Tiree

Tiree

 

I have found no trace of pennylands in Tiree, either in valuations or place-names, although the 1662 rental recognises that there were 20d in a tirung.  There are three sources I have used for mail-land valuations. They are given in the 1751 Argyll Valuation Roll; in the map printed in Argyll Estate Instructions where the data is taken from Turnbull’s report of 1768-9, and in the table printed on pp 35-9 of Argyll Estate Instructions taken from a report dated c. November 1794. Where the figures are agreed I have only entered one number, otherwise I have shown alternatives. The valuation in merklands is not always consistent with the value in mail-lands but this is because the ratings usually date from different periods. (The date column only refers to merkland valuations). We have merkland valuations from the early sixteenth century but our mail-land valuations are mid-eighteenth century. Originally they would have corresponded.

 

Name	Value (m)	Mail-lands	Date (m)	Grid Ref	Map Sources	Other forms, comments etc
Kirkapoll parish
Caoles	6	48	1509	NM 0848	Blaeu RHP 6795	Keulis(Blaeu), belonged to Bishopric of the Isles
Ruaig	7	44	1509	NM 0647	Blaeu RHP 6795	Rowag(Blaeu), with Vuill in 1674 rental(HP I p 291)
Salum	1½	12	1674	NM 0648	Blaeu Langlands(1801) RHP 6795	Salem 24s (AS II 235 & 236 of 1628), Saalum(Langlands). ‘Quarter’ 1663.
Vaul	6	48	1509	NM 0448	Blaeu RHP 6795	Valdarorich(1509), Wall(1541 & Blaeu), Vaule(AS II 235, 236)
Kirkapol	6	24	1509	NM 0447	Blaeu RHP 6795	Iona monastery, Kirkapost(CRA pp 3-4 of 1561), Kirkabol(Blaeu)
Gott	2		1509	NM 0346	Blaeu RHP 6795	God(1509, 1541, Blaeu), Priory of Ardchattan’s.
Vuill	1		1509	c. NM 0446	Blaeu RHP 6795	Iona monastery, Thewill(1509), Will(1541),Woyll(1587-8), Weill(Blaeu), Derry monastery in Retours 67(1662).
Gott & Vuill		12	1751
Scarinish	3	18	1509	NM 0444	Blaeu RHP 6795 RHP 8826	Iona nunnery, Skervinch(1509), Sckareness(Blaeu), “Copper ore here”(RHP 8826)
Bal-Ayg	1		1509	NM 0046/0147	RHP 6795	1m Ballowhag(1509), Baluaig(RHP 6795), Balwag(1674). See below.
Balephetrish	3	32	1628	NM 0046/0147	Blaeu RHP 6795 RHP 8826	4m Ballepeteris(1541), 3m(AS II(235 & 236)1628), Balfedre(Blaeu), 4m with Balwag(1674). See below.
Kenovay	6	48	1509	NL 9946	Blaeu RHP 6795	Kannavaye(1509), Kenbay(Blaeu)
Cornaigbeg	3	40½	1509	NL 9846	Blaeu RHP 6795
Cornaigmore	7½	40½	1541	NL 9746	Blaeu RHP 6795	9m with Bassapole(1509)
(Loch) Bhasapol	(1½)		1509	NL 9746	Blaeu RHP 6795	Bassapole(1509), Baspol(Blaeu), Bassobull(1663), Bassepoill(1674)
(Rubha Port) Bhiosd	3	24	1509	NL 9648	Blaeu Langlands(1801) RHP 6795 RHP 8826 OS(1878)	Bastawe(1509), Bister(1541), Bistie(Blaeu), Byst(RHP 6795), Beist(RHP 8826), Biest(Langlands), Port Bhiosd(1878), 24 mail land (1663), 3m with Ballenairagainich in HP I p 290 1674.
