RE: LAST OFFICIAL BLACKSMITH ON ISLAYHi, my family tree indicates that Peter McEachern (b. either 1778 or 1781, d. 1857) married to Catherine Currie was a farmer and a blacksmith. I don't know the source of this information that he was a blacksmith. Peter is my 3rd Great-grandfather.However, his son, Neil McEachern (b. 1810, Conisby, Islay; d. 1899 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario, Canada) is listed on the 1841 Scotland census and the 1861 Scotland census as a blacksmith. I can't find any others in the family that were blacksmiths.Not sure what an "official" McEachern Blacksmith was. Egremont Township, Grey County is near Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada Peter's grandson, William McEachern (1841-1918)'s obituary is the following:Obituary from the Oban Times on the death of Wm MacEachern, Feb 5, 1918: Conisby - on the 5th Ult. Mr. William MacEachern peacefully passed away to his rest. Being the oldest son of Mr. John MacEachern, farmer, he spent the greatest part of his life in this hamlet. The deceased had been in indifferent health for the last six months, and bore his illness with great fortitude and resignation. He was a fine speciman of the Highlander, and of the good old stamp, of which there are few remaining. He was a lineal descendent of the famous MacEachern smiths, sword-makers and swordsmen, the makers of the sword called ceann Ileach(clann Eachern Othisinnis). He was an enthusiastic Highlander and was fond of sports, being an athlete of some repute. He won third prize for putting the stone in the same competition with the world renowned athlete, Donald Dinnie. His favourite athletes were Donald Dinnie and the famous Islay athlete, Donald Gillespie, familiarly known as "Donhnull a'Chreagain". Deceased was highly intelligent and took a warm interest in the leading political questions of the day. He was warmly esteemed by all who knew him, and will be greatly missed. He was 71 years of age, and has left his wife and grown-up family of four sons and three daughters to mourn his loss. The funeral took place to the burial ground in the ancient Culdee churchyard of Kilchoman. The funeral was largely attended - an evidence of the esteem in which the deceased was held by friends and acquaintances. Impressive services were conducted at the house and the grave by the Rev. Messrs. Taylor, Baptist Church, Bowmore, and Boyd Parish Church Kilchoman. Sincerest sympathy is extended to his wife and family in their bereavement. In researching I did find a Neil McEachern family in Prince Edward Island, Canada but unrelated and occupation was farmer. Ellen Sager > From: sct-islay-request@rootsweb.com> Subject: SCT-ISLAY Digest, Vol 11, Issue 32> To: sct-islay@rootsweb.com> Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2016 01:00:47 -0600> > > > > > > Today's Topics:> > 1. Last "Official" McEachern Blacksmith on Islay (Deborah Stewart)> 2. Re: Last "Official" McEachern Blacksmith on Islay> (ttcarverfl@aol.com)> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> > Message: 1> Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2016 13:00:51 -0400> From: Deborah Stewart <hdstewart@gmail.com>> Subject: [SCT-ISLAY] Last "Official" McEachern Blacksmith on Islay> To: SCT-ISLAY@rootsweb.com> Message-ID:> <CAA-KYTZqXQuDVUkMXuV6ri1j3wt5cDuH=Hit11YCNw4+TFnD6Q@mail.gmail.com>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8> > The name "McEachern," and variations thereof, means "Son of the Horse> Lord." The Horse Lord took care of the horses for the Lord of the Isles.> This included the blacksmith work required to make their shoes. As master> blacksmiths, they also made swords that were prized across the highlands.> Many of the McEachern men were highly regarded blacksmiths, but only one> was the official blacksmith to the Lord of the Isles, at one time.> > A couple of years ago I read somewhere about the last "official" McEachern> blacksmith on Islay being a John McEachern who emigrated to Canada (Cape> Breton?) with his wife (Mary?) around 1825. There was probably at least> one baby with them, perhaps two. I don't know if I read it in this group> or some other group. Does this sound familiar to anyone? If it wasn't> here, does anyone know where this information was brought up?> > Thanks for any help!> Deborah Stewart> > > > > > > > > > *~~~~~~~~~~~~*> *Alba gu br?th*> > *~~~~~~~~~~~~*> > *The meek shall inherit the Earth. **The Brave get Scotland*> > > ------------------------------> > Message: 2> Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2016 14:34:21 -0400> From: ttcarverfl@aol.com> Subject: Re: [SCT-ISLAY] Last "Official" McEachern Blacksmith on Islay> To: hdstewart@gmail.com, sct-islay@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <15569f12bea-77f5-54d8@webprd-m39.mail.aol.com>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8> > > > > > -----Original Message-----> From: Deborah Stewart via <sct-islay@rootsweb.com>> To: SCT-ISLAY <SCT-ISLAY@rootsweb.com>> Sent: Sun, Jun 19, 2016 1:32 pm> Subject: [SCT-ISLAY] Last "Official" McEachern Blacksmith on Islay> > http://www.mybookden.com/HorseLord.html> > > ------------------------------> > To contact the SCT-ISLAY list administrator, send an email to> SCT-ISLAY-admin@rootsweb.com.> > To post a message to the SCT-ISLAY mailing list, send an email to SCT-ISLAY@rootsweb.com.> > __________________________________________________________> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SCT-ISLAY-request@rootsweb.com> with the word "unsubscribe" without the quotes in the subject and the body of the> email with no additional text.> > > End of SCT-ISLAY Digest, Vol 11, Issue 32> *****************************************