John Seymour Lucas 1849-1923 - After Culloden, Rebel Hunting 1884
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John Smith D.D.
Dr. Norman MacLeod
JOHN SMITH, D.D.
I. M. Scott.
NOTE: While the name of Dr. John Smith is well known to the older
generation of Campbeltown people, there may be many of the younger generation
who have not heard of this outstanding minister of the Highland Parish Church
from 1781 to 1802. He was a powerful preacher, a good pastor and a strong
personality; an outstanding Gaelic scholar, an agriculturalist and historian
of no inconsiderable repute. He contributed the Parish of Campbeltown section
to the First Statistical Account of 1794, "A General View of Agriculture
in the County of Argyll" to a national survey, translated the metrical psalms
into Gaelic, and was entrusted with the section Isaiah to Malachi in the
first translation of the Bible into Gaelic. In addition he composed Gaelic
poems and collected Gaelic literature of all kinds throughout Argyll.
In recognition of his outstanding scholarship, he was
awarded a Doctorate of Divinity by the University of Edinburgh. This Magazine
is fortunate in being given the following article on the man who was described
by a later minister as "the ablest minister we have ever had, not only in
Campbeltown, but in Argyll," by his great grand niece, Dr. Isabel Mary Scott,
M.D. (Edin), nee MacLullich, who writes:
I would like to tell you a little about Dr. John Smith
who lived in Campbeltown two centuries ago, and of whom you may be rightly
proud.
Was he proud, I wonder, and the answer is surely "Yes"
of the father who gave him the name - not of Smith - but of MacLullich, and
who lived in Glen Orchy - one of the beautiful glens of Argyll.
I will tell you a little of the story of his father,
as tradition has it. He is described in an old paper as "a small chieftain
living in Brackley Croft, Glen Orchy." How long he lived there we know not.
He would seem to be a descendant of the old Kings of Scotland, as shown by
the name of Lulach (MacLulach), son of Gruach and step-son of Macbeth, who
reigned for ten months, and who is buried in Iona.
The times were not peaceful in Scotland, and John in his beautiful highland glen heard the rumours of fightings, war and bloodshed. So, at the call of his rightful and "divine" king he left his home in obedience. So he came to Culloden - the disasterous and final battle - and found himself fleeing for his life, pursued by enemy soldiers. But all was not lost. In a nearby village he found "a friend in need" (Caraid 'San Airc), a smith, a useful person in these days to friend and foe alike. Soon John, the so-called Highland "rebel", was dressed in smock and leathern jacket and assisting to shoe a horse. The smith - a MacGregor - was sending his pursuers packing with false information. If you are wandering some day in the streets of London, you might like to look in at the Tate Gallery. There you may see a painting by Seymour Lucas, R.A. He, in the year 1884, gave his impression of the scene in the smithy.
John Seymour Lucas 1849-1923 - After Culloden, Rebel Hunting
1884
After many further adventures, John arrived back
in Glen Orchy, married to Mary Stewart, whose brother, James "of the Glens",
was another victim of these hard times. But Scotland was still no peaceful
country. Soon John learned that he was "outlawed." What did that mean? Get
away and hide. Your home, your name is no longer yours. He left home to live
in Accorach House, 12 miles away in the hills. He also changed his name to
"Smith" in memory and gratitude for the MacGregor who saved him. This time
he found another friend - a Campbell of Craigiemure, who made him manager
of his estates.
His sons grew up. Dr. John - probably the eldest - grew
up "dreaming dreams and seeing visions" He travelled to Edinburgh, where
he studied at the University. He was ordained and eventually he arrived at
Campbeltown Highland Church. You will have heard much of his life from others.
He is described by Peter Mackintosh in his "History of Kintyre" as "a great
linguist, philosopher and divine." I would add - "a great Christian." I like
to think of his first Communion Service in Campbeltown, in face of great
opposition. He had a great tent erected, and, with a friend and colleague
from Arran he administered a long postponed Communion to the crowds who came
from all parts of Kintyre by horse and boat - many camping overnight. All
morning the Service was repeated in the tent over and over again in the native
Gaelic.
I am proud to claim such a man as my great grand
uncle.
No 2 Autumn 1977
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DR. NORMAN MACLEOD.
Hector MacKenzie.
Norman MacLeod, one of the most famous ministers
of his time, and one of the most renowned Gaelic scholars and authors, was
minister of the Highland Parish Church, Campbeltown, for seventeen years.
In 1808 he was appointed to the important charge of Campbeltown in succession
to the famous Dr. John Smith (born MacLullich) of whom we read above. He
was the son of the minister of Morven and was born in the manse there on
2nd December, 1783. His father was the son of the blacksmith of Swordale,
Dunvegan, Skye, and his mother was of the Morrisons of Lewis. He completed
his studies with distinction at the Universities of
Glasgow and
Edinburgh, and in his 23rd year was licensed
by the Presbytery of Mull. He became assistant at Kilbrandon, and in 1808,
on the death of Dr. John Smith was called to Campbeltown. On his deathbed
Dr. Smith called his elders round him and recommended Norman MacLeod as his
successor. It was a happy settlement.
