This issue of "The Corncrake" is much delayed, but for the best of reasons. The editor has been away - Kevin and Christa went to Sydney and then with sons Maghnus and Geaspar spent Christmas at Marlborough Sound in New Zealand, before seeing in the New Year from a vantage point at Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour. No sooner were they home than a first grandchild bas born - Phoebe Alice Katherine Furze, 8lb 0.5oz daughter to Sophie and Nico. Sorry for the delay - but we were having fun. It is hoped that things will be back to normal in time for the next issue.
COLONSAY DIARY
By all accounts Christmas and New Year were much enjoyed in Colonsay and everybody expresses their thanks to Captain Sneeden who berthed in very difficult conditions on Hogmanay, with the wind actually gusting to 40 knots during part of the operation; there was an excellent party in the hall on New Year's Day, nobody crashed any cars, the island was very busy and a good time was had by all; a visitor had the misfortune to slip and crack some ribs, and readers will be glad to know he is recovering well; the weather in early January has been disappointing - heavy and blustery rainfall and constant high winds, despite very mild temperatures; and the weather record for December shows that it was slightly warmer than last year but very much wetter; Nigel Grant is said to have taken on the tenancy of the larger of the two workshops at Scalasaig, and an announcement about the other unit is expected shortly; Keith Johnson found a dead minke below the CG Lookout, and the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust have been informed; work has started on David Johnston's new house at 3c Glassard, and it is said that Brolly Bros. Have acquired 3a and 3b with a view to building later this year;
Phoebe Alice Furze at 8 daysTRIUMPH FOR CAITLIN McNEILL
Congratulations to Caitlin (10 years), whose portrait of footballer Shaun Maloney has been published in the current issue of "Celtic View".
COLONSAY AND ORONSAY GOLF CLUB
The AGM was held in the Hotel on Thursday 11th Dec 2003. After elections, the following office bearers were elected:
Captain - Donald MacAllister
Vice Captain - John Currie
Secretary/Treasurer - Angus McFadyen
Greenkeepers - Bob Pocklington/Steven MacAllister
It was decided to hold competitions every month throughout the summer season.
Dates proposed are as follows:
May 29th
June26th
July 24th
August 21st (The Colonsay Open)
Sep 18th.
Entry fee for each competition will be £10.00
In the August Colonsay Open an over 50 category will be introduced. The draw for the open will be held in the Hotel at 1.00pm. That same evening a ceilidh will be held to raise funds and present prizes.
The aim of the club, over the next few seasons, is to improve the course by upgrading the greens and tees.
We also intend to raise funds by the selling of golf wear (fleeces/ties/caps etc) with the Colonsay golf club logo on them, and by raising the membership fees to £15.00 for locals and £20.00 for Country members.
All membership fees are to be paid once a year by April 1st.
We would therefore request that all existing and potential new members reading this please send cheques, made payable to the COLONSAY GOLF CLUB, BY 1st APRIL, to the either the Captain or the Treasurer at Uragaig, Isle of Colonsay, PA61 7YT.
Anyone who has paid at the old fee rate in the last year, are requested to pay the difference as soon as possible. On receipt of payments, membership cards and course maps will be sent with their receipt.
All members must carry their card when playing, as it can be requested as proof of membership at any time.
It is hoped that as the financial status improves, so will the club and course, without spoiling its uniqueness.
Donald MacAllister - Captain
Angus McFadyen - Secretary
AIE GRANT APPROVALS
The links lead to October and November decisions. Only a couple of Colonsay mentions, but a good general indication of enterprising ideas throughout the area. Anybody running a boating business seems to be in a very popular field - hopefully, as more competition is introduced the market itself will grow. Developments in both fishing and aqua-culture suggest that there will shortly be a glut of both craft and qualified operators looking to diversify.
HEALTH PROVISION
There is talk of change in our island health provision, but the waters are a little muddy. One has heard about a possible nurse who could undertake some of the functions of a doctor, and perhaps even act as locum; and one has also heard that there are too many hospitals in the Highlands, suggesting the downgrading of at least one. Luckily enough, we do not need to speculate as we are invited to attend a public meeting on 22 January at which all will be revealed.
