Joy, I don't know of any links on West Highland Transport. But bear in mind that most transportation about the west coast had always been by sea until the era of the railways in the late 19th century and the 'heavy goods vehicles' on the roads from after WWII. I remember as a boy the coal still came by steam boat ("puffer") and was beached at low tide when a horse and cart went into the sea alongside to fill with the coal. The the first roads began to be built as military roads after the 1715 Jacobite Rising - The cattle trade had "drove roads" but they were no more than "ways" of (often muddy or stony) interweaving small paths created by a herd walking along across the landscape. The road network was extended in the second half of the 18th century by private owners of land, sometimes using community labour which was required as community service. The landowners had an obligation to provide for education and the church as "Heritors" and formed the first organizations now evolved into the County Councils - called the County Commissioners, as managing the funding for roads and bridges which began to come from taxes in money rather than contributed labour after a while. The "improvers" among the landowners brought in outside money from the West Indies or India and later from the industry evolved in industrial revolution - coal mines and shipping besides - and many others bankrupted themselves by borrowing against the value of their land in the second half of the 18th century - trying to improve land with dykes and drainage and improve transport with roads and piers and bridges and better housing. For example in Knapdale in Argyll from 1750 to 1800 there was an almost complete turn-over of the old land-owning families due to endebtedness. My great grandmother in Ardrishaig remembered in the 1830s and 40s the landowning Campbells of Skipness having to stay with friends for four months of the year because their rental money had run out and their own home farm could support their staff but not them also. Similarly Campbell of Barcaldine said he had nothing to eat but what he could shoot on his place because he was only 22 and inherited a debt-ridden house and estate and so stayed with friends with a big garden so as to eat (until his army career could start I think.) It is not a picture you get from the current literature, for political reasons, but it is interesting and surprised me. So few landowners cold contribute to roads unless they had outside (like West Indies slave produced) money. I do not know about the far north, but in southern Inverness-shire and Argyll, much of the original infrastructure was built with slave money. But it was well spent. Early 20th century Council concrete bridges are having to be replaced, while some 17th and 18th century stone arch bridges are still carrying hefty loads of timber on 18 wheelers. The construction of the Crinan (Argyll) and Caledonian (Inverness-shire) canals was the major transportation improvement in the Highlands in the early 19th century. Thomas Telford was the engineer much involved. They were in aid of improving sea transport and communications. They came before the railways. They came to have greater use as the steam paddle boats were put into service and had regular runs about the West Coast and Isles - continued today by the hugely subsidised CalMac ferries which replaced the steamers of David MacBrayne. Of course the 1840s were the potato famine years and there was a bad agricultural depression after the Napoleonic Wars (Waterloo was 1815) due to no longer feeding the troops, the collapse of the kelp market, the greatly increased population (due in part to potatoes being grown as a field crop and the vaccination for smallpox introduced in 1750s. This in spite of thousands of young men who died from disease or were killed in the Highland regiments in colonial or international wars). So improvements in transportation at that period were confined to the new paddle steamer services which were out of the Clyde and largely based upon funds coming from industry for their initial investment. Highland estates never paid for themselves and the rentals were never adequate to make any improvements, even on the richer lands in Islay and near Campbeltown, so it always had to be outside money that improved transportation. Some of the landowning families were also bankrupted in the railway mainia (MacNeill of Gigha lost his mainland estate) of the 1830s period - investing. But the rails did not come to the west coast (at Oban in Argyll and Mallaig and Kyle of Loch Alsh in Inverness-shire) until late in the 19th century. Most of the roads (other than those for forestry) had been built by the early 20th century, although they have been continuously improved until recent years when the (happily for people but not for their roads) higher standards of living has meant that there is no longer much funding for improvements, only maintenance. I hope this is some help. Diarmid Campbell, Kilmelford, Argyll ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joy" <beatsme@netins.net> To: <SCT-ARGYLL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 2:28 PM Subject: [ARGYLL] Transportation questions > Hi All ~ > > Can anyone suggest some good links about the transportation methods > available, primarily in the Western area of Scotland during the > 1700-1900 era? > > It always amazes me when I find a family link far from home. I realize > people moved due to famine, ownership changes of the land, and just the > hope of opportunity for a better life than where they were born. I've > visited many sites and gained quite a bit of information, but remain > interested in a better understanding of what the common citizens faced. > > Any recommendations or information is appreciated. > Joy USA > > ______________________________

