Glendaruel
Principal Sources
RMS II (571) 1452, (2363) 1497, (2402) 1498, (3213) 1507-8
RMS III (2815) 1542
RMS IV (791) 1452, (2015) 1571-2
RMS V (26) 1580
RMS VII (265) 1610
RSS VI (1627) 1572
GD 1/390/22 1683
GD 1/390/28 1692
GD 1/390/38 1714
GD 112/2/61/1/3 1665
AS I (246, 263) 1643, (307) 1649, (322) 1650, (334) 1651, (628-9) 1675,
AS II (197) 1626, (370) 1631, (408, 415, 422) 1632, (542-4, 546) 1635, (598) 1636, (590) 1637, (943) 1657, (1159, 1184) 1664, (1276) 1666
Argyll Retours (101) 1503, (2) 1574, (12) 1609, (22-3) 1620, (54) 1634, (107) 1651, (84) 1675
Clan Campbell I p 9 1693
Amongst the 26-odd settlement names in Glendaruel we have 2 Leth-pheighinns and 2 Feoirlings so it is clear that this glen too was laid out in pennylands. Unfortunately there is no direct evidence we can use to establish an ounceland to merkland ratio. J Smith gave 77¾m for Kilmodan or Glendaruel in his General View of the Agriculture of the County of Argyll, 1798. I find 83½m although I am rather doubtful whether the 1¼m of Feorline should be regarded as an independent valuation or whether it was normally included in a neighbouring farm. However we should definitely deduct Ardachuple (4m) since it is clear from the Minutes of the Synod of Argyll (Vol 1 p 50) that in 1642 it was still in the parish of Inverchaolain. Glendaruel was therefore about 79½m and if we assume the same conversion here as in the neighbouring parish of Kilfinan then the total was probably 1 ounceland (or 20 davachs) of 80 merks. The settlements at the head of Loch Ruel are regular pennylands but further up the glen the Norse system has a heavy feudal overlay of 5m, 2½m and 1½m units (the last representing a fifth of a £5 land). As far as ecclesiastical sites are concerned the settlement at Kilbride was important (perhaps originally 2d) but there are also Lephinkill at 2m and Kildalvan at 2½m.
Hi Denis, thanks for all the information collated by you on the Argyll Land assessments, which is of interest to me in highlighting land areas and farms once occupied by Clan members of the Clan McEwan. I am a member of the Clan Ewen Society and the tracing of farms and communities from our history is one of my interests in searching for more knowledge on the Clan.Thank you once again for publishing the information on the net.
Colin, Many thanks. I have much more waiting to be posted. Finding time is the problem. Best wishes, Denis