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Post by glendessary on Aug 10, 2003 16:15:29 GMT -6
Hello. I'm a recent member of this website, and thus am not aware if this news was posted on the old message boards, so if its old news to you, i apologise.
Earlier this year, Glendessary lodge, at the head of Loch Arkaig 'mysteriously' burned to the ground . Thankfully no one was injured, but i wanted to share the news with the Camerons worldwide who may have visited the area, or have links there.
I will feel its loss, as I am Allan W Cameron, and myself and my brother Niall were the last children to live there. My father, Allan Macinness Cameron, the last Cameron to be gamekeeper there, and my grand father,Alastair Cameron was also gamekeeper there, post WW2.The area around Glendessary has always had strong links to Cameron history, and thus at least a few of us out there may be descendants of others who lived there? let me know if you are, as im keen to find out the history of Glendessary, other than around the 1745.
thanks for taking the time to read this.
Allan.
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Post by SherbrookeJacobite on Aug 19, 2003 15:23:54 GMT -6
Very sorry to hear about Glendessary. My family hail from the other side of the great Glen, on the south side of Loch Lochy. I was fortunate to be able to visit Loch Arkaig a few years ago, and was moved by its beauty. I wish you all the best as you gather information about Glendessary. If you haven't already read it, "Bygone Lochaber" by Somerled MacMillan is a great source of information.
Glendessary was the setting for one of Nigel Tranter's novels about the MacGregors "Gold for Prince Charlie" (you probably knew that already). It was burned down in the novel as well.
Good Luck,
John
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Post by ChrisDoak on Aug 20, 2003 12:00:19 GMT -6
It's all too common these days for unattended houses in both the country and the town to"suddenly"go up in flames.The destruction of Glendessary Lodge,coming so soon after the arson attack on the holiday home of Sir Cameron Mackintosh in nearby Knoydart,is much to be regretted.That you,Allan,have lost your childhood home,I am sure doubles that regret.Since the incident,I haven't seen any further mention of it in the papers;any chance of the Lodge being repaired?
Whilst my Cameron antecedants have no apparent connection with Glendessary (they were farming at Achnasaul at the other end of Loch Arkaig during the 18th century),widescale movements throught the 18th and 19th centuries make it difficult to be certain.
However,the history books,as you well may be aware,are not short of stories of the daring exploits of Jenny Cameron of Glendessary during the '45.Paradoxically,Jenny and her family had only a remote connection with the Glen - they lived in Morvern - and don't really have a significant place in it's history.
Glendessary had been in possession of the McPhees of Lochaber since the 15th century,and they were,until the mid 17th century(when Cameron of Lochiel purchased the lands)in sword-service to the Mackintosh Clan.The McPhees continued to hold Wadsets and possession of the land in rental from Lochiel till 1746,and thereafter till 1784,from the Government-controlled Forfeited Estate of Lochiel.
The Wadset,and half of the rental,was aquired by Charles Cameron of Lochiel in the early 1760s,and in his absence,his affairs were handled by his cousin Ewan Cameron of Fassifern.The McPhees continued to live in Glendessary,but were joined by a few McMillan families connected to the McMillans of nearby Murlaggan.
Whilst there was at least one Cameron family living in the Glen prior to 1745 ( John McIllony),the concern that the Military and the Authorities had over the lawless state of this west end of Loch Arkaig,led the Factor in 1758,Mungo Campbell,to inform his superiors in Edinburgh that (the McPhees and McMillans) "have ever been the most pestilent tribes in the Highlands",and should be "intermixed with other Clans less thievishly disposed".Deserters from the Military had long been made welcome in Glendessary by the Wadsetter,Alexander McPhee,and his neighbours,and the Authorities were determined to stamp out this practise.
A plan for civilizing the neighbourhood saw the construction at Murlaggan and Kinlocharkaig of Military Barracks,a Change House(Inn),and a School House.A small number of Camerons were moved to Glendessary,probobly from Glenpean,and some from other parts of the Lochiel Estate.(It was a bit like being exiled to Siberia - if any tenant crossed the Factor in any way,he was wont to punish them by removing them - to the furthest point away from civilization!).
