ball, searingly white, with an incandescent ball of flame dragged behind the leading edge, perhaps the size of a football. The whole thing was pursued by a wide jagged tail of sparks etc. and was seriously pretty impressive. Goodness knows what Donald would have had to say if the trajectory had been just a fraction steeper…

WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY

Due to refurbishment, The Hotel will be closed for meals and accommodation from 30 September until further notice. The Bar will be open as follows:
Monday - Saturday 12.00 - 14.30 and 19.00 - Late
Sunday 12.00 - 14.30 (closed at night).

The Pantry will be open for meals etc. throughout the winter. The winter opening hours are as follows:
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10.00 - 14.00 hrs.
Saturdays 10.00 - 15.00 hrs.
Evening meals and take-away meals can be catered for by arrangement. To make such arrangements, telephone the Pantry on 01951 200325 or call May MacKinnon at home 0n 01951 200341

Quiz in the Hotel every Wednesday at 9.30 pm.

Church services every Sunday, alternating between the churches: 11 am at the Church of Scotland, Scalasaig, and 12 noon at the Baptist Church, Kilchattan. See shop notice to check venue.

Community Council: Tuesday November 6th at 8pm, Village Hall

Remembrance Day: War Memorial, Sunday November 11th, gather at 10.45 a.m.

SNIPPETS

No word yet on the new Relief Registrar; Donald MacAllister has stood down as "third man" at the pier (job is advertised in post Office); Mairi MacDougall has arrive safely in South Africa; an excellent new ring has appeared at the very bottom of the slip, presumed a gift from Duncan Sandy; Iain and Laura are back from Madeira (loved it); Esme is back from a walking trip in Turkey (splendid); there are Swans at the Loch Fada sluice, and extraordinary numbers of geese everywhere; Georgina has been visiting a spa in Germany; Frank has gone south for the winter; and this has been a slow news fortnight…

A skein of Geese over Balnahard

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NOTICE
If any reader knows of gravestones anywhere in the world mentioning Colonsay, please send details to

Nooks & Crannies - DUNAN NAN NIGHEAN

The "small fort of the maidens" was traditionally said to have been a lying-in refuge, where the McPhee women of Colonsay and others used to go to be delivered of their babies; more prosaically, it has been suggested that it was in fact a sort of laundry centre (from "nighe", to wash). Symington Grieve noted that "nighean" meant unmarried ladies only, maidens, and being in the plural might well have been where the McPhees kept their concubines.

To be fair, although it would be a great inconvenience to keep either one's washing or one's concubines in such a remote spot, the word "nighe" does hold the additional meaning of "purify". The traditional Jewish rite of Purification was adopted by the Christian faith and would have been practised throughout the Highlands and Islands. Even in Colonsay there is more than one "Dunan nan Nighean" and the placename is very common everywhere, but this particular one is particularly atmospheric.

The lintel stone is very clear in our picture, and one can walk along a short passage into the heart of the ruins. It is believed that it was somewhat "improved" in the Victorian period as part of the then pleasure ground, and the romantic entrance was probably reconstructed at that time. Just in front of the dun there is a small parterre with a neat kerbing and set of steps, now overgrown with heather, which is presumably a part of the Victorian embellishments.

TOPICAL LETTERS

Continuing the contribution by distinguished highland historian and broadcaster Domhnall Uilleam Stiubhart
It is possible that some terms or issues will require clarification… if so, readers are invited to contact the Editor and some attempt will be made to reply in the next issue. For convenience, overseas readers might like to think of "The Western Gàidhealtachd" as comprising the Gaelic-speaking "West Highlands and Islands".

On coming to power, his heir and nephew, Domhnall Gorm Òg, used his rival's tactics: he himself journeyed to London, and also received a knighthood from the king. We can be reasonably confident that in this exploit he was aided by Ruairidh na Còigich. The upshot was that the MacDonald lands were surrendered to the king and regranted to the clan, although Trotternish was retained by the MacLeods for a while until he had paid himself certain debts owed by his rivals. Sir Domhnall Gorm Òg, the new MacDonald of Sleat, himself made a marriage with the Mackenzies, to Seònaid, the sister of the young Mackenzie chief Cailean Ruadh. The Mackenzies also kept the superiority of Trotternish, and the rights to develop the estate. We should note that the heir to the MacLeods of Dunvegan, Iain Mór, son of Sir Ruairidh, was also married to a sister of Cailean Ruadh Mackenzie, the ill-famed Sybella or Iseabail. The chief of one of the major Skye estates, and the heir to the other, were therefore married to two Mackenzie sisters. Thanks to the efforts of Ruairidh na Còigich in building up and sustaining a client network, Mackenzie interest was steadily extending over the western Gàidhealtachd.