A HANDY TIP FOR PENSIONERS
It seems that coal can no longer be delivered and that customers should arrange to collect it for themselves. Anybody without a car (or not wishing to have to wash it out) might care to be reminded of successful stratagems pioneered in the past. The late Ross Darroch kept a bicycle for the purpose, and would walk the machine home with a sack balanced on the handlebars. Stuart Griffiths had a better idea, avoiding the pitfalls of such a high lift and the dangerously high centre-of-gravity by making use of the chassis of an old pram. Modernists might be tempted to use an old skate-board on reins. Of course, coal is now packed in much smaller sacks and for many people an ordinary shopping bag will suffice, but do take care that soft fruits etc. are kept towards the top.
POETRY CORNER
The following lines were penned recently by an erstwhile Colonsay resident.
COLONSAY SKETCHES
Here
Gleaming ravens
Paired for life;
Faceted
Like anthracite,
Plane over
The grey screes
Of Carn Mor,
In a tumbling roar
Of black delight.
An eagle,
Tall above
The green-lit hill
Of Carnan Eoin,
Spirals
Pinions spread
Hugely black
And red
Against the noonday
Haze.
Chiaroscuro
Guillemots
Stream down
Grey furrows
In the white-ridged seas
That roar
Into the gheos
Of Pigs Paradise:
On the outer
Edge of sight
The pale loom
Of Dubh Artach light
Sweeps east.
Grey geese
Wake
The unconscious night
With wild
Plangent speech;
Eclipse
A swathe of stars
Above Sgoltaire,
Buffet the still
Fragrant air.
Painted oystercatchers
Frieze
The white strand
Of sacred Oronsay,
Isle of bones
Where conical
Spiralled shells
Draft
Half-familiar
Hieroglyphs
In the tide-dark sand,
And all about
The eyebright sea
Where fletched
And trimmed
To the west wind
The taut sail drives
A lone black ship
Among dark islands
Endlessly.
Roger Wakefield, Dec. 2003
FROM SCOTTISH ISLANDS NETWORK NEWSKETTER
Ancestral Tourism Benefits Scotland's Economy
A new report commissioned by the Ancestral Tourism Industry Steering
Group reveals that the value of tourists visiting Scotland to trace
their family tree during 2001 was worth as much as £153 million. More
than ¼ million ancestral tourists visited Scotland. The report also
predicts that ancestral tourism could increase to as many as 800,000
trips to the country a year and be worth 13% of total tourism revenue.
Approximately 50 million people of Scots descent are scattered around
the world - many with island roots - representing a significant market
for business.
Since 1998 there has been a 500% increase in the number of people paying
to access the online records of the general Register Office for
Scotland.
Among its key findings, the summary report also found:
* Ancestral tourists stay longer in Scotland than the average visitor
* Ancestral tourism benefits all of Scotland, not just the traditional
tourist centres
* Ancestral tourism is a year-round activity
* Nearly 70% of ancestral tourists undertake research prior to their
visit to Scotland with the second most commonly used medium being the
internet
* More than 90% of respondents plan to return to Scotland in future
Many community websites and archives are being developed throughout
Scotland's islands to tap into the potential of this growing market. For
links to some island-based genealogy websites, visit
www.scottishislands.org.uk. If you have a website or genealogy project
up and running that is not listed on our website, please let me know
(email scottish.islands@btopenworld.com or telephone 01478 611285).
ARGYLL ISLAND BLOGGING UNDERWAY
Islanders from Coll, Tiree, Mull, Iona, Colonsay, Lismore, Kerrera,
Seil, Easdale and Luing are all now able to create their own 'web logs'
or blogs - a sort of online diary for all to see! To find out more,
catch up on the lives of existing bloggers or start your own blog, visit
www.bbc.co.uk/islandblogging.
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
Ronnie Stokes has been in touch again and has some definite work on Colonsay. He is going across in May or June and is hoping that people who have already shown an interest, but not yet been in touch, will do so if they still wish to have work done. He was wondering if it could again be put in The Corncrake so that people who have had it at the back of their minds to get in touch could now do so. He asks that people send a photograph of the stone along with the work required, or the wording to be added, and he can then work out a price. His address is Ronald L Stokes, Master Sculptor, 312-314 Argyll Street, Dunoon, Argyll, phone 01369 702162, e-mail stokesmemorials@yahoo.co.uk.
[NOTE: I can probably help with a digital photo to transmit to Ronnie Stokes if anybody needs it - Editor]
hi kevin,
as part of my course i've to write a bit about the infectious diseases of
colonsay, you might not have a clue about what im going to ask, but i was
wondering if you know what species of liver fluke are present on colonsay?
