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"The Spencer" emigrants to N.S. 1806
In recent issues, there has been reference to the persons cleared from Colonsay in 1791 and 1792, and an article about a traditional memory of "How the Bells left Balnahard". In connection with the latter story, the writer has speculated that it very likely refers to the voyage of "The Spencer" from Oban to PEI in 1806.
At this point it might be worthwhile to speculate as to what process was at work; it is known that the Old Laird had inherited Oransay from his father and that he therefore had full possession of that farm. In the years before he actually purchased Colonsay itself, he had had the stewardship of the estate and had commissioned an Estate Map which shows clearly his intention to create large modern farms with a peasant labour force to be relocated into newly created 5 acre crofts in Kilchattan. Knowing that he would be moving to Kiloran House, he will have wished to create an adequate Home Farm; it seems reasonable to suppose that the migrants of 1791 and 1792 will have been domiciled in Balavetchy and the fertile part of the "twa killorans" as they were then known.
A rather earlier and smaller migration had already taken place, which may be the subject of a later article. For the moment, suffice to say that the prime movers in that first exodus were Curries and that their departure coincided with the disappearance of "Baillevurrich" (Currie's Fermtoun) from the list of local farms. We cannot as yet identify the families involved in 1791 and 1792, but hyothesise that they lived at Kiloran/Balavetchy. As we now come to look at the details of the voyage of the "Spencer" it will become clear that two families were of great significance, the MacMillans and the Bells.
The MacMillans were ancient supporters of the MacNeills, were associated with them in the history of Castle Sween, Gigha and Knapdale, and are held to have accompamied the MacNeills when they acquired Colonsay. The MacMillans were a senior branch of the Bells, who had lived in Colonsay for generations. An examination of the passenger list suggests that Malcolm MacMillan and his wife Grizel McNeill were the effective leaders of the party and that they had probably been instrumental in convincing the rest of the families to accompany them; probably Malcolm was a tacksman and/or Grizel was a close family connection of the laird. Almost all the party that travelled was inter-related and, for the first time, it has been possible to identify the entire party as being from Colonsay.
As a working hypothesis it is suggested that the purpose of the enterprise was to gain vacant possession of Kilchattan, so that crofts could be created and the remaining islanders could be rearranged in a manner convenient to the landlord. If true, the MacMillans will have been the occupants of Kilchattan, and of course the departure of the Bells will have provided an opportunity to "improve" Balnahard, their ancient home. In a future article, it will be shown that Balnahard was indeed the first of the farms to pass to a lowland grazier.
Owing to pressure of time it has not been possible to develop this theme at this time, but contributions to the study will be welcome. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, it is assumed that the 1806 emigration was largely accepted as an "opportunity", although it is easy to see that some of the older passengers were not fit to undertake such a journey. It would be good to know exactly who it was that organised the voyage, chartered the ship, arranged the rendezvous at Balnahard etc.
Although the voyage is recorded as "from Oban", it is now clear that the passengers actually boarded at Colonsay and were transported directly to the New World. It is also clear that the manifest was constructed by a clerk in Nova Scotia, and records the passengers who actually landed in Canada. We know a great deal about the ship and about the fate of the passengers, and Colonsay owes a great debt to many people for their invaluable researches.
It is appropriate to thank Ann Bonnell, who has recorded and published so many Colonsay gravestones from Woods Island and other Pioneer cemeteries; and also Douglas C MacMillan whose book is the fruit of patient and scholarly work ("The MacMillans and the MacNeills who Emigrated in 1806 from the Isle of Colonsay, Argyllshire, Scotland to Prince Edward Island, Canada on the ship Spencer and settled in Wood Islands").
"A List of Passengers imported in the ship "Spencer" of Newcastle, Francis Brown, Master, from Oban N. Britain 22nd Sept. 1806"
(Note: Name and age is preceded by a number which gives the individual's position in the original list, which was divided by gender.)
