KEEP WATCHING...

Oronsay features throughout the new BBC series which started on Thursday 16 January at 7 p.m. The series is entitled "Rioghachd nan Eilean" (Kingdom of the Isles), presented by Donald William Stewart. Readers will remember that Dr. Stewart researched a fascinating series for "The Corncrake" entitled "The Colonsay Catechist". The series is in Gaelic with English subtitles.

And, in this issue, we give a link to a line of descent from Malcolm Mcfee (see letters, Magazine section).

A NEW BABY!

Congratulations to Jenny and Hughie McNeill and a big welcome to Daniel Stuart, born on Saturday 25 January 2003, a brother to Callum and Craig.

He arrived back home in Colonsay on Friday 31st … and not before time, his cousins and all the rest of the schoolchildren were bursting to greet him. He almost made it home on Wednesday but the ferry was cancelled through high winds, to the great disappointment of his waiting fans.

Jenny and Daniel are both in fine fettle, and we understand that this bonny, bouncing boy weighed in at 6 lbs 12 oz. We were going to prepare a PhotoFit picture, but Hughie was a bit vague on the details when we asked for a description. Instead, we hope to have a photograph of Daniel Stuart McNeill in our next issue.

A Wednesday in Colonsay

"YER ORASA'S OUT THE WINDAE" - Official!

Iain MacAllister was kind enough to direct us to the BBC coverage of an EEC proposal to to remove Oransay's island status. The termination means "island" so the new Gaelic name for Orasa will be "Oras", presumably twinned with Elba.

Apparently the European Union's "legislative proposals spell out four criteria which would have to be met by a piece of land surrounded by water before it could be considered an island.

To be classed as an island it must not:
· have less than 50 permanent residents
· be attached to the mainland by a rigid structure
· be less than one kilometre from the mainland
· contain the capital of an EU state. "

We gather that the Scottish Islands Network is opposed to the plan, which aims to concentrate a huge proportion of EEC funds more closely upon relevant communities. Perhaps SIN, based in an annexe to the mainland, enjoys having its cake and eating it. Nice to be able to go clubbing in Inverness, yet still enjoy the aura of life on the edge.

And one has to wonder if Skye and Bute are really concerned about the interests of Oronsay, Muck and Rum when they protest about the change. Some people might think that Skye and Bute and Sheppey's nests are already well-feathered and that it is high time for these cuckoos to give us pippits a piece of the action.

The EU should send all their money to Colonsay, at least then they would know it was quite literally going as far as possible.

THE BURNS SUPPER

The annual Young Farmers Club Burns Supper was held in the hotel on Saturday 25th January. Around 35 enthusiasts turned out to enjoy an excellent three course meal of soup,haggis neaps and tatties followed by sticky toffee pudding.The haggis was piped in by John Clark, carried by Jim Macloughlin. As ever Diane Clark did an expert job in the address. The grace was said by Ross Moodie, Jim proposed a toast to the lassies and Pedie Mac Neill proposed the toast to the Bard. After many years of trying to persuade him, we were pleased that Davie Sutherland told a joke or two followed by him singing Ae Fond Kiss.

After the meal Angus McFadyen gave thanks to everyone concerned in the hotel for all their hard work and to the speakers of the evening. Particular thanks to Ross for his excellent Haggis and to Nigel Grant for providing the Beasties to make it.

After the meal everyone adjourned to the bar where music and song were provided by young Donald MacAllister, Jim Macloughlin, John Clark and Una Mrray on the electric bagpipes. All in all a very relaxing and enjoyable evening.

By a special correspondent

Wee Davy, John Clark plus bodhran

COMPUTER USERS IN COLONSAY

"Mentors" are being interviewed this week, which should regularise help. Meantime, if you get problems please contact Diane Clark and every effort will be made to get things sorted out.

It is important that everybody expresses their interest in Broadband … this is a system that enables you to remain always-on-line. Even if you do not think you need it, please register as it will help the whole community. It has important implications for business-users and could easily make the difference for Colonsay's future. New businesses are unlikely to come to Colonsay without it and, without being alarmist, some businesses already here would be unlikely to survive indefinitely without it.

You will find further information on Broadband at http://www.hie.co.uk/broadband

When you get a minute, please go to that sight and register your interest. If they ask you to name a business, say "personal", "educational", "research" or whatever is appropriate. There is no commitment and HIE are genuinely trying to measure support - the facility will go where it is wanted, so speak up now. It will be no good trying to catch up later.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Even in Colonsay, one cannot fail to be aware of a deteriorating situation in foreign parts. Too often in the past exaggerated posturing by Germany and her French collaborators has been a prelude to trouble, and for now BAOR seems to have taken its eye off the ball.

Fortunately, Frank Nicholson has arranged to make his way to Paris next month; as a noted francophile, he hopes the feeling will be reciprocated and "The Corncrake" hopes to be kept fully au fait with the "Aul dalliance".

Readers (other than those in Poland) may rest easy in their beds.

Statistical Bulletin - Scottish salmon and sea trout catches in 2001

Catches of grilse and older salmon have diminished by 9% in 2001. 25.000 salmon were caught in fixed nets in the sea. The catches in estuaries have fallen by 42% (7.200 fish). It is the lowest figure ever recorded. It should be noted that 600 farm bred fish were recaptured. Anglers caught 72.000 fish of all sizes (10% more than in 2000). 277.000 salmon were released. The catches of older spring salmon increased by 44% whereas in France they diminished. 42.000 sea trout were caught of which 32.000 were caught by anglers (11.000 fish were released).

