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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Ross & Cromarty => Topic started by: ailsac on Monday 30 October 17 13:30 GMT (UK)
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Hi hoping someone can assist.
I downloaded a birth of a child stating born in Cla?ne, Parish of Gairloch on the 19 June 1878 as John Scott, parents Adam Scott, Shepherd and Catherine Scott MS Maclean.
Father Adam Scott was the informant.
All births on this page were registered in Mellon Charles of which via maps I know where this is. Trouble is I cannot find the place which is most likely to be a Farmlet called Cla?ne (it is hard to read correctly the middle part and also the very end which could be an e or something else.
Other entries say Bualnaluik and Mellon Udnegle - all say parish of Gairloch, and all on the page registered by John Macdonald, Mellon Charles. The official registration from Scotlandspeople is 1878 - 066/1 14 Gairloch County of Ross. I am wanting to know what the correct spelling of this place would be if anyone can assist it would be most appreciated, as I would love to find the farm on a map if possible.
Father moved about during census and this is the only place of 1 child born that I cannot locate on a map or possible area. Any help or ideas welcomed.
Kind regards
Ailsa Corlett
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It's not at all clear is it :-\
I've looked at NLS maps but nothing jumps out. From SP, it's in the north of the parish. Here's a snip for others to see.
Gadget
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Looks like Clunas to me, a common place-name but is there one in Gairloch?
Skoosh.
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It's a huge parish - I didn't see one - will check in Scotlands Places.
Added - only showing in Nairn
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Hi, thank you so much for your help. It could be Cluna, as on 5 May 1879 the wife Catherine Scott MS McLean died with place given as Cluna, Parish of Gairloch and then on 10 May 1879 the daughter Jane aged 3yrs died, but this time place is recorded as Auchnasheen - both on the same page which was lucky for me. This time the registration was at Bualnaluil (need to go and check the spelling myself on that one). So they appear to have been in the same area for the last two years at least, as child Jane born 6 Oct 1876 was at Ardendrian, Kilarlity, Invernessshire.
Will go and check out Scotlandsplaces again as well for anything regarding Cluna in that area. Appreciate the ideas and help
Regards Ailsa :)
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Cluna/Cluny/Clunas. means a meadow Ailsa & Achnasheen gets an extra "a" by the locals. Achanasheen! ;D
Skoosh.
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Was it registered at Achnasheen or was the place of death given as Achnasheen/Auchnasheen.
I'm thinking that it must be a shepherd's bothy/cot in the glen between Poolewe and the Achnasheen - Kinlochewe area but not sure that that is in the Gairloch North RD :-\
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Balnaluib is just north of Aultbae so in the Mellon Charles area - Achnasheen is miles away - confused now :-\
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I think it will be somewhere on this map
http://maps.nls.uk/view/74428342
I'll zoom around but might miss it.
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What is interesting is that Auchnasheen is queried on the entry - I think it's probably wrong so probably looking for something that might sound like that in Gaelic in that peninsular.
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A further though:
I wonder if it is Gualann on the SE tip of Isle of Ewe. It would be a good place to put sheep and might have been called that in those days.
Gadget
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Here it is folks. Claona, north shore of Lochan Fada, (the long lochan) below Ben Tarsuinn. This lochan has Slioch to the south & Loch Maree south of that. As remote a spot as one can imagine, who could do it nowadays?
Skoosh.
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Well done Skoosh :D
Map:
https://tinyurl.com/ya3hag9e
As you say, as remote as you can get! I never climbed Slioch but it is a very fine mountain. I used to see some of the higher peaks of that range from my bedroom window.
He walked all that way to register a birth and deaths :o
I did walk up as far as the Fionn Loch from Tournaig once.
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Not even a track apparently Gadget. There was still money in sheep then, ten years later it all went down the tubes when Bell & Co on the Clyde built the first refrigerated ship which imported frozen lamb from Oz & NZ. Formerly only the wool came in but the meat undercut the home product completely & sheep & shepherds were replaced by deer & keepers. Ironically much of this lamb was produced by folk whose forefathers were cleared from the Highlands to make way for sheep! ;D
Skoosh.
