The Cameron connection into Glencoe

[Cameronian]

The Cameron connection into Glencoe


There is no other event in Highland history, that evokes more emotion and debate than that of the massacre at Glencoe. The old Highland imperative which allowed to the stranger, without question, protection and hospitality, was infamously taken advantage of, and by those who cannot even shelter themselves from their deeds under the pretence of sense of duty – On February 13, 1692, the massacre took place as planned in various parts of Glencoe. At Inverrigan, Invercoe, Carnoch, Achnacon and Achtriochtan. In all perhaps 30 were killed and 300 fled to the hills. Many died of cold and starvation. Incredibly two of the chief's sons and a grandson escaped.

There is an undeniable feeling of disgust for what was delivered to those at Glencoe on the early morning of 13th February 1692, and this sadness is doubled when we realise that within these families that shared this horror were the Cameron wives who were married to, and whose families were part of the danger, fear and distress that was delivered on that day.

The Estate of Achtriochtan at Glencoe had first come to the hands of Alexander MacDonald, through a feu contract with John Stuart, Friar of Ardsheal and the land of Kinlochbeg he acquired through John Cameron of Kinlochmore .On Alexander’s death at Glencoe, recorded thus, Alexander MacDonald of 1st of Achtriachtan was amongst those murdered. “ a party under Sergeant Barker fired upon a number of Glencoe men, killing the Laird of Achriachtan”.(the letter of protection he had in his pocket from Colonel Hill serving as no protection). The property passed on to Angus MacDonald 2nd Achtriachtan his brother and successor, who had also been seized by Sergeant Barker, Angus requested that he not be dispatched in the house, but to kill him outside the door, the Sergeant consented, but when brought outside he threw his plaid, (which he had kept loose), over the shoulders of the soldiers appointed to shoot him and escaped.

Angus with his wife Flora Cameron of Callart held Achtriachtan for some fifty years, until Angus, a staunch Jacobite took up arms for Prince Charles when he was over 70 years old and was killed at Prestonpans in 1745.

Angus, married Flora Cameron of Callart, who was born about 1674, and by her he is thought to have had three daughters, but dying without male issue, the succession passed to another Angus MacDonald 3rd of Achtriachtan described as ‘ nearest heir male to the deceased, who was his grand uncle’s son ….. this Angus 3rd as heir, married his cousin, first daughter of Angus 2nd and Flora, the second daughter Margaret marrying a MacIntyre and the youngest Mary marrying Donald Cameron of Glenpean.

In January 1799 Angus MacDonland 3rd of Achtriachtan died in Edinburgh, he left eight sons and three daughters, of the sons, the second son Adam succeeded to the Estate of Achtriachtan and in 1801 he married Miss Helen Cameron born 25th Sept 1781, she was the eldest daughter of Ewen Cameron 13th of Glen Nevis, while Adam’s sister is said to have married a Cameron of Clunes.

After disastrous dealings and lost court cases, Adam MacDonald of Achtrichtan and the family were reduced to depend upon the interest of his wife’s Cameron fortune, on his death he was buried on Eilean Munde the Cameron/MacDonald burial Isle in Loch Leven, while his wife and daughters lived much respected in Fort William. However, of this family which consisted of three sons, Colin, Isabella Jane, Jane Fraser, John (who succeeded the Estate) and Hugh, the two surviving sons left Scotland and are said to have migrated to the West Indies or Australasia. In Charles Fraser Mackintosh’s paper on the MacDonald of Achtriachtan, Colin said to have held a high position in the Post Office in Brisbane Qld Australia around 1890, however no trace of Colin has been found as yet in Australia, should any reader know otherwise and if this is correct then perhaps more intermarriage between the two Clan is here for the seeking. Therefore we will consider this a ‘work in progress’

