Pentland Road - 2

During its session at Letterfearn, Kintail, in August 1883, the Napier Commission was hearing some breathtaking tales of abuse of crofters and tenants in the villages of Bundaloch and Carndhu. I copy part of the reply from witness John Macrae (in reply to question 31277 by Sir Kenneth Mackenzie). [...] After that we met with the factor at the schoolhouse, Dornie, but all he did was to make fun of us, telling us to take crops out of the rocks, and to imitate the earth worms who were splendid drainers. And further he told us that the blood went from the heart to the top of the head, and then went downwards to the soles of our feet. This signified that men now-a-days were asking too much, but that they would be checked. A vessel was sent to the country loaded with potatoes by the proprietor, but the factor went amongst the better class of people to give them a supply, and kept from the poorer classes all knowledge of it ; and had it not been for the parish minister, who through charity ...

One cause for eviction in the 19th century would be that the tenant was in arrears with his rent. During the Napier Commission's hearings at Letterfearn, Kintail, in August 1883, the following was said on the subject by witness Farquhar Macrae of Bundaloch. Sir Kenneth Mackenzie is asking the questions: 31276. What have you to say on behalf of these people? —I have not much to say, but I have been left destitute as well as my father, who was paying rent before my day. I was the head of the family after my father died. My sheep were taken from me for a trifle, and the whole of the people were treated in the same way. We have been robbed. The proprietor did not wait to see what we might be able to do. We are told that the proprietor declares we were largely in arrears of rent; but the arrears were not so large as represented. Many of these arrears were two hundred years old, lying always in the book, handed over from one proprietor to another. Another thing is, they wished to get ...

As I was perusing the witnesses to the Napier Commission from Benbecula and South Uist, I came across the death record of a John Mcleod from Buailedhu, one of the Iochdar villages in South Uist. Below his entry on the record, I found one for a little girl, aged 3, who had died of whooping cough on 12 May 1916. She had been suffering from the ailment for 24 days. Her name was Ann Macdonald, of Stilligarry, South Uist. Her mother was called Mary (nee Macinnes), and it was she that had to report the death. The girl's father was Sergeant Donald Macdonald of the Cameron Highlanders, at that moment fighting at the Western Front. A quick glance at the war casualties of South Uist confirms that Mary Macdonald suffered a second blow some three months later on 23 August 1916, when her husband Donald was killed in action . Serjeant Donald Macdonald Son of John and Catherine MacDonald, of South Uist; husband of Mary MacDonald, of Stillgary, Lochboisdale, South Uist. Last known address in...

The first witness to give evidence at Balmacara in August 1883, Duncan Sinclair, came with some hard-hitting statements regarding the way tenants were treated in the parish of Lochalsh. It would appear that he intensified some of the statements a bit. Those who were allowed by the proprietor to remain after the factor had expressed his determination to have them evicted, in these words, " Go you must, even though you should go to the bottom of the sea ," were allowed a mere fringe of the township, bordering on the rocky sea-shore. [...] at the commencement of the sheep-farming mania, when the people were regarded as a nuisance to be got rid of by driving them out of the country like noxious vermin, or by crowding them into barren promontories or boggy hollows which were useless for sheep [...] Lord Napier proceeded to verify that the translations accurately reflected what the people had actually said. 30059. I understood you to say that the English phraseology of tho...

31 July 1883. The Napier Commission is sitting at Poolewe, Wester Ross, and Mr Fraser-Mackintosh is interrogating Donald Mackenzie of Second Coast, Gruinard . 28967. How may people were cleared out of what now goes under the name of Drumchork? —I don't know about the number of families that were in Drumchork, but there was a place adjacent to myself out of which the people were cleared and scattered throughout the whole earth, and the people of Dingwall came and pounded them upon the stones; and the meal that was being prepared for the family was taken away off the fire, and thrown outside.

