About Shiaba,
Over three hundred and fifty people lived here at the end of the eighteenth centuryand the remains of their round-cornered houses and boundary walls marking their croft lands can be seen. In 1841, 126 people lived in 22 cottages, by 1881 two old and ill people remained. John Campbell, the Duke of Argyll’s factor raised rents, took the people’s pasture land and forced them from their cottages, not only in Shiaba but throughout the area. His cruelty and harshness aroused ill feeling and hatred that is still felt today in the memories of the Ross of Mull people.
John
James Livingston
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Canadian Livingstone
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi John,
That is interesting about Shiaba, Ross at Mull. In the case of Colonsay, Angus and most of his Livingston family left Colonsay during the 1841-1851period I would assume? This was a significant period in terms of the clearances wasnt it? On Ulva in Western Mull in 1837 the population was about 640 by 1848 the population was 150 with evictions taking place around the time of the potato famine apparently. Interestingly another account states there were 360 in 1849 and by 1881 only 50 at Ulva,Mull. There were dramatic population reductions throughout Western Argyll in the period between 1841 and 1881.
Angus at Colonsay is definitely gone by the next census of 1851 as is Hugh, James and Malcolm McMillan. We know from Debbie and the Canadian Census records that James who was living with Angus in 1841 was in Ontario Canada with his wife Mary Mcmillan by the mid 1840's, so that may be a clue when the others left or began to leave the croft at Uragaig, Colonsay. I noticed that many of the crofters nearby in Kilfinichen at Ross at Mull were removed probably by 1848 or around that time having been reduced to being paupers. By the way I learned that the parish register for Colonsay with the baptisms and marriages was actually held by the Presbyterian minister at Jura. Interesting given that we have the 1841 Census record for Colonsay also apparently identifyed as being of Jura. So maybe that explains that.
Regarding the highland clearances there were prominent people who felt bad I'm certain and their was a later inquiry but in the end I think the displaced highlanders rights were ignored and largely forgotten perhaps because they were by and large impoverished powerless tenants and many of them had left Scotland. Out of sight and out of mind. By the early 1800's the clan system had long since broken down and there was no great highland leader capable or willing to challenge the economic rationale behind the clearances. There were those like my ancestor Morvern born Miles Livingston b.1775 and his cousin Donald Livingston b.1791 who were lucky enough to have a trade as boatbuilders working on the Isle of Islay and were recruited by a highland agent and voluntary left their highland home for a new life as colonists in Lord Selkirk's Red River Settlement in British North America prior to the wave of clearances in Western Argyll. A few decades later other tenants many less fortunate financially living a marginal existence on small tenant holding were as you mentioned were forced off their land and compelled to find work in a lowland mill or emigrate to North America, Australia or New Zealand.
For my part since becoming a part of the Maclea Livingstone Society I have encouraged discussion about the Clearances and greater awareness of highland victims of the Clearances. Every once and while I come across dates for clearances which took place in Western Argyll and it might be worth doing more research in this area as we try and determine when and where certain Livingston families were cleared from their tenant holdings. Yes the Campbells and other landowners were involved in this unfortunate chapter of Western Argyll history, though to be fair the 5th Duke of Argyll John Campbell a landlord before 1806 in Western Argyll was for his part enlightened, committed to the wellbeing of his tenants and helped his tenants at Morvern and elsewhere to improve their situation encouraging them to remain on his property. After his death and in the decades to come things began to change.
When your back in Scotland any chance sometime you could snap a few photos of the croft ruins at Uragaig where your Livingston ancestors resided in the 1830's and 1840's and possibly some photos at Shiaba in South Western Ross at Mull. It would be great for our forum regulars and visitors to get a better sense of where your ancestor Angus Livingston and his family lived.
regards,
Donald
That is interesting about Shiaba, Ross at Mull. In the case of Colonsay, Angus and most of his Livingston family left Colonsay during the 1841-1851period I would assume? This was a significant period in terms of the clearances wasnt it? On Ulva in Western Mull in 1837 the population was about 640 by 1848 the population was 150 with evictions taking place around the time of the potato famine apparently. Interestingly another account states there were 360 in 1849 and by 1881 only 50 at Ulva,Mull. There were dramatic population reductions throughout Western Argyll in the period between 1841 and 1881.