Because of Mackenzie intervention, then, the principal feud in the region, the MacDonald-MacLeod struggle in Skye, had finally been pacified, while the MacLeans of Duart were, at least for the time being, saved from bankruptcy. Crucially, these achievements were accomplished at a time when the Campbells of Argyll were in disarray. Despite receiving a steady income of fines from resetters of the outlawed MacGregors, the earl was heavily in debt, the more so because any individual debts incurred by a clan member could be claimed from the chief, a policy disastrous for a kindred so closely involved in Lowland trade. In addition, the clan was still suffering from the repercussions of the calamitous internecine struggles of the 1590s. The seventh earl of Argyll, Gilleasbaig Gruamach, spent much of his time on his second wife's estates in England to escape his creditors. Although his involvement in the suppression of Clann Iain Mhòir in 1615 was not entirely wholehearted, he nevertheless won official thanks. James VI presented the earl with the estate of Kintyre to help to pay his debts. In the immediate aftermath of an island revolt, it was sensible to boost the affairs of the most loyal supporter of government interests in the area.

Despite these marks of official favour, and others shown during the king's visit of 1617, it's clear that the earl snapped. Some time around the end of that year or the beginning of the next, Gilleasbaig travelled to the Low Countries, supposedly to take the waters. There, he began to frequent mass, and indeed made friends with two of his erstwhile most bitter enemies, Sir James MacDonald and Alasdair MacDonald of Keppoch. In February 1619 the privy council condemned the earl of Argyll for treason.

Gilleasbaig Gruamach's sudden change of heart might only be satisfactorily accounted for by that most unfashionable of historical explanations, namely a personal crisis of faith. Certainly, his second wife, Lady Anna Cornwallis, came from a well-known English recusant family. Incidentally, the letters I've seen indexed about the affair in the State Papers, Flanders and Spain in the PRO suggest that it was she who brokered the eventual reconciliation with the authorities.

Meanwhile, the Campbells of Argyll were thrown into confusion - Gilleasbaig had named no deputy to run the estate in his place, and, in the resulting confusion, the privy council had apparently to step in and sort matters out. It was agreed that the estate was to be administered in four pieces, with Cailean of Lundy, Gilleasbaig's brother, most reluctantly taking overall charge. Although the earl was later pardoned for his misdeeds, he was not allowed to return to the Gàidhealtachd, and had to spend most of the rest of his life at the court in London.

Cailean Campbell, the governor of the estate, does not appear to have been a particularly strong character. The earl's defection rather paralysed the Campbells, and gave the Mackenzies an opportunity to buttress their own position. We have seen how Ruairidh na Còigich arranged a favourable settlement in Skye in 1618, the year the earl left for the continent. We have seen how he gained control over the MacLean of Duart estates in spring 1619, just after the earl was condemned. From the perspective of the Lowland authorities, the earl's defection meant that a Campbell no longer occupied a seat at the privy council. This of course meant that, for a time at least, the authorities' attention was no longer focussed upon the western Gàidhealtachd. The chiefs were all too content for this situation to continue - hence Sir Ruairidh Mór's protestation of "this dilectable tyme of peax" to James VI in 1622. The following year the subcommittee of the privy council which had been in charge of dealing with island affairs since 1608 was disbanded. In 1624 Cailean Ruadh Mackenzie was created the earl of Seaforth.

The temporary absence of an active Campbell power also made matters considerably easier for the new Franciscan mission to gain footholds in the western Gàidhealtachd. This mission was the brainchild of Raghnall Mac Domhnaill, Raghnall Àrannach, who had recently, in 1620, been created earl of Antrim in recognition of his loyalty to the authorities and the zeal he showed in plantation of his estates. Towards the end of the Irish Nine Years War, MacDonell had just managed to change sides in time. He had been rewarded well by the English authorities as a result. He remained a staunch Catholic, however, and hankered after power among the stock from whom his family came, the Clan Donald. The Franciscan mission was launched after consultation with Scipio Borghese in Rome; there are doubtless several letters to illuminate their negotiations in the Borghese archives. After an inauspicious beginning in 1619, when the two friars were promptly arrested, the mission was relaunched in 1623, this time using five Irish Franciscan volunteers from the college of Louvain in Flanders. MacDonell's Antrim estates were used as a base, and the missionaries' first contact was with Colla Ciotach MacDonald on Colonsay. Through him they were meant to get through to the principal Catholic chief of the region, none other than Sir Ruairidh Mór MacLeod of Dunvegan. It's worth stressing that the reports we have preserved in the papal archives, and edited by Cathaldus Giblin, were in the main the productions of just one of the five missionaries, namely Cornelius Ward or Conchobhair Mac an Bhaird whose labours took him to the Clan Ranald territories and to Barra. We should always bear in mind that there were four other missionaries also involved in the mission, most notably Pól Ó Néill, who, while based with Sir Ruairidh Mór in Dunvegan, did the first stages of the work "in remotiores Hebrides" during 1624:

Annum supra octo menses apud dominum de Heris, alias Macleoid de Heris, dynastam valde principalem, at in adiacentibus provinciis moram faciens circuibat in dies verbo et exemplo denuntians evangelium Christi, adeo ut incolarum omnium testimonio, magna per eum fidei incrementa illis partibus accesserint.

