The MacNeill Compt Book
Southend after 1647 Dunaverty Massacre
Numerous articles about the MacNeill's of Southend may be found online, including a 2014 post from the Glens of Antrim Historical Society. That article says that in 1651 - following the Battle of Dunaverty in 1647 and the Plague - only 3 chimneys were left smoking in Southend and suggests the Compt Book is an excellent source of names of Southend families who survived these two horrific events, both MacNeill tenants and others.
Numerous articles about the MacNeill's of Southend may be found online, including a 2014 post from the Glens of Antrim Historical Society. That article says that in 1651 - following the Battle of Dunaverty in 1647 and the Plague - only 3 chimneys were left smoking in Southend and suggests the Compt Book is an excellent source of names of Southend families who survived these two horrific events, both MacNeill tenants and others.
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1703 - 1743 Malcolm MacNeill of Carskey Estate Journal - aka The Compt Book
The MacNeill Journal was published by Captain Frank Forbes Mackay (1880 - 1959) in 1955 when he was 75. This was his very first literary effort. At the time, reviews of the publication decried Mackay's lack of knowledge of the period but acknowledged his passion for the subject - see below. Captain Mackay, a descendant of Malcolm MacNeill of Carskey (and, of course, McVicar descendant, John McMillan MacNeill) was Donald McLaran's third cousin once removed. He served in India, Persia and Mesopotamia in all ranks from Trooper to Lt Colonel for over 30 years and was also a merchant in Cochin. Later on he grew tomatoes in Dorset - perhaps during the Depression - before retiring to his native Kintyre and finally to Edinburgh. There, as the last male survivor on the direct line of the MacNeills of Carskey after the 1940 death of his elder brother, Hugh, Mackay inherited amongst other things, an old and stout iron strong box. Inside he discovered the Compt Book, untouched since the mid-18th century. What an inheritance it proved to be! Information on the Compt Book may be found online. |
1905 The author of the MacNeill Compt Book - Frank Forbes Mackay
(National Galleries of Scotland) |
Captain Mackay decided to devise a format suitable for the Journal's publication. He was aware the Compt Book would have limited appeal, but he considered publication to be essential to assist future generations and researchers. Mackay's interpretation of the book and his comments on Southend history in general have proved of great value to this website. He conveys an understanding of the difficulties faced by his ancestors as they carefully trod a precarious political path around the time of the Battle of Dunaverty and its infamous massacre, a bare 3 km from Carskey and only a few years before Malcolm MacNeill's birth.
Malcolm MacNeill, who secured his rights to Carskey in 1701 (the MacNeills had occupied the site since 1505), was also a merchant trading out of nearby Campbeltown. He traded between Ayrshire and Dublin, but not Glasgow which was an unimportant port in the early 1700s.
Malcolm's son Archibald married Penelope, a daughter of the house of Sanda (the MacDonalds, their residence, Macharioch, is located on the eastern side of Southend). Malcolm, Archibald and Penelope are some of the names that feature in the extended MacNeill and McLeoran families between 1770 and 1850. Mackay explained that in the 18th century there were only a couple of families in Southend of similar social station to the MacNeills and with whom they could intermarry. Perhaps in the back of Mackay's mind was the marriage of his great grandmother Jean MacNeill, the end of the MacNeill line in 1800, to the local farmer-come-soldier, and McVicar descendant, John McMillan?
The Compt Book is approximately 300 x 180 and Captain Mackay thought it was designed to accompany MacNeill on his horseback rounds of his estate. On the spot, MacNeill would record his dealings with his (often illiterate) tenants. Captain Mackay describes the book as extremely untidy and suggests that its contents would have been transferred to master ledgers in Campbeltown, none of which have survived. Oddly, entries commenced at both ends of the book and met in the middle. Towards the middle of the century, Malcolm's son, Archibald MacNeill, assumed the reins of the estate and continued to make regular use of the book.
Various McVicar family members e.g. "John McViccar in Lailt", are mentioned in the Compt Book. Donald McLaran's grandmother was Margaret McViccar, usually spelt "McVicar". The McVicar family featured in the early 1500s in Southend and Carskey history, some members married into the MacNeill family.
