Eriskay Historical Society secures funds for Ionad Eilean na h-Òige project

From Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh (Eriskay Historical Society) in the Western Isles:

We are proud to announce that Ionad Eilean nan h-Òige has been awarded £340,895 in funding from the second round of SSEN Transmission's Regional Community Benefit Fund.

A share of £2.37 million has been awarded to 14 projects out of 189 applications from community organisations across the north of Scotland. 

This funding will support Phase 3 of our Ionad Eilean na h-Òige project, the final phase of our redevelopment of the old Eriskay School.

Phase 3 will deliver the heart of the overall project, and compliment the wellbeing accommodation suited currently under construction. 

Phase 3 includes:

• A new museum within the old Eriskay School building
• A welcoming tearoom/café
• Community rooms
• A temporary exhibition space for themed exhibitions, local & visiting artists etc
• Community library
• An archive room
• Office hire space
• Gym/Greenhouse

This is a fantastic result and a real testament to the strength of the community, the project and the collective effort behind the application. It reflects the commitment, collaboration and belief shown by so many in our community.

This support enables us to leave a positive lasting legacy in partnership with SSEN Transmission, preserving Eriskay’s heritage while creating sustainable facilities for future generations.

If you would like to donate towards our project, please click on the link on our website https://www.eriskayheritage.scot/support-us

Thank you all for your continued support with our community led project.  

(Source: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064550927205)

Comment: I met some of the folk from this Eriskay group last year, they're a friendly bunch, and it will be great to see the centre when he work is complete. I might just have to go back for another visit!

Mealaibh ur naidheachd a chàirdean!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES is back!

I'm back in genealogy land after a few months time off for good behaviour doing a Cert HE course at the University of Glasgow, entitled Gaelic with Immersion. The course was designed to help people with a degree of Scottish Gaelic push towards fluency, and it has certainly helped me to develop my abilities with the language. At the conclusion of the course I spent three weeks on the Hebridean island of South Uist (Uibhist a Deas), where I was able to meet many people in various walks of life who still use Gaelic as their first language in Scotland, and where I had a chance to also travel to other Hebridean islands, including Barra (Barraigh), Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh), Benbecula (Beinn na Foghla), Grimsay (Griomasaigh), North Uist (Uibhist a Tuath), and Berneray (Beàrnaraigh). 

During my time in the Western Isles, I was able to cut peat by Beinn Mhòr, plant potatoes on the machair at Daliburgh, visit cèilidhs and concerts, and talk to Gaelic speakers young and old across the islands, including former STV colleague Alex O' Henley, one of the BBC's and UEFA's football commentators, at his croft at Garrynamonie.

 

As a genealogist it was great to get a chance to visit many historical sites in South Uist and the other islands, including the township of Milton, where Flora MacDonald was born (she who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape “over the seas to Skye”), Castle Ormacleit (a MacDonald of Clanranald stronghold), and Kildonan Museum. At Kildonan I had a chance to see the 'tasglann' or archive of Comunn Eachdraidh Uibhist a Deas, otherwise known as South Uist Historical Society, where people can come to research their family history, or the history of the family croft or the local island. There are several 'comainn eachdraidh' in the islands, and I also had a chance to meet and talk to folk from Comunn Eachdraidh Èirisgeigh (Eriskay Historical Society), and to see where Comunn Eachdraidh Barraigh is Bhatarsaigh (Barra and Vatersay Historial Society) was based, albeit this was closed on the day I visited the island of Barra. For links to the various comainn eachdraidh, and to discover what they can offer for Hebridean research, read my blog post at https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2023/10/comainn-eachdraidh-historical-societies.html. 

My final two assignments have been submitted, and I now await the formal certificate to be awarded (assuming I haven't screwed these up!), but it is time to get back to the day job. Scottish GENES is back, and I look forward to sharing genealogy news with you over the next few days, weeks, months and years, just as I have done since 2007.

Finally, if you have been following my Gaelic journey, and wish to have a go yourself, check out my blog post at https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2025/01/resources-to-help-you-learn-scottish.html - agus gun tèid leibh leis an turas agaibh! 

In the meantime, some more pics from my recent Hebridean escapades!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Hebridean genealogist Bill Lawson awarded British Empire Medal

Congratulations to Isle of Harris based genealogist Bill Lawson, who has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours list for "services to the community in the Western Isles". The full Gazette entry for the announcement is available at https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4783889.

Originally from Stirling, and raised in Ayrshire, Bill has spent many years researching families in the Western Isles and the many crofts on the islands, through his service Cò Leis Thu?, based at the Hebrides People Centre on Harris.  

For more on the story read the BBC Alba account at https://www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan/sgeulachdan/cje9pqjdz1lo (in Gaelic).

