Camerons of Dornie

[Cameronian]

Having just returned from Scotland with a pile of papers and 8 weeks ‘catch-up’ at home. I thought I would post this in, in the hope that Chris or others could add some further information into this family of Cameron of Dornie.

Thus giving me a chance to catch up to speed with you all….Val

To John McDonald Esq
Borrdale

From Colonel J Cameron Fort William
16th May 1814

Dear Sir,

I had the pleasure of your of 18th ult in course but the bearer or more properly being his father Mr Cameron Dornie, having been in terms about other hand till very lately I deferred replying to your letter til now. Having lost the farm they have held long of the Duke of Gordon the bearer at my request goes to take a look of the Ground you mention in your letter. I am ignorant of its extinct therefore cannot take upon me to say how far they are in point of subject eligible for the undertaking.

A Brother of this young man is doing very well I the West Indies and who makes regular remittances to his father, has again and again written home that he is ready to assist his father and brother to any reasonable extent, Their own subject I should think will be about 600 pound Stg you must therefore judge how far they are fit tenants – I am certainly a well wisher of theirs and would be glad if they could accommodate themselves with you.

Mrs Cameron and I were most happy to hear Mrs Macdonald had got strong after her late confinement we sincerely give you both joy of the young (Dol………)

I am very sorry to observe your long and severe illness ; but now that warm weather may naturally be looked forward fair hope it will bring you relief Mrs Cameron joins me in best compliments to all under your roof and believe me to remain with much regard.

Dear Sir, Yours very truly
J Cameron

[Cameronian]

The second letter located read -

To John Macdonald Esq
Borrodale

From Patrick Cameron Ben Nevis
23 May 1814

Dear Sir,

My Uncle being called from home to attend to some farm business he left it to me to reply to your letter of the 20th inst.

Indeed I feel an equal interest in the welfare of Mr Cameron Dornie as he does –

In the first place you may rest assured that sufficient (funds) will be found to you for the stock.

And in the next place the 200 pound from any information we have regarding the farm appears rather a long rent yet the Camerons I am authorised to say agree to give it at the same time expressing a hope that you will not uplift their losses.

My Uncle regrets exceedingly that he counts not promises doing himself the pleasure of seeing you at least for some time to come in order to settle all particulars which cannot be so easily done by correspondence – He is however not curtain but he may be able to accomplish it soon after the Terms – But in the mean time you may take it for granted that the Camerons agree to be your tenants as to the comprisement of the stock it occurs to me that it will be necessary to have valuation present at the delivery whether to be taken at your own valuation or not.

It happens that the stock they have on the farm of Dornie is not yet delivered so that I cannot take it upon me to say on what day they will be ready to receive yours – but will lose no time in letting you know and I trust a few days delay will make no difference to you.

I am, Dear Sir,
With regard.

Yours very truly……Patrick Cameron

[gaelgal]

Welcome back, Val! Great reading these letters... they're always so interesting! Nice to have you back on here with us!

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Val,
The family that the letters refer to is the Camerons of Donie (or Dawnie,as it seems to have been corrupted into) ,a branch of the McSorley,Glenevis Camerons.The farm of Donie lay due north of Ben Nevis,just off the main road from Fort William to Spean Bridge (across from Torlundy).,and formed part of the Duke of Gordon's holdings in Lochaber.The family had been tenants there for some considerable decades.

It was the head of the family,Donald Charles Cameron,who was forced to find somewhere else to live in 1814,as at the time of the 7-yearly Rental Reviews of 1813,he had obviously upset the Factor in some way,and the rental of Donie was granted to a George Mitchell.He was a member of a family of Mitchells who had leased nearby Achindaull for some sixty years.On taking possession of Donie,he promptly had Donald Charles and his family removed - possibly out of spite,as Donald Charles had made previous attempts to secure the lease of Achindaull.

Donald Charles Cameron had been baptized in the presence of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (hence the middle name),as Donald's father Ewan had been of special service to the Prince at some point during the '45 Rebellion.He had numerous children (many descendants now in Australia,I believe),and the son referred to in the letter ,living in the West Indies,was named Allan.Donald's eldest son Lt.John Cameron (who lived at Lundavra) unsuccessfully attempted to get Donie back for his parents in 1821,and his 2nd eldest son,Ewan,farmed at Talisker in Skye.Presumably Donald Charles and his wife did move to Ardnamurchan(?)