During the mid-18th century, the only landowners in Southend apart from the Duke of Argyle were:
18th Century Life in Southend
Southend was fertile in comparison with many other Highland areas, and supported around 10 times the current population. The lower class lived in clachans - groups of houses - located on the many farms. Some had long term tenancies but many moved regularly (sometimes annually) from clachan to clachan. The clachans consisted of farmers and tradesmen eg weavers, millers. The parish village was known as Muneroy in the 1700s, briefly as Newton Argyll in the early 19th century, before settling on its final name of Southend.
Prior to 1800, the lower classes lived in houses of sod construction with thatched roofs secured by ropes to counter the high winds associated with the nearby Mull of Kintyre. Most stone farm buildings existing in Southend today were constructed after 1800.
Malcolm MacNeill, who secured his rights to Carskey in 1701 (the MacNeills had occupied the site since 1505), was also a merchant trading out of nearby Campbeltown. He traded between Ayrshire and Dublin, but not Glasgow which was an unimportant port in the early 1700s.
Malcolm's son Archibald married Penelope, a daughter of the house of Sanda (the MacDonalds, their residence, Macharioch, is located on the eastern side of Southend). Malcolm, Archibald and Penelope are some of the names that feature in the extended MacNeill and McLeoran families between 1770 and 1850. Mackay explained that in the 18th century there were only a couple of families in Southend of similar social station to the MacNeills and with whom they could intermarry. Perhaps in the back of Mackay's mind was the marriage of his great grandmother Jean MacNeill, the end of the MacNeill line in 1800, to the local farmer-come-soldier, and McVicar descendant, John McMillan?
The Compt Book is approximately 300 x 180 and Captain Mackay thought it was designed to accompany MacNeill on his horseback rounds of his estate. On the spot, MacNeill would record his dealings with his (often illiterate) tenants. Captain Mackay describes the book as extremely untidy and suggests that its contents would have been transferred to master ledgers in Campbeltown, none of which have survived. Oddly, entries commenced at both ends of the book and met in the middle. Towards the middle of the century, Malcolm's son, Archibald MacNeill, assumed the reins of the estate and continued to make regular use of the book.
Various McVicar family members e.g. "John McViccar in Lailt", are mentioned in the Compt Book. Donald McLaran's grandmother was Margaret McViccar, usually spelt "McVicar". The McVicar family featured in the early 1500s in Southend and Carskey history, some members married into the MacNeill family.
During the mid-18th century, the only landowners in Southend apart from the Duke of Argyle were:
- MacNeill of Carskey;
- MacDonald of Sanda;
- McShenoig (certainly an ancestor / relation of Jane McShenoig, Malcolm McLaran's second wife) of Lephenstrath;
- Omey of Keill;
- Neal MacNeal of Ugadale, who owned Keremenach and Gartvaigh.
18th Century Life in Southend
Southend was fertile in comparison with many other Highland areas, and supported around 10 times the current population. The lower class lived in clachans - groups of houses - located on the many farms. Some had long term tenancies but many moved regularly (sometimes annually) from clachan to clachan. The clachans consisted of farmers and tradesmen eg weavers, millers. The parish village was known as Muneroy in the 1700s, briefly as Newton Argyll in the early 19th century, before settling on its final name of Southend.
Prior to 1800, the lower classes lived in houses of sod construction with thatched roofs secured by ropes to counter the high winds associated with the nearby Mull of Kintyre. Most stone farm buildings existing in Southend today were constructed after 1800.
Neil McLeoran of Keramenach
1723 Excerpts from the Compt Book - Neil McLeoran
The MacNeill Journal states that Neill McLeonan (i.e. McLeoran) was a tenant at Keramenach in 1723.
"There is one of the frosd tydie (milking) Cows in Keramenach which I bought from Neill McLeonan (McLeoran) there, which is to come to this toun (Carskey) whe shee calfs. Receaved this Cow."
From this entry we can conclude that Neill McLeoran was a tenant at Keramenach in the mid 1720s and that he may have been born around 1690. The 1751 Rent Roll for the area records Keramenach as the property of Neill MacNeal of Ugadale - see above.
It is reasonable to assume that the Donald McLeoran living at Keramenach in 1771, was a direct descendant of Neill McLeoran - most likely a grandson as the gap between the two is approximately 50 years, or two generations.
