Crofts 15 and 17 Laide

NG 89991 92809 19m

Crofts 15 and 17 Laide lie adjacent to each other at the north end of Laide village. They share an attached outrun.

National Grid Reference 89991 92809

The ground slopes down from an elevation of 32 metres at the head dyke to 17 metres at the unclassified road that runs from Laide Post Office to Mellon Udrigle, and on down to 3 metres above the rocky shore of Gruinard Bay.

! ! ! ! Crofts 17 and 15 sketch plan

The land

The croftland is now mainly rough grass with some heather, and, in the lower lying areas there are areas of rushes and bracken.

Satellite images show areas of possible previous cultivation with ditches and well-defined patterns on the ground, in the areas shown in dark green on the plan.

Buildings

1. Ruin of narrow building and attached enclosure, seen on the 1st OS map. See photographs.

2. Position of old croft house, now an extended and upgraded house.

3&4. Modern houses.

5. Modern house.

The two diagrams below show the lands of Crofts 15 and 17 as depicted on the 1st and 2nd OS maps

From the 1st OS in 1881 – before the First Crofter’s Act of 1886 became law, giving the ! crofters security of tenure over their land. There are no croft boundaries shown here.

The green areas are parcels of land, used to calculate rent. For most crofts, an By the time of the 2nd OS, in 1905, croft boundaries allocated number refers to the Book of Reference which gives the acreages and type of are shown. There is clear delineation from Croft 14, land, but these cannot be confirmed for these areas. but 17 and 15 appear as a single entity. Photographs of ruined building on Croft 17 Laide

The ruin is about 11m in length, and consists of the remains of a narrow gabled building, with a door opening see. There is a small attached enclosure to the west side, adjacent to the road.

Top Shows the overall view looking northwards out to Gruinard Bay and Priest Island.

Middle The door opening looking east.

Bottom The ruined south gable

Looking up the north boundary from the road, showing the remains of the old stone wall, and the modern fence.

Croft 15 occupiers and tenants from a selection of Valuation Rolls (VR) with rentals, the 1897 Estate book and Census

Croft 15 is not specified individually on the Valuation Rolls until 1886-87, but may have come under a group of several tenants with rents of under £4, the occupier being the Proprietrix of the Estate, Maria Ann Liot Bankes.

Yearly Rent £ s d 1886-87 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Murdo Mackenzie 3 6 2 1887-88 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Duncan Mackenzie 3 6 0 1889-90 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Duncan Mackenzie 2 4 0 1890-91 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Roderick Fraser, weaver 2 4 0 1891-92 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Roderick Fraser, weaver 2 4 0 1892-93 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Roderick Fraser, weaver 2 4 0

1897 Estate book

Not recorded

1900-01 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Donald Maciver 2 4 0 1914-15 VR House and croft, 15 Laide. Donald Maciver 2 4 0

1918-19 VR House & Meal Grazings, 15 & 17 Laide. Donald Maciver 9 4 8

Census

The census before 1911 appears in places inaccurate and unreliable, as in some cases houses have been numbered rather than the crofts, which may have more that one house per croft. The entries do not always correlate with the occupiers and tenants listed on the Valuation Rolls, which provide a more accurate database.

1881 15 Laid House with two rooms with one or more windows

Murdo Mackenzie Head Married, age 60 Salmon Fisher Born Mellon Charles Catherine Mackenzie Wife Married, age 40 Born Mellon Charles Duncan Mackenzie Son Unmarried, age 20 Ag labourer Born Mellon Charles Lilash Mackenzie Sister Unmarried, age 50 General servant Born Mellon Charles

1891 11 House On VR, tenant and occupier is Roderick Fraser, weaver House with two rooms with one or more windows

