Bolinn

The website text produced forBolinn webpages on the Forest Heritage Scotland website (www.forestheritagescotland.com).

Introduction: A fresh start

On Bolinn Hill, above the waters of Loch Garry, lie the remains of this small township. In 1802, the MacDonells and Stewarts of Bolinn were on the passenger list for a ship to Canada.

Like many others from the surrounding area, they left Scotland and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to a new life. These families were following in the footsteps of their own kin who had already settled in Glengarry County in Canada.

At Bolinn, the landowner served eviction notices to the tenants in 1787; they had to leave their land. People did not completely abandon the township at this point. Local parish records show people from Bolinn still getting married and registering the birth of their children until the early 19th century. The last record was in 1819, announcing the birth of Duncan Grant.

You can discover other Glengarry stories by visiting our Laddie and Daingean sites.

People Story: Crossing the Atlantic

Duncan MacDonell of Bolinn was one of the tenants served an eviction order in 1787. His name, along with those of his family, can be found on the emigration passenger list for the three ships that left Fort William on the 3rd of July 1802. Over 500 people set sail with them for Canada.

By this time Glengarry County had already been established. Find out the story by visiting Laddie.

Many people from the Highlands made the trip across to Canada and America during the late 18th century. On several occasions, the Glengarry clansmen organised large scale emigration of their people.

The start of war with revolutionary France in 1793 made travel to Canada difficult and dangerous. In 1802, however, a brief period of peace afforded the opportunity for another voyage. This was led by Archibald MacMillan of Murlaggan and his eight lieutenants, charged with the duty of "preserving good Order among the People".

McMillan chartered three ships to carry the people across to Quebec, the [i]"Friend", [/i]the [i]"Helen"[/i] and the [i]"Jane". [/i]Each passenger paid 5 guineas. This paid for a small space to sleep and basic food for the journey. Many arrived with only enough money to travel from Quebec to Glengarry County.

Family and friends met them on their arrival. Many earlier settlers had been given land by the government, but by 1802 this was happening less. People rented until they could afford to buy, supported by their Highland community.

The website text produced for Daingean webpages on the Forest Heritage Scotland website (www.forestheritagescotland.com).

Introduction: After the evictions

In 1786, John Campbell and other tenants were evicted from the township of Daingean. The tenants had rented land to farm, but the landlord had new plans for its use.

Unlike nearby townships of Laddie and Bolinn, there is no evidence that Daingean's evicted tenants made the crossing to settle in Canada. We do not know what happened to them. The township, however, tells the story of what happened to the land after the evictions.

People continued to live at Daingean for over one hundred years after John Campbell and friends left. The land from Daingean and other evicted townships was brought together to rent as large scale sheep runs. These farms still needed people to work and run them. In 1841, Duncan Gillies and Alexander McDonald at Daingean worked as agricultural labourers.

In the late 19th century, the use of the estate land changed again. Deer stalking and forestry became the fashionable ways to make use of the land. From 1851, the records show a succession of gamekeepers living at Daingean. They would have looked after the estate's animals and land.

Today, Daingean is the best preserved and easiest of the three Glengarry sites to visit and explore.

People Story: Jailed Jacobites

Thousands of people left the Highlands to settle in Glengarry County in Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Similar stories can be heard all over Scotland. People travelled not only to Canada, but all over the world. Today, Scotland has strong connections to many countries through the descendants of these emigrants.

Some left Scotland in chains. In 1746, John MacDonald and John Kennedy of Daingean were transported to the West Indies as a punishment.

The Glengarry clan, the MacDonells, were supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie. The two Johns were among MacDonell clansmen who fought against the British government at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. They were captured, tried and sentenced to transportation.

Transportation as a punishment became common from the 17th century until the 19th century, in both Britain and Ireland. People could be sent away for the smallest of crimes, while for larger crimes it was an alternative to execution.

Prisoners were sent to countries that were under British rule at the time and made to work on government projects, for example building roads. Some were sent for a few months, others for life. Once released, many made fresh starts in the countries they had been sent to.

Evidence Story: exploring the stones

Hector Rogers rediscovered Daingean in 1999 during forest clearance. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) now preserves the site as an important part of the local history.

An important part of these farmers' lives was the corn they grew. Exploring the site you can discover evidence about how the corn was treated once it was cut and gathered at harvest time.

You will find the remains of a corn drying kiln. This structure contained a stone-lined circular bowl with a short tunnel, called a flue, leading into its base.

The grain was laid out on sacks on a wooden frame stretched across the top of the bowl. A fire was then lit at the mouth of the flue and heat was drawn through to the bowl and up through the grain. It was important that the grain was dry so that it would not rot when stored. Farmers today still have to do this but use mechanical driers to achieve the same result.

The heating of the grain was a long process that needed to be carefully watched. Warm and cosy, the kiln would have been an ideal place for people to gather and share stories and music.

The website text produced for Laddie webpages on the Forest Heritage Scotland website (www.forestheritagescotland.com).

Introduction: Cutting out the middleman

In 1786, John Kennedy of Laddie was served an eviction notice to leave the farm within six days. He chose to cross the ocean and join his kin who had settled in Canada. Others from Laddie followed, in 1802.

In the late 17th century Angus, chief of the Glengarry clan, took the title of Lord MacDonell and Aros, and the family adopted this name. In 1768, Duncan MacDonell became chief, but inherited an estate deeply in debt.

Traditionally, tackmen ran the land. They were often close family of the clan chief. Tacksmen were people who rented land from the chief and then divided it up and sub-let it to others. Duncan realised that, by doing this, the tacksmen made more money than they paid him; he raised rents and cut out these middlemen. Later he evicted farmers in favour of renting the land for sheep farming.

Stored in archives are the eviction notices that ordered John and his fellow tenants off the land. Records show, however, that people continued to live there until 1861. Later tenants were shepherds and farm labourers as Laddie had become a sheep run.

Today you can explore the remains of this township on the edge of Loch Garry. You can also discover other Glengarry stories at our Bolinn and Daingean sites.

People Story: "...a new Glengarry"

Between 1773 and 1853 almost 3500 people left Scotland for Glengarry County, many coming from the Glengarry estate.

Some people were farmers who had lost their living like John Kennedy of Laddie; others could not or would not pay the high rents. Many wanted the new opportunity promised to them by friends and family who had already moved to Canada.

It was often the disgruntled kinsmen of the clan chief, the old tacksmen, who led the groups of people leaving Scotland for new shores. You will find many MacDonells on the ship passenger lists.

The first group of Glengarry clansmen to settle in Glengarry County were amongst those who sailed on the "Pearl", in September 1773. They did not set out for Canada, however, but to America, a British colony. They settled in Albany, where they rented land and farmed.

In 1775, the American War of Independence broke out and the Highlanders fought on the side of the British against the "Patriot" American States. In defeat, they fled to Canada. Here, an exciting new opportunity presented itself; to own rather than rent the land.

"McDonalds...hope to found in the new land a new Glengarry"

Nancy Jean Cameron writing home to Scotland

In 1792, Glengarry County was established and families from back home were encouraged to join them. By the end of the century, the area was considered Highland territory.

"Go not to Glengarry, if you be not a Highlandman"

Warning given to emigrants in 1794.