Keil Cemetery, Southend - Mary McLouran (McLeoran) and her Thomson family headstone.
(The only McLeoran headstone discovered in Southend to date.)
(The only McLeoran headstone discovered in Southend to date.)
Unlocking the story of Malcolm McLaran's Family in Southend around 1800
Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar's Family in Southend
Malcom and Margaret's family was one of several McLeoran families in Southend, Campbeltown and Machrihanish in 1800. The couple married in 1795 and by 1801 were parents of a daughter (Jean) and a son (Malcolm McLaran), the latter's descendants being the chief topic of this website.
This webpage discusses :
Malcom and Margaret's family was one of several McLeoran families in Southend, Campbeltown and Machrihanish in 1800. The couple married in 1795 and by 1801 were parents of a daughter (Jean) and a son (Malcolm McLaran), the latter's descendants being the chief topic of this website.
This webpage discusses :
- discovery of Malcolm McLaran's true parents and his apparent brother Archibald b. in 1807;
- the sources of information;
- the fortunate mistake in Catherine McLaren's 1913 death certificate which led to the discovery of Malcom and Margaret's marriage and family.
The extended McLeoran Family in Southend
The records discussed below confirm that members of the McLeoran family lived in Southend continually between the late 17th century and 1800. Local historians contend that the McLeorans first settled in the area around 1527.
It appears that (as a general rule) the McLeorans:
The records discussed below confirm that members of the McLeoran family lived in Southend continually between the late 17th century and 1800. Local historians contend that the McLeorans first settled in the area around 1527.
It appears that (as a general rule) the McLeorans:
- lived in the western side of Southend - around the Strone Glen and Glen Breckerie - rather than the eastern coast;
- were tenants of the MacNeill's (of Carskey and Ugadale) more often than they were tenants of the Duke of Argyle;
- devoted their efforts to raising cattle and sheep, though in the early 1800s some McLeorans became weavers;
- usually chose marriage partners from the two glens;
- did not intermarry with Lowlanders - a second church in Southend was created to accommodate the infllux from Ayrshire after the 1647 Battle of Dunaverty and the plague that followed;
- towards the end of the 18th century, some of the family relocated to Campbeltown Parish - Campbeltown itself and Machrihanish;
- from the 1850s onwards, pressures from land enclosure and other factors caused all the descendants of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar to emigrate or move to parts of England. Only Jean McLeoran 1796 - 1869 and her two daughters remained in Southend in 1861.
BDM Records in Southend prior to 1855
Prior to the Scottish government assuming responsibility for recording births, deaths and marriages in 1855, parish churches created the records. Southend's Kirk records present various difficulties:
Prior to the Scottish government assuming responsibility for recording births, deaths and marriages in 1855, parish churches created the records. Southend's Kirk records present various difficulties:
- there are no BDM records for Southend Parish prior to 1769 - 1770;
- all death records were lost;
- not all births were recorded;
- some births were not recorded until many years after the event;
- the amount of information recorded on birth and marriage certificates was inconsistent, varying with the clerk of the day;
- mothers' names were rarely recorded, the name of the farm often considered to be more important;
- multiple persons shared the same name, creating difficulties 200 years later differentiating between individuals;
- an individual's name was often spelt differently on birth, marriage and census records;
- the variety of spellings of the McLeoran family surname - Lonan; Louran, McLeoran, McLowran, Lowran, McLeonan, McIlonean are just a few - adds difficulties to searching and identification.
Sources of McLeoran Family records in Southend
Sources which have revealed the McLeoran family history for the period 1700 - 1800 include the following:
Some of these sources are discussed on this page.
Sources which have revealed the McLeoran family history for the period 1700 - 1800 include the following:
- the family history website of an old Southend family: the Ralstons;
- Catherine McLaren's death certificate 1913 - see below;
- advice from Angus Martin regarding the spelling of the McLeoran surname;
- Jean McLeoran's 1796 birth and 1869 death certificates - see below;
- Malcolm McLaran's 1800 birth and 1884 death certificates - see below;
- Mary McLeoran's 1805 headstone at Keil Cemetery, Southend;
- John and Barbra McVicar's 1784 headstone (renewed by son Hugh) at Keil Cemetery, Southend;
- John McMillan MacNeill's 1859 headstone at Keil Cemetery, Southend and his birth and death certificates;
- Scotlandspeople's church birth and marriage records and Kirk sessions for Southend parish;
- the MacNeill of Carskey Journal (aka The Compt Book) 1703 - 1743;
- the 1841 Census recording Archibald and Jean McLeoran - see below;
- the 1792 tenant census undertaken by the Duke of Argyle.
