Further to the previous item about WJ Maclean of Gisla, who was a Chief Trader with the Hudson’s Bay Company:  an account of the one Christmas he and his family spent at Fort Pitt before it was burned to the ground in April 1885.  This is from an article by W Bleasdell Cameron in The Beaver, December 1945. Christmas was coming to old Fort Pitt on the North Saskatchewan, still in that year of 1884 an outpost of the white man’s civilisation, and preparations were [ » read more ]

We’ve mentioned before the story of William “Big Bear” Maclean, who was born in Scaliscro in 1837 and, after his family moved to Gisla, went on to an eventful career with the Hudson’s Bay Company in Canada.  His HBC record has recently come to light (thanks to Donald Macaulay, Stornoway) and it gives much more detail of his positions and stations. 1859        Sailed for York Factory on the Prince of Wales 1859-61  Apprentice Clerk, York Factory, York District 1861-63  Apprentice Clerk, Lower [ » read more ]

More about Uig side schools, the small schools provided for a minimum of three pupils in remote parts.  From research undertaken by Maggie Smith for Hebridean Connections and the Stornoway Gazette; see also Part I and Part III. Lily Macdonald (Lilidh Mhorsgail), born 1918, whose father Finlay Ferguson worked as under-keeper in Kinresort and then as gamekeeper on the Morsgail estate, said: I believe there was an earlier side school when Kenneth Maciver’s (Coinneach Mòr) family lived there before the 1920s.  I went to school [ » read more ]

From research undertaken by Maggie Smith for Hebridean Connections and the Stornoway Gazette.  See also Part II and Part III. After the Education Act of 1872, children throughout the country were entitled to an education, and a side school could be provided in remote districts where there were at least three children; a single junior teacher, under the supervision of a village school, would teach in a building or room temporarily provided for the purpose.  If there were insufficient pupils, a single child or two [ » read more ]

Teacher Babag Smith Back: 1. John Macdonald Carishader 2. Donald A Macdonald Scaliscro 3. Kenny A Mackay Geshader 7 Geshader Middle: 4. Angus Macdonald Scaliscro 5. Agnes Matheson 8 Enaclete 6. Peggy Ann Matheson 8 Enaclete 7. Christina Buchanan Schoolhouse 8. Malcolm K Buchanan 3 Carishader Front: 9. Donald N Gillies 4 Enaclete 10. Donald Macdonald Scaliscro 11. Donald Matheson 8 Enaclete 12. Cathie M Matheson 8 Enaclete 13. Chrissie M Gillies 4 Enaclete 14. Kay Mackay 7 Geshader 15. Christina F Morrison 16. Patricia [ » read more ]

by David SD Jones, February 2008. An illustrated history of the sporting estates, including Morsgail, Scaliscro, Grimersta, Uig & Hamnaway, Garynahine, Eishken, Barvas, Galson and others.  Information from estate records and game books, detail of tenants and development programmes, and many photographs previously unknown to the Comann Eachdraidh, coming as they do from private collections in England.  Available from the museum (£10) or direct from David Jones.  

Babag Smith 5 Carishader and Peggy Ann Macritchie 7 Carishader at Scaliscro road end.

Photo by Chris Murray. This letter was written by a clerk for Alexander Macrae who signed it in his own hand.  He was tenant of Scaliscro from about 1830 until his death from fever in January 1839.  He was known in Uig as ‘an Ciopair Ban’, the fair shepherd, and was the first of a number of shepherd/farmers from Wester Ross who were brought into Uig by the Seaforth Estates to raise flocks of Cheviot sheep.  Alexander came to Scaliscro with his young family (including Ann, mother of [ » read more ]

William J. Maclean was born at Scaliscro in 1837, son of Angus Maclean, mason, and Ann Macrae, daughter of the farmer Alexander Macrae.  The family had moved to Gisla by 1861.  William emigrated to Canada (his brother Duncan, who remained at Gisla, remembered travelling to Liverpool to see him off) and became factor for the Hudson’s Bay Company.  He was involved in the Red River Rebellion of 1885 and his entire family was taken hostage at Fort Pitt, but all survived. Stornoway Gazette, 27 December [ » read more ]

A letter dated 1836, from Thomas Knox, Chamberlain of the Lews at Seaforth Lodge to JA Stewart Mackenzie of Seaforth, MP, the Proprietor.  Mealista was cleared in 1838 and the farm let to John Macrae of Kintail (and latterly Harris.) Seaforth Lodge 21 April 1836 Dear Sir I have now the honour to reply to your letter regarding the offer of Alexander MacRae for the lands of Mealista, Keanhusly and the Island of Mealista, and to send you two letters from him on the subject, dated the [ » read more ]