Because of his exertions and the difficulties of his work, Ó Néill's health broke down and he had to retire from the field. The work of the missionaries must have been exhausting and extremely dangerous, the more so during the time of widespread famine in the mid-1620s. We might compare this to the comparatively less difficult labours the Franciscans faced in Ireland. In 1623 there were some two hundred Franciscans in Ireland, staying in 32 friaries, in a country with a working parish and diocesan system in which clergy ministered to the people at every level from priest to archbishop. So 200 Franciscans in Ireland ministering to a population of nearly a million Gaels. In Scotland, with perhaps 300,000 Gaels, there were only five. Little wonder, then, that the Franciscan missionaries in Scotland depended upon support from sympathetic chiefs and gentry, that far from Counter-Reformation orthodoxy, what teachings they were able to impart had to be seasoned with support from existing superstitious practices.

Rather worringly, over the past few years there has been a sentimental and lazy habit grown among monoglot historians of suggesting that the Gàidhealtachd of Ireland and the Gàidhealtachd of Scotland can somehow be viewed as one culture region stretching from Caithness to Cape Clear. This is emphatically not the case. Dr Wilson McLeod's recent doctoral thesis should, when published, lay that particular canard to rest. What should be stressed here is that, in the eyes of the Irish Gaelic intelligentsia, the Scottish Gàidhealtachd remained a peripheral and largely barbaric region on the very edge of the cultural horizon. With the growth of an Irish proto-nationalism from the late sixteenth century, increasingly based upon the watchwords of "faith and fatherland", that gap widened still further. It's notable that the Irish Franciscan missionaries in Scotland view their fellow Gaels as at best primitive cousins:

Licet autem Hebredani sint barbari non tamen omnino immemores traditionum paternarum, quin semper monstrent magnum affectum erga missem et fidem (ut aiunt) veterem et Romanam...

Potential Irish volunteers were extremely difficult to recruit, as many of them preferred to labour in their own patria, rather than waste their energies among the barbarians. The Irish people, it was firmly believed, had always preserved their learning and their Roman faith, that also of the old Irish church. The Scottish Gaels, on the other hand, had quite lost all but the memory of the old religion. In the eyes of many of the Irish clergy, they had lost their civilization as well. If Irish Franciscans laboured in the Scottish Gàidhealtachd, it was for the glory of Ireland that they did so.

This takes us to the political reasons behind the mission. Of course, for the usual obvious reasons the missionaries tend to only touch upon the politics in their official letters to the Vatican, but we can glimpse other intentions in a letter written by an English spy on the 18 May 1624:

One Connor M'Iward, a Franciscan friar, is a native of county Tirconnell, from whence he has gone into Gallwaye. He lay one night in a friends house of his (Sir Charles Coote's) to whom he revealed as a great secret, that he and five preasts and friars were to go into Scotland to endeavour to gain some of the nobility or chief gentlemen of that kingdom to their religion and party, and to promise to any such as should come to them all countenance favour and support from the King of Spain and the Pope. He (the informer) further said that there were directions come into Ireland from beyond the seas to cause them (the six priests) to take upon this attempt. They are to take shipping somewhere near Knockfergus, where they may get passage the shortest cut over seas.

Whatever the long-term political aims of the Franciscan mission might have been, no sooner had they begun their work than they were faced with a small-scale crisis which required them to stop revolt rather than encourage it.

The principal aim of the island chiefs after the exile of the earl of Argyll in 1617 was to keep the peace in the region, to demonstrate to the king, and to the Lowland authorities, that they were able to govern the area themselves without the firm hand of a regional policeman. The authorities were apparently content to allow this state of affairs to continue, especially at a time when the main area of discontent in the Gàidhealtachd was towards the eastern frontier with the Lowlands, a region suffering the attentions of MacGregor cattle reivers and unscrupulous bounty hunters in their wake. Nonetheless, the island chiefs were well aware that much mistrust and fear remained. Just as the 1615 rising by Clann Iain Mhóir in Islay had led to a government clampdown, so any fresh disruption of this peace, no matter how minor, was more than likely to lead to a resumption of the confrontational tactics of the previous decades.