Some of these sources are discussed on this page.
First clue to unlocking the McLeoran story: The Ralston family history website
The Ralstons were an old Southend family who lived alongside the McLeorans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many members of the family migrated to the USA in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The impressive Ralston website covers many families and aspects of life in Southend and contains links to Argyll cemeteries and more.
Ralston genealogy records a Jean McLeoran who died in 1869, her parents being Malcolm McLeoran (shepherd) and Margaret McVicar. One could have ignored this entry completely, but the name McVicar immediately rang a bell: the 1913 death certificate of Catherine McLaren.
The Ralstons were an old Southend family who lived alongside the McLeorans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many members of the family migrated to the USA in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The impressive Ralston website covers many families and aspects of life in Southend and contains links to Argyll cemeteries and more.
Ralston genealogy records a Jean McLeoran who died in 1869, her parents being Malcolm McLeoran (shepherd) and Margaret McVicar. One could have ignored this entry completely, but the name McVicar immediately rang a bell: the 1913 death certificate of Catherine McLaren.
1913 Part of Catherine McLaren's death certificate
Second clue to unlocking the McLeoran story: 1913 Catherine McLaren's death certificate
Catherine passed away in Queensland in 1913 and her death certificate holds a serendipitous error: the informant, her son-in-law James Connell, named Margaret McVicker (SIC) and not Margaret McQuilkan as Catherine's mother. James obviously had some knowledge of the McLaren family tree, but mistakenly offered Catherine's grandmother's surname instead of her mother's.
This generational error has linked the McLarans of Dalby to Jean McLeoran and her descendants in UK and North Dakota, to Malcolm McLaran's true parents, Jean and Malcolm's brother Archibald and his descendants in Victoria, the family's connection to the MacNeills of Carskey, and McLeoran and McVicar history extending back to the late 17th century.
This discovery has upended the long-held belief (expressed on various ancestry.com family trees) that a Malcolm McLeoran and his wife Mary McBride were the parents of Malcolm McLaran.
Catherine passed away in Queensland in 1913 and her death certificate holds a serendipitous error: the informant, her son-in-law James Connell, named Margaret McVicker (SIC) and not Margaret McQuilkan as Catherine's mother. James obviously had some knowledge of the McLaren family tree, but mistakenly offered Catherine's grandmother's surname instead of her mother's.
This generational error has linked the McLarans of Dalby to Jean McLeoran and her descendants in UK and North Dakota, to Malcolm McLaran's true parents, Jean and Malcolm's brother Archibald and his descendants in Victoria, the family's connection to the MacNeills of Carskey, and McLeoran and McVicar history extending back to the late 17th century.
This discovery has upended the long-held belief (expressed on various ancestry.com family trees) that a Malcolm McLeoran and his wife Mary McBride were the parents of Malcolm McLaran.
29 Nov 1795 Marriage of Malcolm Louran (McLeoran) (Senior) and Margaret McViccar (McVicar).
1795 McLeoran - McVicar marriage
Malcolm's parents, Malcom Louran (McLeoran) of Druma Voullin and Margaret McViccar (McVicar) of Amod, married in Southend on 29 Nov 1795, prior to the birth of their first child Jean, born in December 1796.
There is no record of Malcom McLeoran remarrying after the (assumed) death of Margaret McVicar around 1807.
Malcolm's parents, Malcom Louran (McLeoran) of Druma Voullin and Margaret McViccar (McVicar) of Amod, married in Southend on 29 Nov 1795, prior to the birth of their first child Jean, born in December 1796.
There is no record of Malcom McLeoran remarrying after the (assumed) death of Margaret McVicar around 1807.
1796 Jean Lonan's (McLeoran's) birth record
1796 The birth of Jean McLeoran
Jean McLeoran was born at Amod - a farm which still exists today at the headwaters of Glen Breckerie - on 3 Dec 1796, her name recorded as Jean Lonan.
It is probable (see below) that Jean became the backbone of the McLeoran family, possibly raising her two younger brothers, Malcolm and Archibald, and then Malcolm's illegitimate son, also named Archibald, while raising her own two daughters.
