Finding an Argyll Farm

[Kyle MacLea]

Hi all,

Someone I know is looking to find Killiemuchannock. He believes it to be a township or farm in mid Argyll, possibly in Kilmichael Glassary.

Any ideas?

Kyle=

[Jill Richmond]

I have had a look at maps of the Kilmichael Glassary area but cannot find anything approximating Killiemuchannock. There is a fair amount of forestry in the area, and an abandoned township could just disappear. However, I believe that Donald has access to old maps, and he might know. The nearest I can get is Kilmartin, but I think it unlikely.

Jill

[Kyle MacLea]

Indeed, it seems very strange.

Now, if Kilmichael is Church of (St) Michael, then presumably Killiemuchannock would be church of Liemuchannock, or perhaps Muchannock. The only thing I could come up with is Kilmarnock, but that's in Ayrshire. Unless there was once a Church of St Marnoch in Argyll. I found another variant, KILMARONOCK, but that's near Drymen in Dumbarton!

There is also Kilmorack in Inverness, but obviously not what we're looking for. Sheesh, this one's hard!

Kyle=

[Canadian Livingstone]

HI Kyle,

Check that map site that had the old atlas and old ordinance survey maps. That might include some obscure villages and places. Are you sure it is in kilMichael Glassary.

regards,

Donald

[Kyle MacLea]

This was a query put to me through the DNA Project, so I'm not entirely sure where it is, but I will assume it is.... I'll have a look at the ordnance surveys!

Kyle=

[Kyle MacLea]

This looks like a real possibility from the Ordnance Surveys:

Killinochonoch Farm, just NW of Kilmichael Glassary, grid NR8395.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/156421

In 2004 someone (Diarmid on the Argyll list), wrote about it: http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/rea ... 1074340160
"Killinochonoch (now pronounced 'KulNOOCHnuch') is a big farm with good land
just south of where old Shirvan was. The present steading was built by the
Malcolms of Poltalloch, and I beleive it was sold by them some time after
the 1939-45 War to pay death duties. Again, it was never a village, but
would earlier have been what is called in the Northeast a 'farmtoun,' like
old Shirvan. The Malcolms were MacCallums who made an 18th century fortune
in the West Indies sugar/slave business (much of the old capital investment
in Argyll came from slave engendered money), and had in the Middle Ages been
MacKessacs or MacIsaacs who farmed south of Kilmartin at Largie MacKessaig.
Some of their land was recently taken for access to allow the public to
visit the pre-historic sites there. The present head of the family's son
farms there now, if I am right in thinking that it is now Nether Largie."

Could this be it? Not sure, but I will pass it along.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Kyle=

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Kyle,

Absolutely that is the same place. And it will be as you say on a number of the ordinance survey maps to be sure old and new. Those maps have been done since the 1800's so there are old ones about in Scotland and Ireland which are handy if your looking for your ancestors village or even locating the actual farm. They are quite detailed. My ancestors farm in Ireland was marked on one of the ordinance maps from the 1830's.

regards,

Donald

[Kyle MacLea]

It's amazing how detailed they are... with wells and sheepfolds labeled, even. Sometimes it even looks like individual trees.

Kyle=

[Jill Richmond]

I have now found Killinochonoch. I don't know how I missed it. Quite apart from the map, I must have driven past it dozens of times. It's a good thing I'm going to the opticians this week!

Jill

[Kyle MacLea]

Jill-ha! I don't imagine these old farms are that well marked these days? At least that's what you can tell the optician!

Kyle=