Stratheachaig

[mcintaylor]

The Place name STRATHEACHAIG is given for the place that the Taylor Dhub went and where the family of Mac In Taillear's were in the 1800 century.

Does anyone know where this place is. I wonder if I am looking at a wrong spelling.

Thanks for your help.

[ChrisDoak]

Hiya,

You will find Stratheachaig on the Cowal peninsula of Argyll,some 100 miles south of Lochaber.

The River Eachaig flows from Loch Eck into the Holy Loch,and Stratheachaig was presumably located where the land flattens out either side of it (the "strath").

Hope this helps you with your search,but as well as these McIntailors/Camerons in Cowal,there were certainly some still living in Lochaber in the 18th century.

Cheers,
Chris.

[anne]

Hi, I post infrequently--hope I am doing this right. I am a Taylor. I found my oldest know Taylor ancestor, James Taylor, born 1784 in Fife. He was in HMRN, serving under Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.
After 1832 immigrated to Maryland.
documentation for his birth was found on the official UK Royal Navy web site, where they listed all the sailors who served in the Battle Of Trafalgar--their ship, their age, their rank, their birth place. Family records say he was in the battle. The family story is that he was one of 10? Scottish brothers from the Trossachs. The first 8 were pressed into the Navy and died at sea. #9 was my ancestor James who was pressed, served, and was discharged. # 10 ran away to USA or Canada to escape being pressed and was never heard from again.
I'd like help tracing him back even farther, and I would also like your recommendation of a book I could read telling the history of our Black Taylor sept. Why did they move away? Was it religion? Thanks, Anne Hilts, Tucson AZ USA

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Hi Anne,

I'm sorry I can't help you with a book reference - other than our own Clan history, which may provide some of the answers you are looking for. I believe it can be purchased from the Clan museum at Achnacarry (see the link on the Clan webpage at http://www.clan-cameron.org)

As for how the Taylor's came to leave Lochaber, the following is also from our Clan website (and can be found under the "Septs" section).

The Taylors who are affiliated with Clan Cameron as a sept are said to be descended from Donald "Taillear dubh na tuaighe" (Black tailor of the [Lochaber] axe), who lived in the time of Mary Queen of Scots. He was the "natural son" of Ewen Cameron, 14th Chief of Clan Cameron and a daughter of the Chief of Clan MacDougall, out of wedlock. Ewen had Donald nursed by a tailor's wife at Lundavra; thus the name Taylor. After his father's death (Ewen died while a captive of the Chief of the MacDougalls, held prisoner until he agreed to marry the Chief's daughter), Donald would became the greatest warrior that Clan Cameron had even known. Acknowledgement of his parentage by his deceased father not being enough to ascend to the Chiefship, he excelled in the field of battle, usually against the Cameron's principal foes, the Clan Mackintosh and usually with his trusty Lochaber axe. In time he would flee rising Cameron-Mackintosh internal Clan treachery, with a band of loyal followers, to Cowal. The descendants of his followers there were for ages known as Mac an taillear; later as Taylor. A tribute to Donald remains in the Cameron Coat of Arms, where his likeness, along with a Lochaber axe, borders/protects the outer shield.

[anne]

Thanks, I loved getting a reply! I expected to get automatic notification but did not. Still learning how to navigate this site. I will order your book. Thanks for writing it.
I know Camerons fought for the Jacobite cause at Culloden and my Taylor grandmother in Iowa had Presbyterian missionaries in her family. Something changed in the interim. Could it be that was the internal disagreement (to remain Catholic vs. turn Protestant) that led the Taylors to move to Cowal during the time of Mary Queen of Scots? Scots were killing each other then over religion then, if I remember my history. Best regards, Anne

[gaelgal]

Hi, Anne! I'm a Taylor, too! Isn't John just a wealth of information?! Welcome to the message board!

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Hi Anne,
I'm happy to reply - there are few things I like better than Scottish history, and that of our Clan in particular.

I certainly hope I didn't give the impression that I wrote the book on the history of the Camerons! The book " The Camerons - A History of Clan Cameron" was written by Major John Stewart of Ardvorlich. He was the brother-in-law of the 26th Chief of our Clan, Sir Donald Hamish Cameron, father of the current Lochiel. The book was published by the Clan Association in 1974, with a second edition published in 1981.

The issue of religion as it affected our Clan was one which has long fascinated me. Although it was a hugely divisive issue among Scots for several hundred years - it does not seem to have significantly divided our Clan. At the time of Culloden we were considered a Protestant Clan, largely because our Chief was Episcopalian. Many of the Clan were Presbyterian - and a good number were Roman Catholic. Our Clan, led by Lochiel, followed Prince Charles because of our loyalty to King James, knowing that he was the true King, religion didn't enter into it. Post Culloden, I have seen figures for the parish of Kilmonivaig,
for the late 1700's - when the parish would have been mainly Camerons or their followers - that showed it was approximately 50% Protestant and 50% RC. I have always been fascinated because in Nova Scotia there are many Camerons who are Presbyterian and many who are Catholics. Some apparently converted one way or the other after immigrating, and some did not.

