A transcript of the Inventory of Precognition regarding the deaths of nine fishermen in the Balephuil fishing diaster. This document provides statements from witnesses to a great storm in July of 1856 which claimed the lives of nine men from Balephuil: Archibald McLean (age 50), Donald McLean (aged 29), Colin McDonald (aged 40), Alexander McDonald (aged 42), Neil Kennedy (aged 18), Hugh Kennedy (aged 14) and Hugh McKinnon (aged 14), John Campbell (aged 29) and Malcom McArthur (aged 55).
Statements are given by witnesses to the tragedy as well as by relatives of the deceased, including: Malcolm McDougall (Fisherman, Balephuil); John MacPhail (aged 23, Fisherman, Balephuil); Isabella Black or MacLean (aged 40, widow of Archibald MacLean); George MacLean Esq (Tenant, Hynish); William Wilson (aged 28, Surgeon, Scarinish).
Digitised copy of Copy memorial by Malcolm McLaurine, chamberlain of Tiree, to the Duke of Argyll, 1 Nov 1803, with subsequent correspondence with James Ferrier, the 5th Duke of Argyll’s lawyer (2 sets).
The main topic of the correspondence is the prospect of McLaurin being provided a farm at Balephuil. The correspondence also mentions: the farm occupied by McLaurin at Crossapol; the prospect of farms at Balephuil and Crossapol being divided into crofts; the prospect of converting the Chamberlain’s house at Crossapol into a church or inn and granary; the purchase of cattle and the distemper which can affect them; the subject of McLaurin ‘grasping’ at a farm in Balemartine; the Post Office; Mr McLean of Coll; value of land in Coll; mail lands; rent; Hector MacLean’s lease at ‘Haynish’; Balephuil March Dykes; planned improvements to the island.
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From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of State of Tiree augmentations, 1791. Contains a table showing the ‘State [of] Augmentation arising from Farms Set in Tiry Whitsunday 1791’. The table contains the details of augmentation, old rent and new rent for Hector McLean at Hynish and Mannel, as well as interest paid on a sum laid out on the Minister’s Farm. There is no transcript for this item.
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From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Black & white photograph of the Skerryvore Lighthouse complex of buildings at Hynish during WWII, taken from a vantage point looking northwest. The photographer was RAF Service Photographer, ‘Peru’ (real name unknown), who served with 518 Squadron, RAF Tiree.
Black & white photograph of waves crashing onto rocks at Happy Valley, East Hynish, during WWII. The photo was taken by RAF Service Photographer, ‘Peru’ (real name unknown), while serving with 518 Squadron, RAF Tiree. The man climbing over the rocks on the left is probably RAF serviceman Alan George French.
Gaelic hymn ‘Ionndruim a Chiobair air a Leannan / The shepherd’s love for his sweetheart’ composed by Alexander MacKinnon, Cornaigbeg (1880-1965), with sheet music and comments by his grandson.
Alexander MacKinnon’s father, also Alexander, Kilmoluaig, was one of the Skerryvore Lighthouse team housed at Hynish. Alexander Sr died from pneumonia contracted after a sea rescue in a storm in 1887(?), after which Alex Jr and his mother had to vacate their Hynish cottage and live with her parents, MacLeans of Cornaigbeg. Alexander Jr took Divinity at Glasgow University, serving as minister for 33 years at the Presbyterian Church in Manchester, St. Columba’s in Glasgow and at Kilmonivaig at Spean Bridge, amongst others. Former Vice-President of the Tiree Association.
Pages from the Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society, 1862, with an article titled ‘Alteration of Sea-level in the Island of Tiree’ by Alexander Scott, describing traditional rock fishing methods of ancient origin at Hynish Point, which indicate the drop in sea level since ancient times.
