Subject: Reviving the Discussion on Caolasraide
Hello everyone,
It's been a while since this forum was active, but I'm excited to revive the discussion on Caolasraide and the people associated with it. I hope there's still interest in this fascinating topic, and I would welcome any ideas and information to see what we can learn together.
In my research, I've concluded all known individuals connected to Caolasraide can be traced back to 1 source. This source is a book edited by Hugh McColl in 1904 for the Gaelic Society of Toronto. The book, titled "Some Sketches of the Early Highland Pioneers of the County of Middlesex
1," lists hundreds of individuals, place of origin, their settlement dates in Middlesex County, and often their children.
Within this book, 12 individuals are documented to have originated from Caolasraide in South Knapdale. These individuals include Duncan Lamont, Archie Fletcher, Malcolm Crawford, Margaret Crawford, John Crawford (my great-great-grandfather), Charles McLean, Allan McLean, Duncan McLean, Margaret McMurphy (widow of Archibald Johnson), Dugald McMurphy, Dugald Carmichael, and Archibald McGugan. They settled within an area of 80 square miles outlined by Strathroy, Coldstream, Lobo Village, and Mount Brydges, Ontario.
To make this information more accessible, I'll break down my thoughts into three separate postings. This post is intended to reintroduce the topic. In my next post, I'll provide references from Hugh McColl's book for the individuals associated with Caolasraide. Finally, in the last post, I'll discuss plans to research these individuals further, seeking information about their lives in Scotland to determine if any insights into what location(s) they had in common.
Here are the web addresses for Hugh's book:
1904 edition
https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.79291/11979 Reprint (searchable)
https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1OEHIY83I look forward to your participation and insights in this journey of discovery!
Best regards, iancraw
1. Hugh McColl. Some Sketches of the Early Highland Pioneers of the County of Middlesex. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Heritage Publications, 1979 (reprint 1904).