Roderick Fraser Head Widowed, age 70 Weaver and crofter Born Laid John Fraser Son Married, age 25 Railway labourer Born Laid Christina McKenon Daur-in-law, married, age 24 Born Portree Margaret Fraser Grandchild, age 3 Born Paisley Effy Fraser Grandchild, age 1 Born Paisley Jannet Fraser Daur Widow, age 27 Born Poolewe Donald McKenzie Grandchild, age 3 Born Lochbroom Margaret McKenzie Grandchild, age 1 Born Lochbroom

All adults spoke Gaelic and English

1901 15 Laide House with four rooms with one or more windows

Donald McIver Head Married, age 61 Farmer Mary McIver Wife Married, age 45 Farmer John McIver Son Single, age 23 William McIver Son Single, age 22 Murdo McIver Son Single, age 16 Bella McIver Daur Age 13 Scholar Duncan McIver Son Age 6

All were born in Gairloch Parish. . 1911 Number 15 is not listed, even as unoccupied.

In 1914-15, Donald Maciver is occupier and tenant of both crofts 15 and 17

Croft 17 occupiers and tenants from a selection of Valuation Rolls (VR) with rentals, the 1897 Estate book and Census

Yearly Rent £ s d 1879-80 VR Croft, 17 Laide. John Maciver, occupier and tenant 6 8 0 1880-81 VR Croft, 17 Laide. John Maciver, occupier and tenant 6 8 0 1881-82 VR Croft, 17 Laide. John Maciver, occupier and tenant 6 8 0 1882-83 VR Croft, 17 Laide. John Maciver, occupier and tenant 6 8 0 1883-84 VR Croft, 17 Laide. John Maciver, occupier and tenant 6 8 0 1884-85 VR Croft, 17 Laide. Widow John Maciver, occupier and tenant 6 8 0 Mheal grazings, Achgarve. Widow John Maciver, occupier and tenant 8 10 0 1886-87 VR House and croft, 17 Laide. Widow John Maciver, occupier and tenant 12 8 0 Hill grazings(Mheal) Achgarve.Widow John Maciver, occ and tenant 8 0 0 1887-88 VR House and Mheal Grazings, 17 Laide. Widow John Maciver, occ & tenant 12 8 0 1889-90 VR House and Mheal Grazings, 17 Laide. Widow Isabella Maciver occ & tenant 7 10 0 1890-91 VR House and Mheal Grazings, 17 Laide. Widow Isabella Maciver occ & tenant 7 10 0 1891-92 VR House and Mheal Grazings, 17 Laide. Widow Isabella Maciver occ & tenant 7 10 0 1892-93 VR House and Meal Grazings, 17 Laide. Widow Isabella Maciver occ & tenant 7 10 0

1897 Estate book Maciver then son Donald

1900-01 VR House and Meal Grazings, 17 Laide. Widow Isabella Maciver occ & tenant 7 10 0 1914-15 VR House and Meal Grazings, 17 Laide. Donald Maciver occ & tenant 7 19 8

1918-19 VR House & Meal Grazings, 15 & 17 Laide. Donald Maciver 9 4 8

Census

The census before 1911 appears in places inaccurate and unreliable, as in some cases houses have been numbered rather than the crofts, which may have more that one house per croft. The entries do not always correlate with the occupiers and tenants listed on the Valuation Rolls, which provide a more accurate database.

In 1841, 1851 and 1861, no specific no specific croft numbers are given

1841 Lead Last schedule in Lead, next to Udrigle. Probably Croft 17 area

John McIver Age 40 Tenant Isabel McIver Age 35 Catherine McIver Age 12 John McIver Age 9 Kenneth McIver Age 6 Donald McIver Age 2

All born in County.

1851 Laid Schedule 11

John Maciver Head Married, age 50 Crofter of 4 acres *Elisabeth Maciver Wife Married, age 48 Catherine Maciver Daur Unmarried, age 23 John Maciver Son Unmarried, age 20 Kenneth Maciver Son Age 16 Donald Maciver Son Age 12 Peggy Maciver Daur Age 7 Isabella Maciver Daur Age 5 Ann Maciver Daur Age 2

All born Ross, Poolewe.

