Southern Mcleas

[Craig McClay Wilson]

Hi all, There have been bits and pieces written about the southern Mcleas,

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Craig, You have obviously been doing alot of research on the Southern MacLeas. One thing to bear in mind is that although the Baron's of Lismore may have suffered much under the heal of the Campbells around the time of the reformation and thereafter, the Baron's clan Macdunlee (Maconlea or MacLea)continued to dwell in the Mull, Movern, Isle of Lismore and Appin areas in great numbers and their numbers did not diminish until the era of North American emigration and mass clearances of crofters. Modern historians are persistant in portraying the Highland Livingstones as being participants at the Battle of Culloden when in fact contemporary records of Bonnie Prince Charlie record that our ancestors who fought at Culloden in 1746 still at this time referred to themselves as Maconleas or MacLeas. The point I am adding to your notes is that although the Baron and our branch of the MacLEas were down certainly from what from they had been in ancient times in Western Argyll we were far from diminished or eliminated from the area at least until the clearances had their impact. regards Donald

[Craig McClay Wilson]

Hi Donald, Again, I agree with your post. The Lorne area was and is the center

[Kyle2 MacLea]

Dear Craig, As another with an interest in the Bute MacLeas, I am following your research with great enthusiasm.

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Kyle, I am sorry to hear that you have not found the MacLeas of Bute you were looking for. Oddly enough I had the same problem at Movern. The late Rob Livingstone and I were e-mailing each other one day a few years back about my Movern Livingstones and he got telling me about his trip to the Savary area of Movern and finding to his disappointment that all the Savary Livingstons were pretty much long gone according to the locals. I imagine this story is repeated in alot of former highland communities where once dominant clan strongholds diminished or disappeared because of clearances and emigration to the colonies. Dr. David Livingstone apparently encouraged his two brothers Charles and John to emigrate. His brother John Livingstone shows up in Canada West (ONtario) Census of 1861 as a merchant age 50 in the town of Listowel Elma Township, Perth County. Dr. David Livingstone indicates that his brother John had settled earler in Lanark County, Canada West and that he had a number of relatives living there according to an 1850 letter. He stated also that his parents had joined JOhn there in Lanark County, Canada West but interestingly

[Kyle2 MacLea]

Well, Donald, your work may be cut out for you, but the fruits of your labor may also be great.

[Craig McClay Wilson]

Hi Kyle, Thanks for the encouragement. Finding the Lyndsaig papers is proving difficult. The National Archives cannot find them even though they are supposed to have them!

[Kyle2 MacLea]

Excellent, Craig!

[Craig McClay Wilson]

Hi Kyle, Sure, just let me know.

[Craig McClay Wilson]

Hi Donald/Kyle, Am getting closer to the Lindsaig Mclea papers. Have a summary: "The body of the papers comprises personal letters raninging from the early 18th century between the McLeas of Lyndsaig, their relations and friends, till 1821. The letters reveal relationships between the McLeas, Campbells, Menzies, Flemings and Elphinstones, social conditions and the economics of glebes and pastoral activities in Argyll - very remote from the streams of violence in 1715 and 1745 of which only one mention is made. Also incudes copies of letters from John McLea and Duncan Ochiltree, 1748. Congratulations on appointments to Dunoon, Inverchlivahan and Rothesay; and Duncan McLea merchant in Rothesay describing flax and herring industry in Bute and details of their prospects. Craig