I would expect Fasciola hepatica Common liver fluke()to be present as it likes
relys on an aquatic snail that lives in marshy fields, a habitat abundunt on
colonsay, but the rarer dicrocoeluim dendriticuim (lesser liver fluke) might
also be present this fluke relys on both an ant and species of snails to
complete its lifecycle, so if you knew what species of ants are present on
colonsay this would be a great help.
this is not essential at all but would be
interesting as there are not many places where both species will exist
toghether and possibly infect the same sheep however this could happen on
colonsay as F. hepatica relys on an aquatic snail found in marshy conditions,
and D. D. relys on an ant and snails found in dry areas, such as machair,
therefore there is a possibility that both could exist on colonsay
thanks a lot
roderick binnie
s0236103@sms.ed.ac.uk
[This sounds like the bones of an excellent study. Hopefully readers will contact Roderick direct and he will update us later. I had always assumed that the large numbers of ducks and geese would have had an effect upon fluke reduction in Colonsay but would be delighted to be properly informed - Editor]
a charaidh choir,
Cia mar tha sibh? Tha suil agam sin gum bheil sibh slan an drasda.
Tha do Aite-"Web" math gu leoir, ach tha aon no da beg fabhdan ann. Cha neil mi cinnteach ma bithidh an Ghaidhlig agaibh, 's mar sin, bithidh mi a'scroibhadh anns a' Bheurla cruaidh anis.
Here is the text to "Colla mo ruin" with a few more verses - also; the given translation doesn't match the Gaelic words. See below.
Otherwise, great site, as noted. Very interesting!
le gach durachd math,
Seamus mac an tailleur
Cholla Mo Ruin
a' Cholla mo ruin, seachainn an dun,
tha mise 'n laimh, tha mise 'n laimh
a' Cholla mo ghraidh, seachainn an t'ait
tha mise 'n laimh, tha mise 'n laimh.
Colla my darling, avoid the fort
I am in hand, I am in hand (i.e.; "taken," a captive)
Colla my love, avoid the place
I am in hand, I am in hand
a' Cholla mo ruin, a cholla mo ruin,
seachainn an tur, thoir ort an dun,
tha mise 'n laimh, tha mise 'n laimh
Colla my darling, Colla my darling,
avoid the the tower, "give on you" the fort (i.e.; "give over" or "give up")
I am in hand, I am in hand
a' Cholla mo ghaoil, a cholla mo ghaoil,
seachainn an caol, thoir ort am fraoch,
tha mise 'n laimh, tha mise 'n laimh.
Colla my love, Colla my love
avoid the narrows (i.e.; strait)
I am in hand, I am in hand
a' bhrathair ghaolaich, ghlac iad mi
a' bhrathair ghaolaich, ghlac iad mi
a' bhrathair ghaolaich, ghlac iad mi
's mi 'nam onar, ghlac iad mi.
Beloved brother, I am taken
Beloved brother, I am taken
Beloved brother, I am taken
I am on my own (i.e.; the only survivor), I am taken
(Note that in Gaelic, the use of endearing terms to another man is not considered unusual, effeminate, or a sign of homosexuality. It was the accepted custom and practice in living memory.
However, It may ultimately stem from the fact that in Classical times, the ancient Celts were said to have practiced open homosexuality, just as the ancient Greeks did. It seems to have been common among at least some body-centered warrior aristocracies, and may reflect an older Indo-European practice or tradition.)
[Many thanks for this. I had not been aware that it was on our website, but in any case it should have been. Hopefully when the site is redesigned we can have a section devoted to Colonsay-related songs. As for this song, readers might like to be reminded that it is associated with a warning given to Colla by his personal piper, a Darroch. In playing the tune, he made a deliberate mistake which from such a talented piper was enough to alert Colla as to imminent danger; the skeleton of a man with broken fingers was found below the flagstones of Duntrune Castle during 19th century renovations. The tune is still played in the defective form. As to ancient celts, I am aware that some of my own more illustrious ancestors are said to have been closely associated with white mares in feisean, as part of the royal inauguration ceremony, but suspect they would have regarded anything else as quite beyond the Pale - Editor].
The Magazine Section
SEARCH ENGINE
Instructions are supplied, but two hints may help:
1. When using phrases, enclose them in quotation marks. For example, [lifting stone] will get you every instance of [lifting] or [stone] but ["lifting stone"] will get you what you want.