[Alans]

intereting post val about the cameron connection with Glencoe- and this is well documented in works about Glencoe by both Prebble and Hopkins.
Of course despite the disgust the massacre undoubtedly aroused this did not stop Camerons also marrying Campbells. The gentle Lochiel's own mother was a Campbell and his Nephew was rather defamed by Robert Louis Stephenson in a loose retelling of the Appin Murder which presented him as a brutish grasping man.
He was of course probably murdered by a jealous husband as he was a Ladies man, but he was also notably loath to be too harsh on former Jacobites and was several times rebuked for his softness in writing.
His moderation was also probably well influenced by ties of blood so important among the Gael.
Its important to remember that the second most common name amongst Jacobite prisoners was Campbell (Prebble)and they were not all close relations from the Braes of Lochaber.
I believe the real villan in the Glencoe affair was the Master of Stair who deliberately picked a very flawed man with a well founded grudge to do the job. Most of the men involved were regular soldiers as well rather than Campbell clansmen.

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Colin Campbell of Glenure may well have been Lochiel's nephew, but he was not highly regarded by the Lochaber folk in his role as factor. The theory that he was killed by a jealous husband is an interesting one, but there were many who had motives . The possibility of losing ones home and livlihood is a powerful motive indeed. The references I have read of Colin Campbell would lean more towards Robert Loius Stevenson's depiction of him than the one presented in the preceeding post. He was a brutal man (although in his defence, it was a very brutal time), and I am of the impression that he was ambititous (a kinder word than grasping) and was willing to let his ambition override any concern he may have had for his new tenants.

We can get a sense of his true feelings for the locals in his own words. He didn't seem to hold his Cameron kinfolk in very high regard.

"But I soon found in this country of Lochaber That a Decreet or any other Legal Step to Levy the King's Rents is a matter of Redicule and Treated as such. I then sent out amongst the Tennents to Cease (seize) and Poynd their Effects for payment of the Rents as the Law directs, But soon found my Error, and that the Law or the Crown's ffactor is no more regairded by these Barbarians thain if there were no Law or Government in Great Britain. They told the Baron-Bailie officer and other servants I sent with him, and that in my own presence, That if they Dared touch or cease any Part of their Effects for payment of His Majesty's Rents they would beat out their Brains. Your Lordship will see by what I have said, That I have taken all the Legal Steps in my power to Recover His Majesty's Rents, and that nothing will doe with these Ruphians (amongst whom ther's scarce a man but was in the Rebellion) without the concurrence of the Troops to support me and the People I imploy in the Execution of my office."

Extracted from the Clan Cameron Archives
Letter from Colin Campbell of Glenure
to The Lord Chief Barron of His Majesty's Exchequer in Scotland
regarding his inability to collect rents from Lochaber Camerons
November 20, 1750

It is also true that most of the men in Glenlyons regiment did not bear the surname Campbell. It is often suggested that they were "regular" troops - the inference being that they were English or lowlanders - and they just happened to be under the command of the hapless Glenlyon. The truth is that they were a Campbell regiment, raised from Campbell lands (also from Prebble).

I was not aware that the second most common name amongst the Jacobite prisoners was Campbell. That surprises me - as there were very large numbers of other clans, and the Campbells that were there must have attached themselves to other Regiments. I must dig out my copy of Culloden to see what Prebble had to say. If he said they were not from Brae Lochaber, did he say where they were from?

I agree that the Master of Stair was the architect of what happened at Glencoe.

[SherbrookeJacobite]

by J J Jardine from Scottish Journal, August 1999

"Colin of Glenure's Mother was a Cameron of Locheil which added to the hatred towards him by members of Clan Cameron as they considered him to be a traitor. By his zeal in evicting and persecuting the hapless people of Lochaber and Appin, he accrued a lot of money and even more enemies than was good for his personal well being.

An example of his actions can be found in an incident wherein he learned the whereabouts of a MacColl who had retrieved his own sequestered cattle. Colin set out to arrest him. Upon hearing of Colin's arrival, MacColl ran for it and Colin drew his gun. MacColls mother- in- law threw herself in the way and Colin shot her in the chest. Nothing more was said of this as Colin said that "she had no right to place herself between me and an outlaw".

The Laird of Fasnacloich owned some land on which some relatives of Colin were tenants. When the tenant's leases expired, Fasnacloich took back the land and re-let the lands to some Stewart relatives. When Colin heard of this he flew into an uncontrollable rage and swore an oath that he would now make sure that no person of the Cameron name would own one piece of Lochaber; and not one person of the Stewart name would own one piece of land in Appin."