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A pic of what's left of the cottage;
https://canmore.org.uk/site/103166/claona
Annie
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My Goodness, thank you everyone so very very much. Gee this was a very isolated place today even, let alone back in 1879. Strange the he would walk all that way north rather than just going to Poolewe to register the birth and the deaths. It must have been hard on him regarding the deaths, as he was left at the time with a 5yr old daughter and 1yrs old John. I know from the 1881 Census, these children were living with their maternal grandparents back in Kiltarlity Invernessshire, and Adam the father was off being a shepherd to James Davidson in Tarras Moray.
No wonder the death certificates had stated No medical attendant and of course Adam had no idea really what the cause of his wife death was, just pain in her breast about 3 weeks. They knew what consumption was of which little Jane died from.
Again that you everyone who has helped me, your efforts have been wonderful and really appreciated. I like to find out about the areas, make sure I have the spellings correct etc as well as being able to show others just where on maps they were living at the time of different events.
Kind regards for all your great help and the wonderful links showing the place as well.
Ailsa
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I just wanted to say thank you again today to everyone who has helped. I have had a wonderful day today, just looking at maps, and so many beautiful photos regarding the area, reading all about the hikers and the bikers that have gone there, taken photos, posted them up for people like me to view and see. It is truly a beautiful part of Scotland, and even though it would have been extremely cold in the Winter I can still see that it would have been very beautiful as well. Though many of the sites do mention the midges - we get them here in Australia as well, they come right through all the tiny fly screens as well, but what I day and time I have had just looking and reading so much about the area. So thank you for helping me out, really appreciated.
Ailsa
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I lived just north of there - on the shore of Loch Broom. It was hardly ever really cold in winter because of the Gulf Stream. Did you read about the famous Poolewe gardens. Windy and wet, with howling gales and daylight was 9.30 - 15.30 in winter but some bright sunny days as well. Snow on the tops but not for long. There was also the Northern Lights :)
Gadget
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yes, Gadget, I have have been reading so much today, I really wish I had the funds just to go and see the area for myself. Unfortunately I need to rely on internet and photos others post as well information that I can read about the many places around the areas that my forebears lived. They certainly were hardy lots including all the women and the children that they had. My particular SCOTT family - of which this Adam Scott was the eldest son - all ended up in NZ apart from him - hence my need to find out more about him and why he stayed in Scotland as well as his family. I have worked that out via circumstances. He had married and had little Mary (born in 1874) by the time the family moved to the Falkland Islands to work with the Falkland Islands Company - all were shepherds and known to be good shepherds at that, with the Father Adam Scott being 12 Cheviot sheep to the Falklands with him when they went there. Once the large family returned from the Falkland Islands back to Scotland - the son Adam was well established in his own life, children being cared for by maternal grandparents - I have a feeling that Adam did not have a great deal of contact with them after he left them with the grandparents unfortunately I think due to work and areas in which he did work in.
But the family of which consisted of Adam Scott his wife Mary Scott MS Gillanders, and all the sons and daughters that had survived arrived in NZ in 1879 either via the "Timaru" or the "Nelson" to Dunedin Otago, have produced a great deal of Great Great Grandchildren as well as today many more GGGG Grandchildren. All of us are keen to find out the life that our forebears lived back in Scotland before then immigrated and this week just following their eldest son Adam Scott's life adventure has been a wonderful experience and I am sure when I send the details to my many cousins in NZ (I now live in Australia but was born in Dunedin NZ), they will be amazed about how the family lived just as much as I have been.
It is a great group that I can ask questions about a place, and get the exact spellings and pronunciations of places and where the place just might be.
I am very very proud of my Scottish background, even if born in NZ, but my Grandparents on my maternal side came to NZ in 1926 from Glasgow, but this is via my Paternal side who arrived in NZ in 1879, as well as the families they married into who came from the borders (Elliot's) in the 1860's.
Also my name of Ailsa after Ailsa Craig of which I am very proud of that my parents named me.
So I think you can see why I am very passionate about where I really do come from and how knowing all about the areas and places helps with my genealogical research.