So great was the response of the people that it was necessary
to hold open-air services at which Communion was dispensed. Dr. Norman MacLeod's
fellow ministers in the Presbytery frowned on this practice with the exception
of Mr. MacKeich, minister of Southend. Norman MacLeod wrote, "My brethern
having declined to assist me, I firmly stated to them that, being minister
of the parish, I should postpone the day of the Sacrament and tell my people
the reason for my so doing, and that I could find abundance of assistance
from my friends in the upper part of Argyllshire. Mr. Macleich, minister
of Southend, who ordained me, and who has no great love for some of the brethern,
came boldly forward and said that he would not see his "young son" (as he
called me) oppressed, and that although he was not strong he would assist
me, if he should fall in the act."
Dr. Norman was introduced to his new charge in Campbeltown
by his father and his cousin. When they left he accompanied them to Saddell,
where his cousin, Sir Robert Turner, lived, and afterwards he wrote, "I shall
never forget the feeling of despondency, amounting to despair with which
I returned to Campbeltown. The cold reception I met with from my brethern
in the Presbytery only served to stir me to greater activity in the work
of the ministry. I knew I had all the people on my side."
In 1811 he married Agnes Maxwell, eldest daughter of
James Maxwell, Chamberlain of Argyll, and in 1824 he received the degree
of D.D. from the University of Edinburgh. The stipend of Campbeltown was
the minimum (£150) and that portion of it paid in grain by the landward
heritors was paid in the most unsatisfactory manner; the minister had from
100 upwards people to settle with. After seventeen years he was called to
Campsie, and after leaving Campbeltown Dr. Norman wrote "I shall not attempt
to describe the feelings of heartfelt sorrow with which I came to the resolution
of parting with the people of Campbeltown. I was the first minister since
the Reformation who had removed from it; while there have been no fewer than
seven clergymen who have been ministers since then, who have been ministers
in that parish. I called on all my friends in the country; especially on
my worthy elders, and a painful trial it was. I preached my farewell sermon;
and could I have known beforehand the scene which I then witnessed, and the
feelings that I myself experienced, I do believe that no inducement would
have tempted me to leave them; indeed, I was brought to feel as if I was
committing a sin in doing so."
In 1836 he was called to the Gaelic Congregation
in Glasgow, St. Columba's Church. He died on 25th November, 1862, and is
buried in Campsie. There is a bust of him both in St. Columba's and in the
Highland Parish Church, Campbeltown. One of his sons, born in Campbeltown,
was a well-known minister of the Barony Church in Glasgow, and like his father
a Moderator of the General Assembly. A grandson of the second Dr. Norman
MacLeod is the founder of the Iona Community, Lord MacLeod of Fuinary.
"Caraid nan Gaidheal" - the Friend of the Gael - was
the title of his collection of prose which Professor Magnus MacLean has described
as "the greatest monument of Gaelic original prose we have." In addition
he produced the first weekly Gaelic periodical, a Gaelic Dictionary, and
a Gaelic metrical version of the Psalms of David. He was largely instrumental
in establishing an Educational Scheme, within the Church of Scotland, which
embraced 233 Common schools, attended by 22,000 pupils, and in addition 110
Sewing schools. In 1836 and again in 1846 when the potato crop failed and
famine ravaged the Highlands, Dr. MacLeod went to England and addressed large
gatherings in the principal towns, ending with a great meeting in London,
presided over by the Lord Mayor. As a result of these eloquent appeals, Dr.
MacLeod collected thousands of pennies for the relief of distress among his
countrymen. Well did he deserve to be called their friend.
The song, "Farewell to Fuinary" was composed in English
by Dr. MacLeod, and translated into Gaelic by Archibald Sinclair.
Dr. MacLeod was succeeded in the Highland Parish Church
of Campbeltown by the Rev. Donald Smith, son of his predecessor, Dr. John
Smith.
No 14 Autumn 1983
Page 2: The Campbeltown Canal // Kintyre's Age of the Train
Page 3: An Eighteenth Century Library
Page 4: Trout Introductions into Kintyre in the Late Nineteenth Century
Page 6: C.B.A. Scotland Summer School 1985
Page 7: The Rev. B.B. Blackwood // Some Former Campbeltown Industries // Nostalgia // Contra Account
Page 8: By Hill and Shore - from Mr. Angus Martin
Page 9: Campbeltown
Nicknames // From a Wee Toonsman Down Under // A Recent Find //
Emigrants to America
on the Diana // Coincidences // One Hundred and Eleven Years Ago
Page 10: The Gigha Fishery in the Early Eighteenth Century