Entries with Tiree connections from Jo Currie’s “Pupitre”, a card index of Mull people created during her research for her book “Mull, the Island and its People”.
2024.27.1
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Object Type: document
2024.8.1
2022.34.1
Digitised copy of the Rental of Tiry for 1743. Contains the names of townships, value in mail lands, tenants names and rental values in Scots money and victual (given in bear and meall).
Rent is given in Scots money for: Balliphetrish [Balephetrish], Cornaigbeg, Bassapole [Bhasapol] and Cornaigmore, The Mill thereof Waste, Beist, Balivoulin [Balevullin], Hough, Sandaig, Ballimenoch [Am Baile Meadhanach or Middleton], Greenall [Grianal or Greenhill], Barapole [Barrapol], Kenvarh [Kenavara], Kilmaluag [Kilmoluaig] with the Park [Gorten or the Park], Kelis [Caoles], Ruag [Ruaig], Baugh, Vaull [Vaul], Hianish [Heanish], Gott and Vuill [A’ Bhaoil], Kirkapole [Kirkapol], Salum, Crossapole [Crossapol] and Miln thereof, Heynish [Hynish], Manal [Mannal], Balemartin [Balemartine], Ballephuile [Balephuil], the two ends of Coll, Kennavay [Kenovay], Kilcheynichbeg [Kilkenneth], Kilcheynichmore [Kilkenneth], Kerraventreinvore [?] [Keratrinvoir], Keranakil [Keranokile], Keracrossagar (Kerachrosecar), Kerachusagar [Kerachussegar], Keramenoch [Kerameanoch], Balinoe & Culyeis [Cuigeas], and Heyllipole [Heylipol]. Rent is given in victual for Ballievulin [Balevullin], Balimenoch [Middleton] and Sanlaig [?] [Sandaig], Kelos [Caoles], Baugh, Kennavay, Balinoe and Coulyeis [Cuigeas], Heylipole [Heylipol], Kirkipole [Kirkapol], Salum, and Hianish [Heanish].
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.33.1
Digitised copy of a contract between The Duke of Argyll and Mr Alexander McTavish, Minister of Tyree, dated 19 October 1752. The contract details the conditions of the minister’s employment, including payment of teinds, stipends, communion elements, payment in lieu of a Gleib, and the employment of an assistant minister in Coll.
The following people are named in the contract: Mr Archibald Campbell of Stonefield (Advocate, Sheriff Depute of the Sheriffdom of Argyll) James Campbell and John Marshall (writers in Inveraray), Mr John Clerk (Schoolmaster in Inveraray), Andrew Fletcher (witness and Senator of the College of Justice, Milton), Robert Campbell (witness and Advocate, Asknish), James Campbell (witness), John Clerk (witness).
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.32.3
Digitised copy of a letter from Hugh MacDiarmid (factor to the Duke of Argyll) to A M Cunynghame Esq., Surveyor General, General Post Office, Edinburgh, dated 25 May 1891.
The letter discusses the best route for conveying the mail and a proposed route through Oban, Tobermory, Coll, Tiree and Mull, including Bunessan and Pennyghael. The letter also mentions: transport links, particularly trains and boats, including arrival and departure times; a comparison of population sizes in Tiree, Coll and Bunessan; the need to consult the Duke of Argyll on the matter; the speed of mail delivery and that it it was previously possible to get to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh in one day.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.32.2
Digitised copy of a letter from D MacInnes to Lord Archibald Campbell, 7 April 1885.
In the letter MacInnes (4 Battery Terrace, Oban) describes a conversation with an unnamed Tiree man who was born and brought up on the farm of ‘Hianous’ (perhaps Heanish). This unnamed man believes that the people of Tiree are better treated than on any other estate, but that only one half of the population can afford a comfortable living. He describes the situation on the farm of Scarinish, and mentions Sandy MacLean. He writes that four of the crofts there each maintain a horse, two cows, and a ‘stirk or two’ for £15 rent, and that the tenants have ‘unrestrained liberty’ to use as much sea ware (seaweed) as they like for manure and kelp making.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.32.1
Digitised copy of an article entitled ‘New Method of Working Seaweed’ by Edward C C Stanford, F.C.S., c.1884. Stanford was the Chairman of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Section of the Society of Chemical Industry.
The article describes a process invented to supersede the plan of burning seaweed into Kelp ash, and mentions that works were erected in Tiree and North Uist in 1863 to carry it out this process. Contains tables of cost of working different amounts of seaweed, the cost of materials, the value of the produce, and the advantages of the new process.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.31.6
Digitised copy of a letter from John McKinnon to the Duke of Argyll, dated 30 January 1894. In this letter McKinnon (Moss) complains that he was due to inherit a croft from his cousin, Catherine Sinclair (Moss), but that it was claimed by his cousin Neil Sinclair (cottar, Balephuil) and that the Factor, Mr Wyllie, entered Neil Sinclair’s name on the rent book. McKinnon references the work he did to improve the croft, that he took care of his cousin in her old age, and his current hardships. He was summoned by Mr Sproat (Procurator Fiscal) in Tobermory and failing his appearance was told his cow would be poinded. McKinnon also mentions that Sinclair was one of the first to take up their abode in Moss.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.31.5
Digitised copy of a letter from Donald Campbell (Kirkapol) to the Duke of Argyll, addressed from Gott and dated 10 November 1890.
In the letter Campbell explains how he has been ‘reduced to my present unfortunate position’, he refers to his cows ‘shirring’, resulting in death of calves, blames his three sisters for their lack of care towards the cows, problems in paying his rent and accruing ‘considerable’ arrears, his sisters commencing a law-suit against him, advice from Mr Sproat (Procurator Fiscal) in Tobermory to declare himself bankrupt, the sale of his belongings, and his hope that the Duke will allow him to keep his crofts. Campbell writes that his father-in-law Donald MacKinnon (tenant, Kirkapol) is willing to undertake joint payment of the rent. The letter contains a postscript signed by his father-in-law expressing his willingness to join with Donald Campbell in the management of the crofts in Gott and payment of the rent. Campbell also mentions attending the market in Mull to sell horses.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.31.4
Digitised copy of a Report of Enquiries made regarding Donald Sinclair, 20 August 1886.
Donald Sinclair was a joiner and Chairman of the Land Law Reform Association and one of the six arrested crofters who were taken to Inveraray. The report details how Sinclair was convicted on charges of theft in October 1877 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, after breaking into a spirit shop at 55 London Street, Glasgow, and stealing beer or porter, champagne and gin.
Enclosed is a copy of a statement made by Neil MacKinnon (24 Raglan Street, Glasgow), a childhood friend of Sinclair. MacKinnon provides details of Sinclair’s good character, particularly following his time in prison, and claims that Sinclair is now an evangelist, teaches Sunday School and preaches, and that he is a fluent speaker in Gaelic on religious and political subjects. MacKinnon also provides details of Sinclair’s marriage to the daughter of ‘the largest merchant in Tiree’. The following people gave evidence on behalf of Sinclair: Mr McIntyre (publican), Mr McKechnie (the contractor), John McDonald (watchman), Donald McKechnie (contractor’s foreman). Apart from the publican, these were all natives of Tiree.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.