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1776
American Declaration of Independence. A New History of Great Britain,
RB Mowat, page 521
1776
Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations A New History of
Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 618 …"Furthermore, as the social
and economic transformation of Scotland in the eighteenth century
gathered pace, the traditional heartland of Jacobite support was
subject to increasing marginalisation as the central belt became
more dominant. As Jacobitism had ceased to be an effective military
and political force after 1746, the real conflict over Scotland's
religious and national identity was between the Covenanting and
Moderate vision of Presbyterianism". Eighteenth Century Scotland
, New Perspectives, Edited TM Devine and JR Young, Essay" Keeping
the Covenant: Scottish National Identity", Richard J Findlay, page
124
1779
Paid John Stevenson £50 as last moiety of the expense of a bridge
at Kinlochmoidart. Clanranald & Robertson MacDonald papers ref
E 482 MFS Nat Lib Scot
1779
Estimate for Brunery Bridge, 1 mile above Old Mansion House. £92.0.0
Stevenson. Clanranald & Robertson MacDonald papers E 482 MFS
Nat Lib Scot
1779
Susanna MacDonald, daughter-in-law of Donald MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart
wrote that whatever the Commissioners might have done to other estates,
not a shilling had hitherto been laid out on Kinlochmoidart, despite
its being so remote. The public road from Strontian had boats at
all the ferries except across the River Moidart, and she considered
a boat there absolutely necessary. A similar petition from her husband
had been read in 1775, and in 1779 a contract was signed for £100
to an Oban mason, John Stevenson, allowing the tenants' services
for carriage of rubble, stone flags, limestone and coal and for
filling up the ends of the bridge, and timber from the Lochiel firwoods
to make cooms and centres. Also necessary was a specially made landing
stage. Jacobite Estates of the Forty Five Annette M Smith Donald
1982 Ref E764/31,3,4;E764/33
1780
"Vessels used to call at Loch Moidart with cargoes of barley from
Uist and Tiree to be converted into malt, and depart with cargoes
of wood". Distilling was a domestic industry in the Highlands in
the eighteenth century, with many farm towns owning a small still
or pot and the tenants sharing the costs and the profits. But legislation
passed in the 1780s imposed a heavy licence on whisky manufacture
and defined a minimum size for stills, so effectively putting small-scale
Highland distilling beyond the law. As a result the "sma stills"
went underground, and liquor smuggling became both necessary and
profitable. It was the successive relaxation of the Laws after 1815,
as well as the more effective deployment of excise officers, that
took away the profit and the need. Moidart Among the Clanranalds
p223Charles MacDonald, Ed John Watts
1780
yet another MacDonald (see 1761), Alexander MacDonald, succeeded
Bishop John MacDonald in 1780 Eighteenth Century Scotland, New
Perspectives, TM Devine and JR Young, page 96, Essay by James F
McMillan
1782
House finished July. £242.13.0 Change House by Glen Forslan, Duilad.
Clanranald & Robertson MacDonald Papers ref 482 MFS Nat Lib Scot.
"The house, built in or after 1782, was standing until the 1980's,
when it was demolished". Kinlochmoidart House, Stephen Jefferson,
1995
1782
Proclamation lifting the ban on Highland dress was announced "This
is declaringto every man, young and old, Commons and Gentles, that
they may after this put on and wear the Trews, the little kilt,
the doublet and Hose, along with the Tartan Kilt, without fear of
the Law of the Land or the jealousy of enemies….". This had
no immediate impact as the old attachment to Highland dress had
died in a generation. The clans were no longer, their true identity
had gone with the broadsword and their chiefs and the wearing of
a kilt was an affectation for gentlemen or for those who had joined
a Highland Regiment. It was not until forty years later, when Walter
Scott stage managed the visit of George the Fourth to Edinburgh,
that the Gothic picture of the Highlands emerged as being representative
of Scotland as a whole. Culloden, John Prebble p311; also see
The King's Jaunt, John Prebble
1783
Peace after American War of Independence saw a renewed influx of
Scottish emigrants. BBC Documentary on Clearances
1784
Kinlochmoidart estate papers mention eight tenants who made kelp,
five from Kyles, Ian Og and three from Mor. The process involved
gathering weed, drying and burning it, after which it was shipped
to the Clyde for use in bleaching and the manufacture of glass and
soap. Prices peaked during the Napoleonic Wars, but the peace, and
a series of Acts favouring alternative methods of manufacture, brought
a massive decline in the industry in the 1820s. Moidart Among
the Clanranalds p222Charles MacDonald, Ed John Watts
1784
By 1784 it was even considered safe and politic to hand the forfeited
estates back on generous terms to the families of their original
owners; the Government never had reason to regret this stroke of
magnanimity. TC Smout, A History of the Scottish People 1560-1830
p 271
1784
Kinlochmoidart dis-annexed to son of the previous owner, namely
John MacDonald, son and heir of Colonel Alexander MacDonald, who
forfeited the estate. Jacobite Estates of the Forty Five Annette
M Smith Donald 1982 P244
1785
New legislation allowed John MacDonald to recover his estates upon
payment of £1,111.15.Kinlochmoidart House Stephen Jefferson 1995.