[Cameronian]

Well I did say “There is no other event in Highland history, that evokes more emotion and debate than that of the massacre at Glencoe” …

I would not defend any who took part in this act, the method of execution was delivered by none who’s actions can be excused. But it was not to introduce divisiveness that the article was written, it was to draw attention to advice I was given by the Historian/Genealogist of the Inverness Library, when I first started my research in Inverness. (That) “ no Clan can be researched in isolation”….. we can not remove the Camerons from the MacDonalds, nor even the Campbells….and as much as the MacDonald historians have written out the memory of others from the event which took place at Glencoe, the evidence found on the Burial Island of Eilean Munde in Loch Leven indicates just how many of other Clan lived there at Glencoe during that period.

Should you be researching a line of ancestry who may have been connected into that area, there is a new book published by the Glencoe Heritage Trust which lists 300 Memorial Inscriptions on the burial isle of Eilean Munde, Camerons, MacDonalds, McInnes

Having visited this tiny burial isle with it’s old and fragile headstones, it is hard to leave it and the Glencoe area unchanged, being objective and forgiving are not two emotions that would come to mind.

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Very well said Val.

I too was very deeply moved when I visited Glencoe. And,although I have no direct connection with that Glen, or its people (that I am aware of) I make no pretense of being objective in the matter.

I didn't get to the Isle of Eilean Munde - and only viewed it from the shore. I was aware that there were Camerons there - and I would love to see it up close.

As to divisiveness, I do enjoy a debate, and certainly hope that Alans, or anyone else, are not offended by my putting forth my opinions. They are in no way intended to be a personal affront to anyone, and I would be upset if anyone viewed them as such.

Thanks for posting the information Val - I truly enjoy these historical and genealogical bits that you share with us.

Slainte,

John

[Alans]

