|
The
Clan Ranald after the Forty-Five
transcribed by John Dye from a collection of photocopied
notes carrying the stamp of the Nova Scotia Archives
left some years ago by an American visitor.
|
M. G.
1 559/9 No 321
THE CLANRANALD
AFTER THE FORTY-FIVE
By MacIan
Students
of the history of the Highland clans are aware that the name Clan Ranald
was of old applied to the descendants of the five sons of Ranald, eldest
surviving son of John, Lord of the Isles, by Amie MacRuarie.
Ranald's
sons were as follows:
I Allan,
his successor.
II Donald, of whom the MacDonalds of Glengarry.
III John Dall, who left one son, John.
IV Angus Rhiabach, whose family occupied Morar until the first half of
the 16th century. There is no record of this family after that time.
V Dugal, designated as of Sunart, of whom the Siol Dhugail of Moidart.
The descendants
of Donald were numerous and by historians are treated as a separate branch
of the Clan Donald, apart from the Clan Ranald, from which they sprang
originally. So that nowadays, when speaking of the Clan Ranald, we refer
only to those of the Clan Donald reputed to be descended from the other
four sons of Ranald. "The History of Clan Donald" by Rev. Angus
and Rev. Archibald Macdonald goes into detail concerning the descendants
of all MacRanald, but does not have much to say regarding the descendants
of the other sons, and little is said as to the fate of the clan generally
after the failure of the Stuart rebellion in 1746. It will be the purpose
of this article to speak somewhat of the descendants of these other sons
and to relate a little of the history of the commonality of the clan,
so far as known, from 1746 to the present time.
First of
all, it may be remarked that the descendants of John Dall, Angus Riabhach
and Dugal Suinartach, being far removed from the chieftainship of Clan
Ranald, no family record of their descendants was maintained by the clan
historians and bards. These descendants also were no doubt passed over
in the division of property which took place from time to time, in favour
of the chieftain's closer relatives. All that can be learned regarding
the descendants of John Dall is that the Macdonalds in Eigg were supposed
to be descended from him, and were called in Gaelic Sliochd Iain Dall.
Some descendants of the Morar family also resided in Eigg. At any rate,
as one writer has remarked, there is little traditional history in Eigg:
the suffocation of many of the inhabitants about three hundred years ago
having effectively destroyed the old traditions and legends.
Nothing
is known about the descendants of Angus Riabhach, fourth son of Ranald,
subsequent to 1538, at which time their lands were given to the children
of Dugal, deposed or murdered chieftain of Clan Ranald.
The Siol
Dhugail as a sept were numerous in the glen of Moidart for some time prior
to 1715 and for many years subsequent to 1745. Some time prior to 1745,
a few families of the sept removed from Kinloch Moidart to Glen Uig. It
appears that around about 1547, a few of the sept settled in Lochaber,
and at the time of the Keppoch murder, the principal man of the Siol Dhugail
in Lochaber was Alastair Macdonald of Inverlair (Alastair MacDougall Ruadh).
Following on government action, he and some of his sons were put to death
by the party despatched from Skye by Sir James Macdonald, but one of Alastair's
sons or a relative fled back to Moidart and eventually settled at Ulgary
or Glenforslan, leaving many descendants.
So far,
we have only spoken of direct descendants in the male line of Ranald,
son of John, Lord of the Isles, but we should remark that early in the
seventeenth century, a few of the MacIans of Ardnamurchan fled to Moidart,
and were afterwards, with their descendants known as Clan Ranald Macdonalds.
There were also of course, Highlanders of other names, who lived in Clan
Ranald territory, and fought with them as occasion arose. In this connection,
it is interesting to peruse the list - only partly complete - of the mainland
retainers of Clan Ranald, called to arms in the rebellion of 1745. There
are very few of the Clan Ranald from the islands, but about 180 from Moidart
assembled at Glenfinnan, and these were joined by 120 from Arisaig, led
by Charles MacEachin Macdonald, who marched at their head from Arisaig
to Glenfinnan.
Moidart,
with its historic Castle Tirrim, has always been regarded as the real
rallying ground for the clan, but there were many scions of the Clan Ranald
in some of the islands such as South Uist, Eigg, Canna etc. Knoydart,
on the mainland, was originally Clan Ranald but some centuries ago passed
to Glengarry and from that time on, the bettor off families were of Glengarry
stock. South Morar, as we have stated, was given to the children of Dugal,
deposed chief of Clan Ranald, in 1538.
So much
for the descent of the body of the clan, and their various places of residence.
AS the Clan Ranald were the first to take up arms on behalf of Charles
Edward, and as he landed at Moidart, and finally sailed from there, after
eluding his pursuers, it was only natural that the government should be
especially aware on the mainland Clan Ranald after the collapse of the
rebellion. Sackville's regiment was quartered in the neighbourhood and
the militia from Argyle also put in an unwelcome appearance. Many of the
humble homes of the people were burned or torn to pieces, and the cattle,
which comprised all they had, driven off. It should also be remembered
that the Clan Ranald were Catholics, and at that time therefore, especially
obnoxious to the British Government. There was, of course a great rush
to hide and bury such arms as the people possessed. One man in Smerisary,
seeing the Campbells approaching, buried a sword in a peat bog, but hid
it so well that he was never after able to find it. Perhaps it may yet
be found by some crofter cutting peat.