The estate of Ardnamurchan had been a potential hotspot for some years. It was now in the hands of Domhnall Dubh, Donald Campbell of Barbreck, with its original MacDonald owners, Clann Iain, now scattered as robbers in the Rough Bounds. In addition, the captain of Clan Ranald, Iain Mùideartach, also had a claim to the title, the earl of Argyll having given him a charter to the estate in 1617, doubtless with an eye to stir up further trouble. It was probably the need to stifle unrest in the area which led the Franciscan Pádraig Ó Éigeartaigh to carry out a rather astonishing exploit. It's clear to see that the Franciscan mission in the southern Gàidhealtachd was directed, doubtless under the direction of the earl of Antrim, at the old patrimony of Clan Donald. What is rather extraordinary about it is that the missionaries were not only aiming at the tenantry, but at the Campbell gentry there as well. Their mission might have been made easier by the fact that the earl of Argyll himself had converted to Catholicism some years beforehand, but it can't be denied that Ó hÉigeartaigh carried out a very daring coup in converting Sir John Campbell of Cawdor himself, the owner of Islay. Shortly after the conversion of Sir John Campbell, the friar went to the household of Archibald Campbell of Barbreck - apparently Barbreck-Craignish - and converted him, his two sons, and the wife of his brother, who was already a Catholic. On the same journey he converted "generossisimum dominum Alexandrum Mac Eain, haeredem nobilissimae familiae de Clanneain, qui in fide satis adhuc constanter perseverat".

Ó hÉigeartaigh had thus visited in close succession two powerful Campbell families, and the exiled MacDonalds of Ardnamurchan. The mission - and judging by the extreme danger Ó hÉigeartaigh was prepared to put himelf into, we should perhaps describe it as an emergency mission - was surely designed to prevent any fresh outbreak of trouble between the two sides, lest the government should once more take an active role in the region as they had done after the rising of Clann Iain Mhóir some ten years previously. However, the mission failed. We might surmise from Ó hÉigeartaigh's words that he was rather uncertain of how firm Alasdair MacDonald's conversion really was. In the spring of 1625 a band of Ardnamurchan MacDonalds put to sea in a merchantman they had captured, and began a brief piratical career. The authorities, faced with what they saw as a fresh rebellion in the islands at a time when war with Spain was just about to break out, responded with a heavy hand. The suppression of Clann Iain was put in the hands of the son of the earl of Argyll, Gilleasbaig Fiar-shùileach, Archibald Campbell, lord Lorne, who had just attained his majority. The other island chiefs were forced to give him aid. Although the MacDonalds were eventually captured by Sir Ruairidh Mór, the privy council suspected the island chiefs of giving the rebels covert support at the beginning of their spree. Incidentally, it must be the worry about what was going to happen to his estate that spurred Iain Mùideartach, captain of Clan Ranald, to write to the pope offering his support for a holy war against the Lowland authorities. Also, exigencies of time have meant that I've been unable to deal with the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald during this period.

Anyway, the zealousness of lord Lorne in doing the will of the Lowland authorities not only won the approval of the privy council. They sent a letter to the new king, Charles I, praising Lorne as follows:

whereas he is a young nobleman, and this is the first of his imploymentis, wherin he hes worthilie and duetifullie dischargit himself, we could not forebeare to gif notice of the same to your Majestie, to the intent that, if the like occasioun of service fall out in the Ilis or Heylandis of this kingdome, your Majestie may be asured of one who is both able and willing to serve your Majestie.

Charles, not noted for his interest of enthusiasm for Highland affairs, was more than willing to give responsibility for them up to the young Archibald Campbell, the more so, it might be noted, at a time when rumours were spreading that Sir Somhairle MacDhòmhnaill was in Dunkirk preparing a naval expedition to the islands with the help of Spain. Lord Lorne journeyed to London, where he was warmly received by the king. Meanwhile, he took over his father's Argyll estates, exerting his authority by his rather shameful treatment of the family of his uncle who had been supervising the estates during his minority.

So what may well have been the worst nightmare of the island chiefs had suddenly come to pass. A new chief of the Campbells of Argyll had come to power, energetic, able, aggressive, enjoying the full approval of both king and Lowland authorities, and also a strong protestant to boot. The rising of Clann Iain came at exactly the wrong time - a rebellion by people of the western Gàidhealtachd was of course always bound to alarm the authorities, much more so at a time when the old king had just died, and when a major war with Spain had just broken out. What made matters even worse was the subsequent deaths - all in one year, 1626 - of the two most able leaders of the island chiefs, Ruairidh na Còigich and Sir Ruairidh Mór MacLeod. Ruairidh na Còigich, incidentally, appears to have spent the last few years of his life quarrelling with his erstwhile ward, Cailean Ruadh, over the ownership of the isle of Lewis. In addition, at the court in London, the exiled Sir Seumas MacDhòmhnaill died. Sir Seumas appears to have been accepted by most of Clan Donald as the successor to the Lords of the Isles, the more so because of his romantic character and his enforced exile from the Gàidhealtachd. The only figure of magnate status who could resist the growing power of lord Lorne was thus the chief of the Mackenzies, Cailean Ruadh, who had, as we have seen, been ennobled as the earl of Seaforth in 1624. His brash and somewhat naive personality, however, was not entirely suited to the Machiavellian world of court politics. Cailean Ruadh recruited a company of Dutch fishermen from Middelbrug in South Holland to develop and indeed plant the isle of Lewis - one imagines that potential volunteers from the Lowlands would be rather thin on the ground after the fate of the Fife Adventurers. This enterprise, of course, only increased the suspicion of the authorities - and indeed the king himself, given his pet project of the Association for the Fisheries. This suspicion was, of course, spurred on by the Scottish burghs. Helped by powerful magnate allies such as his father-in-law the earl of Morton, lord Lorne was easily able to outmanoeuvre the Mackenzie chief.