1 Malcolm McEacharn 58 (Father of Angus?)
1 Flora Buchanan 52 (Mother of Angus?)
4 Angus McEacharn 32 Married CSA 24 Feb 1799, baptised "Malcolm" Feb 2 1803.
2 Mary McEacharn 28
2 Don'd McEacharn 22
(note: A Donald McEacharn m. Mary McNeill 10 Mar 1805 CSA, baptised Cathrine Aug 10 1806???)
3 Angus McEacharn 12
5 Niel McEacharn 7 (A Niel McEacharn was baptised CSA 16 Oct 1801 to Finlay McEacharn and Annie McLean)
6 James McEacharn 1.5
7 Dugald McNiel 60
3 Flora McMillan 51
8 Alexr. McNiel 26 d. 1863 m. fellow migrant Margaret McPhee (see below) 1784 - 1870 bu. St. Catherine's
9 Cha's McNiel 15 d. 1879 m fellow migrant (see below) Flora Bell 1796 - 1867 bu. St. Catherine's
10 Dugald McNiel 12 d. 1879 m. fellow migrant Catherine Bell bu. New Dominion
4 Isabella McNiel 7
11 Duncan Bell 78 (Dougald's father?) (m. Mary MacDuff # 42 in list)
5 Mary Bell 26 (Dougald's sisterl)
12 Dougald Bell 25 (a.k.a "Gilbert" - see below)
6 Cathr. McEacharn 27 Married fellow migrant Arch'd Bell # 12 (below)
7 Flora Bell 9 m. fellow migrant Charles McNeill (see above), d. 1867, bu. St. Catherine's
13 Duncan Bell 7 (baptised CSA 12 Aug 1797, to "Gilbert" Bell and Catherine McEacharn)
14 Hector Campbell 30
8 Chris'n McPhaden 27 Perhaps a sister of Pegy McFaden who m. Angus Bell in CSA 18 Oct 1801
15 Niel Campbell 3
16 John Campbell 1
17 Malcolm McNiel 51 b. c. 1755 Son Donald with own family # 49 (below)
9 Mary Livingstone 51 b. c. 1755 Note that one Archibald Livingstone m. Mary Blue and had issue in CSA; he was probably a brother of Mary.
10 Jennet McNiel 20
18 John McNiel 14 Died 1852, bu. Woods Islands
11 Margaret Livingstone 32 Probably Mary's sister.
19 James Currie 25 (James Currie m. Annie McDuffy (?) in CSA June 6 1803)
20 James Currie 2
21 John Bell 40
12 Christian MacDonald 36 (Possibly a second marriage for John Bell? More likely a mistake by a non-Gaelic speaker at P.E.I. - the name "Grisael McCannell" sounds much the same.)
13 Mary Bell 15 Married Hector McMillan (see below) 1811, d. 1875 bu. Woods Island
14 Nelly Bell 12
15 Catherine Bell 10 m. fellow migrant Dougald McNeill (see above), d. 1886 bu. New Dominion
16 Janet Bell 5 (Baptised "Jeny" 12 April 1801, to John Bell & Grisael McCannell); later married Alexander McMillan (see below).
22 John Bell 3
17 Marg't Bell 0.5 (Baptised CSA 23 Feb 1806, to John Bell & Grisael McCannell)
18 Flora McDuffie 41 Possibly travelling with her brother-in-law and nephews?
- Malcolm Bell 65
His wife Mary McDuff travelling with daughter's family (see # 42)
- Arch'd Bell 25 a.k.a. Gilbert and as Duncan m. Catherine McEacharn #6
- Angus Bell 24
26 Malcolm McMillan 48 a.k.a. Malcom Hector (Callum Eachan), was b. c. 1750 in CSA, son of Hector (the pilot who did NOT go with Prince Charles). Died 17 Jan 1833 (Woods Island). An important and well researched CSA emigrant.
