Wee Drams
* Contents:
Larry Bethune
Kathy Hegarty
Margaret Ann Macdonald
Shiplists
Say Hello to Laura
John McIntyre
Argyllshire Queries /
Campbeltown Life /
Internet Guide
From: Larry Bethune lbethune@berklee.edu
Ian,
You might be interested (then, again), my family sailed on the Ulysses from Greenock to Wilmington, North Carolina from August 26-October 17, 1774. They were from Kintyre (I do not know where---really wish I did).
Here is my web page with that info (David Beaton/Bethune and Flora MacBryde were my Kintyre ancestors).
http://members.aol.com/beaton1774/bethunehomepage/bethune.html
And here is a digitized version I made of a map from 1884 Robeson County North Carolina.
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/1786/robeson_maps.html
I send the address because most all of the folks that got off that boat settled there, including my family. There is also an index so you might find some old Kintyrians (?) listed.
I am a member of the North Carolina Scottish Heritage Society which publishes the Argyll Colony Plus (I know you know about it as I see articles from your mag reprinted in there). Alas, I live in Boston about 12 hours from Robeson County.
In any case, great to talk to someone from the old sod.
Regards,
Larry
From: Kathy Hegarty KathyH9999@aol.com
Dear Editor
On October 30, 1998, a friend and I returned to the USA after a wonderful vacation in Scotland. We spent eight days enjoying the foods, scenery, history, culture and citizens of your country, regretting only that we had so little time. As with previous trips to Scotland, we left longing for more.
On the plane home, I was seated next to John Galbraith of Pollywilline Farm in Southend, who was travelling to New York to run the NYC Marathon. During the seven hour flight, Mr. Galbraith was kind enough to share his knowledge of Kintyre and Western Scotland. He also obliged me with a copy of your magazine, Volume 44, which I found to be most interesting.
I grew up in a small Victorian-era village on the north shore of Long Island in New York, just a thirty minute train ride from Manhattan. I find in reading your publication that, despite the miles, my hometown and yours are not so very different. I look forward to reading more of your articles on-line and getting to know your area in anticipation of my next trip over. It's a great magazine. I wish my hometown, Sea Cliff, had one! Keep up the good work. (And good time on the race, John!)
Sincerely,
Kathy Hegarty
37 Auburn Street
Malden, Massachusetts 02148
USA
e-mail:
KathyH9999@aol.com
From: Margaret Ann Macdonald Kendall551@aol.com
I've discovered and enjoyed your magazine very much!
Two months ago I returned from my first trip to Scotland, which was totally
wonderful.
Just this week I started tracing the family genealogy, although previous
generations have also had an interest, so I have a starting point. On my
father's side, a relative has traced his mother's ancestry back quite far.
On my father's side I am back to Donald McDonald (B) c1760, m/Catherine King,
b/ c1765, married 1785 in Charlotte, NC. I know who Catherine's parents are
and that they came from the Shire of Argyle. I know the King's were there
by 1777 when one of the son's (born in Argyle) enlisted in service in North
Carolina. Haven't traced Donald McDonald back any farther at this time; but
any suggestions of sites I should visit on-line would be greatfully accepted.
According to family lore, we're related to "the" Flora McDonald, and are
Clan Ranald - several of my ancestors already traced were named Clan Ranald
i.e. my great-great grandfather and one great uncle.
Well, that's not what I wanted to say -I wanted to tell you I thoroughly
enjoyed your site! Take good care.
Margaret Ann Macdonald Kendall
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A number of the Scot Immigrants to Argyle, Illinois, as well as other
locations in the USA, sailed on ships in 1840-1850.
I have made verbatim copies of the ship manifest, or passenger lists, for
four of these.
They may be viewed on the WWW at
http://www.execpc.com/~haroldr/shiplist.htm
by clicking on:
British Bark "Tay"
Bark "Charlotte Harrison"
British Barque "Gleaner"
British Ship "Sarah"
Hope these are of interest to your visitors.
Keep up the excellent work! (Thank you.