Caledonian MacBrayne to step-up ticket inspections

Caledonian MacBrayne is to step up the level of random, frequent ticket inspections on ferries throughout the network. The move comes as part of an ongoing review of the operation of a new concession scheme for the elderly introduced by the Scottish Executive at the start of October, in conjunction with other local authority schemes.

Kevin Hayes, Caledonian MacBrayne's Commercial Director said: "It is important that CalMac establishes precisely the level of any misuse of ticketing which is simply fraud. Several concerns have been raised regarding the operation of the many concession schemes which are operated on behalf of other organisations, or arise from legislation which is beyond our control. Every penny we lose through misuse of ticketing arrangements is an attack on the public purse and it is important that the interests of the elderly, disabled and others are protected. That is why we have introduced the new procedures in the first place." The increase in the level and frequency of ticket inspections on ferries has the full backing of the CalMac Users Consultative Council, the passengers' representatives. Mike Lunan, Chairman CMUCC Chairman, said: "The CMUCC fully supports moves targeting customers who are abusing tickets."

Meanwhile, the company has undertaken a review, focussing on issues such as requests to reintroduce return tickets and books of multiple journey tickets for concessionary fares. CalMac currently permits the purchase of single tickets only for certain concession card holders, a move introduced to combat suggestions of fraud and misuse of tickets.

RESULTS OF THE NEW YEAR QUIZ

Of the 1509 readers who accessed our New Year Quiz, no less than 5 submitted an entry. Oddly enough, it has proved very difficult to mark, perhaps not least because the editor is having trouble with some of the answers. The questions were intended for 10 year old children in the 1880's and our competitors ranged between 26 and 84 years of age. In the opinion of the editor the winner is:

Mrs. Peggy Robertson with 75%

The questions and the editor's notion of possible answers may be seen on this link:

QUIZ ANSWERS

Unfortunately pressure of work has inhibited the fine-tuning of the answers, some of which are therefore almost undoubtedly wrong. Corrections will be genuinely welcomed, even from those who did not dare submit a formal entry.

NOOKS & CRANNIES: Taigh Kallenburg

Interesting new information has come to light concerning Ms. Kallenburg and readers are entreated to research or contribute any tiny detail that might help to establish the facts.

As is probably well-known, the rickle of stones on your left as you approach Machrins Farm from Scalasaig is known as Kallenburg's Cottage; it is beside the metalled road, about 50 metres before the top of the rise.

It is said to have been the home of a German lady who lived quietly but who was fond of walking. After hostilities commenced in the Great War, somebody became suspicious of her predilection for Dun Gallain and the fact that she made her way out to the point in the evenings. One night she was followed, and was seen to be shining a light out to sea - worse still, she received an answering signal. The alarm was raised and she was arrested and taken away…

There (or thereabouts) the story has lain for ninety years, but this very week an antiquarian bookseller has obtained a manuscript document which undoubtedly was created by this lady. The document consists of lengthy extracts from the work of a late 18th century author of great renown, clearly her ancestor, set out upon paper which has been decorated with seaweed.

The author in question, Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825), was highly acclaimed - for example, his Quintus Fixlein (1796) was translated by Carlyle in 1827. Indeed "for a few years Jean Paul was the object of extravagant idolatry on the part of the women of Germany". His unfinished "Autobiography" (1826) might give a lead. He was born at Wunsiedel and from 1804 until his death lived at Bayreuth.

The seaweed has been compressed into the paper itself by a special technique known as "Nature Printing" which imparts not just the outline of the weed but the actual pigments of its colour tones. The work, produced in Colonsay by Ms. Emma Richter-Kallenburg, is dedicated to one Maud Ranken, presumably her companion or a close friend, and is dated 1900.

There is no reference to Ms. Emma Richter-Kallenburg in the 1901 census and there is no reference to the lady in church records, visitors books or known diaries. Unfortunately the 1911 census is not yet available. Clearly, the lady was here in 1900, and "Taigh Kallenburg" seems to be registered as "unoccupied" in 1901. The tradition that Ms. Richter-Kallenburg was here at the outbreak of war is very strong, suggesting that she returned to Colonsay at some point.

It is just possible that a reader can help with some family tradition, or possibly through original research. Perhaps a skilled reader could trace either Maud Ranken or Ms. Emma Richter-Kallenburg by a search of UK census records or B.M.D.'s? One immediately thinks of connections between Colonsay and Osborne House, but perhaps internment or deportation orders were made which can be traced? The story of "the spy" is a bit far-fetched, but if the lady was removed as the result of some official sanction or policy, it will have been enough to spark the story.

The manuscript was discovered by Mr. Alex Fotheringham, Bookseller, telephone 01434 270046. He is preparing a catalogue entry at present and it is hoped that we will publish full details of this item in "The Corncrake" when it is offered for sale.

STOP PRESS - draft details:

The following item is for sale by Alex Fotheringham, Bookseller (Tel 01434 270046) and is described here ...

NOTE: Please see the Magazine Section (below) for additional information on "Loosescroobitan" from Mrs. May MacKinnon and Dr. Stiubhart

WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY

Series about "The Realm of the Isles" including Oronsay, Donald William Stewart presenting it, Thursday evenings on BBC2

Monday 3 February: Community Council meeting

February 21st or so - Heritage Course, see notices.

Badminton, Thursdays 18.00hrs.

Quiz in the Hotel every Wednesday at 9.30 pm.

