Everyday Life in Knapdale: An addition to this part of Knapdale People is a transcription of the Report of the Parochial Board of South Knapdale, 1845 to 1855.(pdf format) Information on its proceedings and problems is outlined here, along with quotes from contemporary Kirk Ministers, and, of course, listings of people in that Report. My own ancestor, Mary McNeill, is on this pauper list.
One of the major Knapdale landowners was the Malcolm of Poltalloch family. In the late 1700s, it began its purchase of (mostly bankrupt) Mid Argyll estates, a process that ultimately made it the dominant power in that area of Scotland. One of the things anyone does when they buy a business is, they make an inventory of their purchase. We have a transcription of one such inventory, done in 1798 and 1803, describing the state of the houses on the various Poltalloch estates of that time. Included with this, is an alphabetical listing of the people who lived on those estates (one of which was Arichonan). I also have some nice photos from Auchindrain Museum, including one of a shieling made of sod, or turff.
The Revival of Dunderave Castle is very ably described by Michael C Davis. This huge and lovely building sits beside Loch Fyne, north of Inveraray Castle, and was built by the Chief of the Clan McNaughton in 1596. I have added a listing of McNaughtons from my Knapdale People Data Base.
"Leaving Knapdale"includes a presentation by Colin McGugan, on the early Scottish settlers in Aldborough and Dunwich counties, Ontario, then Upper Canada. He has provided a list of heads of families who arrived between 1816 and 1819 , mostly from Knapdale and Kilmartin Parishes. Very interesting is his implicit comparison of a 'set' (lease) in Knapdale, versus the possibility of outright purchase of land in Canada. You will find, in addition, some Glasgow Herald shipping ads from 1853, as well as a listing of people buried in Ontario's New Glasgow Cemetery. And after the 1848 Arichonan Clearance, one family at least came to Canada. Since Cosandrochaid Farm, North Knapdale, is of such importance in McGugan's presentation, I have included a listing of people who lived there until 1820.
The Hearth Tax of 1694.. I have added a section on this listing of Knapdale tenants and landowners from 1694 (half a century BEFORE the Battle of Culloden.) It includes an Adobe pdf which makes it possible for you to look at photos of the original documents as they pertain to Knapdale, as well as typed transcriptions of the same. The latter include modern versions of the surnames - and places - which appeared in 1694. Of course, I have added the information to my data base, and therefore you can check the names by modern version; and by place also. Many thanks, by the way, to Mr. Ian MacDonald of Kintyre and now Lochgilphead, who was kind enough to go through the papers and 'translate' the old surnames to our modern ones. The Argyll and Bute Archives helped me by sending me a typed transcription of the said documents. When you look at the originals, you will see what a help that was!!
Inverneill. The largest section on this site - so far - is that of the Inverneill Estate. The latter was one of the most extensive estates in 19th Century Knapdale. You will find a listing of people who lived and worked on the various Inverneill Estates here.Half of my own ancestors lived on Inverneill lands until they left for Canada.
As one way to tell you about these farms, I have chosen to outline the biography of Major General Sir Archibald of Inverneill. This man was a most impressive leader, a Scot of the time of the "Scottish Enlightenment," involved in India and the American Revolution. He was a very great engineer, and he married the daughter of Britain's foremost portrait painter, Allan Ramsay. One of his descendents has been most generous in allowing me to display Campbell family paintings and chinaware relating to this man.
The Inverneill Mausoleum inscriptions outline - in stone and brass - the British Imperial Project. This was an amazing military family. Sir Archibald and his nephew, Sir James Campbell are, by the way, buried in London's Westminster Abbey, in the same corner as is a Duke of Argyll. It is interesting that Sir Archibald was six years old when the Battle of Culloden was fought, putting a final end to Scotland's dreams of independence. Today, of course, Great Britain is showing evidence of breaking up into its 3 parts, into who knows what future?
Letters of Duncan McGilp: This collection of letters survived for a century, until rescued by one of Duncan McGilp's descendents. Until I read them, I had not realized that so many of Knapdale's emigrant families split up, some going to Canada, some to Australia and some to the US. (I was under the impression that most of them came to Canada) Also, the McMillan letters were written by a man who was, among other things, a slave-owner! Such writings, especially when they are authored by people I know were my relatives, are a revelation... and maybe a warning against too much pride in our own time's 'perfection.' Duncan McIntyre, by the way, is one of my direct ancestors; in his letter to Donald McGilp, he mentions his daughter, Effy, She was my great-grandmother (her photo is part of this website's banner) It looks like half of his children went to Australia, and the rest, to Canada.
Arichonan. I self-published my book on the Arichonan Affray of 1848. It makes available in one place - for the first time - the legal records arising from that riot, as well as relevant primary information about Arichonan and North Knapdale. I have added a couple of items to this website: a newspaper report of blood curdling events in Paris; and a political speech made in 1885, referring to Arichonan.
I have been very pleased with Author House's support in making the Arichonan book, and I would not hesitate to use their services again. All this is a prelude to this: if you choose to publish a work of your own, and - further - decide to use Author House, then it would be great if you mention this website along the way, as they will pay me $100 for such a referral! Which would be quite a wonderful thing! No, I have not made enough money to cover my initial publishing expense. However, the book has found interested readers, and for that I am proud. To be honest, I hope that the Arichonan townsite is - eventually - studied by archaeologists. I think humans lived on that hill for a very long time.
There are various 'people lists' on this site, associated with each and every topic. Click on the picture below to see what we have at this time. And below THAT is the link to a full explanation of the Knapdale Data Base.