Jean's younger daughter Ann Mackay emigrated with her family to North Dakota and laid the foundations for an extensive family spread across the USA today, while her older daughter, Isobel McLeure, married twice and raised a family in Northumberland.
Jean McLeoran was born at Amod - a farm which still exists today at the headwaters of Glen Breckerie - on 3 Dec 1796, her name recorded as Jean Lonan.
It is probable (see below) that Jean became the backbone of the McLeoran family, possibly raising her two younger brothers, Malcolm and Archibald, and then Malcolm's illegitimate son, also named Archibald, while raising her own two daughters.
Jean's younger daughter Ann Mackay emigrated with her family to North Dakota and laid the foundations for an extensive family spread across the USA today, while her older daughter, Isobel McLeure, married twice and raised a family in Northumberland.
1869 Part of Jean McLeoran's death certificate
1869 Jean McLeoran's death
Jean passed away on 14 Jul 1869 at the Shore Cottage of Carskey estate. Interestingly, this cottage may be rented today. She was the only descendant of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar to die in Southend.
Her death certificate recorded the following details:
These details fit seamlessly with Jean's birth record and her parents' wedding certificate, once one accepts the changes in surname spelling over the years.
Jean passed away on 14 Jul 1869 at the Shore Cottage of Carskey estate. Interestingly, this cottage may be rented today. She was the only descendant of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar to die in Southend.
Her death certificate recorded the following details:
- Jean was 72 years of age;
- she was a retired seamstress;
- her father was Malcom McLeoran, a shepherd - deceased;
- her mother was Margaret McVicar - deceased;
- the informant was her younger daughter, Ann Mackay.
These details fit seamlessly with Jean's birth record and her parents' wedding certificate, once one accepts the changes in surname spelling over the years.
30 Mar 1800 Malco(l)m McLouran's (McLaran's) birth certificate
1800 The birth of Malcolm McLeoran
McLouran was the spelling of the McLaren surname when Malcolm McLaran was born:
McLouran was the spelling of the McLaren surname when Malcolm McLaran was born:
- the date of birth 30 Mar 1800 supports the 85 years attributed to him on his death - in his 85th year;
- his father was recorded as Malcom McLouran of Drumma Voullin, Carskey, and his mother as Margrat McVicar;
- one may conclude from the surname variations that Malcolm's father (Malcom) was probably illiterate.
1884 Malcolm McLaran's death certificate (part)
1884 Malcolm McLaran's death
Malcolm's death certificate offers a few clues to his parents and his birth:
Malcolm's age (85) at the time of his death and these details, when combined with the fact his name was recorded in 1853 as "McLeoran" on the America, are sufficient to establish beyond doubt that Jean McLeoran and Malcolm McLaran were brother and sister, both children of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar.
Malcolm's death certificate offers a few clues to his parents and his birth:
- when he died on 17 Sep 1884, his age was recorded as 85;
- he was born in Argyllshire;
- his father was Malcolm McLaren - a labourer;
- details of his mother were unknown - despite the informant being Catherine (Kate) McLaren who was obviously aware her grandmother was a McVicar.
Malcolm's age (85) at the time of his death and these details, when combined with the fact his name was recorded in 1853 as "McLeoran" on the America, are sufficient to establish beyond doubt that Jean McLeoran and Malcolm McLaran were brother and sister, both children of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar.
1841 Southend Carskey Census - families of Archibald and Jean McLeoran in adjacent cottages
Interpretation of the lower two Carskey households:
Household 1:
Household 2:
All persons were recorded as born in Southend, including Archibald (35) which suggests his birth year was 1806 - 1807.
Household 1:
- Archibald Louran 35 - Archibald McLeoran b. approximately 1807;
- Isabella Louran 28 - Isabella McMillan, Archibald's wife (married 1835), b. c. 1813;
- Donald Louran 5 - their son b 1836;
- Mary Louran 3 - their daughter b 1838;
- Isabella Louran - 1 their daughter b 1840.
Household 2:
- Jean McLeoran 35 - Archibald's older sister born 1796;
- Bell McLeoran 13 - Jean's daughter Isabella b 1827
- Ann McKay 8 - Jean's daughter Ann Mackay b 1835;
- Archibald Loeran 18 - Archibald McLeoran, Malcolm McLaran's illegitimate son by Euphemia McConachy, b 1822.