No Cousins I am not in the least offended. I would be very wary howver of accepting either Jardine or R L.Stevenson as Authorities on Colin Campbell's goodness or otherwise.
I am certainly only offering another explanation of his death. Also my good friend Andy Morrison who lives in England but visits Lochaber frequently has done some research and knows several local Historical souces well and is an expert on the Appin killing.
It is almost certain that Glenure's amorous activities caused his death and that he wasshot by an outraged brother or Husband. The Stewart who was judicially murdered by Argyll for Glenure's killing was for a long time a crony of Glenures until they fell out over money. Glenure had been reprimanded by Argyll for his leniency with known Jacobite sympathisers and the letter quoted could well be an attempt to ingratiate himself. Having so many Cameron relatives would require him to try and impress the boss.
Glencoe was a crime undoubtedly, but even the sad and pathetic Robert Campbell of Glenlyon appears to have been a patsy. Prebble certainly believed this from his extensive search and Paul Hopkins also sees Duncanson, Hill and Stair as the major villans. My copy (penguin) of Prebble's "Glencoe "(pp203&4) quotes a letter from Duncanson to Campbell which indicates the latter was kept in the dark until the last minute. Prebble also (pp 219/20 ) expresses his own belief that Glenlyon and his men were deliberately inefficient. Duncanson's regular troops were meant to complete an encirclement and kill many more but they found the Argyll militia had not done their part.
Prebble also basically excualpates Iain Glas of Earl of Breadalbane(p228) Chief of nearly half of all Campbells at that time. Argyll may well have been involved but Prebbles argument that Robert Campbell was to be the fall guy and that Duncanson and his men were meant to have finished the job rings true. It is likely that the Glencoe men and the Breadalbane Campbell's led by Iain Glas's sons fought together at Sherriffmuir in 1715. Prebble seems to accept this.
Also in terms of Historical perspective and Murder of Relatives Prof J Stevenson Notes that Alasdair Maccolla Ciotach (Colkitto) MacDonald Montorse's ally, 50 years before Glencoe, murdered 200 surrendered Campbells of Auchinbreck after they had surrendered including his own "foster father" Campbell of Auchinbreck- a terrible breach of Highland custom despite his very soundly based hatred of Clan Campbell. The Argyll Campbells slaughtered the Lamonts after they surrendered at much the same time and Montorse and Colkitto's men sacked Dundee and Aberdeen and killed hapless civilians adding rape to their crimes.
Glencoe was a vile and disgusting act but it was also deliberate Government policy and I think Stair's personal policy rather than a result of inherent Campbell wickedness.
It must also be noted that a few short years before Glencoe our truly great Cameron chief black Ewen betrayed the MacLeans of Mull and assisted Argyll in rooting them out of there as lairds at least for land and money. This was behaviour typical of the time from what I've read.
I am not trying to make a case for Argyll and Glenlyon, who at least died a soldiers death in Flanders later on, but many Campbell's (Breadalbane were not involved- almost certainly)were not involved in the massacre. It was made much of by Jacobite propagandists, of course, by by C17th standards in Scotland it had many notable precedents. Certainly the Camerons of lochiel remained on friendly terms with all their Campbell neighbours until the '45 intermarrying with both Jacobite and Hanoverian supporters.
Prebble in "Culloden" names Campbells as prominent amongst Jacobite prisoners (on p282) after the '45and shipping records I read some time ago show them as the most second common name on transports after MacDonalds. I cannot give exact quotes for Hopkins and Stevenson's books as I borrowed them from the Melbourne University Library and did not take notes - reading them for recrestional purposes.
Prebble is often quoted by those who see campbells as "baddies" in the Scot's gael's History. I think any fair reading of this great researcher will not make a case that Clan Campbell, in his eyes, was any worse or better for that matter than any other major group.
General Campbell of Mamore rescued Flora macDonald from the awful captain Ferguson( Ruaridh Mcleod" Flora MacDonald"*who caused Alexander Cameron SJ's death by neglecting him and rejecting offers of bedding and food.
I may seem to be divisive but this is not my intent. I have allowed myself to be drawn into hot arguments about this before but certainly not here. I'm as proud as anyone of 3 different Cameron ancestries but even without having any Campbell ancestry that I know of, I just don't accept the classic interpretation of Glencoe, nor I think did Prebble accept the stories he heard from old folks in canada as a boy. Hrence his great book and research. Even Hopkins who disagrees with him on some points acknowledges that his meticulous research made any rational Historical discussion of Glencoe, based on fact, possible. He merely questions a few of his conclusions.

regards to all!
Ailean glas neither a Jacobite or a Hanoverian- just a proud descendent of the Gael.

* The most recent and best researched book about her.Includes her time in the Carolinas

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Ailean I am glad that we can share opinions and stories and debate them as kin without taking any personal offense. I do hold very strong views, and I am admittedly biased, but I have great respect for the opinions of my kinsmen and enjoy reading them.

Your points are well made, and I share your respect for John Prebble and his research. I am not so sure that Glenlyon was deliberately inefficient - I think incompetent is more likely. I will agree that there was probably a lack of enthusiasm from his troops.

"Glencoe was a vile and disgusting act but it was also deliberate Government policy and I think Stair's personal policy rather than a result of inherent Campbell wickedness"

I agree completely.

It is known that the Breadalbane Campbells fought alongside MacDonalds of Glengarry in the '15, and there very well may have been MacDonalds of Glencoe there as well.

"Also in terms of Historical perspective and Murder of Relatives Prof J Stevenson Notes that Alasdair Maccolla Ciotach (Colkitto) MacDonald Montorse's ally, 50 years before Glencoe, murdered 200 surrendered Campbells of Auchinbreck after they had surrendered including his own "foster father" Campbell of Auchinbreck- a terrible breach of Highland custom despite his very soundly based hatred of Clan Campbell. The Argyll Campbells slaughtered the Lamonts after they surrendered at much the same time and Montorse and Colkitto's men sacked Dundee and Aberdeen and killed hapless civilians adding rape to their crimes."

The murder of the Campbells was in revenge for the excesses of Argyle when he set out, supposedly in defence of "the Covenant" , to bring the Highland clans into line with the desires of "the Estates" , Scotlands governing council at the time. He used this as an excuse to inflict punishment on the ancient enemies of his Clan. It was said that Argyle had designs on the throne of Scotland for himself, and that was why he did so much to undermine Charles I. No doubt Colkitto and his men used much the same kind of justification in reverse to rationalize what they did.