At the time of the '45 there was maybe 10 houses or so in Glendessary,but by 1791 this had swollen to 24.There were three principal "towns" in the Glen:
-CLACKFERN:Lying to the south of the Water of Glendessary,about a mile from Strathan.
-SHANAVAL:Further up the Glen,on the opposite bank.
-COULE:Further up still,on the southern bank.
The shiellings associated with these towns were at Luibnacallich,Corryrea,and Corrynagaul.
In 1798 Glendessary was rented to the following tenants:
-CLACKFERN:Malcolm McPhee,Donald Cameron,John Cameron,Duncan McPhee,John McPhee,Donald Cameron,and Margaret Cameron.
-SHENAVAL:Douglas McPhee,John McMillan,Duncan McMillan,the widow of Robert McMillan,and Angus McMillan.
-TOMNAHUEG(Coule?):John McPhee,Alexander Cameron,and Ewan McMillan.
In 1802 Archibald McMillan of Murlaggan chartered three ships,and sailed from Fort William to Canada with 400 emigrants - many of them Camerons,McMillans,and McPhees from Glendessary and the west end of Loch Arkaig.The rental on all parts of the Lochiel Estate had risen sharply since 1784,when the Lochiel family regained control,the population had increased dramatically,and poor economic conditions therefore encouraged them to "jump" before they were "pushed".
In 1803 the Trustees of the Lochiel Estate advertised their lands on Loch Arkaig for rent to the highest bidder,and at terms way beyond the pockets of the residents.In May 1804 the Trustees issued Notices of Removals to the remaining tenants,and the Glen was cleared.The dispossessed were doubtless offered a small croft at Banavie or Corpach on Locheilside,but whether they took up this offer,or left Lochaber,or just disappeared into Highland Mist,is difficult to calculate.By the time of the 1841 Census,there was only one inhabited house in Glendessary - occupied by a Kennedy.
Hope this has been of interest.
Regards,Chris.
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Alans
Dedicated Clansperson
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Post by Alans on Aug 28, 2003 1:20:30 GMT -6
 Chris, This is a very interesting article especially about the clearances. Its also intersting that Camerons were thought to be more peaceable and well behaved by the post Culloden factor. History is full of these ironies I suppose. Thanks for all that good research! Alan.
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Post by Cameronian on Aug 28, 2003 21:20:16 GMT -6
Allan and Chris,
I would like to seek your permission to re-print your posts on Glendessary in our Clan Cameron NSW Newsletter.
I have only been able to trace my last Scottish Cameron ancestors to an Archibald Cameron who was born in Sunart late 1790's and his brother Allan who was born in Kinlochiel in 1811.
Obviously the family either moved or was moved off land near Sunart around the early 1800's and as their mother was an Ann MacMillan perhaps I am getting closer to the location.
Valerie Smith
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Andy
New Member
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Post by Andy on Aug 29, 2003 18:40:36 GMT -6
Great postings and wonderful information sorry to hear about the destruction of the house.
Travelled up Locharkaig -side twice and both were marvellous experiences.
One the first occasion I was by myself.
I have a great interest in old burial grounds, and one of the things I was looking for was said burial ground of the MacMillans at Murlaggan, I think mentioned in Somerled MacMillan, Bygone Lochaber.
Traversed all over the hill but could see no trace, does it exist.
I may have been looking in the wrong place, and others such as the burial ground at Clunes are not so easy to find.!! Unless you know where they are of course.
A small asside I went on the hill above Creagan in Appin about three or four times, looking for "MacColl's Burial Ground" , without finding it until I stayed in Duror Hotel (now MacDonald arms Hotel).
I thought that this burial ground is a mhyth, invented for the frustration of tourists, though I do not regard myself as one.
Talking to the manager Donald ( I hope he is till there ) he siad oh yes up the road and at the tall pine tree head up the hill. and sure enought the burial ground and old ruined villiage were there to see.
Second time up Locharkaigside, I was staying with my family on a section of the Keppoch farm in Brae Lochaber, in a car borrowed from my mother.