All persons were recorded as born in Southend, including Archibald (35) which suggests his birth year was 1806 - 1807.
c. 1807 Birth of Archibald McLeoran
There is no record of the birth of an Archibald McLeoran in Southend between 1800 and 1810. However, a Southend marriage certificate (1836 see below) and the 1841 and 1851 Census records of an Archibald McLeoran indicate :
In the absence of:
Conjecture It may be reasonable to conclude:
There is no record of the birth of an Archibald McLeoran in Southend between 1800 and 1810. However, a Southend marriage certificate (1836 see below) and the 1841 and 1851 Census records of an Archibald McLeoran indicate :
- an Archibald McLeoran was born around 1806 - 1807 in Southend;
- he worked at Carskey and in the cottage next door resided Jean McLeoran, her two daughters and Malcolm's illegitimate son Archibald b. 1822.
In the absence of:
- a death record or a headstone for Margaret McVicar or Malcom McLeoran;
- Archibald's birth record;
Conjecture It may be reasonable to conclude:
- Archibald was the son of Margaret McVicar and Malcom McLeoran;
- Margaret McVicar may have died around the time of his birth;
- on the death of Margaret McVicar, 11 years old Jean assumed the role of the female head of the family;
- as Malcom McLeoran and Mary McBride had son, Donald, born at Cattedale in 1806, it is unlikely they are Archibald's parents.
1836 Archibald McLeoran marriage certificate
1884 Archibald McLeoran's death record
1884 Archibald McLeoran's death
Archibald McLeoran died in Victoria in 1884, but his death certificate provides no information to support his being the son of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. It appears his children recalled very little about their father's birth or parents. They correctly named his "spouse at death", Isabella McMillan - who passed away 4 years earlier - see the 1836 marriage record above.
The lack of information about Archibald's parents may be a result of their early deaths, and Archibald's children's (all born after 1836) lack of contact with them.
The births of Jean McLeoran and Malcolm McLaran are the only records of births of offspring of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. If Margaret McVicar's deduced birth year of 1766 is correct, in 1807 she would have been 41 and nearing the end of her childbearing years.
The writer's opinion is that it is beyond doubt that Archibald McLeoran was born in 1807 and was the final child of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. This is supported by:
Archibald McLeoran died in Victoria in 1884, but his death certificate provides no information to support his being the son of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. It appears his children recalled very little about their father's birth or parents. They correctly named his "spouse at death", Isabella McMillan - who passed away 4 years earlier - see the 1836 marriage record above.
The lack of information about Archibald's parents may be a result of their early deaths, and Archibald's children's (all born after 1836) lack of contact with them.
The births of Jean McLeoran and Malcolm McLaran are the only records of births of offspring of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. If Margaret McVicar's deduced birth year of 1766 is correct, in 1807 she would have been 41 and nearing the end of her childbearing years.
The writer's opinion is that it is beyond doubt that Archibald McLeoran was born in 1807 and was the final child of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. This is supported by:
- the closeness of Jean and Archibald at Carskey from at least 1836 to 1860;
- Catherine McLaren spending time in Victoria in the mid-1850s - probably living with or visiting Archibald's children, her first cousins.
Mary McLeoran's Headstone
Mary's headstone - the only McLeoran headstone discovered to date in Southend - has revealed a marriage and subsequent births.
As Mary married Alexander Thom(p)son prior to 1770, there is no record of their marriage. The headstone has only come to light due to the tradition of Scottish women continuing to use their maiden names after marriage.
It is possible that Mary McLeoran was Malcom McLeoran's aunt, or his father's cousin or sister, and Donald McLeoran of Keramenach's cousin or sister. Lack of information renders any connection to Malcom McLeoran pure conjecture.
Mary's headstone - the only McLeoran headstone discovered to date in Southend - has revealed a marriage and subsequent births.
As Mary married Alexander Thom(p)son prior to 1770, there is no record of their marriage. The headstone has only come to light due to the tradition of Scottish women continuing to use their maiden names after marriage.
It is possible that Mary McLeoran was Malcom McLeoran's aunt, or his father's cousin or sister, and Donald McLeoran of Keramenach's cousin or sister. Lack of information renders any connection to Malcom McLeoran pure conjecture.
Discovering the father of Malcom McLeoran b. 1771
Scotslandspeople: 1771 McLeoran and McVicar births in Southend
Some interesting births were recorded in Southend for the year 1771:
*"Lawful" indicates marriage, "natural" when applied indicates illegitimate.
