24/05/2015 7:13 AM http://kilchoan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/an-ardnamurchan-schoolmaster.html This site uses cookies to help deliver services. By using this site, you agree to the use of cookies. Saturday, 23 May 2015 About Kilchoan An Ardnamurchan Schoolmaster Kilchoan is a remote Scottish crofting village at the westernmost end of the Ardnamurchan The Diary recently received an email from Lindsay Russell, which read: peninsula, a two-hour drive to the west of Fort William. Its white houses are strung like pearls "I recently re-read the fascinating piece on the initial survey of St Comghan's cemetery by the archaeology group, around a wide bay, looking out across the and I wondered if this wee story might be of interest. Through researching my family history I have discovered a Sound of Mull to Tobermory. The year-round second cousin in Alberta, in Banff national park no less! He's a self-confessed obsessive about family history and population of the village itself is just over a has built up a huge website to record it all. His wife's family come from Iona, Mull and Kilchoan, and when he hundred, but this diary writes about all the found I was a regular visitor to West Ardnamurchan, he asked if I could try and find the grave of one of his wife's villages of western Ardnamurchan, including ancestors whom he thought was probably buried in Kilchoan. Portuairk, Sanna, Achosnich, Achnaha and Kilmory. "It's good to have a project, so I spent a very enjoyable, if wet, afternoon a couple of years ago tramping about St There's more about Kilchoan and West Comghan's churchyard with just some very drookit sheep for company, hunting for the grave, and I found it! Like Ardnamurchan here most of the stones there, it's covered in lichen and is very weathered but there was enough of the inscription visible to be sure it was the right one. He was John McCowan, schoolmaster in Kilchoan between 1843 and 1874. A map of the area is here He must have been very well thought of as the community paid for the memorial to be erected, and he even gets a mention in the Annals of the Parish, p52. His wife, Catherine is buried there too. "Jeff, my relative, was thrilled with the photos I sent him, and he's put them on his website. It is Clan MacIain 1 of 12 24/05/2015 7:13 AM 24/05/2015 7:13 AM http://kilchoan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/an-ardnamurchan-schoolmaster.html For hundreds of years, Ardnamurchan was the homeland of Clan MacIain. A new website detailing the history of the Ardnamurchan Clan MacIain is here. Comments The Diary welcomes comments, however Google Blogger's comments facility doesn't always work: if you have a problem, mail the comment to [email protected] - no attachments on initial email please. Ockle Holiday Cottages www.waughfamily.ca and if you follow the McCowan line, there's a wealth of historical information in there. "John McCowan's grave is marked by an obelisk and is surrounded by a small fence. I do hope you'll be able to continue with the survey, as so much priceless information gets lost and forgotten over time. It's maybe worth noting that in this particular instance there's a family in Canada who now know their great-great-great- If you are looking for peace and tranquillity with grandparents are buried in a beautiful setting and, who knows, may visit it themselves one day." wonderful views, then Ockle is the place to spend your holiday. Click on the picture for full details. Wildcats Contacts for sightings, and more details about wildcats on Ardnamurchan are here. West Ardnamurchan News The West Ardnamurchan News, a companion 2 of 12 24/05/2015 7:13 AM 24/05/2015 7:13 AM http://kilchoan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/an-ardnamurchan-schoolmaster.html to this website, carries the latest local news, tourist & local information, holiday cottages, hotels, B&Bs, camp sites, events, things to do, places to visit, links to bus & ferry timetables, medical & emergency services, property services, shopping and fuel supplies, Community Centre, Community Garden & Kilchoan Learning Centre news. Cnoc na Long Holiday Cottage A former croft house tastefully refurbished, Cnoc na Long is at Achosnich, a ten-minute walk from the sea and close to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. Click picture for details. Photo courtesy Lindsay Russell Search The Diary Diary Pageviews, last 7 Days 10,103 Ardnamurchan Estate Holiday Cottages 3 of 12 24/05/2015 7:13 AM 24/05/2015 7:13 AM http://kilchoan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/an-ardnamurchan-schoolmaster.html The Ardnamurchan Community Archeology group was at the graveyard