To be concluded

Regulars

Readers Write

NOTICE:
In future, any correspondence relating to current events will hopefully be found in the first part of the "Corncrake" after the News section. Items in connection with history, genealogy etc. will appear here.

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From: SAVIN, James
Date: 01 October 2001 16:41
Subject: Ina Erskine (nee McNeill), Duchess of Argyll

I am trying to find the date of birth of the above. She was the daughter of Archibald McNeill of Colonsay, and married the Duke of Argyll, as his third wife, in July 1895, and died on 24th December 1925.

If anyone has the date of her birth, I would be grateful.
James Savin

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Dear Editor,
I was at the Annan Cemetery today with my mother to find the grave of her aunt and uncle and while there I found several stones mentioning Natives of Argyllshire. There where many stones that said other shires and a few that said from the Isle of Islay, Argyllshire but none that said Colonsay. In any case, I thought that I would send you those which said Argyllshire in case they could be from Colonsay. I didn't have time to get over the whole cemetery so there may be others. Many of the older stones are broken and unreadable. I should have taken paper and a pencil to rub them to see what they said but - hindsight is ....

Those I found that said just Argyllshire were:

Hugh MacKinnon 1795-1885
his wife Sarah1813 - 1899
Dougald McTavish died Jan. 27, 1869 age 71 years 5 months, also his beloved wife Ann McLeod died Aug. 5, 1890 age 71 years 2 months.
Archibald Ead died Feb. 24, 1900 aged 87 years
Neil Morrison - the stone was broken right at the date line, and Ann McArthur beloved wife of Neil Morrison died Oct. 29, 1857 age 60 years.
I think they are husband and wife but there were two memorial stones.
Robert Easton, a native of Scotland, Aug. 6, 1850, aged 38 years.

I thought that these might be of interest also.
John Gilbert, a native of ___________, Scotland (couldn't read it) Jan. 9, 1882, aged 29 years.
Flora McDonlad beloved wife of Arch'd Ead died Dec. 7, 1859 age 44 years 7 months (Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland)
Alexander McKay 1801 - 1884 his wife Ann McAllister 1820-1894 Native of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland.
John McCallum, a native of Oban, Argyllshire, Scotland

Sincerely, Lorraine Dunning

[Many thanks - there may be something in the list that will solve a problem for a reader - Editor]

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John Sheets has kindly forwarded Mary MacKay's latest progress report on her project to conserve and restore the Colonsay gravestones at Rusk:

"Shady Maple Farm"
I'm delighted to report that phase one of the Rusk's Cemetery Restoration Project is now completed. The amalgamated Municipality of Arran- Elderslie has three work crews of five men each. One of the crews was assigned to the cemetery project and they took a great interest in it did an excellent job. They cleared all the brush from the fence row, put in allot of fill on the north side and erected a neat page wire fence. Along the road , we have small aluminum-gray steel posts which blend beautifully with the stones in the cemetery. A similar coloured chain loops gracefully between each post. The old sign was painted to match and is back in place.

Last week we grouped the three stones for the Findlay McNeill family on one new base, and the three stones of the McDonald family are also on a new base. A long base was made to mount all seven stones of the Malcolm McEachern family. We found the base for Lauchlan McNeill's stone and put it back in place on a new base. New top soil was added to level the ground around the new stones and grass seed was planted. Other stones that were leaning precariously were leveled and now present quite a pleasing picture.

The fund raising has been very successful, with the latest count $1455. Most of this was used to pay for expenses this year, so I must get my books printed ,so that more funds will accumulate to finance phase two and three. Next year we will be able to devote all time and money to new bases for the stones and I am confident a total restoration will be possible by 2003.

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From: Maben Hartley
Date: 10 October 2001 19:55
Subject: McDougall/Shaw

I have the OPR marriage record of my gggrandparents, which reads:
"Marriages in Jura - Colonsay 6 March 1832

Dugald McDougall and Mary Shaw both of this parish were proclaimed twice and married."

