The following two documents were first printed in the Campbeltown
Courier for October 7th 1922 under the headline:
THE NAPOLEONIC SCARES IN KINTYRE. VOLUNTEER FORCE IN SOUTHEND.
An invasion was viewed as a serious threat, and the Government was concerned
about the reaction of the civil population in areas considered 'unreliable'
- these events were taking place only 51 years after the Battle of Culloden.
It was feared that Highlanders might not be enthusiastic in their defence
of the realm if an invasion did take place, and the west coast of Scotland
was seen as strategically vulnerable.
The first document gives instructions from the Duke of Argyll in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant of the Shire of Argyll: the second gives a list of Volunteers enrolled in accordance with the Lord Lieutenant's instructions. The original spelling is preserved. Unsurprisingly, most of the Volunteers are the descendants of the Lowland settlers who came to the parish in the 17th century.
Document 1
INSTRUCTIONS BY HIS GRACE JOHN DUKE OF ARGYLL HIS MAJESTY'S LIEUTENANT OF THE SHIRE OF ARGYLL TO MALCOLM MACNEIL, ESQ. OF CARSKEY ONE OF HIS DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS IN THE SAID SHIRE:-
1st. Before you Act under the Commission sent you the Law requires that you take and subscribe the oaths of Allegiance and abjuration and subscribe the Assurance appointed for persons having places of trust - Any Justice of the Peace can Administer these Oaths, but the same must be certified to the next Quarter Sessions of the County of Argyll with your original Subscription.
2nd. Although your Commission is General and extends over the whole Shire of Argyll yet your particular attention is requested to the Parish of Southend.
3rd. Should there at any time exist circumstances rendering it proper for Deputy Lieutenants of other bounds to Act within yours, they will while there observe your directions: and in like manner should you be called into the bounds of another you will conform to his directions.
4th. Invite all Loyall Subjects within your District attached to our happy Constitution and willing to take the oath of Allegiance to enroll their names under an engagement to Appear either on Horseback or on foot as may be Settled betwixt you and them, and on receiving Arms to Act under you without Pay in Aid of the Civil Magistrates in the Suppression of Riots and the quelling of all illegal or tumultuous Meetings tending to disturb the PEACE and tranquility of the Country, or to resist the Attacks of Any foreign enemy.
5th. From the persons so enrolling themselves select a few of those most proper to Act as Constables within your Bounds, and send to me a list of their names, their designations and Characters.
6th. In like manner Select as many as you find able and willing to Attend you on Horseback when called upon and Consider how they can be most usefully employed in cases of emergency by conveying Intelligence and otherways.
7th. Should anything material happen within your District you will please immediately to acquaint me with the same.
8th. Concert with your neighbouring Deputy Lieutenants the easiest and most expeditious Mode of conveying Intelligence to me and to one another: and if you agree on certain Signals inform me of them.
9th. If any difficulty arise to you in the execution of the dunes of your office, state the same to me that I may send you such further Instructions as may appear necessary.
10th.Find out and inform me as soon as you Conveniently can of the numbers of Horses, Cows, Sheep, Hogs and other live Stock on the Grounds of your District: also the quantities of Corn, Hay and dead stock upon them, that measures may be Concerted for removing them at the expense of Government out of the power of the enemy in case of Need.
Sgd. ARGYLL
Inveraray, 24th May, 1797
Document 2
We whose names are hereunto subscribing being animated with the firmest loyalty and fidelity to our Most Gracious Sovereign King George, and feeling the warmest attachment to our present happy constitution hereby engage and oblige ourselves to appear on foot or on Horseback, as specified at our respective names and on receiving Arms from Major Malcolm MacNeil of Carskey as Depute Lieut. of the District, to act under him, without pay, in the Suppression of Riots and quelling of all illegal or tumultuous Meetings tending to disturb the Peace and tranquility of the Country, or to resist the attacks of any foreign enemy.
SOUTHEND PARISH, June 20th, 1797
John Greenlees, Machrebeg and horse.
William Wallace, and horse.
Wm. Wilson, in Macbreebig on foot.
George Greenlees, Tennant and horse.
Gavin Ralston, Tenant in Gartloskan and a horse.
Thomas Ralston, Breckat with a horse.
Hugh Breckenridge, Kilblan with a horse.
Edward Brown, Tenant and a horse.
Archd. Boyd, Machrie More Miln on foot.
John Pickan, Macherimore and a horse.
James Macdonald, Dungless and a horse.
Hugh MacVicar, Dunglass and a horse.
Niel McTavish, Dalmore and a horse.
Malcolm Shaw, Tennant in Dalemore on foot.
Malcolm taylor, and a horse.
John Taylor, Tennan on foot.
Robert montgomery, Cristloch and a horse.
James Caldwell, Cristlach and a horse.
Archibald McLean (?) tnant and a horse.
Hugh Reid, tenant in Kerranbeg and a horse.
William Allan, Corranmore on foot.
Robert Langlands, tenant in Corranmore and a horse.
Robert muntgomery, on foot.
Andrew Ralston, tenant in Glenemucklach on foot.
Dugald McLen, tenant Gartloskan and horse.
James Giffen, Dalbuie on foot.
Neill Fleeming, Killirvan and horse.
Archibald McWilliam, on foot.
Andrew Ferguson, tenant Kilirvan and horse.
Colin McCollem (his X mark), on foot.
Thomas Brown, Machermore and a horse.
Matthew Corner, tenant in Glenemucklach and horse.
James Willson, tenant in Belebranan and a horse.
Andrew Ralston, tenant in Knockstapel with a horse.
Willm. Pickan, Knokst. and horse.
(Name undecipherable) and horse.
William Ralston, Dalbue and horse.
John McKay, Achadaduie serve afoot, or horse.
James McKay, Achadaduie serve afoot.
David Reid, Achenclarey on horseback.
David Andrew, Jun., Edin on horseback.
David Andrew, Edin on horseback.
John Huie, Kildavie afoot or horse.
James Pickan, Kildavie afoot or horse.
John Reid, Kildavie on horseback.
Peter Huie, Kildavie afoot.
Angus (his X mark) McEachran, Pennyland Miln on foot.
John Kerral, Bronnerikin on horseback.
Angus Kerrall, Killmanchan on horseback.
Neal McEahran, Kilimanchan on horseback.
Nill McGeachy, Cnockmoran on horseback.
John Forgin (?) on foot.
John McCoig, Cuildrain on horseback.
Neil McCoig, on foot.
John Reid, Pouilling serve on horse.
William McFarlane, Pouilling serve on horse.
Andrew Reid, serve on horse.
William Reid, serve on horse.
Donald Loinachan, Glenharvy serve on horse.
John Grenlies, Gartincorach to serve on horseback.
Neill Conley, Caintaig on horseback.
Donald McMichal, Glenmuirt on horseback.
Colin McEachran, Glenhervy on horseback.
John McEachran, Glenhervy on horseback.
Angus McIsaac, Faochag on horseback.
Archibald Donald (?) Faochag on horseback.
Robert Hall, Gleneharvy on horseback.
Nivin Turner, Penysorach on horseback.
Archibald Taylor, Auchruae on horseback.
James Hall, Pirdenknow, on horseback.
Wm. Hughie, Kildavie, on horseback.
Dun. McCoig, Penlaughter on horseback.
Dond. McKay, Eridell, on horseback.
Page 2: Schooling 160 Years Ago
Page 5: William Ralston of that Ilk
Page 6: The Press Gang in Campbeltown
Page 7: The Argyll Rebellion of
1685
Community Tokens
Page 8: The Etiquette of Good Society: 1.
Breakfast
Bits and Bobs