Campbeltown timeline+Saddell Abbey

The Norwegian Connection and Saddell Abbey the legend of and by generations of Kintyreans that Magnus Barefoot annexed Kintyre to the Norwegian Crown by "Sailing" his longboat across the Tarbert in Kintyre; Magnus returned tot Scotland after his conquest of Man in 1098 having made treaty with the Scots king. Magnus would have all islands to the west of Scotland and the Isle of Man. These boundaries of the Norwegian kingdom and bishopric of the Isles were accepted including later times as he claimed as many islands as possible. Magnus came to Kintyre and caused its drag across the isthmus of Tarbert where ships would acclaim the isles, thus possessing Kintyre except for Man. Kintyre was included among Scottish possessions during the reign of David I, the place that was never part of the bishopric of the Isles and limits coinciding with those of the Kingdom. [33-7]

1431-1661 Most of the land belongs to the MacDonald family of Largie from which the district gets its name: The district of Largieside is situated on the west coast of Kintyre, the northern part in the parish of Kilcalmonell and the south in the parish of Killean and Kilchenzie. The lands were forfeited after the defeat of the forces of Sir Alexander MacDonald by General Leslie at Rhunahaorine Moss (1647)- related although not neighbors abroad. Tayinloan was post village for Saddell and the Isle of Gigha and the mail coach horses were changed there. Early records of events in the locality are very scarce but like other parts of the Western Highlands emigration to the New World began as early as 1739, mainly to the Carolinas and later to Canada, Australia and New Zealand… The main ports of arrival appear to have been in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. [25-2]

Families who held land under the tack from Largie: Stewart, MacPherson, McAllister, MacKinlay and McEachern, and as the system disappeared the tenant farmer status came into being. The names McGill, McKinnon, McLean, MacKinlay, Gillies, Taylor, MacPherson, McCarmaig, Sillars, Bell, Blue, McMurchy, McKay, McLarty, McBride and McCaog appear as local farmers who made purchases from the store owned by Robert McNiven near the village of Muasdale. Almost all of the above family names have disappeared from the area but descendants are to be found in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. [25-2] No statistics for Tarbert or Gigha Fisheries before 1792…

1560 1st August, Parliament asked a Committee headed by John Knox to draw up an organization for the Reformed Kirk. But it was not till 1690, after the accession of William and Mary that a Presbyterian Church of Scotland was finally established. One local church is being converted to secular use and another is being demolished to present a very short account of the history of the churches in Campbeltown since the Reformation [22-3] To look beyond the Presbyterian pale, the Catholic-Episcopal tradition had far longer roots, but this article's 1560 base limits it to the outward re-establishment of the ancient order, whose Celtic lamp had indeed never been wholly extinguished [33-7]

1562 the existence of the Protestant religion in Kintyre though it is worth remarking that the Act of 1562 by which a third of ecclesiastical benefices were appropriated to the Crown for the purpose, amongst others, of paying the clergy, did not apply to Argyll and the Isles. For one thing the Irish missionaries seem to distinguish between the hundreds they claim to have converted (from Protestantism) and baptized, and the dozen or so they merely baptized: and as already indicated the ministers made their lives very difficult; in one case at least leading armed bands against them. [22-3]

1588 Arrival of Malcolm and Archibald McNeill, two of the sons of Lachlan McNeill Buidhe of Tirfergus. A lease of 1694 to Blayney Townley and Archibald and colm Macneale of the lordship of Ballymascanlon indicates they had held the land for the previous year. Family tradition had it that thirty or forty families had emigrated with them. Although there are now no McNeills in the district there are many McAllisters presumably of Kintyre ancestry. [The Tory Hunters, Kintyre Magazine]