The above indicates that the following persons were living in 1771 in Southend Parish:
Scotslandspeople: 1771 McLeoran and McVicar births in Southend
Some interesting births were recorded in Southend for the year 1771:
- 12 Jun 1771 Mary lawful* daughter of Alexander Thompson Keramenach;
- 27 Jun 1771 Malcom lawful son of Donald McLeoran Keramenach;
- 4 Jul 1771 John McMillian lawful son of Hugh McMillan and Barbara McVicar at Gartvain;
- 16 Aug 1771 Angus lawful son of Donald McLeoran Carskey;
- 14 Nov 1771 Malcom lawful son of Duncan McLeoran Glennamucklach.
*"Lawful" indicates marriage, "natural" when applied indicates illegitimate.
The above indicates that the following persons were living in 1771 in Southend Parish:
- two Malcom McLeorans both born in 1771;
- a Donald McLeoran and a Mary McLeoran, probably siblings or cousins, residing with their families at the clachan of Keramenach in Strone Glen;
- a second Donald McLeoran and his family at Carskey;
- a Duncan McLeoran and his family at Glenamucklach - a property in the north of the parish owned by Col Charles Campbell;
- Hugh McMillan, his wife Barbara McVicar and their family at Gartvain - refer 1792 Duke of Argyle Census;
Some questions that arise:
Ancestral Naming Patterns
Scottish families follow "ancestral naming patterns", but not always strictly. Sometimes children were named after a parent's deceased sibling.
A possible answer to the first question may be that Donald of Keramenach and Duncan of Glenamucklach were siblings who shared a recently deceased brother or close relation named Malcom.
In 1780, Donald McLeoran of Keremenach fathered a son he named Donald. This Donald McLeoran - let us call him Donald of Mucklach - married three times and fathered many children.
In 1815, Malcom McLeoran and Mary McBride had a son named Iver. The following year, Donald of Mucklach also had a son ... and he named him Iver as well. This suggests that it is highly likely that the Malcom who married Mary McBride and Donald of Mucklach were closely related, probably brothers, and Iver McLeoran, son of a Donald McLeoran, born in 1769 at Carskey, may have been their older brother. And perhaps Iver had recently passed away.
Conjecture: IF this is a correct conclusion:
Conjecture it may be, but it is the best conclusion available in the absence of headstones and death certificates.
Another page presents a fanciful family tree back to 1680, based on the information in the MacNeill Compt Book, the 1792 Duke of Argyle's census, and John McMillan's and John McVicar's headstones.
John McMillan
John was Margaret McVicar's cousin. He married the heir to Carskey (Jean MacNeill was an only child), changed his name to John McMillan MacNeill, and became the Laird of Carskey and its 3000+ acres. John was a vital link in the story of the McLeorans in the 19th century as his and his descendants' patronage supported Jean, Alexander, and Malcolm and their children until 1890. John McMillan MacNeill deserves a separate page, along with his descendants, the Forbes Mackays of Carskey.
It is interesting to note that in 1879 when Donald McLaran married Clara Eversden, he offered his birth place as "McMillan Estate, Argyllshire, Scotland" rather than Southend. Donald identified Carskey as his roots and proudly displayed his blood connection to the Laird in 1833, John McMillan MacNeill. (This is a very subtle piece of information buried in Donald McLaran's wedding certificate and it has taken the writer over 10 years to understand its meaning.)
- why in 1771 were two McLeoran sons given the same christian name, Malcom?
- which Malcom McLeoran born in 1771 married Margaret McVicar and which married Mary McBride?
- why is John McMillan included in the list and what became of him?
Ancestral Naming Patterns
Scottish families follow "ancestral naming patterns", but not always strictly. Sometimes children were named after a parent's deceased sibling.
A possible answer to the first question may be that Donald of Keramenach and Duncan of Glenamucklach were siblings who shared a recently deceased brother or close relation named Malcom.
In 1780, Donald McLeoran of Keremenach fathered a son he named Donald. This Donald McLeoran - let us call him Donald of Mucklach - married three times and fathered many children.
In 1815, Malcom McLeoran and Mary McBride had a son named Iver. The following year, Donald of Mucklach also had a son ... and he named him Iver as well. This suggests that it is highly likely that the Malcom who married Mary McBride and Donald of Mucklach were closely related, probably brothers, and Iver McLeoran, son of a Donald McLeoran, born in 1769 at Carskey, may have been their older brother. And perhaps Iver had recently passed away.
