Tag Archives: glasgow

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.

2022.31.4

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.

 

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.

2022.30.3

Digitised copy of a record showing dispossessed crofters in Mannal and Scarinish, 1865. Contains a list of crofters’ names and remarks on their situation.
Mannal: Donald McMillan (carpenter), Donald McLean S[enio]r (in Glasgow), Allan McDonald (assisting on his brother’s farm), Donald McLean J[unio]r (fisherman, occasionally employed on the lighthouse tender), John Lamont (works the Lightkeepers Lands), Alex[ande]r Henderson (crofter), Hugh McLean (keeps a small store), Alexander Shaw (‘deals occasionally’), Colin Campbell (shoemaker, occasionally employed at the lighthouse), John McDonald (dyke builder)
Scarinish: Mary MacLean (supported by son), Donald McDougall (dead, widow keeps a small store), Alex[ande]r McDonald (has a vessel, trading for the British Seaweed Company) Allan McFadyen (owns two smacks), Hugh McKinnon (shoemaker), Neil Macdonald (shoemaker), Neil McKinnon (unemployed), Neil McLean (carpenter), Hector McKinnon (employed in manuring potato ground).

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

2022.20.4

Digitised copy of a letter from John G Campbell to the Duke of Argyll, dated 17 September 1864. Campbell discusses school prizes offered by the Duke, and the winners of the prizes; details of the examination held at Moss Church, attended by Mr Geekie, Dr Buchanan and Mr John McLean (Cornaig); problems with teachers, including those at Sandaig and Heylipol, and the difficulty in getting new teachers; the need to improve the school house at Heylipol; lack of schooling provision in the west end of the island; closure of the assembly school in Balevullin; difficulties with the Crois teacher (‘a mere boy & a teacher only in name’) and the lack of schooling over the winter in that part of the island; the achievements of John McLean (Cornaig) at College in Glasgow.

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

2022.20.3

Digitised copy of a letter from the factor John M M Geekie to the Duke of Argyll, dated 17 September 1864. The letter discusses the enclosure of a list of paupers, offers of the Poor House, Duncan Campbell (crofter, Balevullin), cattle, Falkirk Tryst, weather damage to crops, potato and turnip crops.

Enclosed is a list of ‘paupers’ on Tiree who had been offered a place at the Poor House in Tobermory, dated 1864. The list contains remarks on their age, place of residence and circumstances. The following are named: Mary Carmichael (returned to Strathaven), Christina McKinnon (residing in Glasgow), Catherine McLean (Tiree), Mary McLean (Jun[io]r) (Balemartine), Christina Sinclair (Balephuil), Mary McLean (Cornaigbeg), Mary Campbell and son (Tiree), Donald McKinnon (Kilmoluaig).

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

2022.29.8

Hardback book ‘Aids to Anatomy and Physiology – a complete textbook for the nurse’, 1948, belonging to Ishbel MacDonald of the MacDonald/MacCorquodale/MacLean family of Kenovay. Like many others from Tiree, Ishbel became a nurse at the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow.

2021.54.47

Transcript of Inventory of Precognition against Lachlan Galbraith on charges of fraud and Breach of the Peace in April 1862. Galbraith (teacher, Callert, Inverness-shire) was accused of misusing funds raised to buy passage to Canada, and of causing a breach of the peace in the Isle of Coll. The statements mention that Galbraith claimed to be noted for translating books from English into Gaelic.

Statements are provided by:
Lachlann MacTaggart Galbraith (teacher, Callert)
Willliam Malcolm (Excise Officer, Bunessan, Mull)
Charles MacQuarie (merchant, Bunessan, Mull)
Lachlan Macphail (merchant, Bunessan, Mull)
John McDonald (retired parochial school master, Bunessan, Mull)
Reverend Robert Stewart (Assapol, Mull)
Nicol MacIntyre (tacksman, Knockvaolagain [Knockvologan], Mull)
Angus MacInnes (teacher, Isle of Iona)
June MacColl or Smith (wife of James Smith [lightkeeper], Hynish, Tiree)
Jessie Bannatyne or Sanderson (wife of Thomas Sanderson [lightkeeper] Hynish, Tiree)
Malcolm Livingston (teacher, Kirkapol, Tiree)
Reverend John Gregorson Campbell (The Manse, Gott, Tiree)
Duncan Martin (drainer, Heylipol)
Reverend Lachlan Macdonald (Mannal, Tiree)
Reverend James MacColl (lives with Donald McLean [brother in law], Arileod, Coll)
Duncan MacArthur (drainer, Grimsary, Coll)
Mary Maclean (residing at Knock-a-vada, Arinagour, Coll)
Ann MacKenzie (residing at Knock-a-vada, Arinagour, Coll)
John Johnston Junior (son of and residing with John Johnston Senior, Arnabost, Coll)
Allan MacLean (farmer, Mippost, Coll)
Niel Macfadyen (farm servant, Cliad, Coll)
James Hawthorn (innkeeper, Arinagour, Coll)
William Tait Meikle (clerk to firm of J & A Allan Merchants and Shipping Agents, No 70 Great Clyde Street, Glasgow. Residing at No 10 Abbotsford Place, Lauriston, Glasgow)

This record contains details of an attempted sexual assault. Click to read a transcript of this item.

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

2021.54.38

Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses against John MacDonald on charges of fraud, October 1860.

John MacDonald (of Tobermory) was working as pilot on board the steamer Cantie Queen in August 1860 when he was approached by Roderick McKenzie and John Campbell on behalf of John MacDonald (the accused) with an offer to work as Master of the smack Mary Balfour. Later, MacDonald (of Tobermory) was asked to wreck the vessel at Barra for the sum of £20.

The report makes mention of various locations, including: Lancefield Quay, Glasgow; John Rankin’s Spirit Celler, Broomielaw; Londonderry; Jeantown, Lochcarron; Davidsons spirit Cellar near Lancefield Quay; McLachlan’s Spirit Shop, Jamaica Street; the Clyde Hotel, Broomielaw; Crinnan; the Isle of Canna; Custom House, Glasgow.

Statements are provided by: John MacDonald (seaman, Craigspure, Tobermory) and Neil Darroch (seaman, Tobermory).

Click to read a transcript of this item.

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

2021.53.39

Digitised copy of Cash disbursed by James Turnbull, land surveyor, whilst going to the isle of Tiree, 1768-1769. Contains an itemised list of expenses for Turnbull’s journey from the Grassmarket in Edinburgh to Tiree, and his return journey.

Click to read a transcript of this item.

Click to view a record for this item on Inveraray’s online catalogue.

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