Again Many thanks and most likely will hear from me again soon
Regards
Ailsa Corlett (BTW I married a man who descends from the Isle of Man in more ways than just name)
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@ Ailsa, by the name Scott, they have come to the Highlands from the Borders in the wake of the Clearances. Lairds evicted their tenants wholesale when it was found that they could make more money from sheep-runs formerly used as shielings for Summer grazings of the tenants cattle.
Skoosh.
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Hi Skoosh, you are correct. The original Adam Scott who married Mary Gillanders 24 March 1850, (marriage recorded in both Kilmallie Argyllshire where Adam was working, as well as Contin, Rossshire where Mary Gillanders was living) was born in the Scottish Borders of Roxburghshire. In fact in 1825 Priesthaul Hill, Hawick, along with his brothers and we think a sister. His father was also an Adam Scott and a Shepherd. At this stage not sure what happened with his parents, but we are still working on that.
The Gillanders family are from the Contin area in R&C, and also go back via marriage into the McKenzie's, in fact I have documents saying going back to Hector McKenzie - but I need to prove that myself and not just take word of mouth or others research - I think you will understand.
If anyone wants to contact me regarding the following family members I am currently updating in my database the family history proven goes this way. (I have just given very very basic details here)
Adam Scott b 1825 Roxburghshire married Mary Gillanders b 1826 Contin R&C - Married 24 March 1850
They had the following 11 children who also married:
Adam Scott b 1850 Contin R&C, married 1st Catherine McLean (Alex McLean & Jane McKay) (died 1879 Claona R&C) - 2nd Married Jane Taylor 1901 Bellie, Elgin (Adam and Catherine had 3 children: Mary Scott b 1874 Kiltarlity Inverness; Jane Scott b 1876 Kiltarlity Inverness died 1879 Auchanasheen ? R&C; John Scott b 1878 Claona R&C - married Annie Inglis in 1904 Urrary R&C0
Adam Scott died 1915 Banchory Ternan Kincardine (this is the family I have been following just recently)
John Scott b 1853 R&C and died 1876 Falkland Islands, South America
Annie Gillanders Scott b 1854 Contin R&C, married John Spence Weir, 1874, Falkland Islands, died 1944 Christchurch Canterbury NZ - large family of 11
Alexander Gillanders Scott b 1855 (yes wonderful certificate), Contin R&C, married1878 Margaret McLean (dau of Hugh McLean and Margaret Ross), Kinlochewe R&C - he died 1931 Dunedin NZ - large family of 8
William Gillanders Scott b 1857 Contin R&C, married Bridget Conway in 1885 Timaru NZ. He died 1927 Waihi, NZ - family of 6
James Gillanders Scott b 1859 Contin R&C, married Margaret Martin 1891 NZ, and after Margaret died Married Isabella Black 1895 Hamilton NZ - family of 6
Kenneth Gillanders SCott b 1862 Kilmorack Inverness, married Catherine McLennan in 1890 Timaru NZ - he died 1949 Masterton NZ - family of 8
Thomas Scott b 1864 Kilmorack Inverness - not married - died 1917 Napier NZ
Charles Gillanders Scott (my Great Grandfather), b 1866 Glenaffric Inverness - married Jane Elliot (of the Elliot Clan of the borders), in 1888 Nevis Otago NZ, Jane died 1902, then he married her sister Isabella Douglas Elliot. Charles died 1923 Dunedin NZ. Large family from Jane only of 9 children
Jessie Isabella Scott born 1868 Glenaffric Inverness, died 1876 Falkland Islands South America
Walter Scott, born 1869 Abetarff Inverness, - no married, died 1914 Waihi New Zealand
If anyone is interested in the above family members, I would love to correspond with you, please send me a message via my email and I will answer anything you like. I have lots of information and photos pertaining to these families in NZ.
Kind regards
Ailsa Corlett
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You've been busy Ailsa! ;D My own folk were from Urray, here is a wee history of Fairburn estate with a list of the tenants, you might be lucky!
http://www.fairburn-estate.co.uk/history.html
Skoosh.
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Many thanks for that Skoosh, made wonderful reading, but just too many McKenzie's for me to sort out at this stage, it is bad enough chasing all my Scott family members. But I have saved the page for later reading if I find I need to come back to it.