Chris 

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Repairs begin at Kisimul Castle by Barra

Kisimul Castle, based in Castlebay, Barra, is undergoing conservation work just now, with a view to it being re-opened to the public at some stage in the near future. The castle, the former home of the MacNeil clan, has been closed since 2020.

For more on the story visit the BBC's story at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg585r3qe9po, or read it in Gaelic at https://www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan/sgeulachdan/c5y3ylq9e2eo.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Air falbh airson seachdain - I'm off to Skye for a week!

Bidh mi air falbh an ath sheachdain anns an Eilean Sgitheanach agus mi a' dèanamh cùrsa aig a' cholaiste Ghàidhlig, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Air sgath sin cha bhi mi a' blogadh fhad's a bhios mi ann, ach bidh mi air ais a dh' aithghearr!

I'll be away next week on the Isle of Skye doing a course at the Gaelic college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Because of that I won't be blogging whilst there, but will be back soon!

Tìoraidh an-dràsta / ciao fer now!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

British Newspaper Archive approaches 77 million pages, with Shetland and Lewis content recently added

The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) is now fast approaching 77 million pages of content, with 76,977,219 pages available at the time of writing. 

Most of the Scottish and Irish additions of the last 30 days are from recent years, but of interest to readers with Western Isles connections will the fact the Stornoway Gazette is now available for much of the period from 1967-1988, whilst Shetlanders will be happy to see much of the Shetland Times from 1912-1979. 

The following are the recent additions for Scotland and Northern Ireland (there's nothing added for the Republic):

Scotland:

Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser
1985, 1987

Banffshire Herald
1918

Shetland Times
1912-1931, 1933-1947, 1951-1979

St. Andrews Citizen
1872-1874, 1969-1984, 1986-1988

Falkirk Herald
1986

Motherwell Times
1983-1985, 1989

Mearns Leader
1975, 1993

Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser
1981, 1983-1986

Fife Herald
1986-1988

Forfar Dispatch
1953-1984, 1986

Brechin Advertiser
1984-1985

Montrose Review
1818, 1839, 1844-1845, 1960-1986

Edinburgh Evening News
1993, 1995

Fife Free Press
1958-1970, 1983-1986

Arbroath Herald
1964-1980, 1983-1984, 1986

Kirriemuir Herald
1971-1974, 1977-1979

Glenrothes Gazette
1986-1993

Deeside Piper
1986, 1988-1994

Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser
1993-1994

Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser
1967-1971, 1975-1985, 1988


Northern Ireland:

Ballymena Observer
1994

Banbridge Chronicle
1980-1984, 1986-1991, 1996-1998

Belfast News-Letter
2002

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

The Hebridean Baker comes to Stewarton

Last night I had the great pleasure to meet Coinneach Macleod, the Hebridean Baker (https://hebrideanbaker.com), at two events in Stewarton. Coinneach was invited to the town by local book store The Book Nook (www.booknookstewarton.co.uk) and local Gaelic learners group An Teaghlach (www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550570384292), and at 6.30, about a dozen learners in the town first met him within The Book Nook for an informal session. Upon arrival Coinneach immediately gave those attending a copy of the lyrics to a Gaelic puirt-a-beul (mouth tune) called Seònaid NicGumaraid (Janet Montgomery), which he then spen half an hour teaching us how to sing, which was an unexpected but fun experience!

At 7.00 we all relocated to the library, where Coinneach was then interviewed by Sarah, the owner of The Book Nook, where he shared many stories with us of his life and work on Lewis, as well as his current career. At one point he sang three puirt-a-beul, and the Gaelic group, seated at the rear, were suddenly invited to act as his backing singers for the first of the three, yup, Seònaid NicGumaraid!

There then followed a Q&A, which I managed to ask a couple of questions - the first to pass on my condolences for the loss of wee Seoras, his wee Highland Terrier who recently passed away, asking him to sahre stories about him, and the other to ask about the state of Gaelic today. I told him I had tried thirty years ago to learn the language for a few years, but had felt very unsupported, but that this time, having decided to die on a hill trying to get to fluency, I had found it a completely different experience - I asked him if he had noticed whether here was such a change in Gaelic's fortunes, to which he agreed, stating that he thought so too, there's never been a better time to have a go!

After an entertaining hour we were able to get copies of Coinneach's book signed and to get selfies etc. I managed to have a chat with him for a couple of minutes in Gaelic about Cape Breton, which he had mentioned during his talk, and a place I visited when working for STV in 1999. At one point my wife mentioned to him that I used to work for Rhoda MacDonald at the company (who used to present the Gaelic learners' series Speaking Our Language), to which he responded "I'm having dinner with her tomorrow evening in London!", which was completely unexpected, so I asked him to pass on my best to her. It's a small world...!

Coinneach's new book The Hebridean Baker at Home is predominantly a recipe book, but also contains many stories and anecdotes from his family, as well as the history of the island, covering everything from the Fairy Flag of the Macleods to the sinking of the Iolaire after the First World War. It's a great read, and a worthy addition to your library!  