Wonderful websites! edward Limpsfield, Surrey Using Norton Anti-Virus 2003

Joy wrote: >Can anyone suggest some good links about the transportation methods >available, primarily in the Western area of Scotland during the >1700-1900 era? The following URL will give Clyde steamers from 1812 to 1901. http://cookfmly.rootsweb.com/cps_list/cps_tab1.htm and this one commercial vessels on Loch Awe. http://www.loch-awe.com/history/boats.htm Best wishes Les

Edward wrote >Could I add, that I understand that female surnames frequently had the Mc or >Mac dropped, eg I have McCurdie as a surname in my line which is frequently >written as Curdie on female records. Don't forget that Mc/Mac are masculine and Nc/Nic are femine. Quite often the difference was got around by using M'. Best wishes Les

I appreciate all who responded to my info quest ~ Joy, USA Something I located that is interesting when you click on the "more info" - http://www.inverarayjail.co.uk/Former_prisoners/all.asp

Hi Iain Yeah it is Campbeltown Grammer. Gigha only has a Primary School so the kids leave home at age 12 to go to High School. Campbeltown is the nearest one and the kids would get home at weekends but at Oban High we stayed for 5 or 6 weeks before we got home for a weekend or holiday. I'm glad the the info I sent was a help. Good luck. Regards Rona ----- Original Message ----- From: "Iain & Margaret MacIntosh" <margaret.macintosh@bigfoot.com> To: "Rona Allan" <rona@allan21.fslife.co.uk> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 1:52 PM Subject: RE: [ARGYLL] Re: Gigha > Rona > what school was CGS? Campbeltown Grammar School? > > Iain > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rona Allan [mailto:rona@allan21.fslife.co.uk] > Sent: 11 July 2003 18:40 > To: SCT-ARGYLL-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [ARGYLL] Re: Gigha > > > Hi Sarah > > Sorry, I didn't go to CGS. Back when I was 12 (1982) half of the kids here > went to Oban High School as there was a hostel there. Rhona Martin, Jane > McNeil, James Brown, Emma Rennie, John & Robin Wilkinson are a few who went > to CGS. Nowadays all the youngsters go to CGS. > > I have been living in Glasgow & Edinburgh for 15 years and just returned to > the Island 2 weeks ago. There's a few more job prospects now that the > islanders own their own island. > > I meant to mention the death records info - the GRO site for scotland lets > you download copies of the original handwritten documents if the deaths are > between 1855 and 1952. I tend to trust the information a bit more when I > can see the handwritten entry. > Website is www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk and there is a small charge of £6 but > that lets you download about 4 different documents complete with deceased's > parents names etc. I have found it invaluable in my research. > > I will keep a look out for your Thomsons. > > The following people were born in Killean but living on Gigha in 1891: > Drumyeon Shore No. 2 William McSporran Age 33 > Drumyeon Shore No. 6 Donald McPherson Age 65 > High Ardminish Jane McNeill (nee McIntosh) Age 33 > High Ardminish Amelia McIntosh (Mum of above) Age 76 > Keills Cottages No. 3 Janet Graham (nee ???) Age 32 > Leim Farm Archibald McMillan Head Age 64 > Leim Farm Mary McMillan Wife Age 58 > Leim Farm Archibald McMillan Son Age 26 > Leim Farm Margaret McMillan Son Age 24 > Leim Farm Alexander McMillan Brother Age 77 > Leim Farm Donald McKinnon Nephew Age 4 > New Houses No.1 Barbara McGougan (nee McGeachy) Age 68 > Cara Herd's House John Taylor Age 57 > Woodend Donald McNeill Age 46 > Smithy Dwelling Alexander McMillan Age 54 > ? James McMillan Age 28 > Ardminish No. 5 Margaret McNeill (nee ???) Age 71 > Ardminish No. 9 Maisey Galbraith (nee ???) Age 76 > > Hope this is of some help. > Regards > Rona > > > > ==== SCT-ARGYLL Mailing List ==== > **************************************************************** > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/8997/index.html an index to "THE > INHABITANTS OF ARGYLL ESTATE" by Eric Greegan : Duke of Argyll's 1779 estate > census > >