2. When you see the results, they may seem unlikely. This is because many documents (e.g. each issue of The Corncrake) are in reality just one single "page", covering many unrelated topics. No problem! Open the page, then go to the "Find (on this page)" option at the top of your screen, on a drop-down menu presented by the second button from the left. Type in the word you seek and hey-presto, it is highlighted for you. Note that you must give the page time to load (an issue of The Corncrake takes up to a minute), also that there may be more than one example on the page, so use the "Find (on this page)" function again to check that you have not missed anything.
THE MILLER'S FUNERAL (II)
The Editor is most grateful for the following contributions. The transcription was done under difficult conditions and it is good to be notified of changes needed - I have inserted these corrections into the archived copy of the piece, highlighted in red, and therefore to not list them all here - Editor
Dear Kevin
I was most interested to see your transcription of this 1875 document.
Marion McNeill, who presented the letter to the Scottish Record Office, gave me a photo-copy of the original in 1975.
She was the daughter of George McNeill, not Johnnie. The author was her grandfather, Alexander McNeill,
known in Colonsay as Alasdair a' Mhuillear. The funeral described is that of his father, John McNeill, Marion's and my great-grandfather. I am confident that Marion knew that the writer of the letter was the son of the deceased.
Alexander was in business in Glasgow, though I don't know the nature of his business. He had four sons:-
George, whom I met in his Glasgow office in the 1940's, John, a minister, Norman, an army doctor, and Alister,
who became Depute Director of the Indian Army Medical Service in World War 2 with the rank of Major-General.
There were also two daughters, Ann and Eva. There are no surviving descendants of this family.
The Colonsay laird at the time, Sir John McNeill, is described in an article in Harper's Magazine of September 1873, quoted in Appendix 3 of Loder's book. The description is confirmed in the letter by a remark
attributed to Lachlain McCaig:- "Something superhuman."
It has been suggested that what you call Sir John's "avuncular" concern for the bereaved family could be explained by there being a blood relationship between the Miller and the Laird's family, but I have seen no
evidence of this.
As to the letter itself perhaps I might suggest a few amendments to your transcription from my own reading of it.
Para 2 "Mary More" sounds as if she might be a Colonsay person, but the words are "many more."
[Readers will have enjoyed this one in particular; the others are highlighted in the archived edition of the piece - Editor]
I realise that some of these "amendments" are trivial, but feel sure that after going to so much trouble to transcribe this letter, you would want it to be as accurate as possible. I have shown and read the letter to many people and am pretty sure that my amendments are correct. I am most grateful to you for printing it and making it available to many more people.
Hope you had a good holiday in Australia.
Best wishes
Frank Troup
Hi Kevin,
I greatly enjoyed the article "The Miller's Funeral" I did considerable research on this family when I was writing my book "Lauchlan's Legacy"
The main character of the book ,Lauchlan McNeill, was married to Cathrine Currie daughter of Donald Currie and Cath Darroch and sister of the widow mentioned in the letter. Cathrine Currie McNeill died and is buried in Colonsay but all of her children came to Ontario and are buried in Rusk's Cemetery.
I would be happy to correspond with any descendants of 'the Miller's ' family.
Mary MacKay
Dear Kevin
After thoroughly enjoying 'The Miller's Funeral' in the latest
CORNCRAKE (No 86, 10 Dec 03 - 10 Jan 04), I resurrected my notes about
'The Miller's Family' (from the Mackinnon research) and hopefully
provide some further information from phrases in the letter by Alexander
McNeill (one of Mackinnon's life-long friends) to his wife in Glasgow
(all subject to checks and corrections, of course):
'Tuesday 27 July 1875'...John McNeill, the 'Colonsay miller for 48
years' (from his gravestone at Kilchattan) died at his son Alexander's
residence, 3 Myrtle Park, Crosshill, Cathcart parish, Renfrew, age 72,
Monday, 19 July 1875 (GRO Reg 1875/560/117).
'My dearest Eliza'...Elizabeth Stevenson Campbell, age 18, daughter of
Ann McIntyre and George Campbell 'Farmer', married Alexander McNeill
(from Colonsay, 'Agent, 93 Portland St, Glasgow'), age 28, at Ardifure
(her residence), Kilmartin parish, Argyll, on 21 July 1870 (Reg
1870/521/3); the Colonsay minister, James B Mackenzie, signed the
certificate.