Mòran taing a Choinneach, bha e math tachairt riut! (Taing cuideachd do Julia Preston aig An Teaghlach, agus dhan Book Nook)

Chris 

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Remembering the 1923 migrations to Canada on the Metagama and the Marloch

In 1923, following the casualty count and loss of life in the the First World War, as well as the tragic loss of life on board H.M Yacht Iolaire as it made its way to Lewis (see https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/first-world-war/the-iolaire-disaster-1919), a mass migration took place in the Western Isles of over two thousand folk, mainly men, who made their way to Canada on board ships such as the S.S. Metagama from Lewis and the S.S. Marloch from Barra. Some of those who emigrated later returned, but the majority remained in their new land. Their departure led to a further decline in the numbers of Gaelic speakers in the Western Isles, but enriched the new country to which they migrated.

There is an excellent documentary on BBC Alba, available via the BBC iPlayer (UK only), about the efforts in 2023 to remember the stories from the great migration on the Metagama and the Morlach by schools across the Western Isles, as well as to tell the story of some of those who left. Amongst those featured is Western Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil, whose family on Barra has a long term friendship with a Canadian family thanks to their connection through the Marloch story.

The programme, in Gaelic (with English subtitles) is part of the Trusadh series, and entitled Eilthireachd: Cuimhneachdain Coimhearsnachdan, meaning "Emigration: Remembering Communities". It can be found at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001sfz2/trusadh-series-16-3-eilthireachd-cuimhneachain-coimhearsnachdan.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Comainn Eachdraidh - historical societies in the Western Isles

At the BIFHSGO Conference earlier today I had great fun, alongside Highland archivisit Lorna Steele-McGinn, in answering questions to do with research in Scotland's Highlands and Islands. 

One type of resource that a lot of folk don't know about is the historical societies that exist in the Western Isles, rather than family history societies, which are known in Gaelic as the comainn eachdraidh (comann eachdraidh singular, sometimes also written as comunn eachdraidh). Many islands have a comann eachdraidh, whilst some have more than one. 

The following is a list as drawn from the Hebridean Connections platform at https://www.hebrideanconnections.com:

Comunn Eachdraidh Cheann a' Loch (CECL)
Kinloch Historical Society

Comann Coimhearsnachd Bheàrnaraigh (CCB)
Berneray Community Association

Comunn Eachdraidh na Pàirc (CEP)
Pairc Historical Society

Comunn Eachdraidh Bheàrnaraigh (CEBH)
Berneray Historical Society

Comann Eachdraidh Bharabhais agus Bhrù (CEBB)
Barvas and Brue Historical Society

Comann Glèidhteachais Teampall na Trianaid (CGTNT)
Teampall na Trianaid Conservation Association

Comunn Eachdraidh Ùig (CEU)
Uig Historical Society

Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath (CEUT)
North Uist Historical Society

Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (CEN)
Ness Historical Society

Comann Eachdraidh Chàrlabhaigh (CEC)
Carloway Historical Society

Comann Eachdraidh an Taobh Siar (CEATS)
West Side Historical Society

Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre Bheàrnaraigh (CEBL)
Bernera Historical Society

Comann Eachdraidh Cheann a Tuath nan Loch (CECTL)
North Lochs Historical Society

Càirdean Carragh Cuimhne Bheinn nam Faoghla (CCCBF)
Friends of Benbecula War Memorial

Comann Eachdraidh Tholastaidh bho Thuath (CET)
North Tolsta Historical Society

Urras Leabhraichean nan Eilean (IBT)
The Islands Book Trust

Links for these are available via the Hebrides Connections page, as above. 

Other comainn eachdraidh include:

Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Deas (South Uist)
https://outerhebridesheritage.org.uk/community-heritage/south-uist-historical-society/

Comann Eachdraidh Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh (Barra and Vatersay)                                             https://www.barraheritagecentre.com

Comann Eachdraidh Èirisgeigh (Eriskay)
https://www.eriskayheritage.scot

If you have ancestors from the Western Isles, do try these societies for assistance, and don't forget also the Seallam! group on Harris also, that can help - details via their Hebrides People website at https://hebridespeople.com.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

The Gaelic Books Council bookshop in Partick

If you have ancestry from the Western Isles, a useful resource is the Comhairle nan Leabhraichean/Gaelic Books Council bookshop at An Lèanag, 32 Mansfield Street, Partick, Glasgow. In addition to books on the Gaelic language itself, are many biographies and history books about specific islands and individuals, written in Gaelic and/or English. 

 

A good example is a book that I purchased yesterday, written in Gaelic about the Vatersay raiders, a group of men from Barra who crossed over to Vatersay in 1906 to seize land from a farm run there by Lady Gordon Cathcart, an absentee owner who had only visited the island once in 54 years. The subsequent court case led to the island being bought out and divided into 58 crofts for local use.  

