Digitised copy of a letter from John G Campbell to the Duke of Argyll, 8 May 1865. Campbell sends a report on the state of Tiree schools; the increasing number of scholars in Kirkapol; the need for a stand for children’s plaids and shawls in wet weather; bringing the school under government inspection; attendance at Balephuil; remarks on the teacher at Balephuil; remarks on Mr McCowan at Balevullin; declining attendance at Free Church schools; presentation of prizes by Mr Geekie; aversion to emigration and comments on the reasons for this.
Attached is a table entitled ‘Schools in the Island of Tiree Examined March 1865’ containing data for Kirkapol, Heylipol, Balevullin, Balephuil, and Cornaig. Contains figures for: the number attending; number present at examination; number on the roll studying reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, Latin, Greek, geometry and mathematics, algebra, book-keeping.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Transcript of Inventory of Precognition submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal regarding a dead body washed ashore at Caoles, Isle of Coll, on 11 April 1873. The body was discovered at the wreck of the Brigantine ‘Richard Thomson’ of Belfast. A description is given of the clothing on the body, and the items found in the pockets.
Statements are provided by:
Alexander MacFadyen (crofter, Caoles, Coll) Hugh MacLean (crofter, Caoles, Coll) John MacFadyen (crofter, Caoles, Tiree) Alexander MacDougall (son of Lachlan MacDougall, Caoles, Coll) Hugh Campbell (cottar, Caoles, Coll) Allan MacDonald (labourer and fisherman, Caoles, Tiree) Lachlan MacDougall (farm manager, Caoles, Coll)
Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses investigating the dead body of a boy cast ashore in Sandaig on 24 April 1870.
The report contains statements from Donald MacKinnon (son of Hugh MacKinnon, Sandaig), George MacKinnon (son of Hugh MacKinnon, Sandaig), Malcolm Campbell (labourer, Sandaig), John McLean (farmer, Balemeanach [Middleton]), Donald McLean (crofter, Gortendonald), and Alexander Buchanan (surgeon, Baugh). Buchanan also provides a medical report.
This item contains some graphic details about the body of the child, estimated to be eight or nine years old. There are descriptions of the clothing upon the body.
Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal regarding the theft of plaid or a drugget from Coll in June 1863. The report contains a statement from the owner of the drugget – Margaret Paterson (residing with Widow Campbell, Arinagour) – and remarks from Duncan Cameron (Constable). Paterson claims the drugget was sent from Tiree to Coll with Charles MacFadyen (son of Neil Macfadyen, Caoles, Tiree).
Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal by Finlay Fraser (Police Constable, Tiree), regarding the theft of a plaid in June 1861. Catherine and Marion McKinnon (Kilmoluaig) are charged with stealing or fraudulently retaining a plaid belonging to James McEachnie (travelling hawker) from the house of their father, Neil McKinnon (crofter, Killmoluaig). The appearance and value of the plaid are described in detail. It is noted that there is no evidence of the theft.
Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal by Finlay Fraser (D.C., Tiree) charging Mary Campbell with theft on 18 or 19 September 1861. Campbell (pauper, Scarinish) is accused of stealing or taking a plaid from the house Donald Campbell (crofter, Heanish).
Statements are provided by by Colin Campbell (son of Donald Campbell, Heanish) and Margaret Campbell (daughter of Donald Campbell, Heanish). Comments are made regarding Mary Campbell’s disposition and personal situation, and the value of the plaid.
Transcript of Police Report and Precognition of Witnesses regarding the sudden death of Archibald MacInnes and Charles MacLean in February 1860. MacInnes and MacLean drowned when a wave hit their boat while fishing for lobsters on an open skiff near Bealach na Ciste on the Isle of Soay. Duncan MacInnes (brother of Archibald MacInnes, Ruaig) survived the accident. The report contains descriptions of clothing on the bodies of the sailors. Copies of the registrations of the deaths are also included.
Statements are provided from:
Duncan McInnes (fisherman, Ruaig) Alexander MacLean (shoemaker, Ruaig) John McInnes (tailor, Ruaig. Father of the deceased) Niel McLeod (fisherman, Ruaig) John Lamont (fisherman, Ruaig) Donald McInnes (fisherman, Ruaig) Archibald McInnes (fisherman, Ruaig) Finlay Fraser (Detective Constable, Tiree) Malcolm Livingstone (Registrar, Tiree) Flora McKinnon or McLean (wife of John McLean, Ruaig) Hugh McKinnon (fisherman, Ruaig)
Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses regarding the discovery of bodies on board the wreck of the Francis of St Ives and on the shore of the Isle of Coll, November 1860. The Francis of St Ives, a three masted vessel, was wrecked off the shore of Caoles in Coll, ‘between Ellen oare and Caol’. Descriptions are given of tattoos upon the body of the sailor on board the ship, as well as the clothes he was wearing.
Statements are provided by: Hector Maclean (son of and residing with John Maclean, Arileod) John Kennedy (Grimsary) John Craig (tacksman, Crossapol) Charles Cowan (mason, Ballyhough)
In a letter attached from James MacColl (Interim Registrar of Births and Deaths for the District of Coll) to Henry Nisbet (Tobermory Procurator Fiscal), MacColl writes that the body of Mrs Fowler, a ‘pauper’ residing at Torastan in Coll, was discovered on the 18th October 1860 at some distance from her own house.
This report contains descriptions of the bodies discovered. Click to read a transcript of this item.
From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Transcript of a police report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal regarding the theft of items from a trunk on board the steamer Islesman travelling between Lochboisdale and Tiree in October 1858. Statements are provided from Mary Maclean (daughter of Donald McLean, Kenovay), and Mrs Catherine Maclean or MacDonald (wife of Neil MacDonald, Kilbride, South Uist). Maclean reports a previous theft on board a steamer between Tiree and Lochboisdale.
