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.
Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal by John MacDougall (Constable) charging Hector Cameron with assault on 12 August 1880. Cameron (joiner, Cornaigbeg) is accused of assaulting Donald McKinnon (joiner, Balevullin) outside Cornaig Mill.
Statements are provided by Donald McKinnon (above), Donald McLean (tennant, Cornaigbeg), Archibald McLean (joiner, Cornaigmore), and Alexander McKinnon (tenant, Balevullin).
Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal by John MacDougall (Constable) charging Archibald MacLean and four others with Breach of Peace and Malicious Mischief in December 1877. Archibald MacLean (son of Donald MacLean, Balinoe), George Campbell (son of John Campbell, Balinoe), Colin MacArthur (son of Isabella Campbell or MacArthur, Balinoe), John Campbell (son of Alexander Campbell, Balinoe), Roderick MacKinnon (son of Christina MacDonald, Balemartine) are accused of vandalising the garden and house of the schoolteacher, John MacFarlane, in Heylipol.
Statements are provided by Donald Paterson (son of Alexander Paterson, Balinoe), Niel Campbell (apprentice joiner and nephew of Archibald MacFadyen, Barrapol) and Mary MacFarlane (daughter of John MacFarlane, Heylipol).
Transcript of an Inventory of Precognition investigating the sudden death of Donald MacDonald on 2 February 1870. MacDonald (apprentice joiner, Caoles) died aged 21 on board the Dunvegan Castle Steamer at Loch Laich, Bunessan Harbour, Mull.
Statements are provided by: Alexander Buchanan (Surgeon, Tiree) George Black (surgeon, Tobermory) Alexander MacFadyen (boatman, Scarinish) John MacLean (seaman, Cornaigbeg) Archibald MacDonald (tailor, residing in Glasgow) Hugh MacDonald (son of and residing with Alexander MacDonald, Caoles. Brother of the deceased) Alexander MacDonald (Caoles, Tiree. Father of the deceased)
Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal by John MacDougall (Constable) charging Margaret Campbell or MacFarlane (widow, Balinoe) with assault and breach of peace in July 1873. Margaret Campbell is accused of attacking and assaulting Angus MacDonald (labourer, Moss) with iron tongs, and with using threatening language towards Angus MacDonald and John MacFadyen (labourer, Balemartine) and Hector MacDonald (joiner or cartwright, Heylipol).
Angus MacDonald, Hector MacDonald and John MacFadyen are named as witnesses and provide statements.
Photocopied handwritten information about individual Tiree people in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Biographical notes about individual Tiree people: John MacLean (Am Bard MacGhilleathain); merchant John Campbell of Scarinish (d. 1817); Colin MacNiven, Greenhill (18th century); Dugald MacEachern, schoolmaster (b. 1789); Rev John MacLean of Cornaig (b. 1841); Donald MacKechnie of Kenovay, joiner and postmaster (b. 1846); Captain Angus Lamont of Cornaig (b. 1844); tailor John MacPhail of Cornaigmore (b. 1846); John MacLucas, Balephuil (d. 1875).
Two pages from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Commonwealth War Grave Commission webpages for Merchant Seaman Lachlan MacFadyen (d. 14/12/1917) and Private John MacFadyen of Balemartine (d. 20/8/1944).
Audio cassette recording of Bernie Smith, Hynish talking to Maggie Campbell in October 2001.
Bernie Smith of Hynish talks to Maggie Campbell in October 2001 about coming to Tiree aged four or five, his schooling at Balemartine, the Balephuil tragedy, his teachers and learning Gaelic, going to Glasgow at 16 to become a joiner, working with a plumber on Tiree, his boyhood, Sabbath observance, dances, changes at the airport, people in Balephuil, competing in the Mod, fishing and the Tiree bards; Bernie sings two Gaelic songs.
