This is an article from The Collingwood Enterprise, Collingwood, Simcoe Co, ON, October 5, 1922. History: Incidents on the History of Islay by Mr. Peter REID, formerly factor on Kildalton, Islay. P1c1. Thought it might be of interest to the list. Lorne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jopie Loughead" <jopiel@sympatico.ca> To: "J Lorne Campbell" <jlorne.campbell@sympatico.ca>; <CAN-ONT-SIMCOE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 3:34 PM Subject: Re: [C-O-S] E. M. 1922 > GLASGOW ISLAY ASSOCIATION AT DULUTH > > SOME HISTORIC EVENTS > > (Published by request) > > The syllabus of the Glasgow Islay Association concluded with a lecture by > Mr. Peter Reid, formerly a factor on Kildalton, Islay. Among those > present, were Mr. J. Mactaggart, president: Captain Gilbert Macneil, > Messers. J. Macliver, Neil Bell, W. Campbell, Secretary; and A. N. Currie. > > Mr. Reid chose as his subject, "Incidents in the History of Islay," and > his masterly exposition of the island's history indicated expert > acquaintance with the salient features which gave it so unique a > colouring. Summarizing the ancients history of Islay, he said probably no > Island in the Western Hebridean chain had been so much fought for or has > changed hand so often as the "Queen of the Hebrides." The Campbell's of > Calder owned Islay for over a hundred years, when owing to money > difficulties they sold it to the Shawfield Campbells in 1726. It was in > their possession till 1847, when it was bought by James Morrison, who sold > the Kildalton portion to John Ramsay, and the Dunlossit portion to Kirkman > Finlay. The Campbells regime was productive, of higher administrative > effort. Mr. Reid gave excerpts from the minutes of the local Parliament of > Islay which subsisted till 1843. The legislative activities of the > Parliament were manifold. In 1784 a weekly market was established in > Bowmore; in 1792 there were unlawful meetings of weavers for the purpose > of shortening the Islay ell, the English yard, and raising prices; in 1796 > there was a formal approval of the steps taken by the legislature to avoid > threatened famine, and , it is interesting to note that in 1801 a sum of > 10 pounds was stented for the Royal Infirmary. > > An Amusing observation is that in 1804 Bowmore was much annoyed by a > destructive crowd of pigs running up and down the streets; in 1825 > Portnahaven Lighthouse was built; in 1750 the population of Islay was > 5344, it rose to 14,991 in 1831; in 1901 the population was 6867. The > earliest mail service was via Port Askaig and Jura to Inveraray. The first > mention of a packet is in 1764. In 1794 the cabin fore was raised 2-6 and > strange to relate, the master was to be fines 10s for each steerage > passenger allowed into the cabin. > > The first steamboat service was established in 1824. About 1846 a > bi-weekly service started at Ramsay and others, when the "Modern Athens" > was put on. David Hutchinson took over the service, as Ramsay, when he > entered Parliament could not contract for the mails, David MacBrayne > followed Hutchinson 1879, when the Government grant was 800 pounds. > Regarding Islay churches, one of the first references is to the dedication > of Kildalton Church to St. Nathalan in 678; in 1349 the Pope wrote to John > MacDonald, Lord of Isle, announcing confirmation of William to the Sea of > Sundreys. In 1730 the Estimated cost of Lagavalin Church was 100 pound. In > 1788, Kilnaughton Church coffins were exposed owing to the sea washing > away sand. In 1767 the picturesque round church of Bowmore was built by > Daniel Campbell. > > Mr. Reid then read items of interest in regard to education of Islay. The > Parliament always stented itself heavily in regard to the advancement of > knowledge in the island, and was not in vain, as in the last two hundred > years Islaymen have been distinguishing themselves and adding lustre to > the fame of their loved isle in every corner of the world. > > Mr. Reid then read items of interest with close attention and at the > conclusion the vote of thanks was heartily given him. In the course of the > evening, songs were rendered by Messrs. Brown and Handyside (English) and > the Gaelic part of the programme was excellently sustained by Miss Mary > Macgiven and Miss A. J. MacMillan, N. A. Mr. James Mcliver, in a > felicitous manner, moved a vote of thanks to the singers who had so amply > contributed to the success of the evening. > > John C. MacARTHUR, Duluth, Minnesota, U. S. A.