Joy It doesn't directly respond to your question about transportation, but a site I have found fascinating for finding out about the areas my family came from can be found at http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/stat-acc-scot.asp?session-id=0504eeb04bb10fad4766b9e1f33edfba Because this is two lines, you may have to copy it and paste it into your address line. These are The Statistical Accounts of Scotland. This site has reports from 1791-1799 from every parish. They can be printed or read on line. Starting at the following address might be easier. The click on the tab that says Parish List http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/stat-acc-scot.asp These are the years that I have been able to locate some of my earliest ancestors in Scotland, and although the Statistical Accounts rarely mention specific names, they are very descriptive of the countryside and activities of the people. Anybody who hasn't checked them out, really should. Lou Ritter ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joy" <beatsme@netins.net> To: <SCT-ARGYLL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 9:28 AM Subject: [ARGYLL] Transportation questions > Hi All ~ > > Can anyone suggest some good links about the transportation methods > available, primarily in the Western area of Scotland during the > 1700-1900 era? > > It always amazes me when I find a family link far from home. I realize > people moved due to famine, ownership changes of the land, and just the > hope of opportunity for a better life than where they were born. I've > visited many sites and gained quite a bit of information, but remain > interested in a better understanding of what the common citizens faced. > > Any recommendations or information is appreciated. > Joy USA > > > > ==== SCT-ARGYLL Mailing List ==== > ***************************************************************** > http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Scotland/Argyll is the > GenConnect board for Argyll >

I have to say that, although Gigha is not 'my patch' of Argyll, I've really enjoyed this recent dialogue. edward Limpsfield, Surrey Using Norton Anti-Virus 2003

Hi Sandy, I'm interested in Kintyre millers too - a HILL family were millers at Skipness in the 18th century and I believe they were my ancestors. But re Knocknaha - Angus Martin's book 'Kintyre Country Life' (John Donald, Edinburgh 1987) has a picture of Knocknaha Mill, taken from a postcard of about 1900. The caption says, "According to the late Robert Russell in Knocknaha, a 'big flood in 1918 took aweh (away) the watter fae it, an they never sorted it'. It is now entirely ruinous, but the derelict mill-house still stands." The same book has an account of a legal dispute over thirlage between George MACNEAL of Ugadale - owner of Knocknahaw Mill - and Charles ROWATT of Kilkivan in 1819. The evidence included an account from 82-year-old James RAESIDE at Kilkivan. I am assuming that Knocknaha and Knocknahaw are one and the same. Hopefully I'll be corrected if they are not. For anyone with miller ancestors I'd highly recommend The Scottish Country Miller 1700-1900: A History of Water Powered Meal Milling in Scotland, by Enid Gauldie, published by John Donald, Edinburgh 1981. I believe it is out of print now but it sometimes comes up on used book sites and is in libraries, of course, Best of luck, Madeleine Wales In a message dated 12/07/2003 02:40:19 GMT Standard Time, Swyad@cs.com writes: > Does anyone have information about an oatmeal mill in Knocknaha near > Campbeltown in Argyl? According to family legend, our CRAW family lived > there and ran > this mill. Is there a way to check this out? It would have been around the > early 1800's or late 1700's. I am researching Alexander and Isobell DUNLOP > CRAW, > James and Elizabeth BOYD CRAW, and James BOYD and their descendents. > >

Hi All ~ Can anyone suggest some good links about the transportation methods available, primarily in the Western area of Scotland during the 1700-1900 era? It always amazes me when I find a family link far from home. I realize people moved due to famine, ownership changes of the land, and just the hope of opportunity for a better life than where they were born. I've visited many sites and gained quite a bit of information, but remain interested in a better understanding of what the common citizens faced. Any recommendations or information is appreciated. Joy USA

>The definitive source on this topic is Angus Martin's book "Kintyre - the >Hidden Past", publ John Donald, Edinburgh, 1984, ISBN 0 85976 119 3. You can >get second hand copies through Amazon or Abebooks, and I have feeling that >a second edition is going to come out soon. Regarding the above book mentioned by Sarah Galbraith there is indeed a second edition which was published in September 1999 and is still available from Amazon. In my opinion a "must have" for a serious Kintyre researcher. BTW Sarah great to have you back on the list. Dave MacKinven Christchurch New Zealand davidj1947@xtra.co.nz