1609-1635 Records do not exist which sufficiently illuminate the position in Argyll, Kintyre and Campbeltown. Kintyre was still Catholic MacDonald country till 1609 and the Seventh Earl of Argyll who became the feudal Lord of that ancient clan had married a Catholic lady in 1610, and can have had little interest in enforcing the reformed religion. There are no for records prior to the Minutes of the Synod of Argyll, which start in 1639, and the Minutes of the Presbytery commencing 1635 [22-3]

1617 The organizational unit of the Roman Church, which replaced the old Columban Church, was the Parish and the pre-Reformation Parish, each with their own church which were eventually incorporated into the Parish of Lochhead - Kilkerran, or Kinloch, now the Parish of Campbeltown were Kilkerran, Kilchousland, Kilmichael and Kilkivan. The first three were united into the Parish of Lochhead as early as 1617. At the same time Kilkivan was incorporated with Kilblaan and Kilcolmkill into Southend though it eventually became part of Campbeltown in 1772. . [22-3]

1622 A ship set sail from Campbeltown (en route Cape Breton) to assist the besieged French Protestants in Cistercian La Rochelle (Raphoe, Cloyne and Douglas) full of warriors with such Munster local names as McSporran, McLarty, McMillan, McNeill and McAllister: they were armed with bows and arrows and had with them two pipers and a harper. The Protestant Bishop complained to King James VI and I of the activities of the missionaries (i.e., Maghera, Clogher, Clonmany) but the wisest fool in Christendom replied that there was no need to be angry with those who were converting the wild natives of Kintyre to Christianity, even if it came from Rome rather they ought to be thanked. [22-3]

1638 Kintyre Ministers at the Synod in 1638, Murdo McWharry (Currie) at Saddell, Donald Omey, Lochhead, Duncan Omey, Kiicolmkill, and colm McOsenage, Kilkivan. Donald Omey was expected to preach in the three Parish Churches in turn and there was an obvious necessity for a central church in the expanding burgh. As early as 1642 the Synod took steps to put this right and the new Parish Church erected in the form of a Genevan Cross at the New Quay head was ready for occupation in 1643. [22-3]

1642 Its position is shown on the oldest existing plan of the town (c.1760) reproduced as Plate 73 of the Kintyre Volume of the Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Argyll. All that remains of the first Protestant Church built in Kintyre is a stone dated 1642, and a bell, bearing the arms of Neil Campbell of Ederline, Bishop of Argyll, who became a ready convert to Presbyterianism and who was the Church’s first minister though he may never have taken up post. But the new Church was not much good to the Lowland Settlers who had been coming to the district in increasing numbers since 1650. The first settlement was mainly on the East side and it was at Saddell that the first English speaking church in Kintyre was established with the Marquis’s chaplain, James Garner, inducted on 17th June 1654. Prior to that the Lowlanders had returned once at yeare to their old homes in Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire to take communion and to have their children baptized. [22-3]

1645 Kintyre was ravaged by Irish troops of Alistair MacColla; the Cromwellian period was generally one of calm and progress. MacColla had attacked properties belonging to many of the Scottish Covenant supporters and those who dared to try to remain neutral from the Civil War. MacColla had led such a drive since his landing on the Scottish Coast. The House of Argyll favored the Lowlanders and, probably under the influence of the Marquis, the Synod agreed that a new church for the Highlanders - along with a manse - should be built at Kilkenzie while the Lowlanders took possession of the Campbeltown Church and Manse, even although the minutes indicate that the permanence of the Lowland settlement was by no means certain and that the stipend of the Lowland Kirk’s minister was not authorized by the Commissioners for the Plantation of Kirks. But the proposals were forgotten with the restoration of Charles II in 1660 and the consequent execution of the Marquis and Episcopal ascendancy. Both ministers were deprived of their charges in 1662. Mr. Darroch died shortly thereafter but Mr. Keith returned on an indulgence in 1672 when Mr. Cameron took over the Highland Charge. Kintyre did not suffer like the Southwest mainland during “the killing times” but in 1665 two leading elders William Ralston and Colonel Halket were arrested and imprisoned for some two years in Dumbarton Castle. At the same time Colonel James Wallace escaped capture and made his way to the Low Country whence he led the Pentland rising. [22-3]

