From Estate papers, tenants of Kneep (including Uigen and the manse) in 1867. No. Tenant Rent 1 Donald Maclennan (Kenneth) £ 3.6.0 2 Donald Macdonald £ 3.6.0 3 Angus Maciver £ 3.6.0 4 Norman Macdonald (John) £ 4.4.6 5 Donald Matheson £ 4.4.6 6 Widow Chris. Buchanan £ 6.6.0 7 Kenneth Smith (Murdo) £ 3.2.0 8 John Maclean £ 4.6.0 9 Widow Marg. Smith £ 3.1.6 10 Donald Macdonald £ 1.14.0 11 Murdo Maciver £ 4.15.0 12 Alexander Maciver £ 6.3.0 13 Norman Morrison (Pensioner) [ » read more ]

Uigen is a small village on the Valtos Peninsula. It was previously considered an extension of Kneep and the crofts are numbered accordingly, beginning with 16. The former manse in Uigen, on Aird Mheithnis, was built for the new Free Church in the 1846 but now belongs to the Church of Scotland. Recent Notes from Uigen …and all the rest of them here. Genealogy Most of the known genealogy of Uigen has been documented on Hebridean Connections.   Please feel free to put your queries to [ » read more ]

Translated from an interview with An Geal, John Maclennan, born 1896 at 15 Kneep and married at 4 Aird, Uig. The Admiralty ship the Iolaire taking servicemen home to Lewis grounded on the Beasts of Holm outside Stornoway, on the 1st of January 1919. Almost two hundred men perished. Translated by Maggie Smith. At the end of December 1918, on leave and travelling back to Lewis with other servicemen from Uig, we planned to arrive home on New Year’s day and surprise the families. Approaching [ » read more ]

Photo taken by Aneas Maclean, nephew of Mrs Jessie Macdonald 24 Valtos, while on student placement.  We’ll expect the gaps to be filled in promptly: if not, I’ll be waylaying the others. Teachers: Mrs Alexina Macleod, Shawbost Mr Donald John Macleod (Inky), Carloway Front Row: 1. Calum Macdonald (Titch) 22 Valtos 2. Donella Matheson The Cottage, Miavaig 3. Catherine Ann Smith, 9 Kneep 4. Christine Macdonald (Tinie) 22 Valtos 5. Donald John Maclennan (Don-Don) Valtos Second Row 6. Iain Chisholm Macdonald 11 Reef 7. Margaret [ » read more ]

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. Mary Macdonald 16 Uigen 8. Ann Macleod 3 Brenish 9. Murdina Mackay Kneep/Reef (Murdag an Irish) 10. Christine Macleod 2 Reef 11. Maggie Saunders 17 Valtos 12. Isabella Mackay 9 Valtos [ » read more ]

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 Macdonald 14 Valtos (Willie Doh) 10. Chirsty Ann Macdonald 8 Kneep 11. Annabel Matheson 5 Kneep (Babag) 12. Peggy Macdonald 4 Kneep 13. John Maciver 12 Kneep (Iain Dhomhnaill Duinn) 14. [ » read more ]

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 Mhurchaidh) 7 Catherine Smith 13 Valtos (Catriona Chaluim a Ghobha) 8 Joan Buchanan 18 Uigen (Seonag Chaluim Mhoir) 9 Dolina Matheson 5 Kneep (Doileag Smiodaidh) 10 Annie Morrison Reithmir (Anna Mhurchaidh [ » read more ]

Tarmod Mòr, Norman Macdonald 16 Uigen (Tormod Dhomhnaill Thormoid), who married Peggy Buchanan from 23 Crowlista.

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 the hours of 10am and 1pm on Friday the 28th day of November 1913, on Reef Farm, occupied by Alexander Macrae, Farmer in the Parish of Uig 1. Malcolm Macritchie [ » 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 9. John Matheson 30 Cliff 10. Donald Smith 20 Valtos Middle: 11. Babsie Grant Doctor’s House Miavaig 12. Annie Grant Doctor’s House Miavaig 13. Chrissie Mackay 21 Valtos 14. Annie [ » read more ]

Click picture to enlarge (and again to zoom in). From Uig, A Hebridean Parish (1960). In the period before the lotting of crofts the whole peninsula was occupied by some five clachans – Valtos, Cliff, Kneep, Uigen and Reef – some of which shared common pastures. During the early part of the nineteenth century and earlier, apparently, than the 1850 lotting carried out in most of Lewis, crofts were allotted in each of the clachan areas. Valtos and Cliff shared a common pasture and so [ » read more ]

Lovely hats but we haven’t yet identified any of the ladies – ideas welcome.   Click for closer inspection.  Yes I know you’re not old enough to have been around then. Back 1.  Driver John Macaulay 8 Islivig (Sgail) 2. – 8. ? Middle 9. Calum Murdo Macleod, 17 Uigen (Bidan) 10. Angus Mackay, 1 Carishader 11. John Macleod, 5 Enaclete (am Brace) 12. Doanld Matheson 18 Uigen (Dollan) Front 13. John Smith 2 Carishader (Sgrang) 14. Kenny Macleod 1 Enaclete 15. 16. Finlay Macleod 2 [ » read more ]