Take-Away Meals available Monday to Saturday from the hotel.

The Pantry - Winter hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 2pm
Saturdays 10am to 3pm
Takeaway meals Friday 5pm to 6pm
Evening meals provided but must be booked in advance Tel 01951 200235

Church Service
Please note that services in both the Baptist Church and the Church of Scotland are at the new time of 11.30hrs. Services are held regularly - see notices in the shop and hotel for details.

Advance notice:
The 14th International Gathering of Clan Macfie is to be held May 14-18, 2003 in Gatlinburg, TN, hosted by the Macfie Clan Society of America. For more information see http://www.macfiesocietyofamerica.com or contact:
Jim McAfee, Macfie Clan Society of America
420 Ash Dr.; Baxter, TN 38544 USA
jgmcafee@tnaccess.com

SNIPPETS

The "Isle of Mull" spotted a floating hazard off the Garvellochs on her way to Colonsay on 31 Jan. and reported it - on the way back, Donald MacAllister telephoned to say that they had spotted it again and that it looked very much like a WWII mine; the recent edition of Loder is now exhausted - the bookshop can obtain a copy from time to time, but mint-condition is hard to guarantee; a snow-goose has been seen at the Garbh Chladach; a helicopter is carrying tonnes of concrete to the top of Beinn a' Gudairean for the new mobile-phone mast - we understand that digital broadcast services will be a wee bonus; postal services have been discontinued to Poll Gorm and Oransay, and unless restored there will be no post-bus service in future to Oransay Priory; work on the Housing-Association scheme is nearing completion and steelwork is in place for two Workshop Units; latest industrial principles of "just-in-time" production have reached Colonsay, as can be seen in our picture of the McNicholls' new house:

TOPICAL LETTERS

For convenience of readers, letters now appear in two sections. Anything to do with current events appears here, and letters to do with the Magazine section or historical research etc. will appear at the end of the Magazine section.

Hi Kevin and nice to catch up with the news once again.

I would just like to add a little bit of my own Naval knowledge to the subject of H.M.S Sultan and say that prior to and during the `60`s this was indeed a shore base situated in Portsmouth which was used as a training school for mechanical engineers (stokers to the average matelot!!)

I retired from the RN in 1972 and at that time it was still going strong but - like a lot of other shore bases - it had to move with the times and I believe that it has now closed down.

Keep up the good work
John Calderwood

and, a correspondent mentions a new book:
"Orwell - Wintry Conscience of a Generation" by Jeffrey Meyers Norton, $29.95, 380 pp.

Have not read it yet, but a review suggests an extraordinary controversy in academic circles concerning the climate in Jura. Considering its reputation for longevity, it does seem hard to believe that life there is truly so arduous; one appalling feature was that it lay 48 hours away from London. But then again, so did New York, although F. Scott Fitzgerald seemed to struggle along. Anyway, this new book might well be worth considering. Readers will remember that Para Mor purchased Orwell's second-hand motorbike, thus cementing Colonsay's link with the great man.

The Magazine Section

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LOOSESCROOBITAN: WHAT I REMEMBER

A note from May MacKinnon, brought up on Mull Dubh.

May writes: "I was rather amused to read your story in the Corncrake about Loosescroobitan - I certainly did not hear anything, but what we were told was that a Giant had stepped off the Creagh Mhor and left his footprint on a stone in the Loch Fada field. I do not know if I could find it now, but my sisters, friends and I used to play around this stone as children - the "footprint" was very clearly embedded in the stone. As for the footprint in the steadings, it should still be there but I'm afraid it will be covered as we used part of the building as a bull-shed during the time we were milking. A' Mhaol Dubh is still the croft, even though "Mull Dubh" is used more."

Many thanks for the additional information. Given permission, it would be fun to have a look at likely stones in the Loch Fada field…

LOOSESCROOBITAN: A POSSIBLE SOLUTION?

A contribution from Dr. Domhnall Uilleam Stiubhart

Corncrake 68 contained a most interesting article based on an episode from the second volume of Symington Grieve's encyclopaedic Book of Colonsay and Oronsay, concerning a footprint stone at Mull Dubh, Upper Kilchattan, and its apparent twin at the top of nearby Càrn Mór. [Grieve: ii, 307-13] Much of the material for Grieve's work appears to have been gathered during a youthful infatuation with Colonsay lore in 1879-81. At the time he was greatly assisted by Angus MacMillan (born c.1795), a Kilchattan seanchaidh who was not only one of his most important informants, but also collected material for him from other old Colonsay contemporaries. Grieve remembered him as "a very intelligent old man, and much better acquainted with English than most of the islanders, [who] had lived at one time in Nova Scotia". [Grieve i: 26] What North Americans insist on calling "failed migration" was perhaps less unusual in the nineteenth century than we might think, and the years Angus MacMillan spent as an exile may have led him to take a deeper interest in the traditions of his native island. His competence in English would certainly have made him a most useful contact for the monolingual Grieve, at a time when most Colbhasaich, especially of the older generation, were only semi-fluent at best in the language.

We are most fortunate that Grieve revised, added to and wrote up his material in two volumes some forty years afterwards. Although his historical conjectures might have not stood the test of time, the raw material he gathered offers a fascinating insight into the oral history of the island as it was at the very threshold of the modern era.

Angus MacMillan remembered that the Mull Dubh stone was connected with a mysterious "Loosescroobitan", who leapt from the summit of Càrn Mór and landed on the boulder. The name has no obvious Gaelic equivalent to hand. Nevertheless, we can be fairly certain about its derivation, even though it appears that in nineteenth-century Colonsay the word had travelled a long way from its original meaning.

