Digitised copy of a contract between The Duke of Argyll and Mr Alexander McTavish, Minister of Tyree, dated 19 October 1752. The contract details the conditions of the minister’s employment, including payment of teinds, stipends, communion elements, payment in lieu of a Gleib, and the employment of an assistant minister in Coll.
The following people are named in the contract: Mr Archibald Campbell of Stonefield (Advocate, Sheriff Depute of the Sheriffdom of Argyll) James Campbell and John Marshall (writers in Inveraray), Mr John Clerk (Schoolmaster in Inveraray), Andrew Fletcher (witness and Senator of the College of Justice, Milton), Robert Campbell (witness and Advocate, Asknish), James Campbell (witness), John Clerk (witness).
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of Memorial about the set of Benbuy (Beinne Bhuidhe), 1681. The Memorial discusses: the set (lease) of the land in 1678; numbers of livestock kept on the land (including ‘meares’, ‘deere’, cows and stirks); the management of deer on the land; salaries of the ‘taxmen’ (tacksmen – tenant farmers).
The Memorial names several tenants – McConochy, Nicoll McNicoll of Elerchemore and Dougall McEllure of Killblaan – and other place names. The second page contains further remarks on cows, ‘meares’ and ‘deere’ on the land and prospect of the 9th Earl of Argyll making an advance in exchange for half the ‘old benefite’.
Notes in a later hand record that document is ‘very interesting’ and that it contains the ‘handwriting of the 9thEarl of Argyll’ as well as old place names.
No transcript is 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 Tiree mermaid – sworn statement of the discovery of a sea creature on the shore on Tiree, by Collin McNiven before James Maxwell, Justice of the Peace, 1813.
The statement (given by Colin MacNiven, tacksman of Grianal [Greenhill]) contains a detailed description of the discovery and appearance of the mermaid. MacNiven states that the mermaid was discovered eighteen years prior.
Digitised copy of a Memorial by Stonefield concerning Tiree, 1748, recording the ‘State of the rents of Tyree [Tiree] from 1706 [and] Downwards’.
This document records sums paid alongside notes on tacksmen, the appointment of a factor, collection of rent, amounts in arrears, and the activities of Ballimore and Barnacarry (factors on Tiree). The document goes on to make further comments on how to more effectively manage the island, including lowering rent to attract new tenants.
Composition about the life and family of John Miller Matthew Geekie, who was a factor for the Duke of Argyll on Tiree. His sons Peter J,, John Neil, and Charles S. were born in Tiree in 1871-73. The family emigrated to Manitoba, Canada. Compiled by Charles A Muir, Ottawa, 2017.
Geekie’s wife Ann Campbell (1844-1918) was 1st cousin to Colina Georgina McLean Campbell, Balephetrish (1841-1930), wife of Doctor Alexander Buchanan, Baugh. Ann was the daughter of Donald Campbell Tacksman of Reef & Ulva. Colina was the daughter of Colin Campbell (Cailean Mhor) of Coll. Colin bought the two ends of Coll and owned the farms of Cornaig & Caolis. Both Colin Campbell (1798-1867) and Donald Campbell (1801-1884) were sons of Niel Campbell, Tacksman of Sunipol (1769-c1854).
Emailed information about the Campbell family of Mull, Tiree and Coll, 1820-1912, some of whom emigrated to Cape Breton, Canada, and a composition titled Campbell of Malagawatch.
Booklet ‘West Highland Notes & Queries’, Series 4, No. 3, March 2017. Includes articles on the MacLeans of Duart and Lochbuie & the Jacobite Cause 1400-1766 (with references to Tiree), paintings of pipers, ‘The Tacksman Class in Argyllshire 1800-50’, ‘A Visit to Coll in 1831’, and ‘Tiree’s resistance to the Earl of Argyll’s takeover of the Island 1674-1682’ by Nicholas Maclean-Bristol.
West Highland Notes and Queries, August 2016, published by the The Society of West Highland & Island Historical Research Ltd, Coll. Articles include ‘An Account of the Island of Coll: Grimsary’; Myth, History and Genetic Genealogy: Ailpein, Chriogair, Mhic Gille Chonaill; Ranald MacAllan Og; Place-names in the Argyllshire Valuation of 1751; Who was Florence MacLean (1365-1430)?; Highland Tacksmen’s use of Gaelic in the Nineteenth Century.
Book extract `The tacksman and his holdings in the south-west Highlands`
Photocopied and bound book extract `The Tacksman and His Holding in the South-West Highlands` by A. McKerral (from the collection of Gene Lamont, Canada).
Composition “The Story of Elizabeth Crow and Murdoch McQuarie”
Composition about the life and family history of Elizabeth Crow (1860-1883) who came to live at Hynish with her lighthouse-keeper father and mother, at the age of 15. In 1880, she had an illegitimate daughter by Murdoch McQuarie, the eldest son of Lachlan McQuarie, tacksman of Hynish Farm. The McQuarie family would not allow their son to marry Elizabeth. Written by her great niece in 2011.