'Baby'...Anne Alice McNeill, their third child and first daughter, born
at 3 Myrtle Park...on 22 October 1874 (Reg 1874/560/308).
'George'...George Alexander McNeill, their first child and first son,
born at 1 Regent Park Terrace, Govan parish, Lanark, on 7 May 1871 (Reg
1871/646/2/75); father Alexander 'Commission Agent (carpets and India
rubber goods)'.
'The grave was not near ready'...buried beside (?) the oldest son of
John McNeill and Hester Currie, Archibald, who died at the Royal
Infirmary in Edinburgh, age 28, after four years of tuberculosis, on 12
May 1862 (Reg 1862/685/3/575, 'residence Glasgow'); the common
gravestone says 'Marine Engineer'.
'She does not expect to be very long after him'...Hester Currie died in
Colonsay, age 73, on 12 June 1878 (Reg 1878/539/2/5).
'Johnnie did not come'...John Henry Horton McNeill, second child and
second son, born at 1 Regent Park Terrace...on 12 December 1872 (Reg
646/2/280).
'to Scalasaig yesterday--I was down looking out the spot for the
monument' ...on 18 April 1874 (Donald Mackinnon's 35th birthday), at the
Drummond Hotel, Union St in Glasgow, Alexander McNeill hosted a 'meeting
of Colonsay natives' to start the subscription toward a monument for the
recently deceased (31 January 1874 in Pau, France) Lord Colonsay, Duncan
McNeill (AN GAIDHEAL, Vol III, May 1874, page 100). With Sir John and
Lady Emma in attendance and speaking, the monument at Cnoc na Faire More
was dedicated on 9 August 1876 (OBAN TIMES, 19 August 1876).
The family of Alexander McNeill and Elizabeth Campbell lived at the
Myrtle Park residence for the 1881 census (Reg 1881/560/9/14 [sic]/66).
With them from Colonsay were his sister Hester 'House Keeper' and niece
Mary 'Domestic Servant' (daughter of sister 'Kate' McNeill and Murdoch
McNeill in Kiloran). After a significant gap from Anne's birth in 1874,
Eva Elizabeth was born on 3 October 1881 (Reg 1881/560/322), Alister
Argyll Campbell on 21 November 1884 (Reg 1884/560/339, now at 5 Myrtle
Park...), and Arthur Norman Roy on 24 April 1886 (Reg 1886/560/126).
The family lived at 'Orinsa' of 5 Myrtle Park for the 1891 census (Reg
1891/560/13/33); Anne is not listed and presumably had died; no others
from Colonsay are listed in the household.
Alexander McNeill died at 'Orinsa', age 54, 'Retired Commission Agent',
on 4 September 1897 (Reg 1897/560/282). The OBAN TIMES (11 September
1897) eulogized him as "one of the most enthusiastic and well-loved
Highlanders in Glasgow..."
Elizabeth Campbell died at 523 Shields Rd, Glasgow, age 51 on 29
November 1903 (Reg 1903/644/13/379).
I will send a hard-copy by air-mail in case this does not transmit.
Most important, welcome home! Regards to All, John (Sheets)
CLAN CURRIE RESURGANT
Colonsay's shores attracted an American researching family roots. It wasn't just his own lineage, however, but that of the ancient Scottish bardic dynasty, the MacMhurichs.
Robert Currie, president of the Clan Currie Society, based in New Jersey, came ashore this summer and spent time researching his clan's island connections with Corncrake editor and local historian, Kevin Byrne. The Curries, (the Anglicized form of MacMhurich), lived on Colonsay into the 17th century.
Byrne shared his knowledge of local history with Currie, explaining some prevailing theories of the relationship between the MacMhurrichs and other leading families on Colonsay and Oronsay. "I think (the MacPhees) for centuries were hand in glove with the MacMhurichs," Byrne said.
Currie noted that the MacMhurichs were known as the bards to the Lords of the Isles, which may have even put them slightly higher up the political ladder in that era as compared to other vassal clans within the Lordship. "I would imagine certainly that there isn't a question of one sort being more important than another," Byrne said. "It's just that they all were significant. Because, as time went by, they all developed their own specialties."