*Elisabeth is most likely a mistranscription for Isabella.

1861 Laid Udrigle Schedule 30 out of 32, suggesting Croft 17 area House with 2 rooms with one tor more windows

John McIver Head Married, age 65 Crofter 5 acres Isabella McIver Wife Married, age 50 Crofter’s wife John McIver Son Unmarried, age 29 Fisherman Kenneth McIver Son Unmarried, age 25 Crofter’s son Donald McIver Son Unmarried ,age 20 Fisher Margaret McIver Daur Unmarried, age 17 Crofter’s daughter Isabella McIver Daur Unmarried, age 15 Scholar Murdoch Mackenzie Son-in-law Married, age 35 Crofter’s son-in-law Catherine McIver Daur Married, age 32 Crofter’s daughter

All born Gairloch parish, except Murdoch, born Lochbroom.

1871 Family not found on UK census.

1881 No 17 Laid House with 3 rooms with one or more windows

John McIver Head Married, age 83 Fisherman Born Fisherfield Isabella McIver Wife Married, age 76 Fisherman’s wife Born Mellon Kenneth McIver Son Widower, age 47 Fishermans Born Fisherfield Donald McIver Son Married, age 42 Fisherman Born Laid John McIver Grandson Age 3 Mary McIver Daur-in-law Married, age 26 Born Mellon Udrigle Alexander Mackenzie Servant Unmarried, age 14 Ag labourer Born Bualnaluibh Alexander McIver Grandchild Age 10 Born Laid Murdo MacGregor Boarder Married, age 53 Boat carpenter Born Ardvair

1891 33 House House with 3 rooms with one or more windows

Donald McIver Head Married, age 51 Farmer Born Laid Mary McKenzie Wife Married, age 34 Farmer’s wife Born Opinan John McIver Son Age 13 Farmer’s son Born Laid William McIver Son Age 12 Scholar Born Laid Kenneth McIver Son Age 9 Scholar Born Laid Murdo McIver Son Age 7 Scholar Born Laid Bella McIver Daur Age 3 Born Laid Jessie McIver Daur Age 6mths Born Laid

Bella McLeod Mother Widow, age 90 Born Udrigle Alexander McKenzie Nephew Unmarried, age 20 Salmon fisher Born Laid Alexander McIver Nephew Unmarried, age 19 Salmon fisher Born Laid

All spoke Gaelic and English

1901 17 Laide. House with 3 rooms with one or more windows

John McIver Head Widower, age 73 Salmon fisherman Annie McIver Daur Single, age 28 General servant John McIver Son Single, age 26 Salmon fisherman Kennethina McIver Daur Age 13

All were born in Gairloch Parish. All spoke Gaelic and English.

Note:- This John McIver is the son of John and Isabella, and brother of Donald. In 1881 and 1891, he was at Croft 3, Laide, with wife Annabella and family

Donald McIver is at 15 Laide.

1911 17 Laide. House with 4 rooms with one or more windows

Donald McIver Head Married, age 71 Crofter Fisherman Mary McIver Wife Married, age 55 Scholar Murdo McIver Son Single, age 26 General labourer Bella McIver Daur Single, age 23

All were born in Gairloch Parish. All spoke Gaelic and English. Donald and Mary had been married for 35 years, and had had 7 children born alive, of whom 6 were still living.

From the Valuation Rolls, John Maciver occupied and tenanted 17 Laide from at least 1879 until his death. After John died, his widow Isabella continued at 17, but also tenanted Mheal Grazings, Achgarve, with a separately assessed value and rental.

By 1887, the Valuation Roll combined the valuations into one rent as House and Mheal Grazings, 17 Laide.

After Isabella’s death, her son Donald Maciver took over the tenancy. By 1918, Donald Maciver tenanted both Crofts 15 and 17 and the Meal Grazings.