28639. Sheriff Nicolson. —Do you really think a man is. in a nobler position who is working for day's wages to another, than a man who has a bit of land on which, if he is industrious, he feels that he occupies a position of some little importance in the country, and holds up his head with a little more dignity ? —[George Pirie] If he is in the position of a small farmer who can tide over bad times, I quite agree with you; but if he has a small bit of ground and requires to appeal to the south for help, I think he is living on charity, which I think has a bad effect on the moral character. .

Presently transcribing the Napier Commission's Report from  Ross-shire, in particular the session at Ullapool. One quote stands out from the fourth witness, 76-year old Duncan Mackenzie: 28 00 9. A re your h o uses in pretty g o od order? — T hey would be none the worse of being better.

Roderick Finlayson gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883, on behalf of the people of Maravaig [Marvig]. We find him in the 1881 census, aged 55, married to Jane (nee Munro). Their son Peter (23) is also present in the house. Hebridean Connections tells us that Jane was originally from Melvich, Sutherland. The census of 1861 shows us more of Roderick's family, Mary (7), Peggy [Margaret] (5), Peter (3) and John (1). Hebridean Connections note that there was a fifth child, Johnina, who died after choking on a fishbone. In 1871, Roderick is a carpenter, but in 1881 his occupation is noted as crofter and fisherman.  In 1901, the couple live at the schoolhouse in Marvig.

Murdo Mcmillan gave evidence on behalf of the crofters of Gravir at the Napier Commission's hearing at Keose on 12 June 1883. He shows up in the 1881 census aged 57, married to Chirsty (53) with their five children Cate (32), Isabella (30), Chirsty (22), Donald (15) and Bess (12). The 1871 census also shows Margret and Robert, ages between Isabella and Chirsty. The family is also shown in the censuses for 1861 and 1851. The 1891 census puts Murdo and family at 2 Gravir. We also see Chirsty's husband Kenneth Mcphail, and their child Catherine (3). In 1901, Murdo and Chirsty (aged 74 and 73) remain in Gravir, with some of their children and grandchildren. Murdo Mcmillan passed away on 10 December 1907 at the age of 83, having suffered from mitral valve heart disease. His parents are named as Murdo and Euphemia (nee Mckenzie). His wife Christina (nee Macleod)  died in 1910 at the age of 83.

George Mackenzie was a witness from Laxay, who gave evidence at the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883. We find him as a 50-year old fisherman on the 1871 census married to Catherine (same age), and with seven children. They vary in ages from 4 to 26. The 1861 census shows Catherine to be 20 years older than George, which is a mistake; their youngest child at that time is only 10 months old. George Mackenzie died on 29 May 1888 aged 69 of bronchitis. His parents are named as Colin and Catherine, and he is noted as being married to Catherine Mckay. His eldest son John reported the death to the registrar at Keose; he was unable to write his name.

John Mcleod is noted as a witness from Kershader, giving evidence to the Napier Commission during its session at Keose on 12 June 1883. The censuses point at a John Mcleod living in a private house at Garryavard [Garyvard], a mile or so east of Kershader. In 1881, he is aged 49, married to Margaret (40) and having 5 children, Kenneth (14), John (12), Isabella (10), Catherine (8) and Finlay (4). Also present are John's brothers Donald and Murdo. The family, minus the children aged below 10 in 1881, is also shown in the 1871 census. In 1891, John is shown at 12 Garyvard with his wife Peggy (a contraction of Margaret) and children Finlay (15), Isabella (20), Kate (18), Mary A (9), as well as the two brothers.

John Smith was a 75-year old witness from Balallan, who gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883. We find him on the 1861 census in the parish of Lochs, born at Eskin [Eishken, the Park district] in 1807. He is married to Flora, and has 6 children, John (28), Anne (21), Roderick (24), Marrion (22), Kenneth (12) and Malcolm (6). The 1851 census shows the couple again at Balallan, also with David and Murdo amongst their offspring. I have been unable to locate this John Smith in later censuses.

