macphersons from skye

[rachelbellman]

Dear Skoosh,

Thanks for replying so quickly to my post.

I have been doing a little 'research' of my own on Highland carts following your post and have found out a couple of interesting facts.  I.F.Grant's book 'Highland Folk ways' is particularly informative on this subject (cf. chapter entitled 'Communication and Transport).  Apparently primitive carts called 'kellachs' were in use by the 1700s - particularly on the fringes of the Highlands.  According to Grant sledges were used in the districts of Kintail and Gairloch until the 1930s as they were more suited to the terrain.  When Hugh Miller took the newly made road to the west to work in Gairloch in 1823 he noticed 'two abandoned carts lying beside it'.

I actually don't believe for a second that my 5 or 6x great grandparents came to Skye in a dung cart - but it makes for a nice wee tale (which is probably why someone made it up).  Roads were either so dire or non existent in the 1700s that it would have been impossible to take a cart on their suggested route.

Anyway, are you able to expand on your comment 'the clan could have been doing with an alarm clock, they arrived late for most of the battles they never took part in'?  I am assuming you are refering to the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745?  I was aware that Clan Macpherson of Cluny was 'late' for Culloden, but a number of Macphersons fought under Clan Ranald.  Ancestry.co.uk has uploaded a fascinating document called 'Directory ofScots Banished to the American Plantations 1650 - 1772'.  Some 2 dozen Macphersons who fought in the various Jacobite wars are listed. Are there other shameful tales that I need to be aware of before continuing my research?  

Rachel

[DonnieMac]

Rachel, is it possible to yourself upload the document about the  Scots getting banished and send it on   as I don't  have Ancestry or is it pay per view. Thanks.

[rachelbellman]

Hi Donnie,

Send me your email and I'll zap you the link to it.

Rachel.

[Skoosh]

Guys, I seem to have ruffled a few Macpherson feathers here! the Clan did very well at Clifton but Culloden? oh dear, absent. Invernahavon! oh dear, late. Mulroy! (last clan battle)jings! late again Miss! I'm just away to check the Attendance Records for the Clan MacMhuirich? at Prestonpans, Killiecrankie & Sherrifmuir, I shall return!  Now do youse Guys know the Macpherson Clan Mag' is online?  called "Creag Dhubh.". Wonder what "Must Do Better" is in the Gaelic?........Skoosh. 

[rawry45]

Rachel,
My descendants' direct line from my grandmother to forefathers in Victoria, Australia... Thelma Macpherson -->(F) Thomas Macpherson-->(GF) Archibald Macpherson ---> (GGF) John Macpherson of Aird, Sleat.
I would like to know who was Kenneth's parent were?  Dugal & Sarah?

Ross

[rachelbellman]

Hi Ross,

I have Kenneth's parents as Dugald McPherson and Marion McGillivray.  They were probably born c.1765, married c.1784 (around the time their first known child was born), and appear to have died before the 1841 census was taken. 

Kenneth Mcpherson had a brother Martin who emigrated from Skye on board the William Nicol in 1837, and settled in Kilmore, Victoria. 

I have plenty more info on this family, so feel free to email me directly if you want more details.

Rachel

[angusm1939]

Come on Skoosh, your joshing missed the mark here. Not fair to blame a set of O'Docherty 'sons of the parson' Mac 'a phearsain MacPhersons from the 'little red clan' in Skye for the poor time-keeping of the mainlamd MacMhuirich clan with whom they have no blood relationship at all. Indeed, some were in all probability in arms in the '45 but that will have been in the MacDonald/MacLeod Militia companies on the Hanoverian payroll, theoretically looking out for Royal Charlie during his 'skulking' in the islands in the early summer of 1746.

[Skoosh]

Very Good Angus, by the time Charlie was "skulking" in the islands, the Macpherson country had been burned by the Mackay's and the redcoats had slim pickings when they arrived. They had little success in hunting for the "forked purses" of Prince Charlie, Cluny had the cash well stashed.
  I believe Wolfe had a scheme to lead a suicide platoon to assasinate Cluny, the retribution following would result in the clan's extermination.    Skoosh.