As to why the Taillear Dubh left Lochaber and went to Cowal - it was Clan politics and intrigue that led to that move - not religion. For background, here is a quote from our Clan History by John Stewart, as reproduced on our website:

Ewen Beag (fourteenth chief), who became captain of the clan on the execution of his illustrious grandfather, inherited little but trouble. The Lochiel lands had been forfeited and granted to Huntly, including the "Fortalice of Torcastell," Glenloy and Locharkaig. The Lochalsh and Lochcarron lands had been forfeited and granted to Grant of Culcabock and Grant of Freuchie respectively as "satisfaction for a spuilzie," that is, to compensate the Grants for their losses in the Raid of Urquhart. He (Ewen) did have a natural son, Donald M'Ewen M'Conell, who became in the annals of the clan as "Taillear dubh na tuaighe" - "The Black Tailor of the Axe."...

...Allan (Allan MacDonald Dubh - sixteenth chief) was a child when his father died or was murdered in 1569, and the leadership of the clan devolved upon his tutors, his great-uncles Ewen Cameron of Erracht, and John Cameron of Kinlochiel, both younger sons of Allan's great-grandfather Ewen MacAllan or Allanson, by his second wife Marjory Macintosh. The tutors seem to have been unpopular, certainly with a large section of the clan. So little were they trusted that young Allan was sent for safety to the Isle of Mull to be brought up by his uncle, Hector Og Maclean of Duart. Later, his education was entrusted to Mr. John Cameron, Minister of Dunoon. The tutors, particularly Erracht, the senior one, are said to have taken possession of the Lochiel lands, and to have treated them as if they were their own. Erracht in fact claimed the chiefship for himself. They entered into an agreement with their relative Macintosh regarding the disputed lands which was so detrimental to the interests of the clan that they were forced to repudiate it. This brought upon them the wrath of Macintosh, and so uncertain were they of the support of the clan in opposing him that they had to enlist the help of the Taillear Dubh who, it will be remembered, was the natural son of Ewen Beag of Lochiel, and who, being a near relative to young Allan, and a man of great ability and valor, was trusted and supported by the greater part of the clan. The Taillear Dubh and his followers met the Erracht faction led by Ewen of Erracht's son, Donald Dubh M'Ewen, at Inverlochy Castle where Donald Dubh was murdered by some of the Taillear's men. He (the Taillear Dubh) then took command of the clan until such as Allan could return and command it himself.

Donald M'Ewen M'Connell or Donald MacEwen Bhig, known as the Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe, was one of the clan's most colorful figures. As a child he was nursed by the wife of a tailor who lived at Blar na cleireach, near Lundavra, hence his by-name. Later he was brought up by MacLachlan of Coruanan, head of a tribe who were followers of Lochiel. He became an expert in the use of arms, and was particularly dexterous in the use of the Lochaber Axe, his favorite weapon. He grew up to be a brave and prudent man famed for his wit and sarcasm.

During this interregnum of eight years (1569-1577/8) there are many legends and stories concerning the escapades of the Taillear Dubh and his inveterate animosity towards the Macintoshes. In 1577/78 Allan returned to take command of the clan, but it was not until 1585 that the last of the rebel leaders met his death when John Cameron of Kinlochiel was executed at Dunstaffnage at the instigation of Argyll. As regards the Taillear Dubh, there is a tradition that he went to Cowal and settled in Stratheachaig. His descendants took the name of Macintaillear, later changed to Taylor, and many of that name in Cowal are really Camerons. They were known as Clann an Taillear Dhuibh Chamronaich, and there seems little doubt Taylors descended from the Cowal families of Taylor can claim descent from Donald MacEwen Bhig.

As to why the Tailear Dubh left - the most probable reason is that he was seen as a threat to the then Lochiel, Allan Cameron. Taillear Dubh was Allan's cousin, and there is a tradition that he felt, given the way he handled the threat from Erracht to the young Allan, that he was entitled to the Chiefship. Trying to follow all the intrigue from that time is certainly very complicated, alliances were made and broken, people were murdered (including both Taillear Dubh's father, Ewen Beag, and his father's brother Donald Dow, Allan's father), deals were made with outside influences such as Argyll and the MacIntosh. It was against this complicated backdrop that Taillear Dubh left. Although it is impossible to know for certain, it was very likely over suspicions and clan political intrigue rather than religion.

Sorry for the long winded post - I do sometimes get carried away! I am fascinated by the subject and do love talking about it.

Slainte,

John

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Jun 23, 2008 21:05:02 GMT -6 gaelgal said:

Hi, Anne! I'm a Taylor, too! Isn't John just a wealth of information?! Welcome to the message board!

Thanks Gaelgal - I often say that I have a head full of useless trivia, and can't remember anything important! But, at least here there are people who appreciate it.

[gaelgal]

I do appreciate all of your "useless trivia" as you put it! I do! Between your posts and those of Val (Australia) and Chris Doak (Scotland), I learn a lot!