Donald Mcleod was the witness for Lower Bayble at the Napier Commission's session at Stornoway on 11 June 1883. Unfortunately, there are two men with that name and aged about 60 in the 1881 census return, both living at Lower Bayble. Without further information, I am not able to make a distinction between the two. One is born in 1823 and married to Catherine, with three children. The other is born in 1825 and married to Christine, with seven children, varying in ages from newborn to 25 years of age. Further information welcome.

Donald Mccaskill was the witness for Sheshader at the Napier Commission's session in Stornoway on 11 June 1883. Unfortunately, I have been unsuccessful in finding a corresponding entry in the census returns for enumeration district 88. There are several possible permutations of the spelling of his surname, none of which yielded any result. Further information welcome.

Angus Mcleod was a crofter and fishmerchant from Portnaguran in Point, who gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Stornoway on 11 June 1883. Unfortunately, as no age is given, it is practically impossible for me to extract the corresponding census records for him. Further information welcome.

Duncan Mackenzie gave evidence to the Napier Commission in Stornoway on 11 June 1883 on behalf of the people of Melbost. We find him in the censuses of 1871 and 1881 at Melbost, married to Henrietta (3 years his junior) and with 4 children, varying in ages between 12 and 26 (in 1871). Duncan is aged 63 in 1881.  I have been unable to trace him in censuses before '71 or after '81.

Murdo Macleod , an agent for the British Linen Bank in Stornoway, gave evidence to the Napier Commission in the town on 11 June 1883. He appears in the 1891 census as a banker and chief magistrate in Stornoway, married to a Donaldina M Macleod, and with 4 children, aged between 3 and 8. There is also a Jessie Macfarlane at their address, "living on private means" and Murdo's niece Margaret L Macfarlane, aged 3, who was born in Minnesota, USA. I am unable to trace Murdo in any of the censuses before or after 1891.

Alexander Murray gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Stornoway on 11 June 1883. He is noted as a 46-year old merchant from the town. Unfortunately, it is difficult to extract the correct Alexander Murray from the census returns. In 1881, there are a few men of that name in enumeration district 88, the town of Stornoway who are not merchants. There is an Alexander Murray in the 1871 census who is aged 30, and a draper at 39 Keith Street, also appearing in the 1861 census. Whether he is the man that gave evidence in 1883 is unclear, due to the discrepancy in ages.

James Mccombie was a fish curer who gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Stornoway on 11 June 1883. He hailed from Peterhead, and that is where we find him in the census returns. In 1881, he is noted as employing 50 men and 10 boys in his occupation as herring merchant and curer. James lives at 5 Jamaica Street in Peterhead, and lives with his wife Sarah. They have 5 children, varying in ages from 1 to 11. By 1891, James has moved to 10 Fitzroy Place in Glasgow (Sandyford), continuing his businessas a fish merchant. His family has expanded to 8 children, aged between 3 and 20. In 1871, James is at 80 Longate St, a fishcurer employing 13 coopers and 3 boys. He is married to Sarah, who is 9 years younger than him, and their first child has appeared on the scene by then. Ten years earlier, James is lodging with the Hepburns in Rathven, Banffshire, marked as a fishcurer. By 1851, he is found at home with his parents James and Jane on Pool Lane in Peterhead, a 10-year old scholar....

Donald Smith gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Stornoway on 11 June 1883. He was a 49-year old fish-curer from the town. We find him in the 1881 census as a merchant at 28 Francis Street; the 1891 census lists him as a fish-curer and JP (justice of the peace) at 44 Francis Street. He was born at Callernish and married to Annie E. They had a son, John C; the 1881 census also lists two shopmen at the premises. A late addition to the family turns up on the 1891 census, with 3-year old Flora C E. By that time, John C is a student of practical chemistry. In 1901, the family have located to Matheson Road Springfield, a slightly leafier part of Stornoway. Donald and his son John C are both fish curers, and Flora a scholar. Going back in time, the 1871 census shows Donald at 28 Francis Street, with his wife Annie (nee Maclean), and their young sons John Campbell and Peter Mclean Smith. Peter died in 1874 at the age of 5. There are also two domestic servants and two shopmen in the ho...