The Crofting Year in Geshader, as told by Finlay Maciver (born 1930 in Geshader). The first task of the crofting year in Geshader was taomadh – this was turning the earth in the ditch at the side of the runrig (feannag), putting it on top of runrig, where the crop had grown the previous year. They didn’t turn the ground on the rig itself, they put the oat seed (corc) in it and broke it up with the croman. When this earth dried it was [ » read more ]

From Finlay Maciver, born 1930 in Geshader, an account of the people and places that made up the village. See also his piece on the crofting year in Geshader. Behind croft No 6 Geshader there was a walled area called Leas Chonnich Fhionnlaigh. Kenneth Maclean had been evicted from Vuia Mhor and had relatives in Ungeshader, the family of Colin Maclean. Kenneth Maclean made his home in Ungeshader but didn’t have ground to grow crops. The Geshader people gave him a piece of ground, he [ » read more ]

The following was written by Maggie Smith for Hebridean Connections.  The genealogies of all the known inhabitants of the island of Vuia – uninhabited since 1841 – can be found here. Life on the island of Vuia Mhòr was hard, with little fertile land and no safe anchorage. The peats were cut and harvested in Drovinish and taken home by rowing boat or sail. Boats had to be beached after each fishing trip. Amongst the inhabitants were the family of Neil Macleod, who had found [ » read more ]

Lochcroistean School, c1928. Teachers Annie Macaulay 35 Cliff and Donald Macarthur, Carloway. Back Row:1. Angus Hugh Smith, 2 Carishader 2. Angus John Macdonald, 6 Carishader 3. Donald Macritchie, 4 Enaclete 4. Donald John Mackay, 6 Geshader 5. Malcolm John Smith, 2 Ungeshader 6. Donald Smith, 2 Ungeshader 7. Donald Gillies, 9 Carishader 8. John M Macdonald, 6 Enaclete 9. Norman Macdonald, 12 Carishader 2nd Row: 10. Peter Macleod, 9 Enaclete 11. Murdina Maclean, 3 Geshader & Hushinish 12. Peggy Macleod, 10 Geshader 13. Johan Matheson, [ » read more ]

From Lewsiana, by W Anderson Smith (1874, 1896). During the autumn and winter the grain is prepared at leisure as potatoes are first consumed, or nearly so, before the meal is much run upon. When in urgent need of meal, the grain is sometimes dried in an iron pot on the fire, and then taken to the quern or hand mill, where, however, a great quantity is necessarily lost, from the difficulty of collecting it as it issues from between the stones. This meal is [ » read more ]

New pictures for our collection; thanks to Mary Macleod, Lochcroistean.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Verses written by Norman “Conter” Macleod, am Bard Bochd and for many years headmaster at Lochcroistean, on the occasion of the marriage of Agnes Smith, Lochcroistean, to Kenny Maclennan, 15 Kneep.  It was sung at the wedding by Kenny Dan Smith, 2 Ungeshader; and the reading here is by Finlay Maciver Carishader (click the arrow). O, nach sinne fhuair an t-urram Bhon a’ chruinneig uasal bhòidheach, Thog ar cridhe le a cuireadh Bhith ‘na cuideachd aig a pòsadh. [ » read more ]

Marianne hosted a lovely evening for about forty past pupils of Lochcroistean school, and their spouses, on the 130th anniversary of the opening of the school. If the slideshow isn’t working for you, the pictures are also in the Gallery.

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 ]

Key placenames and landmarks around the township of Geshader, the inlet to Little Loch Roag (the Sruth, next to #18), and the deserted settlement at Strome, as prepared by Finlay and Kenneth Maciver.  There are many more placenames, which we’ll publish once we’ve worked out how best to present them; meanwhile there’s Enaclete too.  Compare to the Ordnance Survey map. 1. Floday 2. Beinn a’Ghlinne Ruaidh 3. Creagan Gorm 4. Rainacleit 5. Druim Ban Gil an Aon Duine 6. Ollashal 7. Sheaval 8. Orcleit an [ » read more ]

Ciorstaidh Mhòr, Christina Matheson, was born in 1861 in Enaclete, a daughter of William Ruadh and a sister of William Dearg.  Her father came with his family to Geshader in the late 19th century and built this house at 2 Geshader, on the hillside overlooking the loch on the right as you drive into the village – though there was no road then, of course.  Ciorstaidh, a notably tall woman, married Calum Macleod of 8 Geshader in 1883, remained at No 2, and raised four [ » read more ]

Taken this afternoon from Ganstotl on Loch Roag (back of Geshader), looking to Eilean Garbh and Cliatasaigh (left), with Bernera in the distance.  It was blowing a bit.

William Matheson (Uilleam Dearg) was born to 2 Geshader in 1877, the youngest son of William Ruadh.  As a young man he went off, presumably to join the Seaforths, though his family heard nothing of him until he turned up in a picture of a company in Egypt or the Sudan, about 1898. He served in the Boer War then settled in South Africa, worked as a prospector, joined up again in 1914 (despite severe bouts of malaria) and in 1940, at the age of [ » read more ]

Teachers Donald Macarthur (Soup) and Annie Macaulay 35 Cliff (Anna Bheag) Back Row 1. Peter Macleod 9 Enaclete 2. Farquhar Macdonald 12 Carishader 3. Angus Hugh Smith 2 Carishader 4. Donald Macritchie 4 Enaclete 5. Calum Iain Smith 2B Ungeshader 6. Donald Gilleis 9 Carishader 7. John Murdo Mackay 1 Carishader 8. John MAcdonald 6 Enaclete 2nd Row 9. Angus John Macdonald 6 Carishader 10. Christine Macdonald 5 Carishader 11. Dolina Macneill 11 Carishader 12. Dolina Smith 2B Ungeshader 13. Johann Matheson 8 Enaclete 14. [ » read more ]

Thanks to Murdag, and to Finlay for the identification.