Part 4

(CONCLUSION)

EXCERPTS FROM OLD LEASES OF ARGYLL ESTATES

IN KINTYRE - In 1770 it is recorded that Gilbert McIlchallum (McCallum) from Bracklarach, Carradale, took out a 19-year lease of the farm of Crubastill near the village of Muasdale in West Kintyre. The lands of Crubastill extended to 4 merklands and he had the rental of one merkland for 19 years at 18 pounds, 10-7 sterling, 1 boll bear (barley) and � boll meal annually. He was succeeded by his son Peter McCallum, who farmed there until 1829 on the Mid-Crubastill division until it changed hands, Iver McGeachy new tenant.

In 1833 Christy McCallum, widow of John Beaton, and her son Duncan Beaton took a 19-year lease of North Beachmore at 130 pounds sterling, but they would not sign the lease, claiming the rental was far too much. Evicted, so emigrated to Australia.

In 1757 Archibald McIlichallum with three others, took a 19-year lease of the farm of Mid Kilmory near to Tayinloan on Killean estate. They had two of the four merklands on rent of 21 pounds with the Bailie of Kintyre, land officer of the Duke (of Argyll). The leases were marked with an x as none of them could write.

In 1813 Francis McCallum, Adjutant of the 2nd Regiment, Argyll militia, rented the farm of Lecknalarach for 19 years at rent of 52 pounds, 10/ for purpose of having a healthy retirement in view of his wife being in poor health. He proposed to carry a stock of 250 sheep, 2 cows and a horse. He remained there only four years, possibly having lost his wife. Farm was taken over by his neighbor, David Galbraith of Colliska.

A very old lease of the farm of Keprigan, in Southend or Kilcolmkill Parish, going back to 1729 showed tenant as Dugall McCallum at a rent of 108 pounds Scots money. He was succeeded in 1775 by James and Archibald McCallum, both shown as deceased in 1786 when the farm is taken over by Hugh McCallum on a 19-year lease at 25 pounds-10/ sterling. The lease was renewed in 1805 for a further 19 years by Hugh McCallum but the next entry in 1840 shows the tenant as Hugh Andrew. In 1799 Hugh McCallum also had the tenancy of Machrimore Mill at a rent of 60 pounds sterling and 55 bolls meal. At that time he built a new mill with a kiln and slated roof to keep the grain and meal dry. The Duke supplied the timber, stone and lime and the mill was raised to a higher site as the mill wheel caused choking of the river during heavy rain. He did not succeed in renewing the lease of the mill in 1817 as he was outbid by Robert Colvill who offered 90 pounds sterling against Hugh's offer of 70 pounds sterling. A memorial by the Duke's Chamberlain in 1817 mentions that Hugh McCallum's wife was a descendant of James McLarty. The McLarty family were early emigrants to the United States.

1797 MILITIA LIST
PARISH OF KILCALMONELL AND KILBERRY
(McCallums only, from the list):

[this is a repeat of a list in Part 1, but contains slightly different information]

Gilbert McAlchallum, Refluich, Labourer, Absent
Dugald McCallum, Lochnangade, Labourer, Absent
John McAlchallum, Clachan, Weaver, Absent
Peter McAlchallum, Talavetoll, Labourer, at home
Duncan McCallum, Clachan, Wright Apprentice/Volunteer
Duncan McCallum, Kilcraige, Labourer, Absent

NOTES ON MCCALLUM FAMILIES IN CLACHAN 1815-1820

[Some of this is a repeat from Part II, but with other information.]
There were at least three families in and around the village; Archibald McCallum, schoolmaster and Procurator for Angus MacAllister of Balinakill; John McCallum, tenant of Clachan Smithy, and the John listed as tenant of the small croft of Achadubh near the village. All these properties were on Balinakill Estate, the property of Angus MacAllister.

From some records of the McEachern families, it is found that John McCallum married Marion McEachern the youngest daughter of Malcolm McEachern and Margaret (Peggy) Beith, Lochend of Kiarran, a small farm at the east end of Loch Kiarran some two miles east of Clachan. This old farm is now a ruin with only a few stones of the farmhouse left. Malcolm McEachern and Peggy Beith were married 24 July 1789; their family were Duncan, Mary, John, Malcom, Peggy and Marion. Malcolm McEachern died 1836, aged 73, and Peggy died in 1836, aged 69 years. Their family erected a stone in their memory in the old section of Clachan Burial Ground.

The oldest of the several gravestones in the old cemetery in Clachan for McCallum families is that of Iver McCallum and his family. It is dated 27 March 1756 and has a coat-of-arms on it.