Payments to emigrants from Tiree to Canada in June 1846
Transcription of a list of payments made to emigrants from Tiree to Canada in June 1846.
Courtesy of His Grace the Duke of Argyll
In the fifty years before the potato famine, the population of Tiree doubled to over five thousand, making it one of the most congested areas in the Highlands and Islands. Continued sub-division of the island’s crofts had left most of them too small to support a family.
Poverty was endemic. Landless cottars, many of whom were ‘dependent of the charity of others for food’, comprised more than a third of the island’s population. A Free Church investigation into diet in 1846 found that potatoes formed over half of all food consumed.
In previous years, the smaller tenants and cottars had shown themselves reluctant to emigrate. However, when the potato crop failed in 1846 and the Marquis of Lorne promised assisted passages to Canada for the poorest, over a thousand from Tiree indicated their willingness to leave.
Audio cassette recording of Hugh Archie MacCallum, Cornaigbeg, interviewed by Maggie Campbell on 17/2/2003.
Hugh Archie MacCallum of Cornaigbeg talks to Maggie Campbell about growing grain on Tiree in the past and how this process has changed, different soil types and their preparation, when and how to sow, ploughing and harrowing, harvesting and how grain was stored, the first horse-drawn mechanical reaper and the first combine harvester on Tiree in 1975, old and modern methods of agriculture and how life has changed as Tiree has become less self-sufficient. Eòghann Eairdsidh Mac Chaluim o Còrnaig Bheag a’ bruidhinn ri Mairead Caimbeul anns An Gearran 2003 mu dheidhinn seann dòighean àiteachas air Tiriodh, nuair a bha Tiriodh fèin-fhoghainteach, agus mar a tha na dòighean seo air atharrachadh. Tha e a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn a bhith a’ dèanamh an talamh ullaichte, a’ cuir an sìol, treabhadh agus cliathadh, mar a bha an coirce air a stòraidh agus a chiad inneal buanaiche agus inneal-fogharaidh a thàinig a Tiriodh.
Report `Farm Study` by Julie MacInnes of Shawlands Academy.
Report by Julie MacInnes (part of the coursework for unknown qualification taken at Shawlands Academy) which examines the characteristics of crofting and how it is affected by the physical environment and distance from markets. Looks in details at two crofts – Donald Kennedy`s croft in Balevullin and Corrairigh in Cornaigbeg.
Photocopied letter to Donald MacKinnon of Balephuil dated 10/2/1914.
Letter to Donald MacKinnon of Balephuil dated 10/2/1914 from the Board of Agriculture for Scotland regarding his application to the Land Court to register as a New Holder.
Photocopied speech by Ronald MacDonald, Cornaigbeg given on 26/7/1986 (2 copies).
Speech by Ronnie MacDonald, Cornaigbeg, given on 26/7/1986 at the opening ceremony of Tur Mhic Chaluim to commemorate one hundred years of the Crofters Act and to honour those who fought for crofters` rights. (For sound recording of event, see AC4 – `Tiree remembers` )
Black and white photograph of Donald MacLean, Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg.
Donald MacLean (1845-1933), crofter at Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg. Donald was the son of Charles MacLean, turner, and Christina MacDonald, the sister-in-law of Rev. Archibald Farquharson.