Angus at Colonsay is definitely gone by the next census of 1851 as is Hugh, James and Malcolm McMillan. We know from Debbie and the Canadian Census records that James who was living with Angus in 1841 was in Ontario Canada with his wife Mary Mcmillan by the mid 1840's, so that may be a clue when the others left or began to leave the croft at Uragaig, Colonsay. I noticed that many of the crofters nearby in Kilfinichen at Ross at Mull were removed probably by 1848 or around that time having been reduced to being paupers. By the way I learned that the parish register for Colonsay with the baptisms and marriages was actually held by the Presbyterian minister at Jura. Interesting given that we have the 1841 Census record for Colonsay also apparently identifyed as being of Jura. So maybe that explains that.
Regarding the highland clearances there were prominent people who felt bad I'm certain and their was a later inquiry but in the end I think the displaced highlanders rights were ignored and largely forgotten perhaps because they were by and large impoverished powerless tenants and many of them had left Scotland. Out of sight and out of mind. By the early 1800's the clan system had long since broken down and there was no great highland leader capable or willing to challenge the economic rationale behind the clearances. There were those like my ancestor Morvern born Miles Livingston b.1775 and his cousin Donald Livingston b.1791 who were lucky enough to have a trade as boatbuilders working on the Isle of Islay and were recruited by a highland agent and voluntary left their highland home for a new life as colonists in Lord Selkirk's Red River Settlement in British North America prior to the wave of clearances in Western Argyll. A few decades later other tenants many less fortunate financially living a marginal existence on small tenant holding were as you mentioned were forced off their land and compelled to find work in a lowland mill or emigrate to North America, Australia or New Zealand.
For my part since becoming a part of the Maclea Livingstone Society I have encouraged discussion about the Clearances and greater awareness of highland victims of the Clearances. Every once and while I come across dates for clearances which took place in Western Argyll and it might be worth doing more research in this area as we try and determine when and where certain Livingston families were cleared from their tenant holdings. Yes the Campbells and other landowners were involved in this unfortunate chapter of Western Argyll history, though to be fair the 5th Duke of Argyll John Campbell a landlord before 1806 in Western Argyll was for his part enlightened, committed to the wellbeing of his tenants and helped his tenants at Morvern and elsewhere to improve their situation encouraging them to remain on his property. After his death and in the decades to come things began to change.
When your back in Scotland any chance sometime you could snap a few photos of the croft ruins at Uragaig where your Livingston ancestors resided in the 1830's and 1840's and possibly some photos at Shiaba in South Western Ross at Mull. It would be great for our forum regulars and visitors to get a better sense of where your ancestor Angus Livingston and his family lived.
regards,
Donald
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jmlivingstone
- Posts: 533
- Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:34 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi Donald,
Just posted a couple of photos of Shiaba,
John
Just posted a couple of photos of Shiaba,
John
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Canadian Livingstone
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi John,
Thanks for those teriffic photos of Shiaba located in the south western section of Ross of Mull where your ancestor Angus Livingston, his brother Donald and his father Neil Livingston game keeper at Shiaba circa 1779 once resided. Great to have those photos in our Maclea Livingstone Society gallery to give everyone a better sense of what the ruins of the crofts look like today at Mull. Here was your earlier postings on Shiaba,Ross of Mull which I found quite interesting:
Thanks for those teriffic photos of Shiaba located in the south western section of Ross of Mull where your ancestor Angus Livingston, his brother Donald and his father Neil Livingston game keeper at Shiaba circa 1779 once resided. Great to have those photos in our Maclea Livingstone Society gallery to give everyone a better sense of what the ruins of the crofts look like today at Mull. Here was your earlier postings on Shiaba,Ross of Mull which I found quite interesting:
jmlivingstone wrote:About Shiaba,
Over three hundred and fifty people lived here at the end of the eighteenth centuryand the remains of their round-cornered houses and boundary walls marking their croft lands can be seen. In 1841, 126 people lived in 22 cottages, by 1881 two old and ill people remained. John Campbell, the Duke of Argyll’s factor raised rents, took the people’s pasture land and forced them from their cottages, not only in Shiaba but throughout the area. His cruelty and harshness aroused ill feeling and hatred that is still felt today in the memories of the Ross of Mull people.
