Tag Archives: crofting

2022.31.3

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.

2022.31.1

Digitised copy of a Report from Heylipol Public School for the winter months, February 1883. The report was written for the Duke of Argyll by J McFarlane and is divided into observations on ‘attendance’, ‘progress’, ‘general’ and ‘state of the island’ and contains remarks on: attendance for December 1882 to February 1883; the affect of weather on attendance; subjects taught and standards; appointment of compulsory officers; comments on parents and their attitudes to education; and teachers. McFarlane also discusses unrest in the island (the ‘wild & extravagant ideas that originally started in Ireland’ and the ‘circulation of pernicious & revolutionary literature’) and refers to a petition signed by crofters in the west end. He recounts a conversation with a man named Donald, a crofter in Balevullin, and also refers to the consequences of inadequate farming techniques.

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

 

2023.13.1

Scanned copy of a newspaper cutting lent by Captain George Campbell of Kenovay. It shows members and friends at the Tiree Pipe Band dinner and dance held in Scarinish Hotel.  A post-it note on the back reads ‘As promised, Archie’ and is dated ‘Apr 4/70’ on the front in ink.

2021.54.91

Transcript of Inventory of Precognition submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal investigating the death of three cows and two horses at Cornaigmore, in June 1876. The transcript contains medical reports written by Alexander Buchanan into the death of the two horses. The animals may have been poisoned by strychnine.

The transcript contains notes on the rent paid by John Macphail, the value of his stock on the farm and some remarks on stock management.

Statements are provided by:

John Macphail (crofter, Cornaigmore)
Janet MacLean (servant to John MacPhail, Cornaigmore)
John Macphail (tailor, Cornaigmore)
John Campbell (tailor, Cornaigmore)
Malcolm Lamont (labourer, Cornaigmore)
Neil Lamont (tenant on the farm of Cornaigmore)
Malcolm Lamont (servant to John MacPhail, Cornaigmore)
Lachlan Macphail (crofter, Cornaigmore)
Hugh MacDiarmid (factor for Tiree, Island House)
Alexander Buchanan (surgeon, Baugh)
Allan Cameron (Inspector of Police, Tobermory)
Hector Macphail (crofter, Cornaigmore)
Ann Macphail (widow, Cornaigmore)
Flora Macphail (daughter of Ann Macphail, Cornaigmore)
John MacDougall (Police Officer, Baugh)

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

 

 

2021.52.1

A digitised copy of a volume containing accounts and rentals for Tiree’s crofts from 1845 to 1887. The volume was prepared by Messrs Lindsay, Howe & Co.

For each township there is given: a table with figures for sowning (horses, cows, stirks, and sheep) and acreage (arable, pasture, common); a tabular abstract containing the number of holdings and tenants, total rents, improvement outlay (drainage and buildings) and notes; a ‘detailed history of crofts’ providing an overview of changes which the individual holdings in each township have undergone as regards tenancy, rent, consolidation, enlargement, or otherwise.

There is no data provided in the tabular abstract for the years 1846, 1866 and 1867.

From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.50.7

Digitised outline copy of the Plan of Kenvar and Gortandonel, Tyree, as divided by George Langlands, 11th August 1802. The township is divided into 16 crofts (no acreages given) laid out in an irregular grid pattern around the North and East shores of Loch Phuil. Separate areas of common pasture are shown for crofts 1-2, and crofts 7-16. The irregular line of the old march dike is shown.

From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.50.6

Digitised outline copy of the Plan of Scarinish and Hianish, Tyree, as divided by George Langlands, 1802. Hianish is divided into 18 crofts of 3-6 acres each, laid out in an irregular grid pattern. Scarinish is divided into 30 crofts of mainly 4-5 acres, with some smaller plots, one of 12 acres and an Inn Croft of 36.2 acres. The site of a proposed village is shown near Scarinish harbour. Common pasture, shared common pasture and areas of blown sand are depicted on both townships. The shared common pasture is noted as being part of Drumdearg Commonty. Total acreages given.

From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.50.5

Digitised outline copy of the Plan of Kenovay, Tyree, as divided by George Langlands, 1802. The township is divided into thirteen plots of 25-39 acres, each with access to a common watering place near/at Lochan Dow. A croft of 5.1 acres for the Reef Keeper is also laid out. The line of a ‘new march dike between the Reef and Kenovay’ and the ‘old march dike’ with Cornaigbeg Lands are also depicted.

From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.50.4

Digitised outline copy of the Plan of Ballimartin, Tyree, as divided into crofts by George Langlands, 1802. The township is divided into 38 crofts of 4-5 acres each, laid out in a grid pattern, with two areas of common cow pasture and one area of common horse pasture. Total acreages given. The location of a burial place is shown near the march with Ballino Lands.

From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.