I regard that as praise indeed!! - Ian)
Harold A Ralston, Racine, WI,
USA
http://www.execpc.com/~haroldr/index.html
Back to top
Laura Peacock Laurap0305@aol.com
Say hello to this young lady if you have the
time. She attends Campbeltown Grammar School and is already an accomplished
artist. She is a friend of Helen and me, and we think she's
great. Just don't ask her to climb any hills!
When we get up to Campbeltown, we lodge with her Mum at East Trodigal Cottage,
which we highly recommend if you're visiting the Wee toon.
When I asked her if she minded if I posted her e-mail address she said,
" No, I don't mind the addition of my email link.I might meet some new
people". So, come on you lot!
Back to top
From: John McIntyre cybermac@pl.camtech.net.au
My cousin Terry Meenan in Canada suggested I contact
you.
My name is John McIntyre and I live in Port Lincoln South Australia.
I was born in Campbeltown in 1940, living there until I joined the RAF in
1957.
My father,Jock McIntyre was a was a well known fisherman. The family went
by the nickname "Lofty".
I am attaching a couple of pieces that may be of some interest to you.
One is a poem my father wrote about the many (and very inventive) nicknames
prevalent in the town. (Click here for the
poem.)
The second is a letter I wrote to the "Courier" in 1975 to highlight my father's
awe on his first visit to Australia. (Click here for
the letter.)
Hope you enjoy them. I enjoyed your web-site very much.
Best wishes
John McIntyre.
After mentioning John's e-mail to my mother, I wrote back to him - but mis-quoted something that my mother had said:
Hello John,
I think - according to Maggie Forshaw (nee McCormick - my mother) that you
were known as a wean.
If what I'm told is right, your mother was Sheila McKay of the 'top road'
and your grandfather was an o' conner.
The name McQuirter and the place Burnbank also feature in your history.
More later if I'm right so far.
All the best,
Ian
John came back to me with:
Hi Ian
You got my mother right but I'm puzzled by the O'Conner reference.
My grandfather on my father's side was Malcolm(Lofty) McIntyre who married
Maggie-Ann McEachran. Her mother was old Aggie who lived up above Liptons.
She died in 1954 aged 94. Your mother probably will remember her. She lived
up 3 flights of stairs and wouldn't let me do her messages as she got cheap
meat and produce if she went herself. She wore a black lace shawl,button-up
boots and took snuff.
The other side were McKays and Murphys. I know less of that side at
present.
We are also tied up with the Meenans and McQuirters,a couple of branches
of McGeachys and probably 75% of the population I don't know about!
We are in the process of researching the family history. The main researcher,my
cousin Sheila Staples is doing wonderful work on the history.
I am sending old family photos and anything I can find of my early days to
Sheila and she correlates everything.
My main project is my own life story. We found it so difficult to research
ancestors, Terry Meenan suggested it would be better to write your history
for your followers and this would give continuity lacking at present.
I hope this isn't too dull, I have a tendency to stream of consciousness
writing and don't notice the length. Please feel free to scrub anything
unwanted.
Best Wishes
John McIntyre
Oops! Back from me to John:
Hello again John,
You are, of course, quite right. I misquoted my mother. I have since spoken
with her again and she gave me an in-depth discourse on your family!
She told me of John, your father, and your mother, Sheila McKay. She went
on to tell me about your father's brother, Willie who married - wait for
it - Lizzie Connor!
My mother also told me of 'old' Aggie Gilchrist who, back in the old days
when the wonders of the cinema couldn't always be separated from reality,
would come out after watching a 'cowboy film' and say to the doorman - a
McGougan - " It must take ye some time to bed doon a' them horses!"
My cousin - Sadie McCormick - was married to Alistair Meenan, whose mother
was Mariah McKinven.
What size the world now, eh John?
As always, it's been a pleasure looking back into the old days. Feel free
to e-me anytime.
Until then, take good care of yourself and yours, and good luck with the
researching.
Best Regards,
Ian.
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 5: John Smith D.D. // Dr. Norman Macleod
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