Byrne showed Currie Dun Meadhonach, which may have been Bally Mhurrich centuries ago. This site, also known as Tigh an tom dreis or "bramble knoll house, has been remembered in local folklore as the home of a MacMhuirich Chief. Robert Currie also set out to locate Cuidh Chattain, a natural rock basin where MacMhuirich was said to have had power over the elements. A stone formation fitting this derscription was in fact located behind the bookstore. Mr. Currie also learned about Calum Caol MacMhuirich or "Slim Malcolm" Currie, who slaughtered an invading army of MacLeans in their sleep during a raid on the island in the 16th century. The site is remembered as Glaic a' Mhuirt or "Murder Hollow."
Currie's visit also took him to the Oronsay Priory, where he saw the grave slab (ca. 1550) of Bricius (Gilbride) MacMhurich, an Augustinian canon. The grave slab along with Papal records help to establish the Curries connection with the Prior back to the 14th century. For further information, see Corncrake issue #34, July 1-15, 2001 at: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hotel/old1/cornframe34.html.
Byrne related some local history from the 17th century and the English civil war, particularly the year 1647. "In Colonsay a dreadful (massacre) must have taken place," he said. "We don't actually have, not surprisingly, records of what exactly took place here. But it's quite certain that by the end of 1647 this Catholic island, this home of the Curries, the MacDonalds, and the MacPhees, these families almost entirely disappeared."
Currie was most impressed with his visit and hopes to continue to research and interview the Curries and MacMhurrich families of Colonsay and Oronsay. It seems high time that the MacMhuirich history on these islands be recorded and published.
The Clan Currie Society maintains a fine website which serves as a central repository for all things related to this great Scots family. It can be visited at www.clancurrie.com.
Website to explore: SCOTLANDSPEOPLE
Some things in Scotland leave a lot to be desired. Are they really paying fat sums to the staff of Standard Life, no questions asked? Did they really build that Parliament Building? Are they really thinking of downgrading Oban Hospital? Why can we not have impartial advice on farmed salmon?
On the other hand, some things are properly organised and implemented. An unsung hero in the field is this website; a world leader. It brings credit upon the nation, and one wonders whether or not those responsible have yet featured in any Honours list.
During 2004, make a note to visit http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk to find out more about your Scottish family roots, or just to marvel at the technical achievement. This brilliant site contains almost 37 million names, the ScotlandsPeople database is one of the world's largest resources of genealogical information and one of the largest single information resources on the Web. It provides a fully searchable index of Scottish births from 1553-1902, marriages from 1553 to 1854 and deaths from 1855 to 1952. In addition, indexed census data is available for 1881, 1891 and 1901.
CLAN CURRIE NEWSLETTER
All of us at the Clan Currie Society extend our warmest wishes for a safe, healthy, and Happy New Year.
2003 was an incredibly busy and satisfying year for our Society. We made great strides towards achieving our vision of becoming a premier Scottish cultural organization and center of learning about the Clan Currie. We began the year with our second Burns Supper which again attracted a capacity crowd. Sponsored by our friends at the Classic Malts of Scotland, the event featured a guest appearance by Master Distiller, Alastair Robertson from the Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye.
National Tartan Day found us making new acquaintances and renewing old ones at our second Ellis Island event. We hosted four of Scotland's finest craftsfolk in "A Celebration of Scotland's Crafts." That weekend, Ellis Island welcomed over 12,000 visitors. Special thanks go out to our Tartan Day partners - the National Museums of Scotland and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum - added thanks go out to the Grand Summit Hotel for their generous assistance.
The Ellis Island event also became the subject of our first doumentary film entitled, "The Crafter's Song," which is now in post-production. This film ushers in a new and exciting chapter for the Society. After producing two award-winning broadcasts of our "Pipes of Christmas" concert, we are now expanding our outreach efforts yet again by producing documentary films on Scottish history and culture. Our success in this area will hinge greatly on our ability to attract and retain financial sponsors for these productions. If any member has access to such support, do let us know!
Clan Currie also led the celebrations for National Tartan Day in New Jersey, which included coordinating a proclamation from Governor James McGreevey declaring April 6, 2003 as "Tartan Day in New Jersey," and a celebration and lecture at the Proprietary House Museum in Perth Amboy. We lent logistical and financial support to the Tartan Day celebrations in Washington, DC as well. Sadly, many of the scheduled events in Washington were cancelled due to security precautions concerning the war in Iraq.
