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.
Black & white photograph of James Galbraith (seated with beard) and family outside his thatched house at Balevullin in around 1890. Standing – daughter Janet Galbraith (later MacDonald, Kilmoluaig); seated – daughter Sarah Donald (nee Galbraith) with baby Dorothy on her lap, and her other children Charlie, Jessie and Margaret. Sarah and her family lived in Glasgow and were probably paying a summer visit.
James Galbraith (1821-1903) was born in Gigha, and came to Tiree from Rothiemurchus, near Aviemore, with his wife and children in 1874 to take up the position of School Master of the Parochial School at Balevullin. He was given the croft at Balevullin as part of his payment.
Copy of the birth certificate for John (Ian) MacKinnon, born 1887 at Vaul to Archibald MacKinnon and Catherine MacKinnon (nee MacPhail). Some of his relatives now live in Canada.
Emailed information about the Campbell family of Mull, Tiree and Coll, 1820-1912, some of whom emigrated to Cape Breton, Canada, and a composition titled Campbell of Malagawatch.
Stoneware/ceramic ammonia bottle labelled ‘Plynine Co.y Ltd., Edinburgh, Household Ammonia’ and ‘It is illegal for any other than the Plynine Co.y Ltd. to refill this bottle with ammonia’. Dating from the late 1800’s. It would have had a screw stopper. Found in an old dump at Vaul.
Small clear glass bottle embossed with ELLIMAN’S EMBROCATION. The embrocation (lotion) was first formulated by James Elliman of Slough in 1847 as a muscle rub for animals. It was later sold for use on people, and become famous as an aid for aching muscles and joints. Found around Donald Brown’s house at Vaul.
Framed oil painting of the tea-clipper ‘Taeping’, which was commanded by Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish (1827-1867), to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1886. The painting was probably made in Hong Kong by artist Lai-Sung, who created many similar paintings of sailing ships during 1850-1885.
Framed oil painting of the tea-clipper ‘Demerara’ captained by Colin MacKinnon, Heanish, brother of Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish. Colin MacKinnon obtained his Master’s Certificate on 28 June 1860, after which he captained the Demerara from 1860 to 1863. In 1864, he became Captain of the Ellen Roger, on which he died on 7 September 1965. The painting was probably painted by Lai-Sung, Hong Kong, in the 1860s. The cracked and discoloured varnish appears to show ‘hidden’ Chinese characters.