The writer of the !st letter was a distant cousin,Colonel John Cameron of Achnasaul,and Governor of Fort William (anyone know if his family papers survive?),second son of the infamous Alexander Cameron of Glenevis.John's nephew Patrick (2nd letter) was head of the Glenevis family at the time of the letter.

Hope this answers a few questions,

Regards,
Chris.

[Cameronian]

Thanks Chris, I tried to tidy up this research when returning home and it appears that it was either the eldest son (AMcK)or the fourth son (Aust records) of John (Lt John) Cameron , a Donald Charles Cameron b 14 August 1813 who was the first to migrate to Australia, he was later followed by his brother Angus

He managed his Uncle Allan’s West Indian estates for some years. (it appears that there could have been two brothers in the WI both Donald and Allan)
Donald Charles arrived Melbourne 1852. Later squatter at Barcaldine, Queensland
m. 1844, British Guiana, Margaret Ann Moore, b. 1820, W. Indies, dau. of Peter Moore and Marie Francoise Adele Serane de Fleault.
She arrived with her children and brother-in-law Angus at Melbourne in 1853 on "Great Britain"

Of interest is the paragraph in Alexander Mackenzie’s History of the Camerons re the incident when Bonnie Prince Charlie ‘Knighted Ewen Cameron of Dawnie’ with his own staff as Captain Ewen’s sword had been broken in the conflict, Mackenzie states that it was said that the Prince later sent Ewen a staff and a sword, the sword was stolen and later sold to the Marquis of Breadalbane about 1835. The staff was retained and was thought to be in the possession of Ltd John Cameron and later taken by the family to Australia……. now that is something that I must do some research into.

The Lt John Cameron is said to have married a daughter of Cameron of Letterfinlay, which makes his line even more interesting, and yes you are quite correct there appears to be many of the line of Dornie/Dawnie with us in Australia

[ChrisDoak]

Yes,I think there probobly was two Donie boys in the West Indies.

I have a note that in 1825,a Donald Charles Cameron in Berbice,was acting as Attorney there for John Cameron (also known as John Cameron of Berbice),brother to Patrick Cameron of Glenevis.

Berbice,I see from the atlas,is on the coast of the Carribean,in Guyana.(Strictly speaking,more South America than West Indies).

Oh,by the way,Val,there was a nice wee spread in this week's Oban Times about the Arisaig Games - and you got a name check!

Cheers,Chris.

[Thomas Cameron]

Chris,

I'm drawing an absolute blank regarding Donie/Dawnie. While there are many clues as to its location (due north of Ben Nevis, across from Torlundy...) I cannot locate it on current maps or the 1875 version. The funny thing is that when I did a Google search, this very Message Center came up the most useful. It's always amusing when we come full circle back to our own websites...

Do you have a exact location for addition to the Virtual Lochaber project? I have identified Gleann Domhanaidh (one of so very many additions and revisions since we visited in Lochaber last October) but I'm unable to make any progress on Donie.

Thanks Chris - looking forward to visiting with you once again next year.

[ChrisDoak]

Hello Tom,

Yes,Donie does seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth by the end of the 19th century,but it was indeed up Gleann Domhanaidh.

You should be able to pinpoint it's location by going to the digital map section of the National Library of Scotland website www.nls.uk.Under Counties/Inverness-shire,you will find a very detailed (and seemingly accurate) map titled "John Thomson's Atlas of Scotland 1832".This map should also be useful for tracking down any other stray settlements,especially if like Donie,they are now in the middle of a forest!

Regards,Chris

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi Chris,

As they say "he shoots...he scores!" Thank you for the wonderful tip to a fantastic resource. We now have a location for Donie which is - as you stated - in the woods! Actually, after sorting through the old map (which isn't that easy to match to modern maps, but not impossible) it appears that Donie was just east of the present-day Nevis Range facility. Compared to some sites, it wouldn't be that difficult to actually visit and "poke around," looking for hints from the past.

I was very impressed with the format and art of the Thompson Atlas. It's an inspiring piece of work to say the least.

Do you have any other "stray settlements" to pass along? I feel as though many have been added since we last spoke, but one can never tell...