We were honored to join with Friends of the National Museums of Scotland to support the launch of Scotland's National Museum of Sport. To that end, we have also commenced research on two of Clan Currie's own who played key roles in furthering the game of golf in Scotland. It is our goal to propose both for inclusion in the Museum's Hall of Fame. William Currie was an innovator in the design and composition of the golf ball and Thomas D. Currie was a celebrated clubmaker.
We participated in eight gatherings and festivals this year with many clansfolk volunteering to represent Clan Currie at their local games. Highlights of our games appearances included participation at the Clanjamfry Scottish Festival in Memphis, TN, the dedication of a beautiful Clan Currie plaque at the Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou, Nova Scotia, and a triumphant return to the Isle of Bute in Scotland for the highland games and the long-awaited discovery of the Currie's ancient farmlands on Bute at Balilone overlooking Loch Fad.
We also raised awareness for Clan Currie at the Glenfinnan and Crieff Games. A special thank you goes out to all clansfolk who helped make our participation at these festivals possible. Anyone interested in hosting a clan tent at their local gathering should contact the Society for further information. A first-step would be to read Gail Currie's article on "Hosting a Clan Tent" archived on our website.
As we gained further knowledge of our clan's past, we also made great strides in setting a course for our future. We had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with the Rt. Hon. Ranald Alexander MacDonald of Clanranald, 24th Chief and Captain of Clanranald. The Currie's served as hereditary bards to the Clanranalds for some three centuries. Clanranald was a truly gracious highland host at a memorable picnic lunch in Glen Lean near his estate in Killin. It was mutually-agreed that this was an historic reunion of Clanranald and MacMhuirich, the first to occur in some three hundred years!
Of equal importance was an October meeting with the Rt. Hon. Robin Orr Blair, LVO, WS, Lord Lyon King of Arms. We had the opportunity to discuss our research into the vast contributions of the Currie's and our ongoing efforts to rally the descendants of this great bardic dynasty worldwide. The Lord Lyon was quite welcoming to the idea that the Society should continue in their work and maintain communications with his office with regards to possibly applying for official clan recognition. Keep visiting our website for continued updates.
In December, we hosted our Fifth Anniversary production of "The Pipes of Christmas." This year's production sold out all 800 seats in a record six weeks, with all seats sold before Halloween! For 2003, we added some wonderful new performers including, Christopher Layer, Jennifer Port, Tom Roche and the NJ Youth Chorus. We were delighted to receive so many letters of congratulations from many of our Nation's lawmakers and doubly pleased to have received a welcome letter from Scotland's First Minister, the Rt. Hon. Jack McConnell!
It was a bittersweet event for many of us, for while we produced what many have said to be our best concert ever, we sorely missed the presence of our long-time friend and musical collaborator, Pipe Major Kevin Blandford. Kevin lost his battle with cancer on November 26 at the age of 40. It was Kevin's musical genius that was the source of these wonderful concerts. Kevin's successor, Matt Nonnemacher performed flawlessy and we trust will remain in his new leadership post as Pipe Major within the band. We look forward to welcoming him - and the band - back next year.
As we write this annual message, we are already busy preparing for 2004. On January 24, we will host our third-annual Burns Night dinner dance. Tickets are still available but going fast. Let us know if you'd like to make a reservation. Plans are also underway for our return to Ellis Island in April with a new exhibit from the Drambuie Collection in Edinburgh. Entitled, "Loyalty and Exile: The Jacobites In America," the exhibit will look at the impact of the fall of the Stuart dynasty on immigration to North America.
We are also anxious in the coming year to expand our presence at highland games and gatherings, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. If any member would like to help us in these regions, please advise.
Regulars
Readers Write
cd.pro@sasktel.ne
Hi there, I am related to the Macmillans and Blues of Colonsay. According
to my information many left there and ended up in PEI, Canada, where many
are buried. I am seeking any information about when they left or how they
left. I have gone through the 1841 census but there isn't enough detail
there for me to confirm which relatives are which. Thus far I have...
