PROVOSTS OF CAMPBELTOWN.
Hugh MacShannon.
| 1700 John Campbell. | 1833 William Watson, Jun. |
| 1704 Walter Campbell. | 1836 J. L. Stewart, twice. |
| 1707 Donald Campbell. | 1842 John Colville, twice. |
| 1709 Robt McColm, six times. | 1848 David Colville, twice. |
| 1712 James Cunison, twice. | 1854 John Beith, Jun, five times. |
| 1717 Torquil Macneal, twice. | 1860 John Galbraith, twice. |
| 1723 Robt Chalmers, twice. | 1875 Charles C. Greenlees, twice. |
| 1725 H. Montgomery, four times. | 1881 Duncan Colville. |
| 1743 Lachlan McNeill, thrice. | 1890 John McKersie, twice. |
| 1748 Neal Macneal. | 1896 Hugh Mitchell. |
| 1751 Wm Buchanan, five times. | 1908 Capt Hector Macneal. |
| 1753 Wm Finlay. | 1910 James C. McMurchy. |
| 1757 Peter Stewart. | 1912 H. D.B. Mactaggart. |
| 1769 Marquis of Lorne. | 1912 James Lothian. |
| 1771 Col Charles Campbell, twice. | 1919 John Colville. |
| 1773 Duke of Argyll. | 1922 Alexander Campbell. |
| 1774 Capt A. Campbell, thrice. | 1925 John Smith, thrice. |
| 1776 J. Farquharson, twice. | 1934 Archd Maceachran. |
| 1783 Dugald Campbell. | 1937 Archd D. McNair |
| 1785 James Maxwell. | 1946 Archd Keith. |
| 1787 Lachlan McTavish | 1950 R. Wallace Greenlees, twice. |
| 1789 Humphrey Graham. | 1956 Archd Keith. |
| 1792 Duncan Stewart, nine times. | 1959 A. P. McGrory, twice. |
| 1794 Lt Col John Porter, twice. | 1965 D. L. McMillan. |
| 1795 Duncan Campbell, twice. | 1968 Daniel McKinven. |
| 1807 Dr Colin McLarty, thrice. | 1971 William Craig. |
| 1820 Charles Campbell, thrice. | 1972 G. McMillan. |
| 1830 Lord John Campbell. | 1972 - 1975 A. McCallum. |
| 1832 John Fleming. |
A BRAVE SAILOR
Mr. Everett McNeill Kivette, of Burnsville, North Carolina, and a descendant of Neil McNeill of Ardelay in Gigha, one of the leaders of the 1739 migration, recently came across the tombstone of another McNeill emigrant in the cemetery of the old Scots church in Charleston, South Carolina. The Inscription reads as follows:
SACRED
to the memory of
NEIL MacNEIL
who was born
in Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland.
He manifested in early years
a strong partiality
for a sea faring life
wherein
he conspicuously distinguished himself
by his noble
and undaunted spirit
in two engagements with the enemies
of the Country
as to call forth from Lloyds Coffee-house
the presentation of a piece of plate
to the value of
£500 St.
He became an adopted citizen of S. C.
soon after our revolutionary struggle
and commanded
some of the best ships out of this port.
He was principal owner
and commander the latter years of his life
of the fine American ship
ISABELLA
From the openness of his Heart
and
the suavity of his manners
he became
the favourite of all
and died
deservedly regretted
18 March 1823
in his 65th year.
Captain Neil McNeill was almost certainly the Neil McNeill, described as Merchant in South Carolina in the will of his cousin Lachlan McNeill, West India Merchant. He was the son of the somewhat ebullient character Lachlan McNeill, tenant of Aros, son of Neil Oig McNeill of Machrihanish, youngest son of Lachlan McNeill Buidhe of Tirfergus.
Unfortunately the Lloyds records of the period have been destroyed by fire and we cannot learn more of the conspicuous acts of gallantry which earned him the extremely valuable piece of plate.
'In', 'At' or 'Of'!
In an age when the ownership of land was a chief claim to distinction the use of a proper designation was a matter of importance. A feudal charter was strictly necessary before a man could design himself 'of' his estate. The MacNeills had been in Carskey for at least three hundred years prior to 1505 but they did not get a charter till 1700. Prior to that date they were properly designed as 'in' Carskey. After 1700 they became 'of Carskey.' Ordinary tillers of the soil were 'in' the farm they worked. Sometimes persons holding a particular position were designed as 'at' the place in question. Thus in Carskey Estate Journal there appears 'Neil Hunter, messenger at Inveraray,' and 'Neil McIlchonaly, shoemaker at the Mill.'
A PAIR OF COMICS
The following entry appears in the Highland Parish Church Register under "Autumn 1818":
"John Cameron Comedian and Jane Shaw Comedian were three Sabbaths proclaimed in Church but not married. They left the district."
What's in a Name? - 1
In large groups of kin it was necessary to distinguish persons otherwise bearing the same name, so descriptive epithets were often added such as Og or Oig - the younger; Buidhe or Buy or Bowie - the yellow-haired; Ban - white-haired; Gearr, anglicised Keir - probably short, but possibly from Ciar, swarthy; Dhu or Dow - black. All these names were common among the Kintyre McNeills. Gorm, meaning blue, was a common McDonald appellation. Others common in Kintyre are Beg - small and Mor - big.
What's in a Name? - 2
Two days before the evacuation from Dunkirk in May, 1940, the following complaint was sent to the Food Controller by the widow of the fourth son of the Eighth Duke of Argyll:
"May 24, Strachur Park, Strachur, Argyll.
Lady George Campbell would be much obliged to the Food Controller if he would address her properly - she is not "Lady Campbell", but Lady George Campbell - to wrongly address her as Lady Campbell might cause much confusion, as there are many Lady Campbells - but only one Lady George Campbell."
Page 2: Major John Campbell ob 1685
Page 3: The Shannons of Lephenstrath / The Port of Machrimore
Page 4: Flora MacDonald in America
Page 5: A Late 18th Century Letter from Campbeltown to America
Page 6: Letter from America to a Brother in Campbeltown