Of "Loosescroobitan", Symington Grieve noted that there was "a suspicious likeness between the phonetic sound of the word and Luchruban." [Grieve: ii, 309n.1] Though he didn't take the comparison with luchruban much further, Grieve was definitely on the right track. The closely related Ulster Gaelic variant luchramán was taken over in English as "Loughry men", described in an 1880 dictionary of Antrim and Down dialect as "a race of small hairy people living in the woods. It is said that "they would get your gold". They are very strong." [Ó Giolláin 1984: 81] The term apparently derives from Old Irish lu, small, and corp, body, but it is from analogous forms met with in the rest of Ireland - leipreachán and its variants - that the name is best known in English: namely, the leprechaun.

Although often appearing as a cobbler with a secret hoard of gold, the leprechaun of Irish folk tradition, usually clad in red rather than green, is altogether a more solitary, surly and strong creature than the mercurial little sprite distilled by two centuries of Anglo-Irish and latterly Irish-American commercial culture. From the admittedly very sparse sources, the Scottish luchrubain appear to have been rather less supernatural beings than their Irish counterparts: a now vanished pygmy race of old, perhaps more similar to the mediaeval literary lupracáin burlesqued in the Death of Fergus. Although these leprechauns retain characteristics such as tiny stature and dangerous supernatural abilities, not to mention shoes with magical powers, they live in a rich and courtly kingdom indistinguishable from their heroic human counterparts. [O'Grady 1892a: 238-52; O'Grady 1892b: 269-85; Ó Giolláin 1982: 138-9; Ó Giolláin 1984: 77, 99, 149]

The best-known place connected with luchrubain in the Scottish Gàidhealtachd was and is Pygmies' Isle in Ness, at the very northern tip of Lewis. This Eilean Luchruban is recorded in a number of early modern accounts of the Hebrides, and was known as far afield as Ireland. [Henderson & Cowan: 50-4] Martin Martin's account of 1703 describes the island as follows:

The Island of Pygmies, or, as the natives call it, the Island of Little Men, is but of small extent. There has been many small bones dug out of the ground here, resembling those of human kind more than any other. This gave ground to a tradition which the natives have of a very low-statured people living once here, called Lusbirdan, i.e. pigmies. [Martin: 99]

Martin's name lusbirdan is analogous to the lusbartan mentioned in the preface to Robert Kirk's Secret Commonwealth [Hunter: 78]. The otherwise unattested form is clearly influenced by Irish forms, probably perceived to be of a higher status by Scottish Gaels of the day, but there is no doubt but that it is the luchrubain who are under discussion.

There are two other islands connected with pygmies in Martin's Description. The recent discovery of "abundance of small bones" in a stone vault in Baile nan Cailleach in Benbecula had "occasioned many uncertain conjectures; some said that they were the bones of birds, others judged them rather to be the bones of pygmies." [Martin: 150] The second Hebridean island with genuine tradition about the lusbirdan was none other than Colonsay. After discussing "Duncoll", Martin goes on to write:

The other fort is called Dun-Evan: the natives have a tradition among them, of a very little generation of people, that lived once here, called Lusbirdan, the same with pigmies. [Martin: 280; cf. Grieve i, 84-6, 89]

It appears, then, that old Angus MacMillan's recollection is a very faint and rather confused trace of older tradition about the pygmies who, according to seventeenth-century tradition, lived in Dun Éibhinn on Colonsay. It should be noted that, like other supernatural beings, Irish leprechauns are commonly associated with ancient ring-forts. [Ó Giolláin 1984: 94-5, 125] It might be worth mentioning the peculiar fact that Martin describes the tradition of making Bride's bed in a Colonsay context, although the exact details of the rite as he set it down appear to have been at least influenced by information received from the Morison tacksman family of Ness in Lewis. [Martin: 179; Stiùbhart] Maybe Martin obtained some of his information about Colonsay from one of that family who had spent time there and had compared local traditions with those of his own district, possibly Mr. Allan Morison, minister of Ness.

Although Grieve writes that that Loosescroobitan was apparently "a big bad man of whom evidently Angus was much afraid, as he mentioned his name with bated breath" [Grieve: ii, 309], I would tentatively suggest that Mr MacMillan's hesitation about the name was more to do with the effort of remembering it than any particular "superstitious feelings" on his part. The vagaries of memory, and possibly the inaccuracy of the transcriber himself, meant that luchruban has thus come down to us in a rather mutilated form. As the story dwindled to a mere name, so its (singular) subject grew to giant dimensions - especially as the rather "ordinary sized" footprints were now both covered up - though retaining the strength and possibly the dangerous nature of his earlier incarnation. A creature called Loosescroobitan, Mr MacMillan had been told in his youth, had leapt from the top of Càrn Mór to Mull Dubh: this feat, which in the original version was probably ascribed to his supernatural nimbleness (or even to his magic shoes?), could now only be explained, rationally, by his great size.