Meall in Gaelic, describes a bare rounded lumpy hill.

On an Aultbea estate map of 1979, the area between the north boundary of Croft 15 and Achgarve is described as the outrun attached to Crofts 15 and 17. See diagram below.

Outrun any rough or hill pasture in individual occupancy

THE MACIVERS OF CROFTS 3, 15 AND 17 LAIDE

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN MACIVER

John Maciver, son of Donald Maciver and Ann McKenzie, was born about 1798, and died 24 Sep 1883. He married Isabella Macleod.

Family of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod :

1.Catherine Maciver b: 1829. 2.John Maciver b: 1831. d:1902 3.Kenneth Maciver b: 1834. d:1883 4.Donald Maciver b: 1839. d:1923 5.Margaret Maciver b: 1844. d:1932 6.Isabella Maciver b: 1848.

Generation No. 1

1. Catherine Maciver, daughter of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod was born 1829.

She married Murdoch Mackenzie on 31 Jan 1861 at Aultbea.

2.John Maciver, son of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod, was born 1831, and died 16 Jan 1902 in Laide. He married Annabella Maclennan 14 Jun 1871 in The Free Church, Aultbea. Children of John Maciver and Annabella Maclennan are: 1.Ann Maciver b: 1873. 2.John Maciver b: 1875. d:1927 3.Isabella Maciver b: 1876. 4.Kate Maciver b: 1882. 5.Kennethina Maciver b: 1888.

3. Kenneth Maciver, son of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod, was born 1834, and died 25 Mar 1883 in Laid.

He married Helen Mackenzie 12 Jan 1865 in Poolewe Manse. Children of Kenneth Maciver and Helen Mackenzie Family are: 1. Ann Maciver b: 1867. 2. Alexander Maciver b: 1870.

4. Donald Maciver, son of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod, was born 1839 and died 9 Jan 1923 in the Northern Infirmary, Inverness.

He married Mary Mackenzie 2 Mar 1876 in Poolewe. Children of Donald Maciver and Mary Mackenzie are: 1. John Maciver b: 1878. 2. William Maciver b: 1879. 3.Kenneth Maciver b: 1883. d:1918 4.Murdo Maciver b: 1884. d:1959 5.Isabella Maciver b: 1888. 6.Jessie Maciver b: 1890. d: 1893 7.Duncan Maciver b: 1894. d: 1916

5. Margaret Maciver , daughter of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod, was born 1844, and died 19 Jan 1832 at 14 Laide.

She married Roderick Macaulay.

6. Isabella Maciver, daughter of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod was born 1848.

Generation No. 2

Family of John Maciver and Annabella Maclennan

1. Ann Maciver was born 1873.

2. John Maciver was born 1875, and died 28 Nov 1927 in 3 Laide.

He married Mary Macleod. Children of John Maciver and Mary Macleod are:

1. John (Ian) Maciver b: 1904. d:1928 2. Angus Maciver b: 1906. 3. Murdo Maciver b: 1908. 4. Alexander Maciver b: 1908.

3. isabella Maciver was born 1876.

4. Kate Maciver was born 1882.

5. Kennethina Maciver was born 1888.

Family of Kenneth Maciver and Helen Mackenzie 1. Ann Maciver was born 1867. 2. Alexander Maciver was born 1870.

Family of Donald Maciver and Mary Mackenzie 1. John Maciver was born 1878. 2. William Maciver was born 1879. 3. Kenneth Maciver was born 1883. He died 1918.

4. Murdo Maciver was born 1884. He died 1959. 5. Isabella Maciver was born 1888. 6. Jessie Maciver was born About1890. She died 1893. 7. Duncan Maciver was born 1894. He died 1916.