John
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jmlivingstone
- Posts: 533
- Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:34 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi donald,
I posted another few photos of Mull, I've got around 150, mostly taken by my oldest son, unfortunately, I cannot identify exactly where they are from, other than from Mull, I'll post them & I'm sure someone will tell us what the location is,
John
I posted another few photos of Mull, I've got around 150, mostly taken by my oldest son, unfortunately, I cannot identify exactly where they are from, other than from Mull, I'll post them & I'm sure someone will tell us what the location is,
John
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Canadian Livingstone
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi John,
I guess one cannot travel through Western Argyllshire without a camera. There is so much natural beauty everywhere even amongst these sad and lonely ruins of Scotland's diaspora. Tell your son we very much appreciate his photos. Did he take a photography course? He seems to have a talent for shooting landscapes. In my twenties I was very keen to become a landscape photographer for a while and quite enjoyed the photography courses I took. My photography teacher I think had aspirations to be a comedian and used keep the class rolling in laughter with his stories and antics.
I think it would very neat if we could get people to submit photos of all the different settlement areas in Argyllshire where they understand from the parish and other records their highland Livingstone families resided in the 19th century. As you can see our gallery contributions so far are very impressive and growing. It was a brilliant idea to have a Clan gallery.
We were talking about the clearances the other day. It is encouraging to note that there are alot of people out there interested in locating information on their ancestors who were affected by the clearances. I noticed interestingly there is a website clearances.org or something like that which looks like it has been established to work with those searching for clearance related information. I just noticed it the other day.
John is it possible to add to the photos you sent the other day Shiaba, Ross of Mull so our gallery visitors will know exactly where those pictures were taken in the highlands? They may not have a clue where Shiaba is unless they have been following our discussions.
regards,
Donald
I guess one cannot travel through Western Argyllshire without a camera. There is so much natural beauty everywhere even amongst these sad and lonely ruins of Scotland's diaspora. Tell your son we very much appreciate his photos. Did he take a photography course? He seems to have a talent for shooting landscapes. In my twenties I was very keen to become a landscape photographer for a while and quite enjoyed the photography courses I took. My photography teacher I think had aspirations to be a comedian and used keep the class rolling in laughter with his stories and antics.
I think it would very neat if we could get people to submit photos of all the different settlement areas in Argyllshire where they understand from the parish and other records their highland Livingstone families resided in the 19th century. As you can see our gallery contributions so far are very impressive and growing. It was a brilliant idea to have a Clan gallery.
We were talking about the clearances the other day. It is encouraging to note that there are alot of people out there interested in locating information on their ancestors who were affected by the clearances. I noticed interestingly there is a website clearances.org or something like that which looks like it has been established to work with those searching for clearance related information. I just noticed it the other day.
John is it possible to add to the photos you sent the other day Shiaba, Ross of Mull so our gallery visitors will know exactly where those pictures were taken in the highlands? They may not have a clue where Shiaba is unless they have been following our discussions.
regards,
Donald
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Canadian Livingstone
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi John,
Dont forget to check out the photo of the Livingstone tartan on the old loom. That was taken by Matthew Newsome of the Scottish Tartan Museum of North Carolina when he was in Scotland. Kyle noticed it one day and we Greg got permission to put it on our site. What are the chances that it would turn out to be a Livingstone tartan on display?
regards,
Donald
Dont forget to check out the photo of the Livingstone tartan on the old loom. That was taken by Matthew Newsome of the Scottish Tartan Museum of North Carolina when he was in Scotland. Kyle noticed it one day and we Greg got permission to put it on our site. What are the chances that it would turn out to be a Livingstone tartan on display?
regards,
Donald
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Canadian Livingstone
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi John,
So Angus Livingston's brother Donald and Cirsty Livingston are recorded in the 1841 Census at Ross of Mull at "Ardfinaig". also in south west Ross of Mull. Dont think I mentioned that before. Before that they had been at Asapol and briefly at Kilpatrick where ANgus was briefly living in the early 1800's.The 1851 Census states that Donald was born in Kilfinichen Parish as was his wife. Both census records record Donald as being born in 1776 but I would not worry about ages in the records. I am sure the Donald in South western Ross at Mull in 1841 is the brother of ANgus at Urigaig, COlonsay in 1841. Has to be. I am pretty certain that if Angus was in the 1851 Census it would state his birth as in Kilfinichen Parish as well.
regards,
Donald
So Angus Livingston's brother Donald and Cirsty Livingston are recorded in the 1841 Census at Ross of Mull at "Ardfinaig". also in south west Ross of Mull. Dont think I mentioned that before. Before that they had been at Asapol and briefly at Kilpatrick where ANgus was briefly living in the early 1800's.The 1851 Census states that Donald was born in Kilfinichen Parish as was his wife. Both census records record Donald as being born in 1776 but I would not worry about ages in the records. I am sure the Donald in South western Ross at Mull in 1841 is the brother of ANgus at Urigaig, COlonsay in 1841. Has to be. I am pretty certain that if Angus was in the 1851 Census it would state his birth as in Kilfinichen Parish as well.