Again thanks
Ailsa
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I am wanting to know what the correct spelling of this place
There is no such thing as 'correct spelling', especially if the name is Gaelic!
See http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4971879
Balnaluib is just north of Aultbae so in the Mellon Charles area - Achnasheen is miles away - confused now :-\
The village of Achnasheen lies in the parish of Contin. Therefore a death in that village at that time ought to have been registered in Contin, not in Gairloch.
Not even a track apparently Gadget.
There was. The mid-Victorian six-inch map shows that the track to Claona was from the west, either via Kernsary or via Letterewe and presumably a boat across Loch Maree. See http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=57.7001&lon=-5.3380&layers=5&b=1.
Strange the he would walk all that way north rather than just going to Poolewe to register the birth and the deaths.
He would have had to go to wherever there was a registrar or assistant registrar available. If the parish registrar happened to be in Mellon Charles, or Bualnaluib, as seems to be the case, then that is where he would have had to go. It would make sense for the Registrar to be near a slightly more populous part of the parish, such as the Aultbea/Mellon Charles/Mellon Udrigle area.
Was Adam the informant on the deaths of his wife and Jane, and were both deaths registered on the same day? Was he 'present' at both deaths? Maybe the Registrar of Gairloch North took pity on him and registered Jane's death to spare her father having to walk all the way to Contin and back, though I'm not sure that that was allowed, strictly speaking, by the rules then in force.
What intrigues me is how it came about that Jane died at Achnasheen, assuming that there is just one Achnasheen of course. If she was dying of consumption, she could never have walked there. So was she lodging there with someone, either for her health or in order to attend school (though she was too young for school)? What did Adam actually do after his wife's death? Where was she buried? How did he get her body to the kirkyard? If it was Gairloch kirkyard, how did he find out about Jane's death a day's walk away? What did he do with the other children while he was walking the length and breadth of the parish to deal with the deaths? Maybe he had, or was able to borrow (from whom?), a horse and ride rather than walk, but it was still a lot of travelling. And did his sheep have to fend for themselves? Was he dismissed from his job at Claona, or did he choose to move to Tarras in search of a better life?
What is interesting is that Auchnasheen is queried on the entry - I think it's probably wrong so probably looking for something that might sound like that in Gaelic in that peninsular.
I don't think so. I think that what is being queried is the exact time of death, which is missing from the line where you would expect it to be.
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I am wanting to know what the correct spelling of this place
There is no such thing as 'correct spelling', especially if the name is Gaelic!
See http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4971879
Rosinish has given the link to that photo earlier
Balnaluib is just north of Aultbae so in the Mellon Charles area - Achnasheen is miles away - confused now :-\
The village of Achnasheen lies in the parish of Contin. Therefore a death in that village at that time ought to have been registered in Contin, not in Gairloch.
Which was why I queried it
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See http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4971879
Rosinish has given the link to that photo earlier
Actually, no. Rosinish gave a link to a different photograph at
https://canmore.org.uk/site/103166/claona
Balnaluib is just north of Aultbae so in the Mellon Charles area - Achnasheen is miles away - confused now :-\ The village of Achnasheen lies in the parish of Contin. Therefore a death in that village at that time ought to have been registered in Contin, not in Gairloch.
Which was why I queried it
Just agreeing with you that it looks out of place.
I did say that I think the question mark relates to the time of death, not to the place of death.
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I've tried to follow so-called "Tracks" in the Highlands for yonks. In this case it doesn't appear on my century old half-inch map, I wouldn't care to tackle it today, never mind organising a flitting!
Skoosh.
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I've tried to follow so-called "Tracks" in the Highlands for yonks. In this case it doesn't appear on my century old half-inch map, I wouldn't care to tackle it today, never mind organising a flitting!
No, I wouldn't want to either. I was just pointing out that in the middle of the 19th century, Claona was linked to the coast rather than to Kinlochewe/Achnasheen.
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Hi
Thank you all again for helping with my query.