Conjecture: IF this is a correct conclusion:
- Duncan of Glenamucklach's son Malcom McLeoran married Margaret McVicar in 1795.
- Donald of Keramenach's son Malcom McLeoran married Mary McBride in 1800.
Conjecture it may be, but it is the best conclusion available in the absence of headstones and death certificates.
Another page presents a fanciful family tree back to 1680, based on the information in the MacNeill Compt Book, the 1792 Duke of Argyle's census, and John McMillan's and John McVicar's headstones.
John McMillan
John was Margaret McVicar's cousin. He married the heir to Carskey (Jean MacNeill was an only child), changed his name to John McMillan MacNeill, and became the Laird of Carskey and its 3000+ acres. John was a vital link in the story of the McLeorans in the 19th century as his and his descendants' patronage supported Jean, Alexander, and Malcolm and their children until 1890. John McMillan MacNeill deserves a separate page, along with his descendants, the Forbes Mackays of Carskey.
It is interesting to note that in 1879 when Donald McLaran married Clara Eversden, he offered his birth place as "McMillan Estate, Argyllshire, Scotland" rather than Southend. Donald identified Carskey as his roots and proudly displayed his blood connection to the Laird in 1833, John McMillan MacNeill. (This is a very subtle piece of information buried in Donald McLaran's wedding certificate and it has taken the writer over 10 years to understand its meaning.)
1800 Farms around Southend
Southend Farms
Keramenach is a farm in Strone Glen close to Carskey. In 1751 and in 1792 it was owned by a blood relation of the MacNeills of Carskey, Neil MacNeal of Ugadale. Today there is a stone building on the site.
Mucklach is also a farm in Strone Glen downstream from Keramenach. Today the site is in ruins.
Carskey was the home of the head of the MacNeill family, one of two major landowners in the Southend Parish from 1505 until around 1900. The MacNeill story extends as far back as the 13th century. Today's Carskey House was built in the early 20th century, replacing the original mansion.
Achinsavel was a clachan several hundred metres north of Carskey. In the early 1700s it was the home of Malcom MacNeil's uncle and later became part of the Carskey estate. Today it is several bumps in a field.
Balinacuissag was part of Carskey, located between the road to the Mull and Carskey Bay.
Glenamucklach was in the north of Southend parish and should not to be confused with Mucklach. Glenamucklach (sometimes spelt Glenmucklach) was owned in 1750 by Alexander McMillan of Dunmore but the map below dated around 1795 suggests Col Charles Campbell owned the property at that time.
Dunglass is a farm near Kilblaan, tenanted by Hugh McVicar in 1800.
Gartvain was the home of the McMillans and the birthplace of John McMillan MacNeill.
Note: in 1800 the majority of the farm buildings were constructed with sod walls and thatched roofs.
Keramenach is a farm in Strone Glen close to Carskey. In 1751 and in 1792 it was owned by a blood relation of the MacNeills of Carskey, Neil MacNeal of Ugadale. Today there is a stone building on the site.
Mucklach is also a farm in Strone Glen downstream from Keramenach. Today the site is in ruins.
Carskey was the home of the head of the MacNeill family, one of two major landowners in the Southend Parish from 1505 until around 1900. The MacNeill story extends as far back as the 13th century. Today's Carskey House was built in the early 20th century, replacing the original mansion.
Achinsavel was a clachan several hundred metres north of Carskey. In the early 1700s it was the home of Malcom MacNeil's uncle and later became part of the Carskey estate. Today it is several bumps in a field.
Balinacuissag was part of Carskey, located between the road to the Mull and Carskey Bay.
Glenamucklach was in the north of Southend parish and should not to be confused with Mucklach. Glenamucklach (sometimes spelt Glenmucklach) was owned in 1750 by Alexander McMillan of Dunmore but the map below dated around 1795 suggests Col Charles Campbell owned the property at that time.
Dunglass is a farm near Kilblaan, tenanted by Hugh McVicar in 1800.
Gartvain was the home of the McMillans and the birthplace of John McMillan MacNeill.
Note: in 1800 the majority of the farm buildings were constructed with sod walls and thatched roofs.
1795 Argyll map - key to holdings
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1795 Argyll map - Glenamucklach
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1795 Argyll map - showing the interwoven Southend holdings of:
- the Duke of Argyll
- the MacNeills of Ugadale
- the MacNeills of Carskey
- the Duke of Argyll
- the MacNeills of Ugadale
- the MacNeills of Carskey