1645 The most notorious of risings was THE FIRST 'BATTLE' OF DUNDEE'S JACOBITE WAR such that the fight at Loup Hill is little known; - the correspondence of Kintyre families or of alarmed Hamilton or Montgomerie chamberlains watching from Arran, for instance - are elsewhere, suggesting a decisive rising. Attempt by Montrose's MacDonald ally Alasdair MacColla to reconquer the peninsula, brought a fearful retaliation. In May 1647, the Covenanting general David Leslie made one of his lightning marches, from Inveraray south into Kintyre over the Knapdale passes, which Alasdair had left insufficiently guarded, partly, apparently, from an assumption that the real danger was landing from the sea, partly from preoccupation with a planned withdrawal, partly from drink. Some of his forces, belatedly hurrying up to hold the North Kintyre hills, were cut down at Rhunahaorine Point. He and his followers fled to Islay and Ireland; his remaining Argyllshire allies were besieged in Dunaverty Castle and massacred after surrender, from which some sler clans never entirely recovered…The 9th Earl of Argyll, landing in Kintyre during his rebellion in May 1685, wrote to the McAlister 'chief', Alexander McAlister of Loup, the son of a friend, not only urging him to rise against Popery but relying on him to transmit the summons to other named gentry: instead, he sent it to the Privy Council [18-6]

1645 One or two heritors from these clans did join Argyll - for instance, Donald MacNeill of Crear; they retired with badly-needed armed men into the castles, Tarbert, Skipness and Saddell, emerging, after Argyll had marched away. The regime demolished the great royal fortress at Tarbert and other Kintyre castles: old Walter Campbell of Skipness only saved his, as the family home, by abject pleading during Stuart rebound, opposing the rebellion and in plundering was Donald MacNeill of Gallchoille (a place spelt very diversely) in South Knapdale, of whose family little is now known

1651 The Marquis of Argyll crowned the young Charles II at Scone on New yeare s Day 1651, but when the Royal forces were finally scattered at Worcester and Cromwell occupied Scotland he made his peace with the Protector and retired to cultivate his garden at Inveraray. But his son, Lord Lorne, much to his chagrin joined the sl Royalist band, which was still in arms in the Highlands. In 1653 he invaded Kintyre and finally obtained the surrender of Kinloch Castle, at the head of the Castlehill, which had been occupied by William Ralston and other Remonstrants - extreme Covenanters who opposed the Royal authority. Lorne suffered much obloquy for his lenient treatment of his father's tenants. [22-3]

1655 August 15 The first recorded meeting of the Kintyre Presbytery was held at Lochheadwhen the Highlanders or Irish (i.e. Gaelic) congregation were represented by Rev. Dugald Darroch and Lachlan McNeill Buidhe of Tirfergus, his leading elder, and the Lowlanders by Mr. Garner and William Ralston of that Ilk. Campbeltown Lowlanders, however, wanted a church of their own and at their own expense, assisted by a grant from the Marquis they erected a church in Kirk Street, which became known as ‘the Thatched House’ to which Mr. Edward Keith, son of the Provost of Montrose was appointed in 1655. . [22-3]

1655 From the 17th century a number of families, mainly farmers, arrived from Renfrewshire and Ayrshire - "The Lowland Plantation." They could not understand the services, which were in Gaelic, the common speech of the town at the time. They formed themselves into a separate congregation, soon to be known as the Lowland Church, whose place of worship was first "The White House" in Kirk Street, and from 1706, the building nearby at the corner of St. John Street. In 1780 they moved yet again, to the Castlehill, by which name the congregation began to be popularly known. The 1706 building fell into decay, but in 1904 it was renovated, and today, as the oldest ecclesiastical building in the district still in use, it is the hall of the Highland Church. [33-7]

