On the AIB Stewart page this month:
TARBERT CASTLE
TARBERT CASTLE
The MacAlisters of Loup claimed descent from Alasdair Mor, younger son of Donald of Islay and grandson of Somerled. His descendants settled in Kintyre and in 1481 James III appointed Charles McAlister Steward of, South Kintyre. His son Black John was known as John of the Loup and the Clan were known in Gaelic as MacHoin Duibh. John's son Angus had three sons, the second of whom, Donald, became constable of Tarbert Castle The Feu Charters of the estate of Tarbert granted by the family of Argyle provided in Latin that the MacAlister constable should be obliged to furnish a boat with six rowers and a steersm~ for the service of the King and for transporting the Superior (Argyle) and his heirs from Tarbert to Strondour, Silvercraigs, Lochgair and to any part of Cowal between the promontory of Aird and the Strait of Ottar likewise that McAlister and his successor should be bound faithfully steadfast and securely. to watch ward and defend the castle and fortalice for the use of the Superior from the attacks of his enemies and foes and to receive and guard prisoners in the castle at Argyle's expense whenever they received a command. And that they would b.e faithful and obedient to Argyle in all other duties incumbent on the office of Keeper of the Castle as the other Captains and Keepers of Argyle's Castles and houses within the Shire of Argyll were bound and were wont to do. And likewise would maintain the castle of Tarbert wind and water tight in all time coming at their own expense and would receive and entertain Argyle whenever he should come to the castle as the other keepers of his castles were wont to do. By the middle of the 18th century MacAlister of Tarbert had allowed the castle to fall into disrepair and lived at the new house of Barmore which he had built. The Duke raised an Action calling on MacAlister to fulfil the conditions of the Fe Charter. MacAlister was bankrupt but his creditors defended the Action. The creditors pleaded th~ of Parliament of 1714 had abolished personal servic, as "Personal service hosting, hunting, watching ani :" and had replaced them with money payments. This Act was of course intended mainly to prevent cla~ :hief s raising their warriors. The Duke admitted that the duties of keeping and defending the castle for the use of the Superior against the invasions of his enemies or for the reception of his prisoners could not be exacted being against the laws of the kingdom. He maintained however his right to have the castle maintained but was willing to substitute a clause to have Barmore House maintained instead of the old castle. He also insisted on his right to have a boat maintained for his use with six rowers and a steersman, though without arms. Such conditions were innocent, he argued. The Lords issued their judgenent on 5th February 1762. They found the vassal was bound at his own expense to keep and uphold a boat of six oars and to provide the same with six rowers and a steersman and all things necessary for the use of the Duke and his family and also to keep the new mansion house wind and water tight. They deferred a decision on the question as to whether the vassal was bound to entertain the Superior and his heirs gratis so that they could hear further argument. What decision they came to there is not reported. In 1874 all personal feudal services were finall, and money compensation fixed instead. The result of the judgement was of course that there was no further obligation to uphold Tarbert Castle, which was thereafter allowed to fall into its present ruinous condition
No 15 Spring 1984
Page 2: Janet and Marie Morrison's 1993 Trip to Scotland - The First Part
Page 3: David Whitehead's Genealogy Special - Part Two
Page 4: The Rat Stane // Gaelic in Kintyre
Page 5: A Campbeltown Family in Antrim // King James the Sext - XV Parliament xix of December1597
Page 6: Boswell, Johnson and the Rector
Page 7: James Watt at Campbeltown - Part 3
Page 8: By Hill and Shore - Part 2
Page 9: The Wreck of the Charlemagne
// The Ballad of the Charlemagne //
Copy of a Highland
Distillery License