Symington Grieve's connection of Loosescroobitan with "the Evil One" appears to be a red herring. There may just possibly be a memory of the church's "demonizing" of such supernatural beings, but translated from Highland into Standard English, Angus MacMillan's polite "it might be", especially following "a moment's silence", suggests a rather emphatic negative, framed in such a way so as not to contradict the harmless enthusiasm of the young visitor.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grieve, Symington. The book of Colonsay and Oronsay (2 vols., Edinburgh, 1923).
Henderson, Lizanne and Cowan, Edward J. Scottish fairy belief: A history (East Linton, 2001).
Hunter, Michael (ed.). The occult laboratory: Magic, science and second sight in late 17th-century Scotland (Woodbridge, 2001).
Martin, Martin. A description of the Western Islands of Scotland (1703: Edinburgh, 1994).
Ó Giolláin, Diarmuid. "An leipreacháin san ainmíocht", Béaloideas 50 (1982), 126-50.
Ó Giolláin, Diarmuid. "The leipreachán and fairies, dwarfs and the household familiar: a comparative study", Béaloideas 52 (1984), 75-150.
O'Grady, Standish. Silva Gadelica: Irish version (London, 1892).
O'Grady, Standish. Silva Gadelica (London, 1892).
Stiùbhart, Domhnall Uilleam. "Some heathenish and superstitious rites: a letter from Lewis, 1700", Scottish Studies, forthcoming.

DESCENDANTS of LORD COLONSAY

Further to recent correspondence, additional information is now to hand:

Dear Mr Byrne,
I was interested to see on The Corncrake's website a reference to Ohanpu and Sir John Carstairs McNeill, who I understand was a cousin of my great-grandfather James Craig, reputed to be the son of Duncan McNeill, Lord Colonsay.

Ohanpu is correctly OHAUPO, and is a township with a population of about 1000 halfway between Hamilton and Te Awamutu, about nine miles from each. My late uncle Elsdon Craig located the spot where Sir John won his VC as a dip in the main road to Te Awamutu a mile or two south of Ohaupo, which is largely a rural servicing township. A Google search for OHAUPO brings up quite a number of websites with information about the area, while a search for OHANPU brings up several sites all with information about Sir John McNeill's military career.

I would be interested in details of the obituaries of the two grandchildren of the Old Laird (presumably John McNeill 1767-1846) which are referred to in the same issue of The Corncrake, and of the inquiry which prompted the replies.

Yours sincerely, Roderick Drummond

DR. GEORGE CRAIG - by Roderick Drummond

Dr George Craig was born on 10 February 1868 in Edinburgh, the second son of James Craig, a draper, and his wife Euphemia, nee Bannerman. He was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh University, graduating as Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery in 1890, as well as being awarded a gold medal in surgery. About three years later he emigrated to New Zealand, and stayed with his uncle the Reverend William Bannerman in Roslyn, Dunedin before taking up a position at Seacliff Mental Hospital, a few miles north of Dunedin, after being entered on the New Zealand medical register in February 1894. He was qualified as a psychiatrist and eye specialist, although much of his career was as a general practitioner.

In March 1897 he and his brother William, who had followed him to New Zealand, became medical officers in the Cook Islands, after a period as surgeons on a Pacific Island ship. Both were appointed as Justices of the Peace, and George was elected to the Cook Islands Parliament in 1898 as member for the islands of Atiu and Mitiaro. In addition, he was deputy British Resident to Colonel Walter Gudgeon, his future father-in-law, while William was also quarantine officer and registrar of the High Court and the Land Court, of which Colonel Gudgeon was the Judge.

Early in 1900 Dr Craig volunteered for service in the Boer War, as a trooper in the Rough Riders, but on 14 February 1900 transferred to the Medical Corps with the rank of Surgeon-Captain. In June 1901 he returned from South Africa to the Cook Islands, but left for New Zealand later in the year to take up a position as surgeon to the Waihi Goldmining Company, at Waitekauri. On 19 March 1902 he married Hilda Johnstone Gudgeon at Auckland, and in 1903 their first child Alison was born at Waitekauri. The family later moved to Mackaytown, where the eldest son Colin was born in 1904, and then to Karangahake about a year later. The second son Gordon was born in 1906, and the same year saw a further move, to Waihi, where the family remained until Dr Craig enlisted for war service in 1914. Two further daughters, Mary and Margaret, were born during this time.

Dr Craig carried on a general practice in addition to his employment with the mining company, and when there was an accident down a mine, he would never allow an injured man to be moved until he had seen him, but always went down himself whatever the risk. He was a blunt no-nonsense Scot with no inhibitions about saying exactly what he thought, which got him into a certain amount of controversy during the miners' strike of 1912, since he had little sympathy with the tactics of the extremist "Red Fed" faction, although he was very concerned about the inadequate working and living conditions of many of his patients.

Dr Craig's family moved to Devonport after leaving Waihi, while he joined the 3rd Auckland Regiment as a captain, being soon promoted to major. After beginning war service in Egypt, he embarked for Gallipoli, where he was wounded later in 1915 and then invalided back to New Zealand. He left to return to the front in November 1916, shortly after the birth of his youngest son Elsdon, and saw service in France and Belgium , being promoted to lieutenant-colonel in command of the 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance in October 1917, holding this rank until retiring from the reserve of officers in 1932. Early in 1919 he was awarded a D.S.O. for distinguished services in France and Flanders in 1917 and 1918, after having been mentioned in despatches three times. He arrived back in New Zealand in May 1919.