1662 Kintyre petitioned the Privy Council of Scotland for help and Lords of Council gave a commission to Gory McAllister of Loup, Colin Campbell of Skipness, Archibald Campbell of Glencarradale, Neil Og Macneill of Carskey, Lachlan McNeill of Tirfergus and John Cunningham of Hill of Feith to suppress and apprehend some of whom came from Ireland, and some from the north islands, violently attacked houses and threatened their inhabitants- the Atholl Raids were not the first abuse, of this kind to which the Lowland peoples of the district bad been subjected [25-3]

1670 Rev. Archibald MacNeale was ordained deacon on 8 March. He was priest at Hillsborough, County Down, and was rector of Ballintoy in North Antrim in 1671. An ardent Jacobite - was among those attainted by the Irish Parliament of 1689. As a teenager he may have been aware of the burial in Rathlin Island churchyard on 9 December 1665 of James, fourth son of Andrew Boyd, M.A., Minister of Eaglesham, who was appointed bishop of Argyll on 4th March 1613. Bishop Boyd was a son of Thomas, son of the fifth Lord Boyd (Highland Papers, Vol.IV, pp.189,190. - Letter of Bishop Boyd to King James I, 24th February 1615). Archdeacon Craven in his Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, quotes Scott's Fasti entry regarding the bishop. His son James, described as "Of Rachrie" (Rathlin), was excommunicated by the Synod of Argyll for joining the Marquess of Montrose and "McDonnell Coll-Kittoch in their rebellion." Rathlin holds the mortal remains of a loyal cavalier! [Cloghar, Kintyre Magazine]

1685 The most important event to affect the town during the Episcopalian period was the raising of the Ninth Earl’s Standard of rebellion at Campbeltown Cross in the Spring of 1685. Both the Church and the Kirk Street meetinghouse were packed to hear a series of rousing sermons and a number of both congregations were executed, imprisoned or exiled to the Colonies when the rising speedily collapsed. Later the Presbytery had to deal with the case of Hector McNeill who had been transported to the West Indies, but managed to return seven years later to find his wife had acquired a new man. Both congregations, but particularly the Lowlanders were afterwards subjected not only to the depredations of the occupying Atholl troops but also to the harrying of Islemen who stole everything they could lay their hands on. Mr. Keith had died in 1681 and the Lowland congregation was without a minister till 1694 when by the influence of Elizabeth Tollemache, first Duchess of Argyll the redoubtable, if eccentric Revd. James Boes was presented. His energy was early directed towards obtaining full recognition of the Lowland congregation, though by the General Assembly. This resulted in the payment of his stipend out of the tends, a well-intended effort, which, after his death was to have disastrous results for the congregation. Mr. Boes went on to have a new stone church erected in Kirk Street at the expense of the congregation assisted by the Duke. At the same time the Duchess presented the beautiful communion and baptis dishes still in use by the congregation, though in the time of the Rev. Daniel Kelly the plate was found doing duty in the Manse to cover a barrel of salt herring. Among Mr. Boes’ large family was Mary; she married Mr. Hugh Montgomery of Broomlands, Provost of Campbeltown from 1725 to 1743. Their daughter Elizabeth married Rev. David Campbell of the Askomel family who was Minister at Southend, and from that union was descended the Rt. Hon. Henry Colville Montgomery Campbell, Bishop of London (1956-61). Mr. Boes served his congregation till his death in 1749 and was largely contemporaneous with his colleague Rev. Charles Stewart who ministered in the Highland Church from 1708 to 1765. The hard copy Magazine No. 17 contains details of his interesting family.. [22-3]

