" In Kintyre, as compared to other parts of the Highlands and Hebrides, there is no history of forced Clearances. And yet, from about 1750 to the present century, large numbers of people regularly left the district, seeking a better living overseas. For example, around 1750 the population of Southend was approximately 3,000. When my father had become minister of the parish in 1910, it had dwindled almost to it's current level of about 500.".

Mr MacVicar goes on to recount details of a visit to him from a "Mrs Harvey B Hunter - eighty years of age - of Charlotte, North Carolina", and her daughter-in-law, " a lecturer in history at the University of North Carolina". Mrs Hunter, it transpired, having " less than three hours to spare", was enquiring after her ancestor, Daniel Caldwell, who had emigrated from Southend on 18th August, 1774, aboard the vessel "Ulysses", the master of which was a James Chalmers. In that year, the Caldwells had been tenants in the farm at Christlach, where Daniel had tried to supplement the meagre family income by trying his hand at part-time shoemaking - without, it seems, much success.

After giving the two ladies a tour of Southend - including the graveyard - Mr MacVicar took them along to St. Blaan's Kirk, the church in the centre of the parish. Built in 1773, and opened for public worship in 1774,it still held it's original pews of Norwegian pine, adjusted in numbers, but otherwise unchanged in 200 years.

Upon Mrs Hunter's return home, she sent Mr MacVicar a letter, enclosing copies of the "Records of Emigrants from Scotland", the original transcripts of which were in the possession of the North Carolina Historical Commission. Among the emigrants from Kintyre in 1774, giving as their reason for emigration either, "high rents and oppression", or, "poverty occasioned by want of work", were the following :

" John Greenlees, 25, farmer, and his wife, Mary Howie, 25; Peter McArthur, 58, farmer, his wife, Chirst Bride, 52, and their children, Ann, John and Jean; Robt Mitchell, 26, and his wife, Ann Campbell, 19; Alexr Allan, 22, workman; Iver McMillan, 26, and his wife, Jean Huie, 23; John Ferguson, 19, workman; Rob McKichan, 32, farmer, his wife, Janet McKendrick, 24, and their son, Neil; Malm McMullan, 58, farmer, his wife Cathn McArthur, 58, and their children, Daniel, Archd, and Gelbt; Donald McKay, 20, tailor; Daniel Campbell, 25, farmer; Andw Hyndman, 46, farmer, his wife, Cath Campbell, 46, and their children, Mary, Margt, and Angus; Malm Smith, 64, his wife Mary McAlaster, 64, and their children, Peter and Mary; Duncan McAllum, 22, and his wife, Cathn McAlester, 30; Neil Thonson, 23, farmer; David Beaton, 28, farmer, and his wife, Flora Bride, 29; John Gilchrist, 25, farmer, and his wife, Marion Taylor, 21; Neil McNeil, 64, farmer, his wife, Isobel Simpson, 64, and thir children, Danl, Hector, Peter, Neil, Willm, and Mary; Allan Cameron, 28, farmer; Angus Cameron, 18, and his wife Katrine Cameron, 21.".

As the redoubtable Mrs Harvey B Hunter sat on the polished pine pews of St. Blaan's Kirk, Mr MacVicar commented, "Two hundred years doesn't seem such a long time now". She said nothing, staring up at the empty pulpit. Then, quietly, she began to cry. "Oh my," she said, "this is the most wunnerful day of my life!"

Back to Page 1
Page 3: Kintyre in Ontario
Page 4: The Jet Necklace
Page 5: Largie