regards,
Donald
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Canadian Livingstone
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm
Re: James Livingston
Hi John
Ok this is interesting. If the 1841 Census is correct Donald and Cirsty Livingston of Ardfinaig Ross of Mull and their family are the last Livingston family of Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon. An Alexander Livingston of Ardfinaig is Donald's son and living in another residence in Ardfinaig. Only one other Livingston a Margrate Livingston age 80 of Suie whereever that is. ANgus has left some years earlier and the one or two other Livingston families located in the Kifinichen and Kilvickeon area in the earlier parish records. There is certainly little evidence there were very many Livingston families living in south western Mull but we do know of ANgus, Donald a Duncan perhaps all sons of the Neil Livingston we see in the 1779 Ross of Mull record at Shiaba. Interesting the information in the 1851 Census is that Cirsty Livingston a Campbell was born at Asapol where some of Donald and Cirsty's children were born or baptised. The 1861 Census indicates that by this point Donald and Cirsty in their 80's still living in Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon Parish are living as paupers in their old age as Donald is no longer able to work as a agricultural labor. Looks like Livingstons have left and only old Donald and Cirsty and their daughter Catharine remain. Rest of the family left for Ontario Canada.
Now the 1841,1851 and 1861 census all list Donald as having been born abt. 1776 but still think that given the proximity of Donald and ANgus in the early South West Ross and Mulll parish records and few other Livingston families in the parish records in that specific locality near Sheiba it seems to me almost certain they are infact the young ANgus and Donald in the 1779 Census at Ross of Mull even if this birthdate for Donald is the birthdate we thought for ANgus. I am fairly certain there were never very many Livingstons in Kilfinchen and Kilvickeon Parish in the late 1700's and early 1800's.
regards
Donald
Ok this is interesting. If the 1841 Census is correct Donald and Cirsty Livingston of Ardfinaig Ross of Mull and their family are the last Livingston family of Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon. An Alexander Livingston of Ardfinaig is Donald's son and living in another residence in Ardfinaig. Only one other Livingston a Margrate Livingston age 80 of Suie whereever that is. ANgus has left some years earlier and the one or two other Livingston families located in the Kifinichen and Kilvickeon area in the earlier parish records. There is certainly little evidence there were very many Livingston families living in south western Mull but we do know of ANgus, Donald a Duncan perhaps all sons of the Neil Livingston we see in the 1779 Ross of Mull record at Shiaba. Interesting the information in the 1851 Census is that Cirsty Livingston a Campbell was born at Asapol where some of Donald and Cirsty's children were born or baptised. The 1861 Census indicates that by this point Donald and Cirsty in their 80's still living in Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon Parish are living as paupers in their old age as Donald is no longer able to work as a agricultural labor. Looks like Livingstons have left and only old Donald and Cirsty and their daughter Catharine remain. Rest of the family left for Ontario Canada.
Now the 1841,1851 and 1861 census all list Donald as having been born abt. 1776 but still think that given the proximity of Donald and ANgus in the early South West Ross and Mulll parish records and few other Livingston families in the parish records in that specific locality near Sheiba it seems to me almost certain they are infact the young ANgus and Donald in the 1779 Census at Ross of Mull even if this birthdate for Donald is the birthdate we thought for ANgus. I am fairly certain there were never very many Livingstons in Kilfinchen and Kilvickeon Parish in the late 1700's and early 1800's.
regards
Donald
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Canadian Livingstone
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm
Re: Angus Livingston and Donald Livingston of Ross of Mull
Canadian Livingstone wrote:Hi John,
Donald Livingston crofter at Kilpatrick and later Keeper? at Apolhol (Assapol?) and his wife Cirsty Campbell
Neil Livingston 11/03/1805 Apohol? ( I cant read the writing but it could be Assapol which was near Shiaba and Kilvickeon and a little south of Kilpatrick in south western Ross of Mull)
Jean Livingston 03/07/1807 Kilpatrick croft (located on Ross of Mull)
Hugh Livingston 22/10/1809 Kilpatrick croft
Alexander Livingston 31/05/1812 Kilpatrick croft
John Livingston 06/12/1814 Apohol (Assapol?)
Duncan Livingston 28/02/1817 Apohol (Assapol?)
Cirsty Livingston 26/08/1824 Apohol
Donald