Photocopied leaflet `Tiree Food Producers Sent To Prison`.
Leaflet produced by the Highland Land League about eight Tiree men who were sent to prison in 1918 for occupying land in Balephetrish leased by Thomas Barr.
1999.155.1
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Tag Archives: land leagues
1999.69.1
Tiree Food Producers Sent To Prison
Transcription of a Highland Land League publication of 1918 titled ‘Tiree Food Producers Sent To Prison’.
Courtesy of Mr Hugh MacLeod
During World War I, the Government encouraged people to cultivate unused land. It also instructed the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in 1914 to break up large farms for returning servicemen. The Board decided to take over the lease of 137 acres of Balephetrish farm for small holdings.
However, Thomas Barr, the tenant of Balephetrish farm, claimed £1,243 in compensation which the Board refused to pay although it allocated the land to a number of applicants. By 1918, eight Tiree cottars could wait no longer and ploughed 30 acres of Balephetrish farm and planted potatoes and other crops.
They were arrested and taken to Oban where they were welcomed like heroes by the local branch of the Highland Land League. At the subsequent court hearing they were found guilty and sentenced to ten days in prison with the recommendation that ‘they be treated to the privileges of political prisoners’.
1999.92.18
Black and white photograph of Hector MacDonald of Balemartine.
Hector MacDonald (Eachann Mhic Neill) who was one the Land League leaders and lived in ‘Mull View’ in Balemartine.
1998.122.1
Booklet titled `The Tiree Crofter`s Struggle 1886-1986` produced by Alex MacArthur in 1986.
Booklet produced to mark the centenary of the Tiree crofters` struggle for security of tenure.
1998.37.13
Photocopied magazine article about the occupation of Greenhill farm by crofters in 1886.
Article about the occupation of Greenhill farm by crofters in 1886, illustrated with engravings.
1999.187.2
Black and white photograph of Donald and Christine MacKinnon of Balephuil.
Photograph of L-R: Donald MacKinnon (shoemaker and member of the Land Leagues movement), Alasdair MacKinnon (Donald`s brother and grandfather to the twins at Bail` Ur), Caroline Black`s father, Christine MacKinnon (Donald`s wife), and two children “who brought him up” (referring to Bernie Smith, Balephuil?)
1998.153.1.1
Audio cassette recording of (a) the opening ceremony at Tur Mhic Chaluim and (b) Hugh MacDonald, Kenovay recorded by Margaret MacKay of the School of Scottish Studies.
Audio recording of Side A – the opening ceremony at Tur Mhic Chaluim on 26/7/1986 with introduction by Alec MacArthur, Ronald MacDonald of Cornaigbeg talking about 19th century emigration, Neil Brownlie and Prof. Donald Meek talking about the Rev. Donald MacCallum, and Hugh Archie MacLean of Salum talking about the way forward for crofters today, Side B – The late Hugh MacDonald of Kenovay talks to Margaret MacKay of the School of Scottish Studies about his piping days.
1997.108.1
Photocopied extract from `The Old and New Hebrides` by James Cameron, pp 89-100.
The formation of a Land League in Tiree, the possession of Greenhill farm and the subsequent sending of warships to Tiree to arrest the men who had put stock on the vacant farm.
2002.78.6
Newspaper cutting about the crofters` rebellion on Tiree in 1886.
Article about the arrest of eight Tiree crofters in 1886 for seizing a farm at Greenhill.
1997.85.1
Photocopied petition to the Duke of Argyll from the widow of Donald MacArthur, Caoles, 1887.
Petition asking for a reduction in rent for a low-lying croft in Caoles and statinng that the petitioner has not attended any Land League meetings or applied to the Crofters Commission.