This is as far back as I have been able to go in my ancestry. If there is any remote possibility of finding out anything else about my ancestors I would be very grateful indeed.

Keep up the good work! Maben Hartley

[Note: the record shows that wedding took place in Jura, but there could easily be a Colonsay connection - Editor]

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Hello Kevin!
First let me thank you for such a wonderfully informative newsletter. I have only fairly recently found my Colonsay roots!!!
I am a descendant of Grace McNiel and Malcolm McMillan of the Spencer....through their daughter Sophia who married Donald Blue in PEI. I am also a descendant of Neil McNeill and his wife Peggy Currie, who I believe traveled to PEI about 1819.

I live in Massachusetts, but my husband and I recently visited PEI on a research trip/vacation. You asked for gravesites in other locations. You probably have Grace's already, but thought I'd send it just in case no one else had. She and Malcolm are buried in the Wood Islands Pioneer Cemetery. If you wish, I also have a photo of Malcolm's gravestone.

Keep up the good work...and by the way, am I included in the 2000 descendants of Malcolm McMillan and Grace McNiel? :) Have a great day, Kevin!
Diane Crook

In memory of
Grace McNiel
wife of
Malm. McMillan
Wood Islands. A native of
Colonsay Scotland
who departed this life 7th
of January 1833 aged 74
years.

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From: Flora MacDonald
Date: 18 October 2001 16:12
Subject: Blue and Gilchrist from Colonsay

I have ancestors who came from Colonsay and so I attach some information with the hopes that you might be able to help me with extending my knowledge of them .
Flora MacDonald, Ontario, Canada

Descendants of Donald Blue

Generation No. 1
1. DONALD1 BLUE1 was born 1783 in Colonsay, Scotland1, and died 18731. He married JESSIE GILCHRIST1, daughter of PATRICK GILCHRIST. She was born in Jura, Scotland1, and died 18721.

Children of DONALD BLUE and JESSIE GILCHRIST are:
2. i. CATHERINE2 BLUE, b. 1813, Colonsay, Scotland.
ii. MALCOLM BLUE2.
iii. DUGALD BLUE2.
iv. JANET BLUE2.

Generation No. 2
2. CATHERINE2 BLUE (DONALD1)3 was born 1813 in Colonsay, Scotland3. She married RORY MACKINNON, son of MALCOLM MACKINNON. He was born in Coll, Scotland3.

Child of CATHERINE BLUE and RORY MACKINNON is:
3. i. DONALD RODERICK3 MACKINNON, b. 1847; d. January 16, 1924.

Generation No. 3
3. DONALD RODERICK3 MACKINNON (CATHERINE2 BLUE, DONALD1)3 was born 1847, and died January 16, 1924. He married MARY MACKAY November 28, 1876 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, daughter of JOHN MACKAY and ANNIE CAMPBELL. She was born 1834 in Oban, Cape Breton St George's Channel3, and died 19373.

Children of DONALD MACKINNON and MARY MACKAY are:
i. CATHERINE ANN4 MACKINNON, b. August 25, 1877, St George's Channel; d. April 19, 1952, Malagawatch; m. WILLIAM JOHN MACDONALD, June 26, 1901, Malagawatch; b. 1870, Malagawatch, Cape Breton; d. 1929, Malagawatch, Cape Breton.
ii. MALCOLM MACKINNON, b. Abt. 1881.
iii. DONALD MACKINNON.
iv. DUNCAN MACKINNON.
v. JESSIE MACKINNON4, m. HUGH CAMPBELL4; d. September 18894.

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Dear Editor--I was especially pleased to see the query about the McMillans sent in by Kim McMillan. I have been in touch, but thought you might like to read and print the 50th wedding anniversary of Angus and Isabella McMillan and also their obits. Colonsay is mentioned in each one. Perhaps other descendants would like to get in touch with me.

My email address is

50th Wedding Anniversary

Mr. & Mrs. Angus McMillan were fifty years married on Monday last and members of their family did not allow the occasion to pass without a fitting celebration, although a number of them could not be present. Mr. & Mrs. McMillan are still quite hearty and strong, though both have passed the three score and ten mark. They were married in their native Isle of Colonsay, Scotland and came to Canada in 1862, residing in Victoria County ten years before coming to Elderslie. The living members of their family are:--Mrs. McDougall and Mrs. Johnston at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; Mrs. Wright, Orillia; Mrs. Pitcher, Toronto; Mrs. Adam Reid, Pinkerton; Miss Jennie at home; Hector, Donald and Angus at the Soo; and Malcolm at home. There are 29 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
Elora Road North News, The Paisley Advocate, May 4, 1903