Colkitto was a great soldier, but a brutal man, and commanded an unwieldy group of Irish Mercenaries under Montrose. I was under the impression that Dundee had largely been spared when it was taken by the Kings forces. Certainly its location, and the fact that it was bordered by estates of Graham lairds would lead one to think it would be somewhat sympathetic to Montrose. Aberdeen was sacked after Montrose sent a messenger under flag of truce to negotiate with the city officials. Accompanying the messenger was an Irish drummer boy of Colkitto's men. As they were leaving the city they were fired on and the boy was killed. After this incident, Montrose was unable to keep the Irish in check, and Aberdeen was pillaged.

Returning to the Appin Murder - there are several books I have heard about dealing with the incident- "The Killing of the Red Fox" by Seamus Carvey, and another book by Lee Holcombe. Have you heard anything about these?

The following information I got from a BBC report on the killing.

"However, in 2001 a descendant of the Stewarts of Appin, 89-year-old Anda Penman, identified young Donald Stewart of Ballachulish as the real killer, having allegedly kept a secret that was passed on by word of mouth through generations of her family."

This would support the writings of Jardine, who held forth that young Stewart of Ballachulish had the motive, the opportunity, and the particular rifle which fired two balls at once. It was said that Donald Stewart wished to confess, but was prevented from doing so by his family, who felt, probably correctly, that James Stewart would likely not be saved by a confession, and they would have two executions instead of one.

They were brutal times, and we can't judge those who lived in them without putting events in the proper context.

All the best,

John
A proud Cameron, (and Jacobite)

[ChrisDoak]

Hi John,

You mentioned that you thought that you had no direct connection with Glencoe,or the the events that happened there.In a roundabout way,you do,through your descent from the Camerons of Ratlichmore/Ratullichmore.

Val started off the Topic describing how the Estate of Achtriochtan at Glencoe was aquired (before 1690?) by Alexander McDonald from a John Stuart,and the Estate of Kinlochbeg from a John Cameron of Kinlochmore.

This John Cameron was the son of Angus Cameron,2nd of Kinlochleven.The Kinlochleven family were from the McMartins of Letterfinlay,and Angus himself held the Wadset for Ratulichmore and Leckroy in 1691.

John had succeeded his father by 1695,and was married to Isabella Campbell of Barcaldine (but we won't hold that against him!).

Cheers,Chris.

[Alans]

Well Chris how could we, wasn't she a nice breadalbane Campbell?
It also interesting that my first Cameron relative in the state of Victoria(Australia) was brought out to work in 1848 as a foreman for a younger son of the Clunes family(Donald Cameron founder of Clunes Victoria) whose original partners in 1838 in pioneering Central Victoria were a Kennedy and a Campbell. These three younger sons of lairds got off the boat in Sydney, bought stock and followed Major Mitchell's route South into the central Highlands of Victoria and they eventually acquired their own large estates mainly leasehold with freehold homestead blocks. The Cameron was, and the Kennedy seems to have been, from Lochaber while the Campbell gentleman may well have been a Breadalbane man. Several small towns he founded in central Victoria are called Glenlyon, Lyonville and his homstead at one of his propeties was Barcaldine House.
As to the Appin Murder one can see why it did appeal to Stephenson to put it into his great Novel ( I love that book!) but I do find his portrayal of the Mystery just a little melodramatic.
Also on a different tack and to get away from Campbells nice or otherwise, two of the worst villans during the disaster of the '45 and the aftermath were Grant of Knockando and Munro of Culcairn the Independent companys leaders, one of whom was shot by a Cameron waiting in ambush (who also got away) for his undoubted brutailty and murderous activities. It has been suggested that Stevenson used both incidents and particularly the Brutality of the abovementioned thugs to make his character of Mungo Campbell. Stevenson also does go to some effort to have several"nice" campbells in his novel as well; and perhaps he was trying to express an essential truth that Scots History has few angels, many devils and a few slippery customers, Like Iain Glas of Breadalbane and Eoghan dubh of locheil who had a lot humanity in them and some good.
There have been some good Historical novels about Scots History, none better than Scott's "Old Mortality" but I have yet to see a really convincing one about the C17th and early C18th Gaelic leaders showing the real complexity of their allegiances. That's one of the resons I love Lenman's "The Jacobite Clans of the Great Glen" because he does show the complex forces at work behind many of the events in Jacobite times.