20 Grissel McNiel 40 More than 2,200 living descendants by 1990
28 James McMillan 19 a.k.a. Hamish; married fellow migrant Ann Munn (see below), b. c. 1783, d. 1861
29 Alex'r McMillan 14 Baptised CSA April 18 1798, d. 1872. Married fellow migrant Janet Bell (see above)
27 Hector McMillan 13 Married Mary Bell (see above) 1811, died 1819 (see footnote)
30 Malcolm McMillan 10 a.k.a Callum Og. Baptised CSA 12 June 1796, d. 1867. Married Christina Currie b. c. 1811. Bu. Woods Islands
21 Flora McMillan 8 Died 1867, m. Magnus MacDonald 1788-1846; bu. Woods Islands.
31 Duncan McMillan 4 died 1876, m. Mary Shaw 1801 - 1890, bu. Belfast (Canada)
22 Sophia McMillan 3.5 Baptised in CSA 16 Oct 1801; m. Donald Blue
23 Cathrine McMillan 1 Baptised in CSA 17 Jul 1803; m. Malcolm Smith b. 1799
32 Murdoch McMillan 55
33 Duncan McDuff 54 a.k.a Donald McDuffie b.c. 1752
24 Mary McNiel 40 a.k.a. Marrion McNeill b.c. 1766
25 Marg't McDuff 20 a.k.a MacPhee, m. fellow migrant Alexander McNeill d. 1870 bu. St. Catherine's
34 Dugald McDuff 17
26 Janet McDuff 14
27 Cathrine McDuff 9
28 Effy McDuff 5 Baptised in CSA Aug 10 1799 to Donald McDuffie & Marrion McNeill
35 Don'd McDuff 2.5
36 James Currie 30 Married Annie McDuffie in CSA Dec 2 1803
29 Nancy McDuff 19 a.k.a. Annie McDuffie
30 Mary Currie 7mnths Baptised in CSA 23 Feb 1806 to James Currie & Annie McDuffie
37 Duncan Munn 60 a.k.a John Duncan Munn. B. CSA 1746, d. 1841 PEI
31 Flora Brown 58 B. CSA 1748
38 Malcolm Munn 23 B. 1783 later m. Jessie Blue (and/or Mgt Shaw). Died 1837
32 Ann Munn 17 B. CSA 1788 m fellow emigrant James MacMillan in PEI, d. 1870 bu. Woods Islands
33 Effy Mun 15 B. 1791 m. James McNeil
39 Niel Munn 28 Niel Mun married Cathrine Currie in CSA Jun 6 1803; son of Duncan Brown and Flora Brown (above # 37), brother of Angus and James.
34 Cathrine Currie 22
40 Ja's Munn 30 James Mun m. Bety Millan in CSA 29 Dec 1805; d. 1868 bu. Woods Islands.
35 Betty McMillan 18 Daughter of Malcolm & Grisael. D. 1873
41 Angus Munn 31 Angus Mun m. Pegy McNeill in CSA Dec 10 1803; his parents were Duncan Mun and Flora Brown (above # 37)
36 Marg't McNiel 21
37 Cathrine Munn 7mnths Baptised in CSA 23 Feb 1806, d. before 1881, m. Roderick McNeill
42 Gilbert McAldridge 38 Gilbert McAlder m. Cathrine Darrach in CSA 24 Feb 1799
38 Cathr. Darroch 30
43 John McAldridge 7 Baptised in CSA sep 12 1800
44 Alexr. McAldridge 5 Baptised in CSA Feb 26 1799
45 Peter McAldridge 3 Baptised in CSA Apr 26 1802
46 John (sic) McAlridge 1
39 Janet Currie 55
40 Rachael Darroch 37
47 Ja's Darroch 32
48 Arch'd Darroch 20
49 Don'd McNiel 34 Donald McNeill m. Marrion Bell in CSA 28 Dec 1797; son of Malcolm McNeill and Mary Livingstone (above)
41 Marion Bell 34 Born c. 1772, bu. Woods Islands Her parents are # 11 & # 42
50 Malcolm McNiel 5 Married Mary MacNeill b. 1814, d. 1901, bu. Woods Islands
51 Don'd McNiel 2 d. 1877, m. Mary MacMillan 1813 - 1887, dr. of James and Ann Munn; bu. Woods Islands
42 Mary McDuff 72 (m. Duncan Bell, # 11,mother of Marion, above) Care of the parents on the journey was seemingly shared between the two branches of the new generation.
