By Janice Johnston (nee MacArthur)
The Isle of Tiree (Eilean Tiriodh in Gaelic, translating as Land of Corn) is the furthest west of the Inner Hebrides. It is 12 miles long, 3 miles wide, relatively flat and surrounded by beaches. A haven for wind surfers, the island hosts one of the oldest windsurfing competitions annually, The Tiree Wave Classic. The island has been inhabited since Mesolithic times; over 7,500 years ago.
From about 1200AD Tiree was owned by several different clans mainly the MacDougalls of Lorne, the MacLeans of Duart on Mull, and the MacDonalds of the Isles. The Campbells of Argyll obtained the island in the 1640s and still own it today.
In 1776AD, The Duke of Argyll commissioned a census of Tiree which shows the population was 1,997 living in 430 dwellings, of this number, 71 MacArthurs were noted; 41 adults and 30 children.
The 1662AD rental records for Caolas are the first known (to me) record of MacArthurs on the island, not long after the Campbells had taken ownership. This is a pattern suggested on Islay too, and indeed, the MacArthurs of Loch Awe appear to have had close associations with the Campbell Earls of Argyll in this period.
The rental record lists 20 joint tenants for the area containing 3 MacArthurs; Malcolm, Jonn and Hew each renting 2 mail land (the unit used on Tiree for measuring rent). The rental records for Caolas in 1772AD list the same three MacArthurs, as 1745AD although Hew has been changed to Hugh.
Failure of the potato crop in 1846-1847AD had serious consequences for the highlands and islands which led to mass emigration. In Caolas the number of cottars wishing to emigrate at that time is higher than crofters remaining, perhaps indicating their more precarious way of life. One family of 15 MacArthurs the father listed as a boatbuilder wished to leave
By 1845AD the township had 14 crofts, it shows croft number 10 named as Ferry House rented by a John MacArthur, the family were responsible for the maintenance of the ferry to Coll, kept an inn and were merchants and storekeepers John died on 17th January 1856.
John MacArthur’s family is listed as:
- John 60yrs head farmer of 32 acres
- Malcolm 39yrs son innkeeper
- Rory 28yrs son
- Don MacDonald 30yrs son in law boatbuilder
- Marion MacDonald 31yrs daughter dressmaker
- Alex MacDonald 2yrs grandson
- Margaret MacLean 45yrs house servant
- Angus Campbell 28yrs agriculture labourer
- ? Maclean 17yrs agriculture labourer
Another MacArthur family is listed at croft number 1. In the 1861AD census the family consists of 10 people: head, wife, mother, 2 brothers, 2 nephews, 2 daughters and a visitor.
Master Mariners and Seafarers from Caolas:
Allan MacArthur born 2nd February 1867 is recorded as an ordinary seaman rising to 2nd mate he died in a storm around the Cape of Good Hope.
Donald MacArthur born 3rd September 1869 started as an ordinary seaman rising to 1st mate by 1896, he built Rosigal one of the largest houses in Caolas.
Hector Mac Arthur born 25th March 1894 was awarded certificate of mate serving on MacBraynes ships; the Claymore and Clansman. It is written on his headstone he was also Chief Officer on the SS Hebrides. He died in Caolas 21st January 1899.
John Alexander MacArthur born 10th January 1894 is the son of Hector began as an ordinary seaman and gained his Masters certificate 21st February 1922, he died in 1977.
Donald MacDonald son of Archiebald MacDonald and Isabella MacArthur was born in 1877 at Milton Cottage. He achieved his Masters certificate on 19th March 1918 sailing with the Hogarths Barron line. On 22nd May 1918 he married Isabella Garden Nicol the couple had one daughter Isabella who married Alexander (Johnny) Johnston they lived in a larger house at Milton built by Donald MacDonald. These are my late husband’s parents and maternal grandparents.
Other occupations listed in the 1841 to 1881 census (all MacArthurs).
Farm labourers and servants:
- Alexander 24yrs
- Colin 17yrs
- Isabellaa15yrs
- John 23yrs
- Boatbuilders
- Hugh Boat carpenter
- Female servants
- Mary 20yrs Domestic servant
- Effy 17yrs Domestic servant
- Isabella 15yrs Domestic servant
- Boatmen
- Farquhar 24yrs
- Fishermen
- Farquhar 35yrs
- Merchants
- Alexander 25yrs merchant
- Malcolm 30yrs innkeeper
- Seamen/sailors
- Neil 20yrs
Tiree Population:
In 2003 MacArthur was the 3rd most common surname on the island of Tiree, after MacKinnon and MacLean.
The census of 2001 records the population as 770; in 2011 the population is 653 and in 2022 a population of 700 were living in 322 households (many island houses are now holiday homes).
The largest population was recorded in 1841 as 4,698 souls.
Many MacArthur families are still resident on Tiree today.
Sources:
An Caolas Tirisdeach Coalas Tiree An Island Township through Three Centuries
Donald E Meek
Island of Two Harvests Historical Guide to the Island of Tiree
An Iodhlam (Tiree’s historical centre).
