Ardroil (Eadar Dha Fhadhail – ‘between two fords’) lies on the southwestern side of Uig Sands. The area now occupied more or less by the village once contained five townships: Capadal, Peighinn Dhomhnaill (Pennydonald), Baile Nicol, Baile Ghriasaich and Baile Ghobhainn. These were cleared by Stewart Mackenzie, the proprietor of the island, in the late 1830s to make way for the farm known as Ardroil.  Neighbouring Carnish was later cleared by the Mathesons to be added to the farm. The Capadal families moved mostly to [ » read more ]

Fearchar (Farquhar) Macdonald, son of Angus, was about born about 1809 at Capadal, roughly on the site of 3 Ardroil. In 1832 he joined the Hudson’s Bay Company, as a “slooper” – a crewman on HBC decked vessels.  According to the Company’s personal records, he boarded the Prince Rupert IV on 23 June 1832 for a passage from London to York Factory, on the west shore of the bay, where he arrived on 24 August.  He worked at York until 1834, travelled overland to Fort [ » read more ]

From an article by Dave Roberts with Norman Macaulay, John Macdonald and Donald Maciver. In the Seaforth Muniments, there are letters in which various people had recognized the need for a safe anchorage for the larger boats in Camus Uig. Representations were made to the Fisheries Board, and a plan and specification were prepared in 1835 for a pier at Carnish, with the completion date for the work set as 30 September 1836. There were plans for a road to be blasted through, a wharf wall [ » read more ]

Donald Òg was the younger of two sons called Donald, born to Dugald Macaulay, tacksman of Brenish, in the late 17th century; he was the great-grandson of Domhnall Càm. Rev William Matheson’s columns on the Macaulays, published in the Gazette in the 1950s, include several stories about Donald Òg drawn from the Morrison manuscripts.  He writes: According to Morrison, Donald Òg Macaulay of “Brenish fought on the King’s side at Culloden”.  The historical basis of this statement is probably that in the Independent Company raised [ » read more ]

(picture of Valtos and Kneep by Chris Murray) An Dotair Ruadh, Donald Macaulay, seventh in line from Dòmhnall Càm, was the son of Dòmhnall mac Sheorais, the tacksman of Linshader who himself became something of a legend because of his size and strength. His son has come down in tradition as equally renowned, but for being something of a chancer. He was a brother of Lily Macaulay who married Rev Robert Finlayson of Lochs, and it seems was also a cousin of Mac an t-Sronaich. [ » read more ]

Kirk Session records, 15 November 1825: The Session at Uig having met and constituted, Peggy Morison and Angus Morison, both Capidle, having been charged with a Criminal Connection were examined by the Members of said Kirk Session, they confessed their guilt and agreed as to the time and place in the Statement of the Fact. Angus Macritchie Peindonald was ordered to stand before the Congregation at Uig for having used threatening words against the Men of Mangersta.