Shortly after his demobilisation in 1919, Dr Craig took up practice in Morrinsville, at first with Dr Alfred Bernstein for a few months, and then on his own account until his retirement in 1945. He was elected to the Morrinsville Borough Council in 1921, his major concern being shortcomings in the municipal water supply, and from time to time presided as a Justice of the Peace in the local Magistrate's Court, on one occasion fining the resident police constable one pound for allowing his horse to stray. He lived on a property of approximately 20 acres at the eastern end of Thames Street, most of which is now Campbell Park, on which his sons Colin and Gordon ran a few cows during their schooldays as a source of extra pocket money. During the depression of the 1930s he organised collections of surplus fruit for distribution to needy residents. He travelled a wide area to attend to patients, over very indifferent roads, even as far as places such as Patetonga, working very long hours if necessary. He was a keen motorist, having acquired his first car, a Humber, in about 1908, this being followed by a Daimler which he used for the rest of his time at Waihi, having previously travelled long distances on horseback when required. After moving to Morrinsville, he owned a succession of Maxwells, Chryslers, and Fords. He enjoyed doing maintenance work on his various cars, but had to be careful to keep his hands in first-class condition for carrying out surgery. His consulting rooms were in the National Bank building in Thames Street.

During the Second World War he was a member of the Pensions Appeal Board in Hamilton and an examiner for the Morrinsville Medical Board, and was very concerned with the effects of malnutrition during the depression on some of the recruits that he was called upon to examine for war service. He wished that he were still of an age to be eligible to go overseas, and could not even think of retiring, with so many younger doctors away at the war.

Early in 1945 Dr Craig suffered a stroke, almost certainly brought on through the volume of work in his practice together with his war work, and in October 1945 he and Mrs Craig moved to Ellerslie, Auckland, where he died on 17 June 1947, never having fully recovered from the effects of the stroke. In spite of a somewhat gruff manner on occasion, he had a sense of humour with a predilection for puns and practical jokes, and a dedicated attitude to his profession, never sparing himself in any way.

AIR AN DUIBHIRTICH - Part VII (concludes)

N.B. So far, nobody has expressed interest in a possible trip to Dubh Hirteach on Saturday 23 May. If you might be tempted, please get in touch.

B' éiginn teàrnadh. Sgrìobh sinn ar n-ainm, mar is gnàth le luchd-tathaich, ann an leabhar a tha air a ghleidheadh air son a' ghnothaich so. Sgaoil sinn beagan mhionaidean air an sgeir - gach aon titheach air son cuimhneachan a bhith dhachaidh leis - mìr de'n chreig, bàirneach, duileasg, nì-eigin a ghabhadh toirt air falbh; agus chruinnich sinn a rithis a dh'fhàgail beannachd chàirdeil aig na fir choibhneil thuigseach a tha ag gleidheadh an tighe, is a dh'òl deoch an doruis. Bha an t-am a' chreag fhàgail. Bha an t-slighe buan; cha robh a' ghaoth ach lag, agus na bh'ann cho dìreach 'nar n-aghaidh is a b'urrainn di séideadh.

Bha an tilleadh fadalach; ach bha a' chuideachd sunndach. Thuit dall-bhrat an h-oidhche oirnn is sinn fathast móran mhìltean o cheann ar turuis. Dhealaich sinn féin is ar ban-chompanach. Dh'éirich a' ghaoth; dh'fhàs a' Mhaighdeann, a bha cho mórasda ré an latha is an fheasgair, sunndach, curaideach; is thug mi an aire gun d'fhuiling I do'n fhairge "mholach cheannaghlas" a beul a phògadh gu tric 'san dorcha. Ged nach "sgoilteadh i cuinnlean caol coirce le fheobhas 's a dh'fhalbhadh i," cha robh i fad 'gar giùlan gus a' chaladh,

"A tha crom mar bhogha air ghleus,
A tha sèimh mar uchd mo ghaoil."

Cha robh ar ban-chompanach fada 'nar déidh. Chaidh a' ghlainne uair eile mun cuairt; agus sgaoil a' chuideachd - am fear a bu ghlice 'nar measg a' meas gun robh an latha air a dheagh chaiteamh, agus am fear a b'òige dearbhte nach dìochuimhnich e an turas fhad is a ghleidheas cuimhne a h-àite a measg buaidhean a inntinn."

Post OPR VITAL RECORDS, COLONSAY

More information courtesy of Pat Maule. This is most generous assistance and it would be good to have the odd message from people who have found it helpful. There is informal feedback but other readers would be glad to hear of successful research.

Births - Parish of Colonsay, Argyllshire
Cert. # 6
1855 - 27 March Catherine MacALISTER at Kilchattan, Colonsay.
Father - Archibald McALISTER (sic), Agricultural Labourer, age 26 years. - born Colonsay.
Mother - Helen McALISTER, maiden name GRAHAM, her 2nd. child, age 36 Years, born Colonsay
Married May 4th. 1853, Colonsay, 1 boy and 1 girl living.
Informant - Archibald McAlister. Father.

Cert. # 7
1855 - 10 May. Peter CAMPBELL at Kilchattan, Colonsay
Father - Neil CAMPBELL, Crofter, age 32 years, born Colonsay
Mother - Mary CAMPBELL, maiden name McNEILL, her 2nd. Child, age 24 years, born Colonsay
Married - September 8th. 1852, Colonsay, 1 boy and 1 girl living.
Informant - Neil Campbell - father

Cert. # 8
1855 - 25 May John DARROCH at Scallasaig, Colonsay. (does not say Illegitimate)
Father - none given
Mother - Catherine DARROCH, age 27 years, born Colonsay.
Informant - Catherine Darroch her mark - mother

Cert. # 9
1855 - 11 July Archibald BUIE at Oronsay
Father - Hector BUIE, Herd, age 35 years, born Colonsay.
Mother - Hester BUIE, maiden name McNEILL, her 5th. child, Age 30 years, born Colonsay.
Married July 18th. 1849, Colonsay, 1 boy, 2 girls living, 1 boy and 1 girl deceased.
Informant - Hector Buie - father.