I do have the same sort of questions as
Forfarian on: Saturday 11 November 17 10:51 GMT (UK)
Was Adam the informant on the deaths of his wife and Jane, and were both deaths registered on the same day? Was he 'present' at both deaths? Maybe the Registrar of Gairloch North took pity on him and registered Jane's death to spare her father having to walk all the way to Contin and back, though I'm not sure that that was allowed, strictly speaking, by the rules then in force.
What intrigues me is how it came about that Jane died at Achnasheen, assuming that there is just one Achnasheen of course. If she was dying of consumption, she could never have walked there. So was she lodging there with someone, either for her health or in order to attend school (though she was too young for school)? What did Adam actually do after his wife's death? Where was she buried? How did he get her body to the kirkyard? If it was Gairloch kirkyard, how did he find out about Jane's death a day's walk away? What did he do with the other children while he was walking the length and breadth of the parish to deal with the deaths? Maybe he had, or was able to borrow (from whom?), a horse and ride rather than walk, but it was still a lot of travelling. And did his sheep have to fend for themselves? Was he dismissed from his job at Claona, or did he choose to move to Tarras in search of a better life?
I will answer each question:
Adam Scott was the informant on each of the deaths - wife and daughter Jane - he signed, Adam Scott, husband or Father, and Present at both.
Both deaths were NOT registered on the same day.
Catherine who died 5 May 1879 at 10AM, saying Cluna Parish of Gairloch, was registered 13th May 1879 at Balnaluib by Hur Murray, Assistant Registrar
Jane Scott who died 10 May 1879, aged 3 years - has what looks like a faint line through where time normally goes then a ? and next line says Auchnasheen. (Uncertain to tell really if the ? pertains to the time which is missing or the place), but her parents are listed as Adam Scott, Shepherd and Catherine Scott MS Maclean, Deceased. Again Adam is the informant and said he was present at her death, but this time was registered on the 19th May 1879, Balnaluib, again by Hur Murray, Assistant Registrar. Both certificates are on the one page, and full title is Deaths in the Northern District of Gairloch in the County of Ross.
The other death on the page (1st one) was registered 6th May 1879, at Mellon Charles again by the same Assistant Registrar.
I think that the place name of Auchnasheen is incorrect on the certificate, it just does not seem possible for Adam to be present at both deaths if Jane's death did occur actually in Auchnasheen.
And why are the deaths registered on different days ?.
Catherine died 5th and registered 13th, Jane died 10th and registered 19th. Dates just do not add up, can understand Catherine's dates, but definitely not Jane's dates of death and registration. If she died on the 10th and Adam registered Catherine's death on the 13th, then why did he not registered Jane's death at the same time.?
My only idea of explanation for this, is that Adam Scott was NOT present when Jane died, and that perhaps she was staying with someone in Auchnasheen rather than with the family - more research to do yet. And that Adam did not get word about her death until after the 13th May and closer to the 19th May.
This still raises your question about the other children, one being about 5yrs and the other still a baby of 1yr old. - All I know at this stage is that they were with their Maternal Grandparents on the 1881 Census back in Kiltarlity Inverness.
Adam is then recorded as a Shepherd in Tarras Moray working for James Davidson.
At this stage not located Catherine or Jane's burial details. As the certificates do not give kirkyard where buried I need to see if I can locate this yet.
BTW it is definitely the correct and same person of Adam Scott who signed both certificates.
So still lots of questions regarding the actual place of these deaths and why does Adam say he was present at both of them.?????
Again thanks for the thoughts and intriguing ideas regarding my family and the places concerned. Still beautiful country even though very wild to be having and bringing up children, but that is what they did do then. Doubt any of us could survive the way they did - I know I would be lost without my internet access and computer LOL
Regards Ailsa
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Hi again Ailsa
I'm not sure if there would be any headstones for them - but here is a useful site that lists the burial grounds:
http://www.rosscromartyroots.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=63476
(Scroll down to Wester Ross - the Gairloch section might be the most likely* )
The site also gives other interesting background information.
Gadget
* Mellon Charles has a photo.
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Forgot to say that if you click on the Albums (see snip below) and select the drop down list, you will see photos and inscriptions for each grave yard. I'm not sure if the lists/photos are complete.