During this period and for some time after, the Session was all-powerful. It controlled poor relief, had much to do with education and above all jealously guarded the morals of the inhabitants. At least one Provost distinguished far beyond his native Parish for his noted services in Ireland in the yeare of ‘98 had to undergo the humiliation of public admonition before the congregation. The full implication of Mr. Boes’ efforts to have the Lowland Congregation recognized officially only became known on his death. The Duke of Argyll, as principal heritor had the appointment of the new minister in his hands and he presented Mr. John McAlpine, a Highlander, to the Lowland Charge. This was deeply resented by the congregation and hostility between congregation and minister flared up and it was not till shortly before Mr. McAlpine’s death in Edinburgh following his attendance at the assembly, that any sort of reconciliation took place. But the dispute over patronage immediately developed into open war. Almost incredibly the Duke, without any consultation, foisted another unwelcome incumbent. This was George Robertson, who had come to the town as a schoolmaster, become ordained and assistant in the Highland Church to Mr. Stewart whose daughter Mary he married. Only three members, including the Duke's Chamberlain signed the call to Dr. Robertson, as he subsequently became, and the bitterest opposition resulted in 1766 in the great bulk of the congregation seceding to form a Relief Congregation.. [22-3]

1660c-1685 Atholl Raid and sever measure taken against the inhabitants of Kintyre When the Government heard of the preparation being made in Holland by Monmouth and Argyll, the Marquis of Atholl was given the office of Lieutenant and Justiciar of the Shires of Argyll and Tarbert. The castles of Lochhead and Dunaverty were finally demolished; at least we find no further record of them. After the Earl left Kintyre in May 1685 the district was subjected to a systematic pillaging at the bands of Atholl's followers and othersThe rebellion coincided with the last phase of the Lowland plantation of Kintyre when, as we have shown, the influx of people from the Lowlands had produced conditions bordering on famine, and got completely out of hand and that the excesses were committed in a vindictive spirit against the Lowlanders. After the Revolution: 'Account of the Depredations on the Clan Campbell by the troops of the Duke of Gordon, Marquis of Atholl, Lord Strathnavar, and others. The list includes McEachran, MacKay, Donald Oig Campbell, and Lamont as helpers of Holland and fishing gear removed by the MacDonalds. In the Southend parish James Maxwell in Pollywilline was raided by Donald Gorm Macdonald, John Mackay, Lauchlan McIntalyour, Gilniver Mackay, and others, and lost a half barrel of butter, a loaf of tallow, a barked hide, and several sacks of meal. William Hamilton, Laird of Brownmuir near Beith, then residing in Southend parish had eighteenecows lifted by John Dow McAllister, and "confessed by the said John." Machrimore, then held in tack by the Laird of Ralston, and sub tenanted by Alan Anderson, Alex Picken, Robert Ross, and William Henrie, was raided by some men who came in a boat from the Isle of Skye, and beds, clothes, and household utensils carried off. (accounted the yeare 1672). A burgess in the town, and this receives confirmation from some Campbeltown accounts of the yeare 1672. In that yeare one of the most important merchants in the town was Donald Clark, a member of an old Highland family descended from the pre-Reformation parish clerks, and ancestor of the Kintyre Clarks of the following two centuries. He was at this date also proprietor of Drumlemble, which he held in feu from the Earl of Argyll. [25-3]

1686 James VII issued a warrant for a charter to Donald of the barony of Gigha once held of Argyll; and he signed a 1688 loyal address as 'of Taynish'. He also apparently owned lands in Otter parish, Cowal, where a new neighbor on a forfeited Campbell estate was Alexander MacLean, Commissary of Argyll and son of its bishop… Kintyre McNeills were really a branch of the Macleans? If not, a more certain bond between them was determination to oppose the Argyll family's restoration, perhaps renewed vassalage for Gallchoille, Loss of Otter for Alexander, and the ruin of the Macleans through the confiscation of their chief's lands, from which the 9th Earl's fall had saved them… [18-6]

