Digitised Plan of the Farm of Kenavay [sic] In the Island of Tyrii, now divided into Thirteen Farms nearly to four Male Land each Surveyed and Divided By Geo[rge] Langlands, 1802.
Contains a map of Kenovay with houses and a table of Acres in each Division. The table records Arable Ground in rotation of Crops, Arable & past[ure] aloted [sic] for Grassing, Acres in each Farm or division, as well as for the Reef keeper’s croft.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle.
Digitised Plan of the Farm of Ballimartin [sic] in the Island of Tirii divided into Crofts, by Geo[rge] Langlands, 1802.
The plan shows houses and crofts in Balemartine. Contains a table headed ‘Collection of Acres’, listing Arable Ground, Pasture some rocks & Improvable Ground, Moss, Acres in each Croft, as well as recording Cow pasture, and Horse pasture.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle.
A collection of photos from Flora MacKinnon, Kilmoluaig, showing her family and friends.
The Maclean family on horse & cart. Front seat: Duncan and Flora “grannie”
Hay making. Mary MacLean; Jessie McRory; unknown boy; Peggy MacLean
Neil MacLean in his uncle John’s house on Paisley Road West
L-R: Archie and Hugh Mackinnon, Hough
Duncan MacLean (centre). Later to become the vet
Morag or Marion MacLean, Balevullin, graduating as nurse. Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. c. 1914. Back row, 5th from left.
Morag MacLean. Front row, 2nd from left.
Morag MacLean at TB Sanatorium. 2nd from left.
Margaret MacLean. Teacher, Ruaig School. c. 1950s. On right
Neil MacKinnon cutting thatch at Balevullin
Doneil Kenneth? and Neil MacKinnon with Smokey at Moss. 1950s
Mary Munn, Baugh, 1920s. Sister of Jake Munn
Nette (Jessie) and Neil MacLean (Flora’s mother and father), Balevullin. 1920s
Portrait of Flora MacLean
Flora MacLean. On the reverse: Flora MacLean, 4 Montague Terrace, Kelvinside
Flora MacLean, nurse to Baby “Dunn”. 1914. It is said she caught TB in this household.
John MacLean (back row, centre). Uncle to Morag, Flora, Maggie, Neil, Donald and Duncan
Portrait of John MacLean
From a collection of photographs from Port Ban, Caolas.
Pencilled on the reverse of the photo: ‘Young’ Danina MacCallum
Danina at a hay stook
From a collection of photographs relating to Balephuil.
Men L-R: John MacKay, Donald Sinclair, Willie MacNeill, Duncan MacDonald
Girls L-R: Betty Daff, Mina Lindsay
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.
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.
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.
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.
Digitised copy of Tiree Estate, Improvements &c done for Crofters, 1878-1885. The list is organised by year and contains details of improvements, repairs to buildings, charity and ‘miscellaneous’ works along with their costs. Works performed include fencing, drainage, ditches, dykes, and roofing. There are records of charitable works, such as supplying seed potatoes to crofters, and providing assistance for replacing a boat, the purchase of livestock, and animals, or for building repairs.
The following names appear in the record, and some names appear more than once:
Lachlan McLean (Cornaigbeg), Malcolm McDougall (removed from Heanish), John McLean (Caoles), Alexander, Neil and Donald McFadyen (Caoles), John McLean (Balephuil), Widow Murdoch Campbell (removed from Balinoe), Widow Catherine McKinnon (Kilmoluaig), Donald McCallum (smith and crofter, possibly Kilmoluaig), Donald McPhee (crofter, Balemartine), Captain William Sinclair (Mannal), Widow Murdoch Brown (Mannal), John McKinnon (Balephuil), Angus McArthur (crofter, Balemartine), John Brown (Mannal), Colin Henderson (Balemartine), Widow Alexander Henderson (Balemartine), Rev John McFarlane (Balinoe), Archibald, Donald and John Campbell (farmers, Balinoe), Neil McKinnon (Moss), John Morrison (son in law of Neil Morrison [deceased], Moss), Donald McDougall (Balephuil), Donald McFarlane (Balemartine), Angus McInnes (Kilmoluaig), Alexander Livingston (Heanish), Rev Duncan McFarlane (Heanish), Hugh McKinnon Junior (crofter and packet man, Heanish), G B Smith & Co (Glasgow), Alexander and John McFadyen (Barrapol), A & J McFadyen (Balemartine), James Brown (Balemartine), Hector McDonald (Caoles & Ardess), Archibald McDonald (Caoles & Ardess), Widow Neil McKinnon (Heanish), John McDonald (Heanish), Angus Munn (Heanish), Neil Campbell (Balinoe), Archibald McLean (Balemartine), Donald Campbell (Balemartine), Donald McLean, (Balemartine), Widow Mary McLean (Crofter, Vaul), John McPhail (crofter, Cornaigmore), John McLean (crofter, Kilmoluaig), John Cameron (Moss), P & R Fleming & Co (Glasgow), Hector McPhail (Cornaigmore), Hugh McLean Junior (Caoles), Donald Kennedy (Balevulin).
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
