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 ]

Shonnie Goravig, John Maclean, 3 Ungeshader, who we talked about here.

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 ]

Some of the Smiths who lived at 2 Ungeshader, and their house, Taigh a’Chladaich, right on the shore there.  In the first photo are Annie Smith (Anna Chladaich), Mary Smith (Mairi Choinnich), Effie Smith (Eiric Choinnich), Annie Smith (Banntrach Choinnich Oig), and Kenny Dan Smith.

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 ]

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 ]

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!

This unidentified sailor with the Naval Division is believed to be one of those interned in Holland in 1914.  The picture was taken at Groningen, and comes to us from 10 Mangersta.  Is he one of the Uigeachs listed below who spent the war in “HMS Timbertown”?  The following was written by Dave Roberts for Uig News; more information about the 106 known internees from Lewis, and the conditions they experienced, are found at Guido Blokland’s comprehensive website. On 5 August 1914 the postman delivered [ » read more ]

LOCHCROISTEAN SCHOOL 1934 Teacher Kenneth Smith (Souse) Back: 1. Angus Murdo Matheson 8 Enaclete (Gong) 2. Roddy MacIsaac 5 Geshader (Roddy na Candle) 3. Angus Maciver 4 Geshader (Bain) 4. Kenneth Beaton 7 Geshader & Glasgow 5. Donald Macleod 1 Ungeshader (an t-Iaruinn) 6. Neil Macleod 9 Enaclete (Nuilc) 7. John Macleod 8 Carishader (Peileag) 8. Kenneth Gillies 9 Carishader (am Pump) 9. Calum Macdonald 5 Carishader (Tavoch) 10. Kenneth Dan Smith 2 Ungeshader Middle: 11. Iain Macdonald 5 Carishader (Monkey Beag) 12. Finlay Macdonald [ » read more ]

From an article for Uig News by Dave Roberts: The Harris Tweed industry, according to the traditional story, is said to have begun in the mid-19th century. The two Macleod sisters, originally from Pabbay in the Sound of Harris, were living in a blackhouse in Strond and producing tweeds on their looms. The story is that these were the first tweeds to be called Harris Tweeds and were woven in Murray tartan for the workers on the Dunmore Estate, Harris. After the death of Lord [ » read more ]

Teacher: Annie Macaulay, 35 Cliff Back: 1. Dolina Smith 2 Ungeshader (Dollag a Choisich) 2. Effie Smith 2 Ungeshader (Eiric Choinnich) 3. Chirsty Macdonald 11 Geshader (Goody) d1939 diphtheria 4. Mary Smith Croistean Cottage 5. Dolina Nicolson 1 Geshader, later Crowlista 6. Peggy Smith Croistean Cottage 7. Dolina Smith Croistean Cottage 8. Mary Macleod 8 Carishader (Màdag) Middle: 9. Annie Macleod 8 Carishader 10. Ina Macdonald 6 Enaclete (Ina Puff) 11. Katie Ann Morrison 1 Ungeshader 12. Kenina Smith 2 Ungeshader (Kennag a Choisich) 13. [ » read more ]

Family home from Canada for a visit to Geshader. Dolina (or Ina), #3, married Duncan Macleod from Embo, Sutherland in Toronto in 1921 and lived in Vancouver; they came home for good after WW2.  Ina, Christina and Catriona were three of the five daughters of Effie and Angus. Back: 1. Christina Morrison (nee Macritchie) with Murdo, 1 Ungeshader (wife of Calum Sunndach, Ungeshader) 2. Catriona Macritchie 9 Geshader 3. Dolina Macleod (nee Macritchie), back from Vancouver Middle: 4. Effie Macritchie 9 Geshader (born 1859) with grandson Angus Morrison, 1 Ungeshader 5. Angus Macritchie 9 [ » read more ]

Some photos from Mary (Smith) Macleod, Lochcroistean.

A chapter (abridged) by Annis Heawood from Uig:  A Hebridean Parish (1960).  Photo by Chris Murray. The district here described includes Gisla, near the head of Little Loch Roag, Enaclete, Ungeshader and Geshader, on the western shores of Loch Roag proper. All these are strung out on or close to the main road. Miavaig, like Gisla, is a small farm but also functions as something of a metropolis for south Uig; it has the post master, whose other functions include registrar and receiver of wrecks, and [ » read more ]