52 Dougald McLean 32
43 Jane Currie 21
53 Allan McLean 6
54 Alex'r McLean 2
55 Gilbert McLean 3mnths Arch'd was baptised in CSA to Donald McLean & Annie Currie 22 Jul 1805
44 Dolly Patterson 70 (Dougald's mother?) (A Doly Paterson m. Donald Mun Sept 22 1805 in CSA)
45 Cathrine McLean 35 (Dougald's sister?)
56 Hector McNiel 27 Hector McNeill m. Annie McEacharn in CSA Dec 2 1804
46 Ann McEacharn 19
57 Arch'd McEacharn 30 Archd. McEacharn m. Cathrine Currie in CSA jul 16 1800
47 Cathr. Currie 26
58 Malcolm McEacharn 3 Baptised in CSA Feb 2 1803
59 Angus Darroch 60 Father of Duncan (see below)
48 Effie McAlester 60 Mother of Duncan (see below)
60 Malcolm Darroch 20 Brother of Duncan? (see below).
49 Nancy Brown 23 Perhaps a niece of Flora Brown? (see above).
61 Duncan Darroch 28 Duncan Darrach m. Pegy McMillan in CSA Feb 6 1798; d. 1853 bu. St. Catherine's.
50 Margt. McMillan 26 Daughter of Malcolm and Grisael (above) b. c. 1781, d. 1853 bu. St. Catherine's.
62 John Darroch 3 Baptised in CSA July 17 1803
51 Nancy Darroch 26 (Duncan's sister?)
63 Don'd Shaw 30
64 Peter McDougald 33
Totals:
Males over 60 years: 2 Females over 60 years: 2
Males 16 - 60 years: 35 Females 16 - 60 years: 33
Males under 16 years: 27 Females under 16 years: 16
TOTAL MALES 64 TOTAL FEMALES 51
Thus 115 individuals sailed, comprising c. 30 discrete family groups but apparently composed of a very much smaller number of extended and inter-related family groupings. All of these individuals seem to have Colonsay connections and about one third of the contingent had MacMillan or Bell connections.
The above notes against names are not exhaustive. They are based upon church registers which were very poorly kept, not least because they were kept in Jura. It may be that certain Colonsay marriages and baptisms were entered in the wrong register, but the "Jura" registers have not been examined. Extensive additional information is available about many individuals, but has not been inserted in this short article - please contact the editor if you wish to make further enquiries or have material to contribute.
Note that the original register records males and females, but does not state family relationships. It has been possible to reconstruct family groups, as originally demonstrated by Douglas C MacMillan in 1984 (although the reconstruction here differs slightly in the light of fuller background information). The numbers in the lefthand column refer to the original register and are broadly sequential by sex. For convenience, highlighting has been used to identify discrete family groups. 22nd September was the date of arrival - departure from Colonsay will have been in early August.
Footnote: Hector MacMillan who married Mary Bell died young. He operated a coasting boat and took passengers to Pictou in 1810; it is believed that he or his wife operated a ferry boat at Southport. "Hector was murdered in Charlottetown on June 28, 1819, and the inquest was held on July 8, 1819, as reported in the Island Gazette of August 16 1819. The murderer, Hardington, was convicted from testimony of "Indian Joe", branded on the hand with "M", and sentenced to 39 lashes at Market House, plus 39 at the Stocks, plus 39 at the Gaol. All of this was carried out the same day. (From file at Beaconsfield)." - quotation from Douglas C. MacMillan.
Building a House in Colonsay
Whether this should be titled "How to Build a House in Colonsay" or "How not to Build a House in Colonsay" only time will tell.
The project started as a germ of an idea some 6 or 7 years ago as a pleasant thought for retirement which at that time seemed far, far away. However in 1996 after Margaret died I thought "Why not?" and started to make serious enquiries about possible sites. Two were unearthed, the old generator shed above the Hotel in Squint Street and a choice of 3 plots in the glebe in front of Georgina's house. A visit to Colonsay followed at Easter 1997 with Duncan and my very sceptical sister. The view won and I decided to go for the glebe plot furthest from the pier. After a major inquisition by my sister ( "What if you are ill?" etc. etc.), all answered apparently satisfactorily, I was told that when I saw her coming off the ferry with a cat basket I was in trouble. What else are older sisters for?