Abstract of the Act for restoring the Forfeited Estates…"To
John MacDonald, eldest son and heir of the deceased Lt Col Alexander
MacDonald of the 71st Regiment, who was the eldest son of Donald
MacDonald, late of Kinlochmoidart and his heirs and assigns, the
lands etc. forfeited by the said Donald MacDonald upon paying £1,111.15.5"
St Finan's Isle, Its Story by Alastair Cameron (North Argyll),
page 6 - Jean Cameron and Bonallie/Impey Papers, Ref 38
1785
"Kinlochmoidart Estate" was described in the deed of entail as being
the mains of Kinlochmore, Kinlochuachdrach, Brunery and Badnacraggan;
plus the merklands of (a) Caolas-Ian-Oig, Caolas more and Shonaveg,
(b) Ulgary, (c) Assary, (d) Glenforslan and (e) half merkland of
Duilad. Kinlochmoidart Estate as set out in the deed of entail dated
7th October 1795 in an extract prepared by M R-D. Bonallie/Impey
Papers. Ref 50.
1786
"Assary had three crofting tenants - John MacPherson, Ewen MacDonald
and John Smith, all paying £3 a year. In the same year there were
8 crofters at Ulgary - MacDonald and MacPhersons who had ½ farthing
land all paying £3.10.00." Glenmoidart Notes, Bonallie/Impey
Papers Ref 16
1787
"At the coming of age of John MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart, old John
MacDonald of Morar gave a big party with a bonfire to which all
the natives came and all became very happy, many of them throwing
their bonnets and even some of their clothes in the fire to express
their joy. Old John of Morar was then renting the farm at Kinlochmor
and Glenforslan." Glenmoidart Notes, Bonallie/Impey Papers Ref 16
1787
(The Duke of Argyll, writing Estate Instructions to the Chamberlain
of Mull acting as his Agent) "Oct. By the charters from my family
to MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart I have the right to woods and fishings
upon that estate and for sometime past have been desirous of procuring
information about them, but have got none. You will when convenient
enquire into this matter and report what you learn upon it"
1788
"Young Pretender" dies in Rome
1788
The Chamberlain replied to the Duke of Argyll, "In answer to
this article, the Chamberlain begs leave to refer to the correspondence
which he has had with Campbell of Inverscaddle who resides near
to Kinlochmoydart, a copy of which he now submits to his Grace"
1788
Instruction: "Send some person of skill to view and value the woods
and write to Mr Campbell of Inverscaddle to set the fishery at whatever
you can get for it"
1789
Report upon preceding instruction: "Oct. Two men who are often employed
in such services were sent to view the woods upon the estate of
Kinlochmoidart. They have reported that woods upon that estate being
in general only proper for coaling would yield 802 dozen of coals
and 109 tons of bark, that the expense of manufacturing the coals
might be about sixteen shillings per dozen and the bark thirty shillings
per ton and that there besides standing on the estate 180 ash trees
computed to contain 840 solid feet of measurable timber. As to the
fishing the Chamberlain has written repeatedly to Mr Campbell of
Inverscaddle to set it but he has never heard from him whether that
was done"
1789
To the Chamberlain "The sixth instruction of last year is not
fully answered in respect of that the information you have provided
relates to the whole woods of Kinlochmoydart whereas His Grace's
right is only to a part, and you have not been able to get any offer
for the salmon fishing. You must therefore exert yourself to procure
further information as to both these particulars. The best way is
for you to go there yourself and take one or two persons of skill
and trust with you. It will be right to examine and report whether
the woods are now ripe for cutting, what parts are worthy of being
inclosed, and what will be the expense of inclosing them".