We did well seeing it is a large car, until we met some one on a step incline coming the other way and I had to reverse, which was ok except for the fact that when a did so the back right wheel went off the road just above a sharp ditch.
Praying to God and all the saint's and people and hero's of Lochaber's past I managed to pile a load of stones and large rocks under the wheel and managed to get back on the road!!!! phew, and to this day my mother doesnt know what happened.
The moral of the story go on a bike or on foot and with some one who knows what they are doing. !!!
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Post by Brollachan on Sept 5, 2003 21:14:18 GMT -6
Allan and Chris, I have only been able to trace my last Scottish Cameron ancestors to an Archibald Cameron who was born in Sunart late 1790's and his brother Allan who was born in Kinlochiel in 1811. Obviously the family either moved or was moved off land near Sunart around the early 1800's and as their mother was an Ann MacMillan perhaps I am getting closer to the location. Valerie Smith Valerie, This was taken from the 1881 cencus while I was looking for information around the Kinlocheil area, MALL GLENSUILAIG 1 JOHN MACMILLAN M HEAD M 48 SHEPHERD ARDNAMURCHAN MALL GLENSUILAIG 1 CATERIN MACMILLAN F WIFE M 44 INVERNESS-SHIRE MALL GLENSUILAIG 1 DONALD MACMILLAN M SON U 7 SCHOLAR ARDNAMURCHAN MALL GLENSUILAIG 1 CHIRSTY MACMILLAN F DAUR U 14 SCHOLAR ARDNAMURCHAN MALL GLENSUILAIG 1 ANN MACMILLAN F DAUR U 12 SCHOLAR ARDNAMURCHAN MALL GLENSUILAIG 1 MARY MACMILLAN F DAUR U 9 SCHOLAR ARDNAMURCHAN MALL GLENSUILAIG 1 MARY CAMERON F NIECE U 3 ARDNAMURCHAN Glensuilaig is very close to Kinlocheil, and I also think there were MacMillan's in Wauchan for a while as well, although I cant find that informaion at the moment  I dont know if this is any use to you or if you already knew about them, but if you do want more info, let me know. I won't be about for the next week, as I am walking from Glenfinnan to Inverie via Glendessary this week taken in a few Munro's along the way  Ricky |
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Post by Cameronian on Sept 6, 2003 3:27:07 GMT -6
Ricky...
I won't be about for the next week, as I am walking from Glenfinnan to Inverie via Glendessary this week taken in a few Munro's along the way
Well Ricky when you do return my grateful thanks for your interest in my ancestors, these could quite well be descendants of those who were left behind in Scotland when our ancestors were sent over to Australia in the Highland Immigration Schemes of the early 1800's and these are the very Scots that we now need to make contact with, we have as a Clan in Australia produced a very comprehensive listing (CD) of those who descend from these Camerons but we know that in most cases the original Scot who came to Australia was only perhaps one or two of the members of that Family who was considered by the powers in control to be neither 'too old' or ' to young' to be suitable for migration so families were scattered and the distance from Scotland and the harsh survival conditions of these early pioneers made contact with family back home nigh impossible.
We know that there are many remaining in Scotland that we would connect to as distant relations, hopefully Scotland will become as interested in researching us as we are researching our Scottish roots...
The list you supplied will be attached to our data base in the hope that at some point the connection can be made...
I was last in Inverie in June, having spent the past two years researching the line of Coll MacDonald 2nd of Barrisdale, this line finally end with the marriage of Coll 4th's daughter to Sir Alexander Cameron of Inverailort, give my regards to Angela Williams of the Knoydart Foundation should you meet with her whilst at Inverie.....that walk you are doing is quite spectacular.....
Many thanks Valerie...
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Post by ChrisDoak on Sept 7, 2003 4:15:32 GMT -6
I'm extremely envious of anyone who's making the walk from Glenfinnan to Inverie at the moment - hopefully I'll manage something on a smaller scale,on two wheels,in Lochaber over the coming weeks!
In response to your query,Valerie,please feel free to use any parts of my reply to Allan's entry that you wish.All the info I have referred to,comes from documents in the National Archives of Scotland,and the National Library of Scotland - so it belongs to us all,anyway.