Hi, Does anyone have information about an oatmeal mill in Knocknaha near Campbeltown in Argyl? According to family legend, our CRAW family lived there and ran this mill. Is there a way to check this out? It would have been around the early 1800's or late 1700's. I am researching Alexander and Isobell DUNLOP CRAW, James and Elizabeth BOYD CRAW, and James BOYD and their descendents. Thanks much for any help. Sandy in US

Hi Sarah Sorry, I didn't go to CGS. Back when I was 12 (1982) half of the kids here went to Oban High School as there was a hostel there. Rhona Martin, Jane McNeil, James Brown, Emma Rennie, John & Robin Wilkinson are a few who went to CGS. Nowadays all the youngsters go to CGS. I have been living in Glasgow & Edinburgh for 15 years and just returned to the Island 2 weeks ago. There's a few more job prospects now that the islanders own their own island. I meant to mention the death records info - the GRO site for scotland lets you download copies of the original handwritten documents if the deaths are between 1855 and 1952. I tend to trust the information a bit more when I can see the handwritten entry. Website is www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk and there is a small charge of £6 but that lets you download about 4 different documents complete with deceased's parents names etc. I have found it invaluable in my research. I will keep a look out for your Thomsons. The following people were born in Killean but living on Gigha in 1891: Drumyeon Shore No. 2 William McSporran Age 33 Drumyeon Shore No. 6 Donald McPherson Age 65 High Ardminish Jane McNeill (nee McIntosh) Age 33 High Ardminish Amelia McIntosh (Mum of above) Age 76 Keills Cottages No. 3 Janet Graham (nee ???) Age 32 Leim Farm Archibald McMillan Head Age 64 Leim Farm Mary McMillan Wife Age 58 Leim Farm Archibald McMillan Son Age 26 Leim Farm Margaret McMillan Son Age 24 Leim Farm Alexander McMillan Brother Age 77 Leim Farm Donald McKinnon Nephew Age 4 New Houses No.1 Barbara McGougan (nee McGeachy) Age 68 Cara Herd's House John Taylor Age 57 Woodend Donald McNeill Age 46 Smithy Dwelling Alexander McMillan Age 54 ? James McMillan Age 28 Ardminish No. 5 Margaret McNeill (nee ???) Age 71 Ardminish No. 9 Maisey Galbraith (nee ???) Age 76 Hope this is of some help. Regards Rona

Hi Mary I didn't know there was a 1827 census for Gigha, thanks for the information. If you manage to visit the Island in September please come and say hello. There are only about 100 people living on the island at the moment so I'm not difficult to find! What Galbreaths are you descended from? Are you related to the McQuilkans too? Regards Rona Allan

Mary Breer wrote >Can anyone on the list tell me if there is a connection between the names >McQuilkan and Wilkieson? Is McQuilkan the Gaelic equivalent of Wilkieson? >I hope so as it would really answer some puzzlers for me> WILKIE, WILKIESON and WILKINSON are all anglicised forms of McQUILKAN. Best Wishes Les

Hi Sarah Yes the names are familiar but not from my line (so far!). I have been collecting some information on Gigha Galbraiths and am amazed how many different families there are in such a small place as Gigha! No doubt we are related somewhere along the Galbraith line. My line has John Galbreath (b. 1779 Gigha) married to Effie McQuilkan (b. 1811 Killean & Kilkenzie) and also Archibald and Mary Galbraith with all their ancestors. I do have a wee bit of info on your John Galbraiths parents and siblings which I will list here although I am sure you will know all this already. Children of John Galbraith and Isabella McQuilkean: Angus 11 Feb 1805 Donald 13 Oct 1806 Catharine 5 Jun 1810 Hugh 5 Jun 1812 Lachlan 11 Nov 1814 John 24 Aug 1816 I also have death records which I am sure is your John and Isabella. Isabella died 9 Apr 1858 age83 on Gigha (records signed by husband John G) Father - Angus McQuilkan (Farmer) Mother - Euphemia Galbreath (nee Galbreath) John Galbraith died 25 Jun 1859 age 78 (widowed) (records signed by son John) Father - Neil Galbraith (Farmer) Mother - Catherine Galbraith (nee Galbraith) Place of death - Drumayoin the shore, Gigha There are a few people on Gigha that keep some old written records and I plan to visit them sometime soon. I will keep an eye out for your Galbraiths and let you know if I find anything of interest. Is there anything in particular that you are stuck on? I will have a look in the Graveyard too next time I am passing and see if I can find any info there. Thanks Sarah Regards Rona