1789
Report: "The Chamberlain has been in Moydart accompanied by a person
of skill in the valuation of woods and inspected the farms of Duillad,
Assary, Kenlochuachkerach, Badnagrogan, Kilismore and the Island
of Shunabeg being the only parts of the estate of Kinlochmoydart
upon which oak woods and salmon fishings are reserved, and had the
woods upon them valued. There is not a single stick of wood of any
kind upon Duillard or Assary and only a little blackwood without
any oaks upon Kenlochuachkerach. Upon Badnagrogan there are some
straggling oak trees amongst a considerable extent of birch and
other blackwood, that runs along the hill on the south side of the
Strath of Moydart which upon the whole it is computed will yield
no more bark than 2 tons. On Kilismore there are no oaks except
a few scattered over the face of a hill opposite to the Island of
Shunabeg that are computed to give bark of 10 cwt. On the Island
of Shunabeg there is an inconsiderable number of oak trees mixed
with a straggling birchwood, that could not be estimated to give
a greater quantity of bark than 1cwt 2qr. In all 2tons 11cwt 2qr.
The manufacturing of the bark is reckoned at thirty shillings and
the carriage of it to the shore at a shilling per ton. The timber
it is computed would yield three dozen of coal, but it is so much
scattered over the face of a great extent of ground that it is not
reckoned worth the expense of collecting it to the coalkilns, nor
are the woods for the same reason thought to be worth the cost of
inclosing them. On some of the other farms of the estate of Kenlochmoydart,
particularly Kanloch, Kilisbeg or Kiliscilta, and part of Bronarie
there is a close thriving stool of oakwood of considerable value.
As to the salmon fishing the only one upon the estate is at Kelisbeg,
which the Chamberlain did not offer to interfere with, as it did
not appear to have been reserved to the family of Argyll." Argyle
Estate Instructions 1771-1805, Vol I Mull, Morven and Tiree. Edited
Eric R Creegan 1964
1789
French Revolution took place, to be followed in 1792 with a Republican
Government. The French King and Marie Antoinette were executed in
1793. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 546
1789 Mary Macheachan of Ardnish came before the Inverness
Sheriff's Court accused of child murder. She was referred to the
High Court and subsequently banished for 14 years. Public Record
Office Inverness ref 42/4/29 and ref 11/4/29
1790
Demand for kelp, the ashes of sea weed used for glass making
and soap; of oak bark for tanning and charcoal for smelting, wherever
sea transport made the timber accessible; of fishery exploitation
coupled with the hoped for abolition of runrig and cooperative methods
of farming, meant major changes were on the way in the Highlands.
However, instead of the emergence of a class of indigenous and wealthy
farmers side by side with landless labourers, as happened in many
other parts of rural Scotland, in the Highlands, the peasant society
regrouped and based themselves on the small-holding rather than
the joint farm. In this case, neither the peasants, nor ultimately
the landowners, were better off than they had been previously, a
situation somewhat mirrored in Ireland. TC Smout, A History of
the Scottish People 1560-1830 p 347
1790
Tacksmen, the intermediate rentiers between laird and tenant, found
themselves dispossessed in the new system and, many left taking
local peasants with them and founded new clan societies in America.
TC Smout, A History of the Scottish People 1560-1830 p 348
1790
In the parish of Moidart, 250 people emigrated to America in 1790
and 1791. First Statistical Account 1791-1799 Volume 20 1798
Rev Alexander Campbell, Minister
1790 Scotchfort on Prince Edward Island had by now become
a Roman Catholic enclave. In 1790 the Jane and the Lucy sailed from
Drimindarach in convoy (together with the British Queen which sailed
on to Quebec) and brought a total of 238 further emigrants from
Moidart, Morar, Eigg and South Uist. An unexpected by-product was
that by the end of the century, Gaelic, not English was the predominant
language. "A very Fine Class of Emigrants", Prince
Edward Island's Scottish Pioneers 1770-1850, Lucille H Campey, page
25.