Gadget
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I keep trying to post here... not sure I am doing it right...I have walked to, and camped many many times at Claona..one of my fav. sites in Scotland I have many photographs and 'history of the ruin... it did exist, at least, as early as the early 18th century.. the area behind the main ruin (there are two) is very soft and verdant... originally a vegetable patch? Maybe animals were tethered there. There are traces of tracks..one main one West>Gairloch.. faint North
> Dundonnell ... and a very very faint one East towards the end of Lochan Fada which joins an ancient good track which goes South to Kinlochewe Below the ruin there is an ancient stone 'path' which leads out into the Loch..your ancestor probably fished from there (as have I)..there are lovely wild brown trout to be caught I will keep trying to post some of my images... It was originally a 'shieling bothy'... a shelter for young men (women?) who took Highland cattle to graze on the slopes of the nearby mountains... There were originally two buildings..maybe one for men..other for women. There were, once upon a time, other families not too far away..but like Claona only their ruins remain..A tough life! Best Garry
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Welcome to Rootschat Garry!
Skoosh.
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Thanks Skoosh.. Claona is a place which has a fascination for me... Rosnish posted a photograph of the ruin which is one of many I have taken... My 'name' (Cloana) is not linked to this post..it is one I use often.. have done over the years.... Here is an interesting 'tale'... Middle 18th century a young French speaking lad sought refuge at the place..he was known as being 'yellow haired'... On the morning he left he gave a coin to the young lass who had given him a bowl of milk? cream? By doing so he revealed that he had 'money'... later in the morning someone heard a shot and he was found dead... no money. There was a local rumour at the time that a family became slightly more wealthy. In the 19th century there was said to be an old man who had a coat which was lined with material from the dead man's coat!!!!
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(from) Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree By John H. Dixon, F.S.A. Scot.(pub 1886).....>There were at this time three brothers of the name of Cross, who were sons of one of the last of the Loch Maree ironworkers. One of them was a bard, who built a house at Kernsary, still called Innis a bhaird, or "the oasis of the bard." One of the bard's brothers, named Hector, who had become a crofter at Letterewe, was at a shieling at the Claona (or Slopes), at the back of Beinn Lair, above Letterewe, where he and other crofters grazed their cattle in summer. One day after the battle of Culloden (1745) a stranger, a young Highlander, with yellow hair and clad in tartan, came to Hector's bothie and asked for shelter and refreshment. When the girl gave him a bowl of cream, he drank it off, and returned it to her with a gold piece in it. The news quickly spread among the shieling bothies that the stranger had gold about him. Soon after his departure from Hector's hospitable roof next morning, a shot was heard, and on a search being made the dead body of the young man was found, robbed of all valuables. The murder and robbery were ascribed to a crofter, whose name is well remembered, and whose descendants are still at Letterewe, for from that time the family had money. It is almost superfluous to add that no steps were taken to bring the murderer to justice; the unsettled state of the Highlands at the time would alone account for the immunity of the offender. It afterwards transpired that the murdered stranger had been a valet or personal servant to Prince Charlie, and that he had gone by the name of the "Gille Buidhe," or "yellow-haired lad." He was conveying the gold to his master, which had been sent from France, and it was to meet him that the two vessels had come to Sgeir Bhoora, near Poolewe. It seems he carried the gold in one end of his plaid, which had been formed into a temporary bag, an expedient still often resorted to in the Highlands. A portion of the Gille Buidhe's plaid formed the lining of a coat belonging to an old man at Letterewe in the nineteenth century. Kenneth Mackenzie, an old man living at Cliff (now dead), told me he had seen it.
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Garry, just re-read "His Bloody Project!" by a guy MacRae-Burnett, fiction but reads otherwise!
Skoosh.
