SCT-INVERNESS-L Archives

From: Hugh Niven <>
Subject: [SCT-INV] Knoydart Clearance
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 19:51:52 -0500

The Knoydart Clearance.



An account given by Donald Ross, an eye-witness, in the pamphlet quoted below.2



'The scene presented at Knoydart was most heartrending. As far as the eye could see, the face of the strath had its black spots, where the houses of the crofters were either leveled or burnt. The ruins of these habitations of men, and the silence and the solitude that prevailed, rendered it unnecessary for any tongue to tell me that here humanity was most cruelly sacrificed to the god of sheep farming and expatriation. The blackened rafters lying scattered among the grass, the couple-trees cut through the middle and thrown far away, the walls broken down, the thatch and cabers mixed up together, and grass beginning to grow on the threshold and hearthstone, told a tale which required neither tongue nor pen to unfold. The scene was rendered more painful as the strath was dotted with stacks of corn, large plots of potatoes, and with grass that could be easily mowed down with the scythe. But the voice of man was gone- he was not to be found. The crop was there, but strangers own!
ed it, cut, and carried it away in boats to a distant island; while most of the Highlanders of Knoydart were put on board the 'Sillery' at Isle Oransay, and packed off to North America like so many African slaves to the Cuban market.



2. The Glengarry Evictions, or Scenes at Knoydart in Inverness-shire, by Donald Ross. Glasgow, 1853. The author refers also to a less complete account of this evistion, but containing the most essential particulars, to be found in the 'Scotsman' newspaper for October of that year.



" There is something most melancholy in connection with the entire removal of a people from an inhabited and cultivated district. I can understand well how a landlord at times may have to resort to a judicious weeding- how to extend crofts he may occasionally have to remove refractory or useless tenants from one district to another; but when a whole country-side is at one fell swoop cleared of its population to make room for sheep; when all the ties, affections, and associations that bind the inhabitants to their country and homes are struck and cut asunder by one unfeeling blow; when the march of improvement and cultivation is checked; and when the country is transformed into a wilderness, and the land to perpetual barrenness, not only are the best feelings of our common humanity violated, but the decree is tantamount to interdicting the command of the Most High, who said to man, 'Go, replenish the earth, and subdue it.'

"Last spring all the crofters on the Glangarry estates in Knoydart were served with summonses of removal, accompanied with a verbal message from Mrs. M'Donell and her factor, that Sir John M'Neil, Chairman of the Board of Supervision, Edinburgh, had agreed to convey them all to Australia. It would seem from this that Mrs. M'Donell and her accomplice in this transaction, had not only determined on the removal of the people, but, without at all consulting their feelings or wishes, fixed their destination, and bargained with Sir John M'Neil respecting their deportation, just as if they had been a parcel of broken-down useless slaves she was desirous of getting rid of. The poor people had no alternative but to accept of any offer that might be made of them. The state of the neighbouring properties was such that could not expect one inch of land thereon- no, not even one night's shelter. And what could these poor Knoydart crofters do under such circumstances? Some of them were, t!
o be sure, a few pounds in arrears of rent, owing to the failure of their crops a few years ago, but they were clearing off the arrears, and in a short time, had opportunity been afforded them, they would have wiped off the last farthing due by them. However, the warnings to quit were now served, and decrees of removal were obtained against them. Shortly after this, another intimation reached the tenants, viz. that their destination was North America, that a ship would be at Isle Oransay in Skye in a short time to receive them, and that they must go on board. The ship came to Isle Oransay, and Mrs. M'Donell and her factor came to Knoydart, and saw the most of the families carried across in boats, and put on board. The scene at this time was indescribable. The wail of the poor women and children, as they were torn away from their homes and familiar scenery, would have melted a heart of stone. Some families refused to go to Canada, for reasons to be afterwards stated; and thes!
e, along with some others for whom there was no room on board, are still at Knoydart.

" After the ship sailed from Isle Oransay with her living cargo of Highland people, Mrs. M'Donell's factor, an old gentleman of the name of Grant, returned to Knoydart and commenced the work of destruction on the houses of the crofters and cottars. Not only the houses of those who had left the country, but the houses of those who refused to go, were pulled to the ground. The factor was accompanied by some servants and law officers who had axes, crowbars, iron levers, and picks. The uninhabited houses were leveled first, then the houses of those who refused to go on board the ship to Canada. There was no mercy shown, no f delay given. The inmates were ordered out and their articles of furniture were thrown out after them; beds, chairs, tables, pots, stoneware, clothing, were all thrown topsy-turvy down the hill. The thatch was pulled off, the picks were stuck into the walls, the levers removed the foundation-stones, axes cut the couple-trees, and then roof, rafters, and walls!
fell in with a crash. Clouds of dust rose to the skies, while men, women, and children stood at a distance completely dismayed. What took them years to collect and erect was destroyed and scattered in a few minutes. From house to house, from hut to hut, and from barn to barn, the factor and his minions proceeded, carrying on the work of demolition until there was scarcely a human habitation left standing in the district. This was indeed a most lamentable day in Knoydart. Able-bodied men, who, if the matter would rest with a mere trial of physical force, would have bound the factor and his party hand and foot, and sent them out of the district, stood aside as dumb spectators. Women wrung their hands and cried aloud; children ran to and fro dreadfully frightened; and while all this work of demolition and destruction was going on, no opposition was offered by the inhabitants, no hand was lifted no stone cast, no angry word was spoken. The few huts left standing are occupied by!
paupers who are on the poor's roll of the parish; but the factor before leaving the district warned these poor creatures that, if they allowed any one of the evicted people shelter for one moment, either by day or by night, that he would cause their huts immediately thereafter to be leveled to the ground. The scene at and after the leveling of the houses was most painful. In a high and moist latitude, and in an exposed district, the sufferings of women and young children exposed all night to the open air. With no covering but the broad canopy of heaven, may be easily conceived; yet eleven families, comprising upwards of sixty individuals, were on this night with no other shelter in Knoydart!"



Do you feel that it should be the duty of every descendant of the Knoydart Clearances, once in there life, should they be so fortunate, to visit the graves of Mrs. M'Donell and The Factor Grant and drink a toast to them and offer them one as well after having first passed it through their kidneys.?



Does anyone have an exact location of their graves?



Maybe we can compile a list and make it sort of a circle tour.



Hugh

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