Cert. # 10
1855 - 27 July Ann MacPHEE at Urgaig, Colonsay
Father - Archibald McPHEE (sic), Crofter, age 38 years, born Colonsay.
Mother - Flora McPHEE, maiden name McNEILL, her 3rd. child. Age 26 years (no place of birth given)
Married - March 15th. 1850, Colonsay. 1 boy and 2 girls living.
Informant - Archibald McPhee - father.

Cert. # 7
1856 - 04 May Ann REID at Mulbuie
Father - Murdoch REID, Agricultural Labourer.
Mother - Ann REID, maiden name McNEILL
Informant - Murdoch Reid - his mark - father.

Cert. # 8
1856 - 17 May Donald McLUGASH at Machrin
Father - Archibald McLUGASH, Fisherman.
Mother - Mary McLUGASH, maiden name GALBRAITH.
Informant - Archibald McLugash - father.

Cert. # 9
1856 - 04 July Ann BELL at Baleromin (sic)
Father - James BELL, Agricultural Labourer.
Mother - Hester BELL, maiden name McNEILL
Informant - James Bell, his mark, - father.

Cert. # 16
1856 - 13 October Alexander MacMillan at Garvart
Father - Alexander McMILLAN (sic), Gamekeeper.
Mother - Christiana McMILLAN, maiden name SMITH.
Informant - Alexander McMillan his mark - father.

Cert. # 17
1856 - 02 November John MacLUGASH at Baleroemin
Father - John McLUGASH (sic), Ploughman.
Mother - Lucy McLUGASH, maiden name Currie.
Informant - John McLugash - father.

Deaths in the Parish of Colonsay, County of Argyll.

Cert. # 4
1857 - 13 March Mary GRAHAM, age 45 yrs. - single, at Kilchattan, Colonsay. Formerly - Domestic Servant
Father - Angus GRAHAM - Wright - (Deceased)
Mother - Flora MUNN (no other name)
Cause of Death - unknown - 8 years.
Buried - Kilchattan
Informant - Donald McLEAN his mark - Son

Cert. # 5
1857 - 25 May Malcolm MacNEILL - age 9 years, single - at Riskbuie, Colonsay
Father - Alexander McNEILL (sic), Labourer.
Mother - Margaret McNEILL, maiden name - SHAW
Cause of Death - Scarletina - 5 days.
Buried - Oronsay
Informant - Alexander McNeill, his mark - father.

Cert. # 6
1857 - 05 June Alexander MacNEILL - age 18 months at Riskbuie, Colonsay.
Illegitimate.
Father -
Mother - Ann McNEILL
Cause of Death - Scarletina - 19 days.
Buried - Oronsay.
Informant - Ann McNeill, her mark - mother.

Cert. # 7
1857 - 24 October Catherine MacLUGASH, - age 63, single - at Machrin, Colonsay
Pauper - formerly ??
Father - Donald McLUGASH (sic) - Weaver (Deceased)
Mother - Mary McLUGASH, maiden name McLUGASH
Cause of Death - unknown - 9 months.
Buried - Oronsay
Informant - Mirren McLUGASH her mark - Sister.

Cert. # 10
1858 - 21 September John REID, age 15 days, single - at Riskbuie, Colonsay
Father - Allan REID, Fisherman
Mother - Euphemia REID, maiden name - McNEILL
Cause of Death - unknown - 3 days.
Buried - Kilchattan
Informant - Allan REID, his mark - father

Cert. # 11
1858 - 18 October Flora DARRACH, age 1 year, - single - at Riskbuie, Colonsay.
Father - Hugh DARRACH, Fisherman.
Mother - Margaret DARRACH , maiden name - Macalister (sic)
Cause of Death - unknown 4 weeks.
Buried - Oronsay.
Informant - Hugh Darrach, his mark - father

Cert. # 12
1858 - 22 November Alexander MacNEILL, age 80 years, - Crofter , Widower, at Kilchattan, Colonsay.
Father - Hector McNEILL (sic) - Ploughman - (Deceased).
Mother - Euphemia McNEILL, maiden name - McLUGASH (Deceased)
Cause of Death - Unknown - 10 days.
Buried - Kilchattan
Informant - Hector McNEILL, hismark - Son
Cert. # 7
1881 - 26 October Kinales McPHEE, age 65 years, Shepherd - at Kiloran, Colonsay
Married to Flora McNEILL
Father - Dugald McPHEE, Farmer, (deceased)
Mother - Flora McPHEE, maiden name - BUIE - (Deceased).
Cause of Death - Unknown - 2 weeks.
Informant - Gilbert McNEILL, - Brother-in-Law.

Marriages in the Burgh of Campbeltown, in the County of Argyll.
Cert. # 8
1856 - 25 March At Campbeltown, Kintyre - Established Church
Dugald BLUE, his mark, age 27 yrs, Labourer, Widower, Of Campbeltown
Father - Dugald BLUE
Mother - Marion McKINNON
And
Marion CAMPBELL, her mark, age 32 yrs.
Father - Duncan CAMPBELL
Mother - Barbara McLEAN
Minister - Jas. C. Russell.
Witnesses - Lachlan McLACHLAN
Angus SMITH

WEBSITE TO EXPLORE - WHO OWNS SCOTLAND?