The next stage was to establish a price with the Church of Scotland and to apply for outline planning consent. This took us to the beginning of 1998 when I got consent from the Argyll and Bute Council and could go ahead with the formal offer to buy the land. If you think Central and local Government beaurocracy is slow you haven't dealt with the Ecclesiastical version! The purchase was not concluded until May 1999!
Then fate took a hand, for once not to my disadvantage, and I got the chance to retire 2 years early. This was too good to miss so I took it and immediately started talking to an architect, John Wilson in Oban. From a sketch design that I gave him he worked up a detailed design which we sent to the council for their approval in November.
Planning consent was easy but the siting and drainage from the septic tank proved to be less so. First of all the building inspector who was over in February saw the site when the whole of Colonsay was running with water and bogs had formed where no bog had any right to be and things did not look good. However a high tech solution was found using a treatment plant rather than a septic tank. So far so good. But then the Clyde River Purification Board got their three pennyworth in and said that we would get no advantage from this plant. So back a few squares. Then a knight in shining armour, in the form of Kevin Byrne, came to the rescue and suggested that the Church would not object if I applied to put the soakaway on the far side of the road on what was also Church land. Problem, we hope, solved.
So now I have a hole in the ground which Nigel has had dug as a start to preparing the site, the foundations are being dug and I have sold my old house and have moved onto the Island to a rented cottage.
So that's where we are now.
Editors note: A. McG. has kindly agreed that updates will be given (hopefully, with each issue of "The Corncrake"); as the project unfolds smoothly and easily, other readers may be inspired to relocate to Colonsay.
ORAN PHADHRAIG
In an earlier issue, reference was made to Donald Clark, skipper of the "Dunara Castle". The following song was composed by him and exists in his own hand. The original is on official paper of "Glasgow and Highland Royal Mail Steamers - David MacBrayne Ltd" but undated. Many thanks to Alastair Scouller who transcribed the piece and inserted accents etc.
An cuala sibh fhathast mar a thachair do Phàdhraig?
Chaidh e air turus a shealltainn a chàirdean.
Dh'fhalbh e a Ghlascho air an Dunara -
Madainn Di-màirt a chaidh e air bòrd.
Nuair theann i ri astar, 'sann chaidh e gu h-iosal,
Botall 'na achlais a fhuair e bho Lìosaidh.
Thuirt e, "S beag agamsa gaoth no droch shìde
Air gob Maol Cinntìre bithidh mise, 's mi 'g òl."
Thòisich a' rolladh nuair dh'fhàg i Caol Ila;
Uibhistich, Barraich is Hearraich 'nan sìneadh.
Thuirt Pàdhraig, "Na bithibh sibh idir fo mì-ghin[?] -
Seinnidh mi fhéin dhuibh Eilean a' Cheò."
Ràinig iad Glascho latha na Sàbaid,
Pàdhraig 'na sheasamh, a luggage 'na làimh ris:
Firkin do sgadan is pòca buntàta -
Preasant do Mhàiri air Sràid Kelvinhaugh.
Bha porter 's e cockadh a chorrag ri Pàdhraig.
Thuirt e, "Dean fuireach is gheibh mi dhuit làraidh.
Chan fhaigh thu air taxi le pòca buntàta,
Ach chì mise thu sàbhailt gu Sràid Kelvinhaugh."
Website to explore
Website of the week: In the article above, introducing the "Spencer" to our columns, gratitude was expressed to Ann Bonnell of PEI, a Colonsay descendant. Ann has researched Pioneer graveyards and has published the memorials of many departed Colbhasaichs … follow this link to see for yourself: http://www.rootsweb.com/~pictou/lilsands.htm
The link will bring you to Little Sands Cemetery, from which you can find Woods Island and many others. Or try some shipping lists - no doubt there is plenty of information on the "Spencer".
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