Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates for Rev. Donald MacCallum, Craignish, minister at Heylipol 1887-1889, and his wife Mary MacCallum (nee MacAulay, Ardnamurchan).
“Donald’s wife, Mary, had a twin brother, also a Donald; Mary’s age on the marriage certificate was misrecorded as 19 – she was only 18; Mary was not at Donald’s house on the night of the 1901 census – she may already have been sick and staying with her parents, since by this time, her father was a Physician and Surgeon; Mary died at the age of 26 on 8 October 1902, in Castlebay where she was staying with her parents – her Dad was the Medical Officer on Barra. She died of rheumatism and pericarditis – not of a pregnancy-related cause as one would have expected with someone her age; Donald died in Duirinish where he was living with his nephew, Tom Shields. Donald and Mary had no children. Donald was born on 9 October 1849 in Craignish.” Colin MacCallum, 2017
Black & white sketch of Rev. Donald MacCallum by J Gordon Murdoch, Cambuslang 1923. From the frontispiece of Donald’s book ‘Dain Domhnullan’. The Reverend MacCallum was minister of Heylipol during 1887-1889. He was a key agitator during the Highland Clearances and a chief leader during Tiree’s Crofters’ War. A memorial cairn ‘Tùr Mhic Chaluim’ was erected by the people of Tiree at Kilkenneth-Moss.
Black & white photograph of the Rev. Donald MacCallum (seated) and an unidentified crofter at the cairn at Kilkenneth, which was erected to him by the people of Tiree in 1889 for all he did for them during the Crofters’ War. Digitally enhanced from a copy of the original, which was published in a newspaper from the time.
Booklet in Gaelic of sermons by An t-Urramach Donull MacCalum / Rev. Donald MacCallum minister at Sgire-nan-Loch, Isle of Lewis, around 1890. It is likely that the booklet once had a heavy cover. Chapters are titled: Do Mhurchadh MacLeoid an-t-Eildier, with a photograph; Am beannachadh; An tur laidir; Dol dhachaidh with a photograph of Rev. Calum MacCalum; Fear-ar-graidh, with a photograph of Rev Donald MacCallum giving a sermon in church; An Daingneach, ard, with a photograph of An t-Urramach Donall MacCalum himself. The Reverend MacCallum was minister of Heylipol during 1887-1889. He was a key agitator during the Highland Clearances and a chief leader during Tiree’s Crofters War. A memorial cairn ‘Tùr Mhic Chaluim’ was erected by the people of Tiree at Kilkenneth-Moss.
Small hardback booklet of public addresses made by Rev. Donald MacCallum (1849-1929) of Waternish, Skye, dated 1884. The Reverend MacCallum was minister of Heylipol during 1887-1889. He was a key agitator during the Highland Clearances and a chief leader during Tiree’s Crofters’ War. A memorial cairn ‘Tùr Mhic Chaluim’ was erected by the people of Tiree at Kilkenneth-Moss.
Photocopy of brass plaque on MacCallum`s cairn at Kilkenneth
Black & white photocopy of the brass plaque on MacCallum`s cairn at Kilkenneth. Erected in 1986, the plaque reads “In memory of rev. Donald MacCallum born Craignish, Argyll, 9th October 1849, Minister of Hylipol, Tyree Dec. 1887 – Aug. 1889. Died 23rd April 1929 at Glendale, Skye. Interred in Glendale Cemetery. Like the biblical prophets he took up the cause of the oppressed and was chief leader of the Land League movement of the time.”
Photograph of Tùr Mhic Chaluim at Kilkenneth in 2001
Born in Argyll in 1849, the Reverend Donald MacCallum was radicalised by what he saw of the Clearances and became the crofters’ and cottars’ champion. This was a rare stand for a minister at that time dependant as they were on their landlord for manse, glebe and living.
He served in Loch Geàrr, Arisaig and Skye, where he became the only Highland minister of that era to be imprisoned for his political beliefs. He came to Tiree in 1887 but was forced out after 18 months by the Argyll family who refused to support him.
The crofters of Tiree erected the cairn in his honour. The inscription read: ‘Tùr McCallum, 1st July 1889. Bas no Buaidh. Death or Victory.’
Colour photograph of Tur Mhic Chaluim in Kilkenneth in 2001.
Tur Mhic Chaluim in Kilkenneth photographed in February 2001 by Catriona Hunter. The memorial was erected in honour of the Reverend Donald MacCallum who was born in Argyll in 1849. He was radicalised by what he saw of the Clearances and became the crofters’ and cottars’ champion. This was a rare stand for a minister at that time dependant as they were on their landlord for manse, glebe and living. He served in Loch Geàrr, Arisaig and Skye (where he became the only Highland minister of that era to be imprisoned for his political beliefs), then came to Tiree in 1887. He was forced out after 18 months by the Argyll family who refused to support him. The inscription reads: ‘Tùr McCallum, 1st July 1889. Bas na Buaidh. Death or Victory.’
Photocopied newspaper article dated 10/8/1997 about Rev. Donald MacCallum and Flora Brown of Mannal.
Newspaper article by Martin MacDonald about Rev Donald MacCallum (commemorated at Tur Mhic Chaluim) and Flora Brown of Mannal House who married Rev John MacRury.