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They were bloody times indeed..if you explore the wild areas of NW Scotland there are many places associated with clan battles and murders.... cairns in memory of ancient deeds... Not far from Claona is a bend in a river called (in Gaelic)....Ath nan ceann (arnankown), Ford of the heads. Ath, a ford; ceann, heads. Often written Anagown..... after a vicious fight the defeated were decapitated and their severed heads tossed into the river. Later, it was spotted that the heads were observed all bobbing together at a wide bend.... hence the name even to this day!!!!! And ...Loch Torr na h' Eiginn (loch torr na haykin), Loch of the mound of violence.....(torran nan tchee-ernan), Mounds of the chieftains. .....Cladh nan Sasunnach (klug nan sarsenach), Burial-place of the English... Donnachadh Mor na Tuaighe (donnochar mor na tew-ay), Big Duncan of the axe. Murchadh Riabhach na cuirce (muroochuch reeoach na kurke), Brindled Murdo of the knife. It was obvious that it was important to name every physical feature in the landscape to aid travel in the wilderness. If you look at ancient maps they are full of Gaelic names all over the areas... even though there is 'nothing there'!
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Garry, I think Claona, at over a thousand feet, will be the ruins of a shepherds house & won't be as old as the early 18th century, it could be a century later. The grazings there would be connected to a particular settlement on the low ground whose folk went up there in May to the shielings for the summer months. Even if the people were not cleared to make way for sheep, the loss of the hill-grazings destroyed their economy. The great demand for cattle during the French wars couldn't compete with the high prices paid for land under sheep. A shepherd & his family living alone in such isolated circumstances was an alien thing to the Gaels.
A century later the great demand for sporting estates at maybe three times the rent saw deer replace the sheep!
Skoosh.
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Certainly it was in use as a croft for shepherd/s... I had an idea it was still being used near the end of the 19th century.... It was always too far away from 'civilization' to be used in conjunction with stalking... although the area still has masses of deer and goats (and eagles)... On an O.S map from 1843 there is quite an obvious track leading to Claona (which is named)... the track connects to other paths to Letterewe and also Gairloch... It shows one substantial building and two smaller ones... only one of the small ones can still be detected... Certainly it is high in the mountains but, unlike the rest of the area it has plenty of grazing. It is just conceivable that the sturdy small Highland cattle could navigate the high track... there is only one stretch of height to get there... the rest is mostly downhill. Near to Claona there used to be a small community (3 crofts) at Strathanmore. The 'drove' could halt there before heading over the main hill? Must have been a lonely (but beautiful place). If you enjoy exploring ancient tracks and paths it is worth looking at this site.... "National Library of Scotland - Map Images" .... almost all maps of Scotland going back to very very ancient maps.... It can be fun exploring these old tracks which no longer feature on current maps. You can blow them up to explore in detail. Great Fun!!!
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This might be of interest to you... An extract from a book published in 1914...Walks and Scrambles In the Highlands by Arthur Bagley {Claona appears as Claonadh in early maps} "....bogs continued the whole way along the shores of Loch Fada. The maps mark a house, or at least a black dot, which I supposed represented a house, " Claonadh," about a mile down the lake, and a path leading to it by the way I had come, and I had expected to see some fellow- creatures here. The path, as I have already, is no more, and when I reached Claonadh,I found only the four bare walls, and not much even of them, of what had once been a cottage. A grassy patch, a tiny oasis in the boggy desert around,was the only other sign that human life had once existed here. It was quite a disappointment to me, and imparted a melancholy tinge to my thoughts as I ate my lunch by the side of the burn, and speculated as to the former inhabitants and their fate. Had they been removed to make a deer-forest—banished,if not butchered, and to many a Highlander the former were the worse fate, to make a Sassenach holiday, to leave space for the sport of an American millionaire, or a wealthy brewer ? Are they perhaps toiling on the Canadian prairie, consumed with a bitter " Heimweh," a vain longing for the little hut on these lonely shores of Loch Fada, which they will probably never see again ?"
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Interesting kid! Claona will be a meadow (Cluny, Clunaidh etc') Loch Fada, the long loch. Every feature would have had a name at one time! :(
Skoosh.
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I got this information from a friend, and historian who lives in Kinlochewe.... maybe the Scotts did not stay at Claona for a long time? "The census return of 1871 has the family of Peter MacLennan, shepherd, as occupiers. By 1881 it's the family of Alexander Cameron, shepherd. The census return of 1891 lists Claona as a ruin."