From Uig, A Hebridean Parish, by HA Moisley and the Geographical Field Group, 1960. The crofting population of Uig started the second half of the nineteenth century with far less land than had been occupied by their forebears fifty years before, and, although famine, clearance and emigration had slightly reduced the population between 1841 and [...]
Read more →From Sanais, 1988, with some additions.
The first school in the Western Isles was founded shortly after 1610, when the Seaforth Mackenzies gained possession of the island, and in 1680, a report by ‘Indweller’ says that the Seaforth school had done much good, not only for Lewis but also for the adjacent isles. Other schools followed.
Read more →Many thanks once again to Robin Forrest for providing these wonderful, and previously unknown to us, pictures of Uig in 1964-65, taken by his father Sam Forrest on Land Court business. Some things have changed… some have not!
Read more →[singlepic=297,342] Teacher Mary Ann Maciver 11 Kneep, later married Norman Macdonald Reef (Gruaigen) Back: 1. James Macrae Miavaig (Seumas na Cost) 2. Angus Smith 20 Valtos (Prof) 3. Malcolm Mackay 13 Kneep (Kiman) 4. Angus Macdonald 16 Uigen (Gurason) 5. Alasdair Macleod 39 Cliff (Sandy Post) 6. Angus John Macdonald 8 Kneep (Max) Middle: 7. [...]
Read more →[singlepic=298,354] Back: 1. 2. Malcolm Maclean 26 Valtos (Calum Beag Garbh) 3. Louis Macdonald 11 Reef (Louis na Scallag) 4. Donald Matheson 39 Cliff (Domhnall a Bheiceir) 5. Murdo Macleod 2 Reef (Murchadh Dodge) 6. Donald Macleod 2 Reef (Buganach) 7. Duncan Macdonald 22 Valtos (Donnchadh Silver) Middle: 8. Donald Macdonald 16 Uigen 9. William [...]
Read more →[singlepic=165,550,245] There were 104 pupils at Valtos School in 1904. This key may help with the identification. 1 Mr Cameron 2 Flora Maciver Kneep (Floraidh nighean Mairead Alasdair) 3 Christina Mackay 21 Valtos (Cairstiona Rothaich) 4 Mary Matheson Kneep (Mairi Smiodaidh) 5 Betty Buchanan (Beit Dhomhnaill an t-Saighdear) 6 Barbara Maciver 25 Valtos (Bab Tharmoid [...]
Read more →This week the Comann Eachdraidh was pleased to welcome Mr and Mrs Jack Duncan from Michigan, USA, on their first visit to Uig. Jack is the great grandson of “An Irish”, Calum Macritchie, a well-known character in his day and one of the leaders of the Reef Raiders in 1913. Jack’s grandparents were Tarmod an Irish and [...]
Read more →Mac an Irish, a dance and pipe tune (click for more; music courtesy of Sven Axelsson) was evidently written about a son of “An Irish”, Calum Macritchie (b1845) of Carnish, Aird, Kneep and Reef, and the eldest of the Reef Raiders. He wasn’t Irish of course, but so called as he was always a rebel. We don’t know which son is the Mac [...]
Read more →A letter from the Rev Alexander Macleod (formerly Established Church minister in Uig, who had taken his congregation to the Free Church in 1843 and left Uig shortly thereafter for Lochalsh) to Lady Hood, his previous patron. See also a letter from 1824. Lochalsh 19th March 1844 My very dear and much respected friend, I had [...]
Read more →L-R: 1. Neil Macleod Lochcroistean, brother of the groom 2. John A Mackay 7 Reef, brother of the bride 3. Chirsty Ann Smith, Stornoway, sister of the groom 4. Peter Macleod 4 Mangersta, groom 5. John Buchanan Islivig, cousin of the groom 6. Chirsty Bell Mackay 7 Reef, bride 7. Bill Smith, husband of Chirsty [...]
Read more →After the Reef Raiders were tried, briefly imprisoned and let home to a hero’s welcome in 1914, the Great War intervened before anything was done about the lotting of Reef. Even after the end of the war, it appeared that nothing was going to happen. The following is from the men of Kneep and Valtos, most [...]
Read more →On the day in November 1913 when the Reef Raiders drove the stock from Reef Farm, the local Constable made the following report (the list doesn’t correspond exactly to the men identified in the photo): Charge, Breach of the Peace Police Station Miavaig, 28th November 1913 Sir, I beg to report to you that between [...]
Read more →Some of the Reef Raiders: Alexander Mackay, Valtos (Alasdair Dhomhnaill Aonghais) Allan Morrison 3 Kneep (Ailean Tharmoid Tharmoid Ruaidh) Malcolm Macritchie Kneep (an Irish) Murdo Mackay 30 Valtos (Murchadh Aonghais Aonghais) Angus Mackay 18 Valtos (Aonghas Tharmoid Aonghais) John Morrison 13 Kneep (Iain Tharmoid Tharmoid Ruaidh, or an Cupair) Donald Maclennan Reithmir (Domhnall Ruadh, the [...]
Read more →Click to show shieling grounds. Map and area in acres from Uig, a Hebridean Parish (1960). Valtos (36 tenants) 149 inbye 1482 adjacent pastures 3905 detached/shielings Kneep (18 tenants) 155 inbye 459 adjacent 1806 detached/shielings Reef (14 tenants) 94 inbye 207 adjacent 101 machair 770 detached Total (68 tenants, 14 absent) 398 inbye 2249 adjacent/machair 6481 [...]
Read more →Peigi an Irish (nee Macritchie, b1890) from 8 Kneep was married twice; her first husband Murdo Mackay was killed in the Great War, and her second was Donald Matheson (Buckie) from 4 Valtos. She was the tenant of 5 Reef, after her father. Murdo Macdonald (Morgan, b1866) was born to 4 Kneep and took 15 Reef. Note [...]
Read more →By Peggy Eiric Maciver, Kneep; an elegy for Iain Morrison, son of Angus Morrison of 13 Reef who was a policeman in London. Iain emigrated to Canada and was killed in a mining accident in 1970. Marbhrann air Iain Moireasdan, Uig agus Lunnainn, a chaochail an Canada. Iain ‘s mòr an àmhghair rinn do bhàs [...]
Read more →Teachers Donald Maclean Shawbost and Annie Macaulay 35 Cliff Back: 1. Donald N Morrison 32 Valtos 2. Norrie Mackay 31 Valtos 3. Dol Angus Mackay 30 Valtos 4. Calum Iain Buchanan 8 Valtos 5. John Angus Mackay 7 Reef 6. Donald M Morrison 32 Valtos 7. John Angus Buchanan 7 Valtos Middle: 8. Donald Buchanan [...]
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 [...]
Read more →Teachers Bella Macaskill (Lochs/Goathill) and Frank Maciver (Back) Back: 1. John Macaulay 23 Valtos (lost WW2) 2. Dol Angus Macrae Miavaig (Rev) 3. Donald Norman Macdonald 22 Valtos (lost WW2) 4. Angus Macdonald 16 Uigen (lost WW2) 5. Malcolm Mackay Valtos 6. John Macdonald Kneep 7. Alexander Macleod 39 Cliff 8. Norman Macdonald 22 Valtos [...]
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