1688 William of Orange's invasion threatened such a restoration, a large number of likely sufferers by it signed a loyal address on 6 November 1688 while in arms to defend Argyllshire - Macleans, members of mid-Argyll chiefs' families, and from Kintyre Alexander McAlister of 'Tarbat-Loup', the brother of Archibald of Tarbert, the second most important McAlister laird, Gallchoille and the teenage Archibald MacDonald of Largie, one of Kintyre's few Catholics. James’ governance produced the unrecorded overthrow of his Argyllshire regime and the Campbells' resurgence unlike any other shire was said to have of loyalists- the revolutionary Convention of Estates in early 1689 named Loup and Largie among the commissioners of supply. When in late April a captured French ship reached Kintyre, Loup dutifully joined Angus Campbell of Kilberry in seizing and guarding her, reporting to the 10th Earl of Argyll [18-6]

1688 March, the exiled James reached Ireland, where there was a huge Catholic army, part of which was routing the Protestants in Ulster and rapidly overrunning that province. The Convention responded to the news by ordering the raising of its own army. Argyll was to recruit one regiment. Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder was authorized to raise a further 600 men in Islay and Jura for Local defence; and Lieutenant-Colonel Cleland was ordered, once the new 'Cameronian' regiment raising in the South-West was mustered, to march it to Argyllshire and station 400 men in Kintyre. Two frigates had been hired to cruise, guarding the passage between Ulster and Scotland [18-6]

1688 Alexander MacLean seized the regiment and was sent to Ireland to seek help for his clan, he found there James with his own young chief Sir John MacLean, fresh from France, and Sir Donald MacDonald younger of Sleat, the very last Highland Crusader, from fighting in Hungary. Alexander's good news that the West Highland clans were preparing to rise for James and retained him a knighthood. The mainstay of the 'Ireland first' Lobby; to be composed of all the Argyllshire sl clans from the Kintyre ones in the south northwards to, and including, the Stewarts of Appin; to be composed of all the Argyllshire sl clans from the Kintyre ones in the south northwards to, and including, the Stewarts of Appin; few, if any, of their chiefs could have given him prior approval; the two successes were perhaps connected; as James’ means of reinforcing the clans and viscount Dundee. Ideally the Campbell regime through Argyll would prevent potential supporters from taking fright at the Irish as alien Papists as led by the Highlanders

1688, May 2, the day after May Day, Sir Donald MacDonald with a sl party landed on the island of Cara assured there the beacons blazed there and on the Mull of Kintyre to guide boats and vessels across. Sir John and Sir Alexander Maclean reached Cara about 6 May, with two Irish companies the latter had already risen for his regiment. Local gentry rose to support them - McAlester of Loup, McAlester of Tarbert, MacNeills of Gallchoille, young MacDonald of Largie and his uncle and Tutor. The Stewarts on the nearby island of Bute might be willing to do likewise if their head, Sir John Stewart Sheriff of Bute took the lead; he was at Edinburgh for the Convention, though avoiding attendance: a messenger was sent to persuade him. Dundee would opt to bring sl clans into his regiment besides planning to open a passage through Argyllshire from the north to Kintyre. Sir Alexander, with his Irish companies, went with him, having appointed Gallchoille his lieutenant colonel to command in Kintyre in his absence. [18-6]

1688 blunders: Sir Alexander had he only left his Irish companies, their extra numbers might have proved decisive. Young was to hear from Jacobite prisoners that Sir Donald MacDonald remained and fought in Kintyre. Sir Donald would be as eager as Sir John to reach home, raise the Sleat clan regiment as colonel and, forestalling his own rivals, incorporate the Keppoch MacDonalds in it. Nor, probably, would Sir Alexander have risked leaving a man whose father claimed the chiefship of all Clan Donald in a position to tempt the Kintyre McAlisters and MacDonalds, whose strength he naturally magnified, to defy Gallchoille - for Sir Donald despised the MacNeills. [18-6]