My great grandmother Sophia Macmillan Blue was born in Canada. Her parents
were James Hector Blue (1839 - 1887) and Sarah Winters (of Ireland. James
Hector Blue's trail leads to Colonsay where his parents were Donald Blue and
Sophia Macdonald. Sophia Macdonald's parents were Donald Macdonald and Mary
Blue. I am not sure which Mary Blue this is as I have no time frame to
reference her off of. All I know is that Mary Blue's parents were Donald
Blue and Grace (Grissel) Macmillan. Grace macmillan's parents were Malcolm
Hector Macmillan (died May 8, 1847 in Queens, PEI, Canada) and Grace
MacNeill (died Jan. 3, 1833, PEI). I also have that Malcolm Hector
Macmillan's father was Hector Macmillan. All of these anscestors are from
Colonsay to my knowledge.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Ali Hunter
Saskatchewan, Canada
From Sylvia and Jean McPhee, in Canada
We are busy updating all our family history files. We have
received a lot of information from Alastair Morton about Dugald
McNeill (1850 to 1928) and his family, silblings, offspring etc. We
have also been in touch with John McLaren of Gargunnock who is a
local historian and has given us family data and insight into the
village and the estate where the McNeills were factors for many, many
years. Did you meet Alastair's Mother when she was on Colonsay this
year? We have exchanged notes but have not gotten in to details of
the family yet.
We have received quite a bit of information on Malcolm McCannell who
came to Canada in the 1840s and his descendants. We visited
Dunvegen, just south of Ottawa, this past summer and found some
family graves. We intend to return to the area this coming summer to
track down a few more. We also have data on the family of Alexander
McCannel (1845 - 1926) whose descendent, John Hamilyon came to Canada
after WWI. I am currently interweaving all this new data in to our
narrative and will share this with you , if you wish, as soon as it
is completed.
I don't get to see The Corncrake very often since I do not have a
computer, but I have been trying to follow the 1901 Census and the
matching of houses to families. I have noted that Malcolm McCannel
and his family are living in Kilchatten in what is now Archie's
holiday cottage. (Malcolm is the eldest son of my Great Grand Aunt
Marion McNeill McCannel.) Does Archie have an e-mail address? We'd
like to know about the cottage. Does Archie live next to Kilchatten
Cemetery? Where is the cottage?
[I do not have Archie's email address - perhaps he could send it direct? The cottage is about 1 kilometre east of the graveyard… Editor]
We are planning a quiet Hogmanay. I'm sure you will have great time
on Colonsay. Our dancing days are over, I'm afraid. Please give all
our friends on Colonsay our very best wishes for the New Year. May
you all have all you wish for in 2004.
With love,
Sylvia and Jean
Please note my new e-mail address
e-mail: jemcphee@magma.ca
To: The Editor of Corncrake:
Thank you for the information gained on the families of Albertha's husband
John McCormick. Just recently, I found that she is the daughter of Matthew
Bowser and Fannie Marie Gerow. Also thank you for her parents names.
Matthew Bowser Jr was named after his father Matthew Bowser b:1814 England
married to Catherine Schonneau in 1838 St James Cathedral, Toronto, Ontario
Canada. Both are buried in Alliston Cemetery, Alliston, Ontario Canada.
Matthew Bowser JR's sister was Margaret Bowser, spinster, married widower,
Mark Burgess Loblaw (Theodore Loblaw - Loblaw stores). There were several
other children, one being Thomas Bowser(wife Sarah Hutchison) had one son
John Edward. John married Annie McLeod and raised several children on
Manitoulin Island. One of the Bowser daughters married into the Buie family
(Milton Buie) of Manitoulin Island.
I had the opportunity to visit Manitoulin this summer and they came from the
Kagawong and Gore Bay area. Anyone interested in their monument headstones
go to Google.com and type Kagawong Cemetery Manitoulin Island Ontario Canada
and they can print the information (same for Gore Bay).
Again thanks for the valuable information and connecting families.
Happy New Year to you.
Isabel Bowser
[Many thanks for the encouragement, it is good to know when something is helpful - Editor]
campbell@uwo.ca campbell@uwo.ca
Hi,
I have been reading your site and have found some very intersting things on it.
My family left Mull in August 1808 on the Clarendon and immigrated to PEI. I
believe they were from Colonsay and were born around 1752 (John Campbell) and
his wife Isobel, born around same time.
Is there anywhere on-line that I could obtain information on the parish lists
from Mull of around 1704 or 05?
I have done pretty good so far in tracing my family back but I don't know who
John's parent were.
Any information you can give me would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Pam Campbell
London, Ontario, Canada
[Any reader who can help is invited to reply direct to Pam. I believe that the Bunessan Historical Group, Ross of Mull, Isle of Mull, Argyll might be worth a shot, but somebody might be able to provide a more accurate address …. Editor]
|