Gary and Mary Snyder have kindly drawn attention to this site, which will eventually cover all of Scotland. At present, it already includes the whole of Argyll. Probably it is best to start by checking out places you know, like Oronsay and Colonsay, before exploring Jura, Scarba, Islay etc. If you happen to be listed yourself, you might like to check the accuracy of your entry.

http://www.whoownsscotland.org.uk/about.htm

Regulars

Readers Write

NOTICE:
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.

My great-great grandfather, Nathan Macfie was most likely born in Colonsay sometime in the year 1820, or 1822, it is a bit unsure which. Anyway, thought this might be helpful.
Best Regards- Thomas Macfie

Good Morning!
I am beginning to do a little research on the Munn family for a distant relative. I received your name and e-mail address from a website on the Colonsay register. What a nice web site by the way and what great work! If you have any ideas for contacts or specifics on this family, I'd appreciate the help. I will be going to Salt lake next month to do a little exploring around.... Here's what I know:

Malcolm Munn born 1783 immigrated on the ship Spencer on September 22, 1806 to Prince Edward Island from the Isle of Colonsay. He died about 1860 on Prince Edward Island. Unknown wife's name but he had a son John who married a Janet Macdougal-- this is the line I am working on. I'd like to find more information on this Malcolm Munn abd his forebears.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Sharon, sharon@elltel.net

Kevin
Hopefully the sudden revival in the whereabouts of a successor to Malcolm will produce some interesting items.

I have always been interested in his widow Marie Macdonald. Where did she come from where did she go? The daughter Fynwall might just have links with Jura. It is the only place I have been able to find that christian name.

However, Malcolm had a brother John, who was a witness to his Charter with the Campbells. It would be interesting to learn who knows anything about John, a possible tanistry Chief.

Best wishes for 2003, David Morgan

NB See also the link to Malcolm's descent elsewhere in this issue (next letter). Fynwall is a very popular Irish name, Fionnuala, (fair-shoulders), and is popular in Scotland as Flora, or in England as Penelope. At least 17 people in Colonsay had the name in 1625 (latinised as "Nola") - Editor

Shawn McAfee has been in correspondence and is sending a copy of a book that he owns, for reference here in Colonsay:

Broadus McAfee is the gentleman that compiled the Genealogy book that I have. He was a Colonel in the army. He was my grandfathers cousin. Meaning, Broadus's grandfather (Andrew Hunter McAfee) had a brother (Lafayette McAfee) who was my grandfathers (Homer McAfee) grandfather. It contains pictures of McAfees here from Georgia and North Carolina. One of my favorites, is a picture of Lafayette McAfee (My Grandfathers Grandfather) and my grandfather in front of Lafayette when he was a little boy. The book I have is very detailed in providing tracability of the descendents of John William McAfee born in 1779 Tyrone, North Carolina. Below, is information I have attained from the internet that alleges tracability to Malcolm McAfee of Colonsay.

The following three bullets are my immediate family ancestry that are not included in the Genealogy Tree Below. Below the three bullets is a Genealogy Tree that I pulled off of The World Connect Database on the Internet. The Tree ends with the listing of Andrew, Lafayette (My Grandfathers Grandfather - listed at the bottom of the Genealogy Tree), John, Thomas and William McAfee.

My dad's name is Homer Scott McAfee Jr. Born 1938 Calhoun, Georgia USA
His father's name was Homer Scott McAfee. Born 1909 Fairmount, Georgia USA
His father's name was Arthur McAfee. Born ? Georgia USA
His father's name was Lafayette McAfee (I have a Black & White Photo of Lafayette in front of his house).
My grandfather (Homer McAfee) is pictured in the photo as a little boy. Born ? Born ? Georgia or North Carolina

His father was John William McAfee's father was William McAfee born 1730 in Tyrone, NC.
William McAfee's father was James McAfee Sr. born 1713 in either North Carolina, Ireland, or Scotland.
James McAfee Sr.'s father is listed as a ? McAfee born 1674 in Armagh, Co. Ireland with brothers John, James, and N.H.
? McAfee's father was John McAfee born 1645 Edinburgh, Scotland.
John McAfee's father is listed as Malcolm McAfee born 1570 in Colonsay.

Editor's note: the tree outlined is quite interesting and is hopefully available from this link:

Descent of Malcolm McAfee

Dear Kevin
I've traced our family to Hector McNeill and Mary Blue who both appear as teenagers in the 1841 census you kindly provide. They married on 22/2/1851 (on Jura?) and Margaret McNeill was born to them on 3/3/1856 in Kilchattan. I would love to know the names of other children they may have had.

Margaret then moved to the mainland and married William Joiner in Corstorphine on 24/7/1885 and they lived in Forglen, Banffshire.

kind regards, Ian Joiner

"The Lyon in Mourning" by Bishop Robert Forbes

I have been trying to locate a copy of the above book for many years - would it be possible to put a request in your next Newsletter to see if anyone can help?

Sylvia Taylor
020 7650 5646

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I had printed off a great deal of information yesterday from a site called Corncrake Body 1. I have been to Oban and gone over to the Isle of Mull.

I am trying to trace my ancestry so anything with Joseph MCAlden is of interest. I did a search based on the BBC website under The Americas and discovered he is actually listed on the net. Needless to say,I was stunned.

I am due to retire in 2004 from teaching and plan on coming to the UK and hopefully,County Down to see what I can find. from what I read at the Corncrake site, your area sounds beautiful and,judging from the pictures it is beautiful.

Again,thank you very much.
Sincerely, Jude Weekes

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.