 

You can find out more abou the shop at https://www.gaelicbooks.org/explore-the-shop - and it is literally next door to the Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS Library, so you could always combine a trip there with a visit to the shop, or vice versa!

Chris 

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Viking Genes project seeks volunteers with Hebridean ancestry

From the University of Edinburgh:

Do you have two or more grandparents from the Hebrides?

 

We're looking for new volunteers to help us understand the genetics and health of the Hebrides from the comfort of their own home!

 

Join now: www.ed.ac.uk/viking

 

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Co Leis Thu? on Harris awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund grant

The Isle of Harris based genealogy service, Co Leis Thu?, has been awarded £98,700 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The new funds will see an upgrade to the Hebrides People website (www.hebridespeople.com), whilst a new Heritage Officer has been appointed to the Northton Heritage Trust to assist genealogist Bill Lawson in completing work on the online presentation of records for Barra and Uist.

Co Leis Thu? and Hebrides people were established by genealogist Bill Lawson, who was recently the subject of a BBC Alba documentary, concerning his life's work (http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2021/05/bbc-alba-documentary-on-genealogist.html).

For more on the funding announcement visit https://www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/articles-auto-3/21524-lottery-award-for-northton-trust.

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Crowdfunder for Isle of Lewis themed genealogical project

I've had a request to publish a crowdfunder request from William Cummimg for a genealogical project concerning the Isle of Lewis - here's the information:

Two years ago I self-published a 40-page booklet which documents the family traditions of one John Macleod of 11 Melbost, on the Isle of Lewis. By its very nature it commands a small circle of interest but has been well received. Since then I have been doing further research and now have two further booklets ready for publication:

(1) The MacLeods of Garrabost Revisited (A5 format, about 30 pages)

From the introduction:

Rev. William Matheson, writing under the pseudonym Mac Gille Chaluim, contributed an article to the Stornoway Gazette entitled “MacLeods of Garrabost”. This was part of his long-running “Families of Lewis” series, with the family in question being one of the few MacLeod families who had found some way to remain in favour with the Mackenzies during the 17th century. This paper is an attempt to synthesise Matheson’s research with more recently discovered material, which includes a previously unknown generation, as well as a probable link to the Scots Brigade in Holland.

(2) The Torquils of Point, Lewis (A4 format, about 70 pages)

From the introduction:

“Torquil” is an English spelling of the Gaelic name Torcall/Torcul, which derived from the Norse name Thorkell, which is, in turn, an abbreviated form of the name Thorketill (signifying ‘Thor’s kettle’, or ‘Thor’s cauldron’). The Lewis branch of Clan MacLeod has long been known as Siol Torcaill, and many men from the chiefly line were given the name before the family was dispersed in the early 17th century. In 1597 Torcall Dubh had been betrayed by the Brieve of Lewis; one tradition records the means by which he was tempted on board ship:

“There’s a bit of gold in the ship, Britheamh”, said the Barvas man.
I’ll send word to Torquil Dubh and the noblemen of Point that it [the boat]
is full of it [gold], and that I would like them to come to claim their right.”

This tradition is not the only one to mention Point and the surrounding area in the context of the chiefly family:

“Torquil Oighre was a handsome man – Torcall Oighre of the ruddy cheeks.
This was the first of the Lewis MacLeod. His heir is Torquil MacLeod in Melbost.”

This folk memory was recounted by Aonghas Macaulay, tenant in Knock, in the summer of 1868. His assertion that a legitimate descendant of the MacLeods of Lewis could be found in Melbost some 250 years after the Mackenzies took control of Lewis is remarkable. The fact that this ‘heir’ bore the name Torquil is also worthy of note, as even then it was not a common name within Lewis.

This publication considers every documented individual named Torquil from the 18th and 19th centuries (and some from the early 20th century) from the area east of Stornoway. Each family using the name is contemplated, as are any possible links between families.

Why this Kickstarter project?

The subject matter of these two booklets (approximately 12500 words and 23000 words respectively) has proved too niche to make commercial publication realistic. Any funds raised from this project will go towards printing and shipping costs.

Risks and challenges

The booklets are being proof-read at present, and I have identified the printers I will use. I have used them a number of times before and have always been pleased with their products. If you're in Lewis (and if the library re-opens by the time you read this) you can see my previous self-published booklet in Stornoway Library (Dewey Decimal 929.2) so that you can judge the type of work you will receive.
The only real risk is that COVID-19 disrupts production.

If you would like to contribute, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/macleod-research/new-genealogical-research-from-the-isle-of-lewis-scotland

(NB: Please note I am not in any way affiliated to this project, or gaining any financial benefit - just trying to help!)

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course starts June 8th - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. My next book, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is out shortly, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.