Obituary of Angus McMillan

The late Angus McMillan was born in the Island of Colonsay, Scotland, in 1830. After his marriage to Miss Isabella McMillan on the 23rd May of May, 1853, he sailed with his bride for Canada. They settled in Victoria County, and after a few years coming to the 4th Concession of Elderslie, later removing again to the Elora Road, Saugeen, where they lived until Mr. McMillan passed peacefully away on Monday, March 22nd. The deceased is survived by his widow and ten of the thirteen children born to them, viz: Mrs. D. McDougall and Mrs. A. J. Johnston, of the Soo, Mich.; Mrs. J. C. Wright, of Great Deer, Sask.; Mrs. H. D. Pitcher, of Toronto; Mrs. Adam Reid, of Greenock; Miss Jennie at home; Hector, at the Soo, Mich.; Angus in Manitoba; Donald in Southampton; and Malcolm, who has always been at home. The deceased was a man who never sought prominence amongst his fellows. He was all Auld Kirk Presbyterian, lived a consistent life, is sincerely mourned by his family and friends, and leaves behind an impress for good. The funeral took place on Wednesday to St. Andrew's cemetery, 4th, Elderslie.
Paisley Advocate, April 1, 1909

Obituary of Isabella McMillan

An old resident of Elderslie Tp. passed away on January 10th, in the person of Mrs. McMillan, relict of the late Angus McMillan, Elora road north. The deceased came to the township in the early fifties of last century, when the settlement was quite new. They lived on the 4th concession, near Chesley, for a long period, but about 26 years ago moved to the west side. The deceased was a native of the Island of Colonsay, Argyleshire, Scotland, a daughter of the late Dan McMillan. The family came to this country and settled first in Mariposa Tp. Mrs. McMillan was much respected by all who knew her. She was a Preabyterian in religion, and a member of the Auld Kirk. Her husband died a few years ago. She had been a helpless invalid since taking a stroke of paralysis nearly two years ago. She is survived by six daughters and three sons--Mrs. Adam Reid, of Pinkerton; Mrs. H. D. Pitcher, of Toronto; Mrs. John E. , of Great Deer, Sask.; Mrs. Dan McDougall and Mrs. A. J. Johnston, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; Jennie, at home; Hector, of Edmunds, B.C.; Daniel, of the Soo; and Malcolm, Elora road north. The funeral took place on Thursday to Stark Vale cemetery, the services being conducted by Rev. M. Neilson.
Paisley Advocate, January 19, 1918.
There are some discrepancies in the information. I think it depended on who was giving the information. The Reid family went to Bruce County in the fifties. Angus and Isabella emigrated to Victoria Co. ca 1862. There were other members of the family in Victoria county at the time.
Dorothy

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Dear Kevin,
I can't thank enough for the disc you passed to Gloria with all the Colonsay data. It will provide me with endless hours of enjoyment. With your help we have now expanded the family tree quite a bit. When I've finished putting it all together I shall be sending it to my cousin George Buchanan McCallum in New Jersey, who is the great great grandson of George Buchanan, Colonsay Packetmaster. Good stuff or what!

Gloria also sent me some wonderful photos of Colonsay and I can tell from her writings that she thought it was a magical place and she and Alan thoroughly enjoyed their stay. Makes me want to visit Scotland again. When my youngsters have finished in uni maybe. A trip round the old family haunts of Lochgilphead, Loch Ewe, Oban and Colonsay sounds like a good idea. One of the photos Gloria sent me, a panorama, reminds me very much of some the remote parts of Cork and Kerry in Ireland, another magical place. No family history there though. The ones she took of the old photos in the bar are surprisingly good. Certainly good enough for ID purposes since I hope to get copies of the originals which she tells me are held in the archives in Edinburgh.

Any feedback I get from my American cousins I'll pass on to you.
Thanks again, Roger MacCallum.

[The disk that Roger mentions includes all Old Parish Registers, Census returns and graveyard Inscriptions and is still available - Editor]

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From: Elainenixon@aol.com
Date: 27 October 2001 12:10
Subject: darroch

i have recently started to look at my family tree and i'm having difficulty going back beyond my g grandfather who came from colonsay.

my father was charles darroch (born on islay 24/4/1935), youngest son of hugh darroch and margaret buie shaw. hugh darroch was born late 1800's in tobermory. his mother's forename was catherine but surname is unknown to me. his father's forename was charles, who came from colonsay.

the buie and shaw surnames would appear to be more linked with jura but may have some history on colonssay. my grandmother, margaret was born on jura in 1900. her parents were george shaw and barbara mclachlan.

i would appreciate any information you may be able to give me in furthering my search, many thanks, charles darroch.

please reply to charlesdarroch@aol.com

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[Readers will remember that the MacDonald family mentioned here is said to descend from a leader killed at Culloden, whose infant son was nurtured and raised by the McNeill laird in Colonsay and eventually married into that family - Editor]