Ailean glas Macraibert,
An Bhard sgith..

[SherbrookeJacobite]

ChrisDoak said:

Hi John,

You mentioned that you thought that you had no direct connection with Glencoe,or the the events that happened there.In a roundabout way,you do,through your descent from the Camerons of Ratlichmore/Ratullichmore.

Val started off the Topic describing how the Estate of Achtriochtan at Glencoe was aquired (before 1690?) by Alexander McDonald from a John Stuart,and the Estate of Kinlochbeg from a John Cameron of Kinlochmore.

This John Cameron was the son of Angus Cameron,2nd of Kinlochleven.The Kinlochleven family were from the McMartins of Letterfinlay,and Angus himself held the Wadset for Ratulichmore and Leckroy in 1691.

John had succeeded his father by 1695,and was married to Isabella Campbell of Barcaldine (but we won't hold that against him!).

Cheers,Chris.

Hi Chris,

Thanks very much for that info. That John Cameron would then indeed be kin of mine. I will have to dive into my files and see what connections I can draw. I wasn't aware of the connection between Kinlochleven and Ratulichmore. I really appreciate you providing the additional information.

John

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Alans said:

perhaps he was trying to express an essential truth that Scots History has few angels, many devils and a few slippery customers, Like Iain Glas of Breadalbane and Eoghan dubh of locheil who had a lot humanity in them and some good.

Ailean glas Macraibert,
An Bhard sgith..

That is what makes our shared history and heritage so very fascinating, and perhaps why it has captured the imagination of so many others around the world.

I too love "Kidnapped" it is one of my favourite novels - and I also enjoyed the movie (the version with Michael Caine as Allen Breck Stewart).

Slainte,

John

[Cameronian]

A quick post before we enter into Scottish Heritage Week in Sydney with a full ten days of Scottish Activities before us, our Scottish Guests being Prof Bruce Lenman from University of St Andrew and Ish Macleod an authority on the languages of the Scot both Scots and Gaidhlig, however, before I’m away with preparation for all these activities, I have received in this morning mail some very interesting information .

Little did I know just how prophetic the naming of this thread would be when it was commenced.

From the documents and letters forwarded to me this morning it is stated that John and Hugh, who would be the sons of Adam and Helen Cameron of Glen Nevis, both took their mother’s name of Cameron, John MacDonald changed his name to Cameron and settled at Monzie Perthshire and became the Rev Ian Cameron of Comrie.

Hugh MacDonald settled at Murthly changed his name to Cameron and married Lucy Coker, and the Family Tree that has been passed in follows this line, the descendants migrating to Australia at a date yet to be determined.

Whatever the accuracy and outcome of this information the Cameron connection into Glencoe is proving to be quite a ‘Work in progress’

[Cameronian]

In the Celtic Magzine June 1881 The Editor has published the following item:

The Camerons of Kinloch-Leiven, and also the Stewarts of Achnacone, were descended maternally from the Glencoe family.

In the “The Stewarts of Appin” by John H. J. Stewart, F.S.A.Scot. and Lieut.-Col. Duncan Stewart, Late 92nd Highlanders. EDINBURGH: Printed for Private Circulation by Maclachlan and Stewart, 1880.

The following passage occurs, “Unhappily scarcely anything remains now of this collection (the Achnacone papers) excepting some marriage settlements with the Glencoe family”

Has anyone viewed this copy, or know of the Achnacone papers?

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Val,

There is a copy of this book listed in the Catalogue for the Mitchell Library,here in Glasgow.I can dig it out and have a look - what information is it exactly that you are looking for?

Cheers,Chris.