1790
The Lucy sailed in company with Jane to Prince Edward Island carrying
88 adults and 54 children. They included 23 people from "Isle Shona"
and some from Glenuig too as well as "Samlaman" and Kyles. They
consisted of MacDonalds, McIsaacs, McEachuns and Adamsons. Source
Scottish Catholic Archives, Edinburgh, "Blair's Letters" placed
on website by PEI at http://www.islandregister.com/lucy.html
The British Queen also sailed at this time.- John Dye
1790
Statistical Account reports on no school in Moidart, although 8
people were being instructed in Latin (presumably at Samalaman).
Gordon Barr
1790
The coming of the potato as a common field crop in the decades after
1760 provided the means to support a large population in a small
area. It was possible for peasants to divide and divide again small-holdings,
giving the occupiers the delusion that they had some sort of prescriptive
right to hold land in clan territory. Furthermore, landowners were
ambivalent, they had the need of a large work force to gather kelp
and they enjoyed lots of people on their land as a sentimental reference
to the recent past. TC Smout, A History of the Scottish People
1560-1830 p 348
1790
Under the old order of farming the sheep had been an all purpose
subsistence animal supplying wool, milk, dung and mutton, but increasingly
in the latter part of the eighteenth century it became a commercial
animal prized for its wool and meat. Even in the late 1770s it was
reckoned that the long coarse wool of the Blackface was worth double
the value of the native (Whiteface) sheep's wool…The commercial
sheep farm consisted mainly of wintering grounds and summer pasture,
but usually there was also some arable, enough meadowland for a
few cows and grass enclosure for rams. The availability of wintering
grounds in particular determined the type of sheep farming practised….One
feature was that farmers provided no supplementary fodder except
the grazing of the winter stubble and pastures that had been hained
in the summer months. The entire hay and straw produced on the farm
was earmarked for the cows and horses on the farm. Even in times
of acute food shortage the sheep were not fed….The shepherd
was an indispensable person on a sheep farm…..Many had journeyed
northwards from Southern Scotland in the 1760s and possibly again
in the 1780s…Smearing was also a practice associated with the
new ideas of sheep husbandry. Sheep, because they were kept increasingly
out of doors, were dressed with tar and grease to protect them from
the cold and also to improve the quality of the wool. The Shieling
1600-1840, The Case of the Central Scottish Highlands, Albert Bil,
page 314
1791
Statistical Account lists for Moidart 66 farmers, 1 merchant, 1
whisky house keeper, 1 smith, 2 carpenters, 5 weavers, 8 weaveresses,
5 tailors, 1 miller (mill little used), 6 seamen, 20 soldiers in
the army, 1 private teacher (250 emigrated to America in 1790 and
1791).- Gordon Barr notes.
1791
Dunkeld sailed to Nova Scotia containing some residents of Moidart.
-John Dye
1792
Shonabeag let for 9 years at £24.19.0 to Donald and Archibald MacEachen.
Clanranald & Robertson MacDonald papers ref 482 MFS Nat Lib Scot
1792
Gross rents in Moidart £1,500, plus £45 sales of wood annually.
Value of exports £587.10.0, value of imports £550.0.0. Total value
of all produce, £4,552.0.0 of which major contributors were lambs
£979, calves £383, potatoes £400 and oats £150. The value of the
pasture overall was computed at £2,477. First Statistical Account
1791-1799 Volume 20 1798 Rev Alexander Campbell, Minister
1792
Moidart had no parochial school or preacher under a royal bounty
(both of which appear in the returns for the adjoining parishes
of Sunart, Kilchoan and Arasaig). First Statistical Account 1791-1799
Volume 20 1798 Rev Alexander Campbell, Minister
1792
With the death of Prince Charles in 1788, the exercise of the harsh
non-juring laws was relaxed and the penal statutes against the Scotch
Episcopalian ministers were repealed (see 1746 Jacobism and Episcopacy….ante).
