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.
Digitised copy of a letter from John McKinnon to the Duke of Argyll, dated 30 January 1894. In this letter McKinnon (Moss) complains that he was due to inherit a croft from his cousin, Catherine Sinclair (Moss), but that it was claimed by his cousin Neil Sinclair (cottar, Balephuil) and that the Factor, Mr Wyllie, entered Neil Sinclair’s name on the rent book. McKinnon references the work he did to improve the croft, that he took care of his cousin in her old age, and his current hardships. He was summoned by Mr Sproat (Procurator Fiscal) in Tobermory and failing his appearance was told his cow would be poinded. McKinnon also mentions that Sinclair was one of the first to take up their abode in Moss.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of a letter from Donald Campbell (Kirkapol) to the Duke of Argyll, addressed from Gott and dated 10 November 1890.
In the letter Campbell explains how he has been ‘reduced to my present unfortunate position’, he refers to his cows ‘shirring’, resulting in death of calves, blames his three sisters for their lack of care towards the cows, problems in paying his rent and accruing ‘considerable’ arrears, his sisters commencing a law-suit against him, advice from Mr Sproat (Procurator Fiscal) in Tobermory to declare himself bankrupt, the sale of his belongings, and his hope that the Duke will allow him to keep his crofts. Campbell writes that his father-in-law Donald MacKinnon (tenant, Kirkapol) is willing to undertake joint payment of the rent. The letter contains a postscript signed by his father-in-law expressing his willingness to join with Donald Campbell in the management of the crofts in Gott and payment of the rent. Campbell also mentions attending the market in Mull to sell horses.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
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.
Digitised copy of a Memorandum on Poor Law Matters in Tyree, c1864. Sets out instructions and recommendations for improving the administration of the Poor Law in Tiree and Coll. Refers to ‘slovenly audits and slovenly records’; the use of the Poor House in Tobermory; administration of ‘outdoor relief’ which may ‘deteriorate the character and relax the Industry of the Population’; irregularities in application of Statute between Coll and Tiree, resulting in ‘antagonism’ between the two islands’; difficulties in communicating between the two islands; affairs of Parish in ‘great confusion’; mismanagement, borrowed funds and the need for better management and improved direction.
The Interim Inspector of Poor for the Island of Coll had previously been charged with fraud: see record 2021.54.25.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of the Account for Aross (Aros), Mull, 1674. This document is written in Latin, and appears to mention Archibald Earl of Argyll, Hector Mclean of Douart, and John Campbell.
This document is written in secretary hand. There is no transcript available for this item.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of the Rental of Argyll estates to be put in the hands of trustees, 1681. The item is damaged leading to the loss of some place names and values.
Contains rents paid in money and victuals for areas in Argyll including Kilmarten (Kilmartin), Colonsay and Oronsay, Ardnamurchane and Swennart (Ardnamurchan and Sunart), Lismoir (Lismore), Midle Lorne and Nethir Lorne (Middle Lorne and Nether Lorne), Cowal, Morverne (Morvern), Mull, Jura and Skarba (Scarba). Individuals are also listed, including: Cap[tai]n of Clan Ronald, Lord Neil Campbell and the Laird of Calder (possibly Cawdor) for Jura.
This document is written in secretary hand. There is no transcript available for this item.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of the Rental of Maclean’s estate, 1680. Containing an ‘excerpt from the Rental of the Estate of Argyll made up in the year 1680 and known by the name of the Earl of Argyll’s Rental’. The document contains rentals in money for Morvern, Mull, Coll, Aross (Aros) and Torosay and Tirie (Tiree).
There is no transcript available for this item.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of the Rental of Maclean’s estate for 1662, 1671, 1672 and 1673, dated 1677.
Contains rents paid in money and victuals for Tiree. The first document contains rentals for the following townships in Tiree, with personal names included in the patronymic form: Kennibaigh (Kenovay), Barriboll (Barrapol), Balli-meanach (Middleton), Sauntaig (Sandaig), Crennall or Grennall (Greenhill), Ballivullin (Balevullin), Kilmuluag (Kilmoluaig), and Bist (Beist) for the year 1662. The remainder of the document records the rental of Morvern and Ross, and the yearly rental of Maclean’s estate for 1671, 1672 and 1673. Amounts of victuals are given in kaines, cheese, butter, wedders, veales, poultrie and corne.
This document is written in secretary hand. There is no transcript for this item.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.