We now approach
the time of the great dispersal of the clans and among others the Clan
Ranald. So far as my researches show, there was no emigration from this
sept, either to the South or across the Atlantic prior to 1772. In that
year, due to their hard situation in the mainland and islands and in some
degree to religious persecution, a band of Macdonalds and others from
South Uist, Moidart and Arisaig emigrated to Prince Edward Island under
the leadership of Capt. John Macdonald of Glenaladale. A second band from
the same districts left in 1790, and as there were 110 persons evicted
from Ard na fuaran, Arisaig in 1780 (according to Chas. Fraser-Mackintosh),
it seems likely that many of those evicted would have left in 1790. It
also appears that in 1786 about six hundred people left Knoydart for America,
the number including, no doubt, many of the Clan Ranald stock. (This information
is given in a letter to the College of Propaganda from Rev. Huisdein Macdonald
of Moidart). Also in 1791 two vessels loaded with emigrants from the Western
Isles and the adjoining mainland landed at Pictou and these vessels brought
out some of the sept. From this time on, the Clan Ranald districts steadily
sent forth emigrants, chiefly to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island,
though a good number seem to have gone to Australia early in the nineteenth
century. A large number left Moidart for Nova Scotia in 1812, viz., fourteen
families from Uligarry, Allisary and Glenforslan, mostly Macdonalds but
with one family of MacIntyres. In 1848 four families left Glen Uig, and
six left Smerisary, all for Nova Scotia, and this seems to have been the
land (last?) band of importance to come to Nova Scotia. The depopulation
of Moidart and Arisaig has gone steadily on, and in Ardnish, Arisaig,
where thirteen families existed thirty years ago, now only two families
remain.
Besides
those who emigrated, there were some who enlisted in the British Army
and some others moved to the Lowlands. However, owing to their religion,
and to the fact that Presbyterianism was the established religion of Scotland,
emigration abroad seems usually to have appealed more to the Clan Ranald
a century ago, than removal to the Lowlands. Another factor may have had
some influence: the chieftains of Clan Ranald after 1745, were of the
Episcopal faith, but the body of the clan remained Catholic, and this
added to other reasons, served to weaken the clan sentiment. It is doubtful
if any of the Scottish clans or septs are now more widely dispersed that
the descendants of Clan Ranald.
We have
mentioned emigration to Australia. The last emigration from Moidart went
to Australia and took place in 1852, when about five hundred went to Port
Philip (now Melbourne). Little is known of the history of those of Clan
Ranald who left the homeland for Australia. They were far distant from
the old land, communication was difficult and the majority were not well
educated. I have heard one story of a ship which left for Australia with
some of the Clan Ranald aboard, and smallpox breaking out claimed many
lives. This happened several times on the vessels which came to Canada.
It seems
clear from what records are available, that Prince Edward Island and Nova
Scotia, were from the first and continued to be the places most favoured
by the Clan Ranald as new homes. Land was obtainable in both these provinces,
and while the winter climate is cold, it sees to suit the Highlander better
than the warmer climate of Australia.
Over forty
years ago, and interesting book was written by Rev. Charles Macdonald,
Parish Priest of Moidart, entitled "Moidart, or Among the Clan Ranald"(sic).
For some of the details given in this paper, I am indebted to the book
mentioned. Although charmingly written, it is said that the book is not
accurate in all details and that it was Father Macdonald's intention,
had he lived longer, to write another history, with more accurate data.
So far as South Uist is concerned, and the other islands in which the
sept resided, no detailed works of local history exist, which treat of
the fortunes of the sept subsequent to 1745. In respect of Australia,
I have not come across any book or sketch dealing with the history of
those of the clan and their descendants who settled there. But in Nova
Scotia, some local county histories have been written, which mention many
families of the sept who settled in the province and whose descendants
are now very numerous.
The Gael,
once removed from the old land, seems to be inclined to wander, and from
their new homes in the provinces of Eastern Canada, thousands moved subsequently
to various states in the American Union and to the Western provinces.
But there must still be a few thousand of Clan Ranald Macdonalds in Nova
Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Perhaps,
in view of the speed with which the modern agencies of civilisation are
tending to smooth out differences between peoples, and to establish uniformity,
another generation or so may see the end of all thought of clan septs
and clan histories. In so far, however, as these histories tend to keep
in mind such virtues as our forefathers possessed, let us hope that they
will not soon be forgotten.
Dec 31, 1930
Handwritten
note:
NB - The
foregoing article "The Clanranald after the '45" was published
in 1931 in "Mosladh" and the writer is including it as it deals
with the same subject. There may be some repetition, for which the reader's
indulgence is requested.
NB (2) This article was transcribed by John Dye from
a collection of notes left some years ago by an American visitor.
|