The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth Century. H Grey
Graham. Page 389.
1792
John Buchanan, Church of Scotland missionary to the isles, described
the "scallags" of Harris, a very depressed class of agricultural
labourer as " a poor being, who for mere subsistence becomes a predial
slave to another, whether a sub-tenant, a tacksman or a laird. The
scallag builds his own hut with sods and boughs of trees: and if
he is sent to another part of the country he moves off his sticks,
and by means of these forms a new hut in another place… Five
days a week he works for his master, the sixth he is allowed for
himself for the cultivation of some scrap of land on the edge of
some moss or moor where he raises a little kail, or coleworts, barley
and potatoes. These articles, boiled up together in one mash, and
often without salt, are his only food, except for those seasons
in the day when he can catch fish…The only bread he tastes
is in a cake made of the flour of barley. He is allowed coarse shoes,
with tartan hose, and a coarse coat, with a blanket or two for clothing."
TC Smout, A History of the Scottish People 1560-1830 p352
1793
An unidentified boat sailed to Prince Edward Island with 150 passengers,
some from Moidart. - John Dye
1793 Prince Edward Island was not the only beneficiary
of Catholic emigrants from the west coast, large numbers of Catholic
Scots were to be found at Arisaig, Nova Scotia, which was located
more or less opposite the Catholic concentration at Prince Edward
Island. "A very Fine Class of Emigrants", Prince Edward
Island's Scottish Pioneers 1770-1850, Lucille H Campey, page 27.
1795
The Kinlochmoidart estates were entailed, a device to ensure family
inheritance. However it proved disastrous in some ways and disputes
led to court cases in 1820, 1827 and 1876 at considerable expense.
Kinlochmoidart House, Stephen Jefferson 1995
1796
Irish Rebellion broke out, led by Wolfe Tone and Lord Edward Fitzgerald
who conspired with the French. Over the next year it was suppressed.
A New History of Great Britain, Mowat, page 613
1796
The Lorn Furnace wrote to "McDonald at Dalela, Sir, I have omitted
answering your letter concerning ash trees till now - the particulars
was given to me by John Satterthwaite who I am of oppinion told
the truth - and I observe your remarks on the subject - In the first
place, I do not think it would be worthwhile to oblige you to take
them at the price, I would much rather give them to another person
than sell them to you after your behaviour in the matter. You may
say thay were charged at a most extravagant price - I am of oppinion
you are not much accustomed in Moydart with purchasing usefull wood,
otherwise you would not think about sixpence per foot a high price
which that wood would not amount to - you seem to rejoice that the
Compy, missed the proper season to make use of them which with your
little favours (as you call them) shows your kind disposition -
little favours indeed they were which I must acknowledge and so
would the horses if they could speak to tell how they were used.
I have been told that the use of horses has not, before lately,
found its way into Moydart - I am of the oppinion now there is some
truth in it, and that the use of that noble animal is not generally
known - you seem to think receiving payments for the horse grass,
from John McNiven & giving it to the Factor was another of your
little favours. Whatever favour you may think it to the Factor,
I can asure you it was none to me or this Compy. I always find it
much easier to pay money than receive it and am never at a loss
for a conveyance - you likewise is of oppinion that the trees, at
the price I put on them would come to 1/6 per foot - if you would
be at the trouble to measure them you'll find they will not come
to half that sum. I am, Sir, Yours &c for LFJ Harrison" - Jean
Lawson
1798
At this time Moidart was recorded as comprising 27 miles by
10 miles in size with a population of 712 of whom 181 were under
10. 250 had emigrated to the United States in 1791. The population
in 1765 was 738. There were 60 farmers, 13 weavers, 5 tailors, and
20 in the army. There were 8 people who could understand Latin and
20 classified as "poor". Before 1780 there had been 2 slate roofed
houses, but later these rose to 4. There were 37 small boats and
2 larger ones, 24 horses, 1151 cattle, 12,750 sheep and 800 goats.