Just a postscript to my piece on Glendessary:I forgot to mention that it was recorded in a survey of 1774 that the "Farm" comprised of 7432 acres,of which 7103 was described as unusable Hill,0 was of Woodland,317 was of Grass,and only 10 acres was under Corn.Split between approx.25 houses,you can see that there wouldn't be much cultivatable land to go round.However,combined with the 37 houses of the neighbouring Farms of Glenpeanbeg,Glenpeanmore,Lagganfern,and Murlaggan,the west end of Loch Arkaig must have been a vibrant little community of some 400 or 500 souls,with a fair share of interesting characters.
I mentioned that the Authorities were intent on "civilising" the inhabitants,but to a certain extent they were not too successful in attracting the right kind of incomer.The Change House,for instance,was tenanted by a dodgy character by the name of Archibald McLachlan(an "unfit person" according to the Military),who when granted money by the Estate to provide seats for the use of his customers,spent it all on whisky instead.
The civilising aspect was achieved more successfully by one Alexander McIntosh,who was introduced as a teacher to the School constructed at Murlaggan,adjacent to the Barracks,in 1764.Seemingly a man of many talents,McIntosh helped construct the School,and was it's sole teacher for the next 40 years.He was highly thought of by the locals,the military,the Church,and his paymasters.
In 1776 the Rev.Alexander Fraser of the Parish of Kilmallie carried out an inspection of the School,and reported that the 20 pupils were being taught the following subjects:Reading,English Grammar,Interpreting English into Gaelic,Writing,and Arithmetic.Being so remote from the Parish Church at Kilmallie,the Rev.Fraser was equally satisfied by McIntoshes role as a Lay-Preacher,for he also reported that "he conducts services at the School on a Sunday,and every 4th Sunday travels 10 miles (to the west?)to Read and Catechise".Equally impressed was Lt.Col.G.Remington of the 43rd Regiment,who in 1773 recommended that McIntosh should receive a rise in pay,as "he acts as a Minister to the people in the area,and has stopped the Roman Catholics from Knoydart and Morar from driving their carriages on a Sunday"!
McIntosh died in 1802 or 1803,and it is disturbing to see that his sterling service to the Estate did not allow for his widow's name - Vere McIntosh - to be omitted from the names of the Ejection document for Murlaggan in May 1804.
I should also clarify that not all of the residents of Glendessary were removed in 1804.The McPhees who were living at Coul in 1803 were successful in offering a bid for the rental of their farm at the Roup of that year,but the details are a bit sketchy as to how many years they were able to continue there.
Regarding Andy's search for the McMillan graveyard at Murlaggan,I would imagine that the burials at the time would not have been marked by conventional inscribed gravestones,but merely rocks or boulders.In the 200 years since it was last used,I am sure that it is still there somewhere,but that nature has swallowed it up.
Regards to all,
Chris.
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Post by Cameronian on Sept 7, 2003 5:28:06 GMT -6
Chris said,
Regarding Andy's search for the McMillan graveyard at Murlaggan,I would imagine that the burials at the time would not have been marked by conventional inscribed gravestones,but merely rocks or boulders.
Valerie,
Sadly this is what I found in the ancient graveyards at Inverie, although there is some semblance of lines they are but rock markers, each family knew of the relatives buried there, so why would names need to be added.
Sadly the clearances and migrations have robbed us of these memories, and they are no longer with us, I can only assume that as the one headstone of Barrisdale 4th is located in that particular position, this was the family plot (or near to).
Chris, thank you very much for all this information, it is not something that I have come across to date......
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Andy
New Member
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Post by Andy on Sept 22, 2003 7:30:23 GMT -6
Thanks to all for the information.
With regard to old the burial ground's mentioned which were now only marked by rough marker stones.
I had a similar experience many years ago while seaching for one said to be at Greenfield, Glengarry.
I could not see a trace but was lucky enough to meet a Mr Fraser, who said I will take you too it, which he did in his Land Rover, over some rough land, all that could be seen was a rough enclosure with marker stones, but as said above the old residents now gone, would have known who was who.
Andy
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Chris,
