List of Balephetrish tenants 1834-1952.
List of Balephetrish tenants from 1834 to 1952, giving names, crofts numbers, grazing rights and Land Court orders. (2 copies plus 1 photocopied handwritten page)
1998.151.3
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Tag Archives: land tenure
1998.151.9
Lachlan MacQuarie’s letter of 1866
Transcription of Lachlan MacQuarie’s letter of 1866 to the Duke of Argyll about a summons of removing served on him in Baugh.
Courtesy of His Grace the Duke of Argyll
In 1860, Dr Alexander Buchanan was appointed Medical Officer for Tiree. He was encouraged by the Duke of Argyll who seems to have promised him the tenancy of Baugh Farm. Previously doctors had not stayed long in Tiree due to insufficient remuneration.
His arrival was fiercely opposed by the sitting tenant at Baugh, Lachlan MacQuarie. The latter wrote to the Duke accusing Dr Buchanan and the factor Mr Geekie of excessive drinking and setting a bad example to the islanders which had led to an outbreak of petty crime.
As well as maligning the doctor and the factor, MacQuarie questioned the Duke’s ability to judge character. His appeal was rejected and Dr. Buchanan settled down in Baugh Cottage on the site of the present kitchen of Baugh House.
1998.151.11
Payments to emigrants from Tiree to Canada in June 1846
Transcription of a list of payments made to emigrants from Tiree to Canada in June 1846.
Courtesy of His Grace the Duke of Argyll
In the fifty years before the potato famine, the population of Tiree doubled to over five thousand, making it one of the most congested areas in the Highlands and Islands. Continued sub-division of the island’s crofts had left most of them too small to support a family.
Poverty was endemic. Landless cottars, many of whom were ‘dependent of the charity of others for food’, comprised more than a third of the island’s population. A Free Church investigation into diet in 1846 found that potatoes formed over half of all food consumed.
In previous years, the smaller tenants and cottars had shown themselves reluctant to emigrate. However, when the potato crop failed in 1846 and the Marquis of Lorne promised assisted passages to Canada for the poorest, over a thousand from Tiree indicated their willingness to leave.
1998.151.13
Photocopied handwritten list of cottars on Tiree in 1846.
List of cottars on Tiree in 1846 giving township, name of head of family, marital status and number in family.
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.
1999.187.1
Photocopied letter to Donald MacKinnon of Balephuil dated 10/2/1914.
Letter to Donald MacKinnon of Balephuil dated 10/2/1914 from the Board of Agriculture for Scotland regarding his application to the Land Court to register as a New Holder.
1998.27.11
Photocopied speech by Ronald MacDonald, Cornaigbeg given on 26/7/1986 (2 copies).
Speech by Ronnie MacDonald, Cornaigbeg, given on 26/7/1986 at the opening ceremony of Tur Mhic Chaluim to commemorate one hundred years of the Crofters Act and to honour those who fought for crofters` rights. (For sound recording of event, see AC4 – `Tiree remembers` )
2003.1.8
Newspaper cutting about the retirement of Argyll Estates factor, Peter Fairweather.
The retirement of Peter Fairweather, Argyll Estate factor.
2003.1.9
Newspaper cutting about the appointment of the new Argyll Estates factor, Andrew Montgomery.
The appointment of new Argyll Estates factor, Andrew Montgomery.