It is also reasonable to assume that Mary McLeoran who lived contemporaneously with Donald at Keramenach, was related to Donald - perhaps his sister or they may have been first or second cousins.
"There is one of the frosd tydie (milking) Cows in Keramenach which I bought from Neill McLeonan (McLeoran) there, which is to come to this toun (Carskey) whe shee calfs. Receaved this Cow."
From this entry we can conclude that Neill McLeoran was a tenant at Keramenach in the mid 1720s and that he may have been born around 1690. The 1751 Rent Roll for the area records Keramenach as the property of Neill MacNeal of Ugadale - see above.
It is reasonable to assume that the Donald McLeoran living at Keramenach in 1771, was a direct descendant of Neill McLeoran - most likely a grandson as the gap between the two is approximately 50 years, or two generations.
It is also reasonable to assume that Mary McLeoran who lived contemporaneously with Donald at Keramenach, was related to Donald - perhaps his sister or they may have been first or second cousins.
Duncan McLeoran - employee of MacNeill
1735 - 1742 Excerpts from the Compt Book - Duncan McLeoran
Duncan McLeonan (i.e. McLeoran) was mentioned as purchaser of a cow from MacNeill in November 1735:
"Then sold to Duncan McLeonan ane cow for slaughter for gch (which) he is to pay me Sixtine mrks Scots."
Captain Mackay suggests that "for slaughter" was in preparation for winter and that salted flesh was in those days a staple of Highland diet.
Duncan was also mentioned in 1737 but his location is not recorded, and in 1740 as a summer herdsman for MacNeill. (This indicates that Duncan was involved in what is called "transhumance" - the seasonal movement of livestock after winter to higher pastures.) In 1742 Duncan was recorded as herding MacNeill's father's cattle and sheep at Carskey. This entry must have been made by Malcom MacNeill's son, Archibald.
There is no further mention of Duncan McLeoran. He may have been Neil's son or his nephew, perhaps born around 1715. Duncan was not recorded as a MacNeill tenant in the Compt Book.
"Then sold to Duncan McLeonan ane cow for slaughter for gch (which) he is to pay me Sixtine mrks Scots."
Captain Mackay suggests that "for slaughter" was in preparation for winter and that salted flesh was in those days a staple of Highland diet.
Duncan was also mentioned in 1737 but his location is not recorded, and in 1740 as a summer herdsman for MacNeill. (This indicates that Duncan was involved in what is called "transhumance" - the seasonal movement of livestock after winter to higher pastures.) In 1742 Duncan was recorded as herding MacNeill's father's cattle and sheep at Carskey. This entry must have been made by Malcom MacNeill's son, Archibald.
There is no further mention of Duncan McLeoran. He may have been Neil's son or his nephew, perhaps born around 1715. Duncan was not recorded as a MacNeill tenant in the Compt Book.
Donald McLeoran of Carskey / Balinacuissag
1740 Excerpt from the Compt Book - Donald McLeoran in Balinacuissag
Malcom MacNeill recorded a Donald McLeonan (i.e. McLeoran) on 17 Jan 1740 as a tenant farmer at Balinacuissag (Ballinacuissag). This farm is located adjacent but SW of Carskey, between the coastline and the road to the Mull - see map at top of page, Number 1.
There is no further mention of Donald McLeoran in the Compt Book and Donald's relationship to Neil is not possible to determine.
It may be reasonable to assume that the Donald McLeoran who fathered sons in and around Carskey from 1760 onwards was a descendant of the Donald McLeoran mentioned in the Compt Book.
There is no further mention of Donald McLeoran in the Compt Book and Donald's relationship to Neil is not possible to determine.
It may be reasonable to assume that the Donald McLeoran who fathered sons in and around Carskey from 1760 onwards was a descendant of the Donald McLeoran mentioned in the Compt Book.
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The value of The Compt Book
The MacNeill Journal establishes beyond doubt:
It a similar length of time, 160 years, from 1690 back to 1527 and the Lady on the Rock legend. Why would anything have changed in that time? The Lady on the Rock legend becomes suddenly within reach, perhaps plausible. Possible McLeoran Family Tree - 1660 - 1770 A deduced tree - pure speculation - has been included out of interest. |
1955 This reviewer was not overly complimentary about the Compt Book
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