Generation No. 3

Family of John Maciver and Mary Macleod

1. John (Ian) Maciver was born 1904. He died 24 JUN 1928.

2. Angus Maciver was born 1906.

3. Murdo Maciver was born 1908. 4. Alexander Maciver was born 1908.

Where the families were in the census as known

Year Croft 3 Croft 15 Croft 17

1841 John and Isabella 1851 John and Isabella 1861 John and Isabella 1871 1881 John and Annabella John and Isabella Donald and Mary 1891 John and Annabella Donald and Mary Isabella (widow) 1901 Donald and Mary John (widower) 1911 John and Mary Donald and Mary

Generation 1 John and Isabella Maciver

Generation 2 John and Annabella Maciver son of John and Isabella

Donald and Mary Maciver son of John and Isabella

Generation 3 John and Mary Maciver son of John and Annabella

1871

None of the heads of the families could be positively identified on the 1871 census.

Isabella McIver, age 60, born in Lochbroom, was living at No 23 Laid with a son John age 35 and daughter Peggy age 20. But she was listed as married, and so where was her husband John?

Kenneth McIver, son of John and Isabella, was married and living with his wife and 2 children at No 9 Laid, probably a house schedule rather than croft number.

Donald Maciver and family

Donald Maciver, abt 1840 – 1923

Donald, who was the son of John Maciver and Isabella Macleod, was born and died in Laide.

He married Mary MacKenzie, daughter of Murdo MacKenzie and Janet Macdonald on 2nd March, 1876 at Poolewe, by John Baillie, Free Church Minister of Gairloch, after Banns, according to the Forms of the Free Church of Scotland.

Donald’s usual residence was Laide of Udrigle Mary’s usual residence was Obinin, Aultbea

They had 7 children, of whom 6 were alive in 1911. Daughter Jessie had died in 1893, aged 3 years.

Kenneth MacIver 1883 - 1918

In 1901, Kenneth was lodging at 10, Watson Street, Aberdeen, and was a student

In March, 1914, Kenneth MacIver M.A. of Laide, was chosen as Liberal Party Candidate for West Perth.

Kenneth was a Captain in the 5th Cameron Highlanders, and was killed in action 27 March 1918 in France.

He is Remembered with Honour on the Pozieres Memorial

Murdo MacIver 1884 – 1959

Murdo was known as “Stang”, and was a crofter.

He lived in the house at the top of Croft 17, and died there on 17th Aug 1959, of a coronary thrombosis.

Duncan MacIver 1894 – 1916

Duncan attended Laide School, then Dingwall Academy, and went on to the East of Scotland Agricultural College in Edinburgh. Soon after the outbreak of war, he joined the Ross Mountain Battery, and was sent to Gallipoli. After being invalided home, he received a commission in the Cameron Highlanders, and was shortly sent to France.

Duncan was 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. He was killed in action on 11th Oct 1916, during the advance on the Somme.

He is Remembered with Honour on the Thiepval Memorial Gravestone in Laide Burial Ground of Donald MacIver, his wife Mary and daughter Jessie and remembering their sons, Duncan and Kenneth killed in action WWI

In loving memory of DONALD MACIVER died 9 Jan. 1923 aged 83

and his wife MARY MACKENZIE died 7 Dec. 1921 aged 65

their children

JESSIE died 4 Sep. 1893 aged 3

DUNCAN Lieut. Cameron Highders killed in France 11 October 1916 aged 22

KENNETH Capt. Cameron Highdrs M.A., B.Sc. 27 March 1918 aged 35.

Ar leir-chneach thuit sibh/anns a bhlar! Is fhuair sibh/bas' as leth ur duthgh cha in/eol duinn go ni suas am bearn/ach 's leir do dhia nan gris /a chuis.

!

Gravestone in Laide Burial ground of Helen McKenzie, wife of Kenneth McIver son of John McIver and Isabella MacLeod

1873 Erected by KENNETH McIVER Laid

in memory of

his wife HELEN McKENZIE

who died Jan. 21 1872

aged 32 years.