First Statistical Account 1791-1799 Volume 20 1798 Rev Alexander
Campbell, Minister. See also http://edina.ed.ac.uk/StatAcc/
1798
Alexander the "Banker" had the following in the Moidart Rental for
1798…."Daililea, Langal, Annat, Easter and Wester Drumloy,
Islandfinnan, Ferry and Change house thereof - Alexander MacDonald,
Rent £53.15.2 for the first eight years of the lease and for the
remainder, £64.4s. Lease, 31 years from 1790. Makes one ton of Kelp.
Contents of all the farms, four pennies or sixteen farthings of
land". St Finan's Isle, Its Story by Alastair Cameron (North
Argyll), page 10 - Jean Cameron and Bonallie/Impey Papers, Ref 38
1800
The price of cattle and kelp rose in the lead up to the turn of
the century and tenants found themselves little worse off than before.
The landlords were considerably richer. MacDonald of Clanranald
was drawing £17,000 in 1809 from rents and kelp; early in the eighteenth
century his lands had not yielded £1,000 per annum. TC Smout,
A History of the Scottish People 1560-1830 p 349
1800
MacDonald the banker built Dalilea House at about the beginning
of the century. He was a person of great energy, and possessed undoubted
talents for business, receiving a lucrative appointment in the bank
at Callander. Moidart Among the Clanranalds, Charles MacDonald,
Ed John Watts p128
NOTES
RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN ABOUT 1775
-
The land nearest the house - the infield was manured and there was
a constant succession of two crops, one year oats, next year barley.
The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth Century. H Grey
Graham. Pages 152 - 186
Six
times larger was the outfield, - wretched unkempt, untended ground,
- each portion of which was put perpetually to oats, or more usually
for three years in succession; and thereafter it lay for another
three or four years fallow. Ground was cultivated till it produced
only two seeds for every one sown; the third year being called the
"wersh crop" as it was miserable alike in quality and
quantity. The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth Century.
H Grey Graham. Pages 152 - 186
There
were no enclosures, neither dyke nor hedge between fields, so that
when the harvest began, or the cereals were young, the cattle were
either tethered or tended by herds who took them out every morning
over the same route where they picked up whatever whins or weeds
they could find and, after being chased out of every unenclosed
and tempting field of corn, were brought back at night half famished
and wholly exhausted. When the harvest was over, the cattle wandered
all over the place, till the land became a dirty dreary common;
the whole being saturated by the water which stood in the holes
made by their hooves. The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth
Century. H Grey Graham. Pages 152 - 186
The
methods of tillage were supremely clumsy and primitive. The ploughs
were enormous, unwieldy constructions, which being all made of wood,
except the coulter and the share, could be made in the forenoon
for a shilling. The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth
Century. H Grey Graham. Pages 152 - 186
Perhaps
the most serious obstacle to progress in agriculture was the almost
universal system of runrig…..the land was redivided by lot
each year or put up for auction. The tenants had their cottages
clustered together, forming what was called a farm "town".
The quarrels and the misunderstandings between these men were violent
and incessant. Each had his own obstinate opinion on ploughing,
sowing and reaping, that the bickering might cause a lapse of weeks
before all consented to work together. So jealous were they of their
neighbours that each one made his rig as high as possible, so that
none of the soil should be carried to his neighbour's ground. Each
alternate ridge had a different tenant and were usually 20 feet
wide, crooked like a prolonged S and very high. Only the crown of
the rig was ploughed and half the width between them was taken up
by huge "baulks" or open spaces filled with briars, nettles,
stones and water. The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth
Century. H Grey Graham. Pages 152 - 186
If
one man dared to cultivate a neglected bit of ground, the others
denounced him for infringing on their right of grazing on the outfields.
The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth Century. H Grey
Graham. Pages 152 - 186
With
a system so atrocious, with land uncleaned, unlimed, unmanured,
undrained, it frequently happened that the yield could not feed
the inhabitants of the district. In consequence of the bulk of their
crops consisting of only gray oats, when the meal failed them -
which always happened when bad seasons came - the people were in
destitution and despair. This helplessness fostered in them a sense
of awe and a dependence on Providence, which gave a peculiar power
to ministers. The Social Life of Scotland in the Eighteenth Century.
H Grey Graham. Pages 152 - 186
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1801-1825