again today, continuing the survey of the graves. So far, we have created an accurate map of the graveyard and surveyed the 'new' section of the graveyard to the north of the church, and somewhere over half of the memorials in the 'old' section. One of the memorials we looked at today was John McCowen's. Escape to the West Highlands. Nine idyllic self-catering cottages sleeping 4 - 11 persons. Full weeks and short breaks available. Bookings and special offers please phone 01972 510 208 or email escape@west- highlands.co.uk. Click on photo for full details. W Ardnamurchan Histories 1. Introduction 2. Clachans, Clearances & Crofts 3. History of Ormsaigbeg 4. History of Ormsaigmore Although over a hundred years old, the obelisk is in remarkably good condition. Without too much trouble we were 5. History of Sanna able to decipher the inscriptions - there are three in all. This is the main, south face, and it reads: 6. History of Mingary Castle Sacred to the memory of John McCowan Parish Schoolmaster of Ardnamurchan from 1843 - 1874 7. History of Kilmory Died 4 January 1889 aged 80 years Erected by the people of Ardnamurchan 8. History of Glendrian During his 45 years residence in the parish of Ardnamurchan, he was loved and respected 9. History of Branault Buried here also is his wife Catherine McCormick who died on the 25 May 1871 aged 51 years 10. History of Portuairk 11. History of Swordle The east side reads: 12. History of Achateny Hugh McCowan, their son. 4 of 12 24/05/2015 7:13 AM 24/05/2015 7:13 AM http://kilchoan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/an-ardnamurchan-schoolmaster.html 13. History of Clan MacIain Ardnamurchan Tourist Association Click on the picture for the Ardnamurchan Tourist Association's website, giving local bookings, places to stay and eat, days out on the peninsula, and lots more information. Blog Archive Died 20 November 1880(?) aged 30 years and is interred in Glasgow necropolis ▼ 2015 (277) Alexander McCowan, their son ▼ May (37) Died at Johannesburg 24 April 1895 aged 39 years An Ardnamurchan Schoolmaster Vegetable Gardening The west side reads: Two Reminders Catherine McCowan, their daughter Small Bird Returners Died 22 March 1902 aged 42 years SMT Bontrup Interred in military cemetery Springfontein Ships in the Sound So two of the McCowan's children died in South Africa. The reference to Springfontein in South Africa, and the Spring Swim date of Catherine's death, just before the Second Boer War ended in May 1902, interested ACA member Dale Meagan, so she looked it up. She sends this: Orchid Blossom Time Rare Black Redstart on West A British Military Intelligence report in 1897 described Springfontein as a place of “about 15 houses scattered and Ardnamurchan of no tactical importance, a small church and a hotel or store. There were two good springs near the church and a dam 600 yds north of the town.” Sea Eagle's Prey The town lay on the railway from Bloemfontein to Cape Town as well as a line to East London. At the start of the Lyme Disease Month war in October 1899 Boer commandos moved through the town, splitting here to go either to Orange River bridge 5 of 12 24/05/2015 7:13 AM 24/05/2015 7:13 AM http://kilchoan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/an-ardnamurchan-schoolmaster.html Young Stags 'Dolphins' Down at the Pier Old Moon Rising The Difference a Day Makes Rounding the Point Birds and More Bunnies A Rare Bunny Small Cruise Ships in the Sound First Mackerel Cuckoo Raid A Special Tea in the Playpark Reidh-dhail Dolphins South of the Lighthouse On the Beach May Appearances at Norvals Pont or the bridge to Bethulie, the idea being to halt the advance of British troops making their way Archaeological Treasures inland along the railway lines. Following the occupation of Bloemfontein in March 1900, the British decided to occupy Springfontein, to serve as Election Campaign Hots Up a base for British troops. As a result of the round-up of Boer commandos, the authorities decided, in February 'Lysblink Seaways' at Breaker's 1901, to establish a concentration camp. In addition, a large military hospital under tents was established near Yard “Gibraltar Hill” as well as a remount depot and a veterinary hospital. There is no trace today as to the location of these sites. A 'Winter' Holiday Unusually, Springfontein contains graves from both sides of the conflict. There are some 700 graves of which 305 Allt Ockle Walk - 2 are of those of Imperial forces. Source - New Zealand War Graves Commission, here. Wildlife Seashore We speculate that Catherine may have been a nurse working in the military hospital, which would explain why she was buried in a military cemetery.