Tag Archives: sailors

2022.32.2

Digitised copy of a letter from D MacInnes to Lord Archibald Campbell, 7 April 1885.

In the letter MacInnes (4 Battery Terrace, Oban) describes a conversation with an unnamed Tiree man who was born and brought up on the farm of ‘Hianous’ (perhaps Heanish). This unnamed man believes that the people of Tiree are better treated than on any other estate, but that only one half of the population can afford a comfortable living. He describes the situation on the farm of Scarinish, and mentions Sandy MacLean. He writes that four of the crofts there each maintain a horse, two cows, and a ‘stirk or two’ for £15 rent, and that the tenants have ‘unrestrained liberty’ to use as much sea ware (seaweed) as they like for manure and kelp making.

From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2023.18.1

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Large framed painting of the Steam Yacht ‘Beryl’ cruising past Mount Vesuvius in the Mediterranean in 1907. John MacArthur of ‘The Neuk’, Vaul, is thought to have been the yacht’s piper when it cruised the Western Isles some time between 1905 and 1911, as John was known locally as Piopaire a’Bhurns / Burns’ piper, and the owner of the Beryl was James Burns, 3rd Lord Inverclyde. Also, the painting hung in the house of Willie and Hannah MacLean in Balemartine, and John was the cousin of Willie MacLean’s father.

The painting is accompanied by notes regarding the artist and the histories of several SY Beryls (stored in filing cabinet 10, drawer 4).

2021.54.75

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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)

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.71

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Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal charging Dugald MacKinnon with assault and breach of the peace in July 1869.

Dugald MacKinnon (boatman, son of and residing with Neil MacKinnon, Scarinish) is accused of assaulting William Miller (cook on board SS Argyll) on board the SS Argyll which it was in Scarinish Harbour. Donald MacKinnon (shoemaker, Vaul), William Miller (cook on board SS Argyll), Duncan MacInnes (cotter, Ruaig) and Duncan Cameron (Constable, Tiree) are named as witnesses.

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.65

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Transcript of Inventory of Precognition investigating the death of Joseph Evans and William James on 8 August 1868. Evans (cook and seaman on board the Maria and Fanny) and James (Master on board the Maria and Fanny) drowned on the wreck of the Maria Fanny of Milford Devon Wales. The Maria and Fanny was on a journey between Ayr and Limerick with a cargo of coals, but hit a rock – ‘bo-more’ (possibly Bogha Mòr) – near Kenavara in a storm.

The transcript contains descriptions of clothing and tattoos found on the deceased, as well as some descriptions of their bodies. Thomas Davis mentions the following locations in his account of the ship’s journey: Lamlash (Isle of Arran), ‘Torry’ Island (perhaps Tory or Toraigh Island), Skerryvore, Tiree. The transcript names Archibald Campbell as Receiver of Wrecks at Balinoe.

Statements are provided by:

Angus MacArthur (crofter, Balephuil)
Malcolm MacArthur (crofter, Balephuil)
Alexander MacDonald (fisherman, Balephuil)
Donald MacArthur (son of and residing with Angus MacArthur, Balephuil)
Duncan Cameron (Constable, Tiree)
Thomas Davis (seaman, Pembroke)
James Brown (seaman, Pembrokeshire)
William Thomas (seaman, Devon)
Donald McArthur (fisherman, Balephuil)
Archibald Brown, (farmer, Balephuil)
Archibald Brown (seaman, Mannal)

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.63

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Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses regarding the death of Roderick McInnes in November 1866. McInnes (aged 28, seaman, Eriskay) died after falling overboard the SS Argyll as it passed Caliach Point at the Sound of Mull.

Statement are provided by Duncan Morison (mate on board the SS Argyll) and Charles Cameron (son of Hugh Cameron, Fracadale, Mull).

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.45

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Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal by Finlay Fraser (Police Constable, Tiree) charging Neil Lamont with malicious mischief on 12 October 1861. Lamont (merchant and cattle dealer, Cornaig) is accused of injuring Lauchlan McLean (farmer, Crosh [Croit na Croise, Kilmoluaig]) while riding a horse on the main road between Gott and Ballaphetrish. Statements are provided from:

Lachlan McLean (farmer, Crosh [Croit na Croise, Kilmoluaig])
Donald McLean (boatman, Kennovay)

The location of ‘Crosh’ is likely to be Croit na Croise in Kilmoluaig (see 1861 census).

Lamont is also charged with assaulting Duncan Cameron (seaman on board the Tiree packet), in the shop in ‘Toby’ occupied by Alexander Black (merchant) on 26 October 1861. Duncan Cameron (seaman), Hector McLean (shopman), John Lamont (porter) are named as witnesses. This second report is written by Allan Cameron.

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.34

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Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses submitted to Henry Nisbet, Tobermory Procurator Fiscal, regarding the sudden deaths of Malcolm McKinnon and Ann or Nancy MacDougall or Burnett on 3 October 1860. McKinnon and MacDougall/Burnett died when a mail packet ran ashore in Glenbeg, near Loch Sunart, during a storm. Statements are provided from:

Hector Lamont (master and owner of a mail packet, Kirkapol. Brother-in-Law of Malcolm McKinnon, deceased)
Archibald McFadyen (seaman, Kirkapol)
Niel McLean (crofter, Ruaig)
Niel McKinnon (Arinagour, Coll)
Alexander Campbell (Inland Revenue Officer, Broadford, Isle of Skye. Sister-in-Law of Ann or Nancy McDougall or Burnett)

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.12

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Transcript of a petition submitted to Henry Nisbet Procurator Fiscal against John McKinnon in 1857. McKinnon is accused of culpable homicide in childbirth. The transript gives details of how McKinnon assisted Margaret McKinnon or Lamont (wife of Lachlan Lamond, Vaul) in childbirth, and is accused of causing her death. An extract from the Register of Deaths of the entry of the death of Margaret McKinnon or Lamont is provided by Malcolm Livingston (Parochial Teacher and Registrar, Kirkapoll).

Statements are provided from:

John McKinnon (a Beadle or Bellman, Clabbach, Coll)
Lachlan Lamont (husband of deceased – Cottar and Seaman, Vaul),
Lachlan McKinnon (brother of deceased – Crofter, Vaul)
Charles McKinnon (brother of deceased – Crofter or Labourer, Vaul)
Catherine McLean or Hart (wife of John Hart, Vaul)
Margaret McNeill (wife of Malcolm McNeill [Inspector of Poor], Vaul)
Mary Macdonald or McLean (wife of Hector Maclean, Salum)
Catherine McKinnon (daughter of Ann MacInnes or McKinnon, Vaul)
Jessie MacLean (wife of John McLean, Caoles)

This record contains extensive descriptions of the attempts to deliver Margaret McKinnon or Lamont of her child, and of the interventions and instrumentation used by John McKinnon. A copy of this transcript is not available online. Please contact An Iodhlann if you would like to consult this record.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2022.1.2

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Small black & white photograph of a memorial stone dedicated to John MacKechnie ‘Master Mariner’ (1861-1916), his son Malcolm MacKechnie (16 months) and daughter Margaret MacKechnie (5 years). Erected by their wife and mother Margaret MacKinnon. The trees in the background suggest that it is not in Tiree.

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