1688 Following the Campbells and Lowlanders whom disarmed in 1685, Gallchoille, Loup, Tarbert and Largie at once advanced to the east coast and seized Skipness Castle, Other lairds joined them - two other McAlisters, Balinakill and Kenloch, possibly Maclean of Tarbert in Jura, later penalized for Jacobinism (though he may have preferred the MacLean clan regiment). The family on both sides during 1685; the McIlvernocks of Oib when the old father had been forfeited for being in Argyll's camp and received by son who joined Gallchoille seized again and restored in the general 1690 repeal of forfeitures, to the father. Besides Gallchoille and Oib, both Loup and Tarbert as well had lands in South Knapdale - McAlister of Loup's actual residence was Ardpatrick House, on the north shore of West Loch Tarbert opposite Loup on the south shore: the rising might almost appear a Knapdale occupation of northern Kintyre. There were probably not more than 400 Jacobites in arms; If attacked, they could not retreat to several castles, like the Campbells, for the castles were no longer there. The MacDonalde of Sanda lead no dominant imitative opposing the Jacobites and the Campbells did not seem to belong to any side. [18-6]

1689 the Battle of Loup Hill, the last major battle fought in Kintyre, took place between the Government forces supporting King William and a local combined force consisting of MacDonalds, McAlesters and McNeills led by Colonel Donald McNeill of Gallichoille who all supported King James II. At the date of the battle Lachlan Dughail provided a natural barrier and a major obstacle as it protected the eastern flank of the local army and the attackers had to make an assault up the rocky cliffs of Creag na Inghean that dominated the northern face of Loup Hill.After a battle lasting several hours the local forces were obliged to withdraw to the island of Gigha and then later to Ireland, so the plans of King James and his supporters were thwarted. [18-6]

1767 The work was eventually completed with an entry in the accounts “To a drink to ye lads at taking down the scaffold of ye roof, 8d.”, and on 17 March the congregation was received into the Relief Presbytery, which at that time had only seven members. Duke also frustrated all attempts to get sand in the neighborhood. This was overcome by sending a boat to Ardnacross where permission was given by the Laird, Neil McNeill. The men of the congregation assisted by imported skilled labor undertook the actual building. It has to be remembered that a considerable part of the congregation were tenants of the all-powerful Duke and stood the risk of losing their farms. . [22-3]

1750-1781 The Church had been altered and roofed in 1750 but when the greatest of its many distinguished ministers, the Revd. John Smith, was ordained in 1781 it was in a very dilapidated condition. In pressing the Presbytery in 1790 to build a new church Dr. Smith pointed out the danger of losing members to new and various sectaries such as the anti-burgers and Methodists who had been active in the district. A new sect to be formed at this time followed the evangelical visits of James and Robert Haldane, great grandfather and great granduncle of Naomi Mitchison. (See No. 5 hard copy of the Magazine.) An Independent Chapel was set up in 1805 in Burnside Street where the Salvation Army Citadel now stands. Despite a hiatus between 1812 and 1823 it continued till 1863 when its congregation was dissolved. It has been suggested this was the first Congregation Church in Scotland. . [22-3]

1770 The Loch Kiaran (on Loch Kiaran, Lachlan Dughail and Loch Garasdale, all situated within two miles of the village of Clachan) surrounding the loch are several farms and a corn drying kiln was As part of the old McAlester lands of Balinakill it was believed to have had a castle-like building on the eastern shore adjacent to the site of the old farms of North and South Lochkiaran, but apart from some rocks which appear during very dry weather conditions nothing can be found to denote any signs of a loch dwelling. It was from one of these farms that the Gilchrist family left to settle in North Carolina and later set up the main educational and church facilities in the Lumber River valley near Fayetteville. Other families who also emigrated at that period were Brown, McMurchy, McPhaul, McBryde, McCoist, Johnstone, McAlester, McFiggan and McNair. A sl loch close to the main part is named Loch na Beiste (The Beast's Loch) [19-7]