[Cameronian]

Dear Chris, thank you for your generous offer, just chasing another ‘needle in a haystack’….. I am interested in the comment taken from the book re…….. “Unhappily scarcely anything remains now of this collection (the Achnacone papers) excepting some marriage settlements with the Glencoe family” .

If any of these Glencoe family marriage settlements are mentioned, that would be very helpful, however I think that the quote only infers, that these marriage settlements were listed in the Achnacone papers (which now seem to be no longer in existence).

Unless Glasgow has these hiding there as well,

Many thanks Val

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Val,

I had a look at "The Stewarts of Appin",and unfortunately not too much of use under the section entitled Stewarts of Achnacone.

A brief mention of a daughter of Cameron of Lochiel marrying into the family in the early 1600s,and then....."The old and valuable papers of the Achnacone family have unfortunately been lost,and this loss is the more to be regretted as they were of such importance as to be referred to as authentic sources of information by Mr Brown,when he was compiling his Genealogical Trees of the Stewarts in 1792.Unhappily,scarcely anything now remains of this collection,excepting some marriage settlements with the Glencoe family."

Mind you,this book was published in 1880,so there is the possibility that the Achnacone Papers have turned up since.

You might be worthwhile getting in touch with the Stewart Society in Edinburgh.Their website,www.stewartsociety.org ,boasts a library full of 200 family histories,and their Archivist Mrs Muriel Walker can be contacted at [e-mail].

Incidentally,just skimming through the Stewarts of Appin book,I did notice that there were very few connections by marriage with either Camerons or the Glencoe McDonalds.The obvious ones were from the early 1700s,with Helen Stewart marrying Allan Cameron of Callart,and her sister marrying Alexander McDonald of Glencoe.(Both daughters of John Stewart,4th of Ardsheal).

Regards,Chris.

[Cameronian]

Thanks, yet again Chris, I think I shall take up the option to make contact with The Stewart Societies Archivist in the hope of tracking these papers if possible.

I also take on-board your comment re, noting that the book was published in 1880, and now anything is likely to turn up, there are hundreds of out-of-print and out-of-copyright books, rare and old books dating back to the origins of print in the fifteenth century which were previously unlocated and now turn up digitalised and produced on CD/DVD we have a fantastic ‘lolly-shop’ to go visit… however meanwhile I will make contact with The Stewart Society Archivist

[Robert S Cameron]

A follow up to Val's posting of a year ago regarding the MacDonald family who survived Glencoe, said to be sons of the Chief and his wife "a daughter of Lochiel". They changed their name to Cameron, with a continuing branch at Murthly, Perthshire for several generations
I have recently been in touch with a member of this family in Australia and reviewed the documents. They have a good tree obviously based on oral tradition but able to be confirmed from the time of parish registers.
Hugh and John MacDonald, the surviving sons cannot be issue of Adam of Achtriochtan as suggested - the dates are all wrong. They could well be sons of McIan but MacDonald history gives him a MacDonell of Keppoch as wife and mother of the next chief of Glencoe. Perhaps there was a second marriage to a Cameron?
To see the tree, have a look at the Hugh10 family in my Cameron Genealogies on the Australian link site.
Bob Cameron

[bill]

Hello. I have just joined after coming across earlier messages to do with the Camerons of Kinlochleven and Glen Nevis.

One of the daughters of these families was Helen Cameron who married Angus Rankin, my ancestor. Now, Angus Rankin at his death in 1824, in the trial records of his 'natural' son Donald in 1821, in the death certificate of Helen and her will, is described as tacksman of Dalness.

The story of Dalness is tied up in very convoluted family lines of MacDonald of Dalness. The son, Donald Rankin, was described as shepherding for his father Angus at Glean leac na muide, just south of Achnacon, which at about this time was part of the property (and trust) of MacDonald of Glencoe.

We don't know how Angus Rankin came into the tack but I am wondering if it could have had something to do with his marriage to Helen Cameron.

Donald's eldest son, Neil, is said to have been born at Kinlochleven (1810) but the entry in the 1841 Census says Kinlochmore. It is my speculation that at the time, Donald may have been working for The Camerons of that part.

Anyone who may be able to clarify any of this for me would be much appreciated.

Bill
Sydney