Could I add, that I understand that female surnames frequently had the Mc or Mac dropped, eg I have McCurdie as a surname in my line which is frequently written as Curdie on female records. edward Limpsfield, Surrey Using Norton Anti-Virus 2003

Hi All I am trying to locate information on John McKellar born February 3, 1802, his wife Mary McArthur.born June 27, 1803 and their son, Archibald McKellar born July 14, 1833, born Glassary Parish, Argyllshire. Do not know where John or Mary were born. According to OPR for Kilmichael Glassary, John McKellar was the Innkeeper at the Kilmichael Inn, Argyllshire in 1833 (today known as the Horseshoe Inn). There were two other children, Duncan born 1832 who immigrated to Canada and Colin born 1828 who died at birth. John and Mary were married about 1827 in Kilmichael Glassary Parish according to the LDS records. I would like to know where they are buried and if Archibald married and had a family. Has anyone heard of this family? Thank you. Jean (McKellar) Hammond, Ontario, Canada

There seems to be a lot about McQuilkans, just now. I am a McQuilken, although I am from Argyllshire, my family name hails from Glasgow, where there were a number of McQuilkens. My research, took me to discover that the name originated in Ireland. The various spellings of the name, "in", "an", and "en" denoted where they came from, this was another McQuilkin that told me this, he said that the last two letters more or less can tell you locality. When McQuilken's arrived in North America with the wave of Scots that landed in Cape Fear in the Carolinas, the name was Anglicised to fit in with the settlers that were already there. I have information on some McQuilkens, but they are my immediate family, it has been a very hard name to research. The main male names in my line are Alexander, and George. Christine Joudrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rona Allan" <rona@allan21.fslife.co.uk> To: <SCT-ARGYLL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 12:10 PM Subject: [ARGYLL] Gigha > Hi Mary > > I didn't know there was a 1827 census for Gigha, thanks for the information. > > If you manage to visit the Island in September please come and say hello. There are only about 100 people living on the island at the moment so I'm not difficult to find! > > What Galbreaths are you descended from? Are you related to the McQuilkans too? > > Regards > Rona Allan > > > ==== SCT-ARGYLL Mailing List ==== > ******************************************************************** > http://members.aol.com/theweeharp/argyll.htm is the Argyll GenWeb site >

I've had a couple of requests to list some of the Gaelic to English name changes in south Argyll, mainly Kintyre, so I'm summarising them here. A couple of cautions: this is by no means an exhaustive list - I would welcome additions and corrections; for some of these I have documentary proof of changes, and these are indicated by an asterix (*); for others, I am relying on others' research and anecdotal information from the area, which is where I was born and brought up. 1 SURNAME ANGLICISATIONS 1A Loss of Mac/Mc McStockair --> Stalker McIntyllour --> Taylor McVurrich --> Currie McCook --> Cook McKeith/McKeich --> Keith McMurchy --> Murchie or sometimes Murphy McNiven --> Niven 1B Simple Translation McTavish / McTamais --> Thomson (*) McMath --> Mathieson 1C Less Obvious Translations McSporran (ie purse bearer) --> Purcell McQuilkan --> Wilkison or Wilkie (*) McKendrick --> Henderson McFiggan (ie small son) --> Littleson (*) McVorran or McDorran --> Morrison (*) 1D Others Drain or O'Drain --> Hawthorn Brolachan --> Brodie Loynachan --> Lang (*) It is also worth noting that in conversation and in some written records, the Mac/Mc is often omitted from some surnames: eg John McShannon could be known as John Shannon or John Shennagh; Margaret McTaggart might be known as Maggie Taggart. 2 CHRISTIAN NAME ANGLICISATION OR CHANGES More / Mysie / Mirren --> Sarah (*) Jeally --> Julia Girzel --> Grace Neps --> Annabella (*) Hope that this is helpful. SARAH (or Morag, More, Maisie, Sadie) GALBRAITH (or Gilbreath, Culbreath etc)