Kevin, I re-edited a letter that my great aunt wrote about the Curries and thought it might be of some interest to somebody out there. Also, in her chart of the Macdonalds she wrote in Robaber Keppoch Macdonald for my ancestor who died at Culloden in 1745. She did not give any basis in fact as to where she got this name. I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this family.
Thanks, Don Beck

NEIL CURRIE

Neil Currie, son of John Currie and his wife Marrion McFale, was baptized April 6, 1804 to John Currie and Marrion McFale.on the Island of Colonsay, Scotland. Neil married Annie Bell, baptized Sept. 12, 1800 to Donald Bell and Catherin MacMillan. They lived in Scotland until 1842 they emigrated to Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Canada where many other relatives and countrymen had located. Ann was called (Big Granny), 5'9", 250, by her descendants. Neil Currie drowned off the coast of P.E.I. about 1850. His widow Ann, about five years later, married Malcolm John Shaw, by whom she had two sons, Malcolm John born in 1856 and Daniel in 1858 on Prince Edward's Island. About 1863 Ann and her husband moved to Paisley, Ontario.

Neil's sister, Mary Currie, married John Macdonald, son of James Macdonald and Mary Brown, on P.E.I. in 1849. They named their first born for Mary's brother, Neil Currie who had just drowned off the coast of the island. ( Neil Currie Macdonald born Oct. 24, 1850.). Neil had a brother who remained in Scotland and was asked to join the Queen's Guard but died. There were other sisters and another brother, a veterinarian on P.E.I.

Neil Currie Macdonald and Malcolm Currie called themselves double first cousins. (The foregoing paragraphs were from the late Mrs. Neil Currie Macdonald of Los Angeles, California.)

Children of Neil and Ann Currie:

i. Kate Currie b. Island of Colonsay, about 1839 ( aged 2 in Census of 1841) (Katrine)
ii Sarah Currie b. Island of Colonsay about 1840-1841( aged 7 mo. in census) (or Sally)
Note: I filled these dates in based on census data for the Island of Colonsay 1841, Don
iii Jessie Currie b. Island of Colonsay ab. 1842 (emigrated to P.E.I. when 6 mo.) Jessie also married a Macdonald.
iv Margaret Currie b. P.E.I. about 1845. She married Robbles and had three children: Sarah, Jessie F. and William. Then she married John Shaw and had four daughters: Florence, Annie, Ida and Polly Shaw.
v. Malcolm Bell Currie b. P.E.I. in 1845. He left the Island when he was 19 years old for the United States where he married May Augusta Clark in 1868. She died in 1926 when 79 and Malcolm died in 1946 at age 90. Malcolm was in the lumber and brick manufacturing business, which took him to many places for residence including Brownsville, Texas, Shreveport, Louisiana, New Orleans and other cities. They had five children: Augusta May, Fred, Malcolm Bell, Flora and ?.

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From: G.McPhee
Date: 31 October 2001 00:43
Subject: Archie MCPHEE & Catherine KEITH

Dear Kevin,
Here is the mysterious family history I told you about. Maybe I can find out a bit more about the old family by your publishing this. I appreciate your help, Sincerely, Greg McPhee

"Catherine (McPhee), daughter of Nicol Keith and Flora Brown
"CATHERINE, their eldest daughter, was born in Islay at Nosebridge or according to some records Killarow or Bowmore on January 15 1821. She accompanied her widowed mother, Flora, and her six brothers and five sisters to Canada in 1852 or 1853. They crossed the Atlantic on the sailing ship Tatmore out of Port Ellen. They settled on Crown land, lot 25 conc. 4, Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario a mile west of what is now the village of Conn. Some of the brothers took up land on the 11th and 12th Concession of Egremont, later moving to Concession 4, where the rest of the family had settled. In 1862 Catherine married Archie McPhee, also an emigrant from Scotland; Archie was the son of Neil McPhee Sr., whose first wife Janet Keith died during the voyage from Scotland and was buried at sea. Neil later married Janet's sister Elizabeth. To the best of my knowledge, Janet and Elizabeth were not related to Nicol Keith, Catherine's father.

Catherine and archie farmed lot 14 or lot 21 Concession 6, Egremont Township, for a number of years. They had 2 sons, Archie jr. and Neil, both born in Egremont. The family left Canada in the early 1880's and settled near Alpena, Michigan. Later they moved to Minnesota where they lived somewhere around Two Harbours. Catherine died on 1st Sept. 1902 aged 81 years, her husband Archie died a few days after, September 4th, aged 76 years. They are buried in the McPhee family plot alongside of Archie's brother Peter, and Peter's wife Elizabeth Keith. Catherine and Elizabeth were sisters, daughters of Nicol Keith and Flora Brown."

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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