Kilmoluag	6	51/57	1509	NL9646/9746	Blaeu RHP 6795	Kilmolowaig(Blaeu)
Balevullin	6	48	1509	NL 9546	RHP 6795	Ballimulin(1509)
Kirkapoll parish total	(69½)
Soroby parish
Heanish	3	24	1509	NM 0343	Blaeu RHP 6795	Hanys(1509), Haynis(1541), Heaness(Blaeu)
Baugh	3	24	1509	NM 0243	Blaeu RHP 6795	=Bayech?(1509), Baw(1541), Baigh(Blaeu), Baiglie(1674)
Cu’ Dheis	30s		1509	NL 9841	Langlands(1801) RHP 6795 RHP 8826	Cuheish(RHP 6795), Quiyeish(RHP 8826), 18 mail-land in 1663, 2¼m(30s) Cowzeife (HP I p 289 1674), Quinish(Langlands). See below.
Balinoe	20s		1509	NL 9742	Blaeu RHP 6795	Balnow(Blaeu), Baleno(RHP 6795). 20s would be equivalent to 12 mail-lands.
Balinoe & Cu’ Dheis		30	1751			30 mail-lands would be equivalent to 50s or 3¾m.
Hynish	6m		1509	NL 9839	Blaeu RHP 6795	£4(=6m), Teirunge(1663), Annahynisch(1509), Hynis(1541), Heanes(Blaeu), Tayneish(HP I p289 1674), Heynish(RHP 6795).
Middleton/Ballimeanach	3m	24	1509	NL 9443	Blaeu Langlands(1801) RHP 6795	Balliemanach(1509) but other spellings suggest ‘mid’
Barrapol	6m		1509	NL 9542	Blaeu RHP 6795	Barapole(1509), Bairrepoill(1541), Barrabol(Blaeu), Barbull(1663)
Kilkenneth	6m		1509	NL 9444	Blaeu RHP 6795	£4(=6m) Kilquhynich(1509), Killyne/Kilkyne(1541), Kilchainie(Blaeu), Killhenish(RHP 6795)
Kilchenichbeg	3m	12	1726 1751
Kilchenichmore		12	1751
(Beinn) Mhurstat	6m		1509	NL 9445	RHP 6795 RHP 8826	Murtod(1509), Murtost/Murtoft(1541), Murdat(1663), Murdoll(HP I p290 1674), Muirdat(RHP 8826), Muirdale or Murstal in Argyll Estate Instructions p 57. See below.
Hough	6m	48	1509	NL 9545	Blaeu RHP 6795	Howe(1509), Howfe(1541), How(Blaeu)
Balephuil	6m	32	1509	NL 9641	Blaeu RHP 6795	Iona monastery, Ballefulye(1509), Baillephuille(CRA p2 1561), Balefuil(Blaeu)
Heylipoll	(3m)	40	1390	NL 9742/9743	Blaeu RHP 6795	½oz(3m) Hindebollis 1390, 6m Tillipole(with Crossipole) 1509, 4m Hynnepols(1541), 5m(1674), Hyrbol/Hylebol(Blaeu)
Crossapol	(3m)	8	1509	NL 9942/9943/9944	Blaeu RHP 6795	6m with Heylipoll in 1509, 2m(1541), 1m(1674), Krosbol(Blaeu)
Soroby	1¼		1674	NL 9841/9842	Blaeu RHP 6795	1¼m(1674) but perhaps part of Crossapol above
Mannal	6m		1390	NL 9840	Blaeu RHP 6795	1oz Mannawallis(1390), Mandalon(1496) Manwell(1509),  Manvall/Manwell(1541), Mannol(Blaeu)
Mannal & Hynish		72	1751
Nyerin	1½		1509		Blaeu RHP 6795	Herne(1496), Nyerin(1509), Iryne/Heryne(1541), Hyring(Blaeu), Harinnine(1663), Eyrme(1674), Yrine(RHP 6795), (=Aorinn?). See below.
Ceann a Mhara	3½		1541	NL 9340	Blaeu RHP 6795	=46s 8d(3½m)Valdonovodanach(1509)? Kenmarre(1541), Keanddauar(Blaeu),  Kennavar(1674)
Gortendonel						Consisted of Barrapol & Kenovar (AEI pp 18, 23, 49)
Barapoll & Kenovar		64	1751
Kerrefergus	1½		1674	c. NL 9445		Kereferguss 11 mail-land in 1663. Former name for  Keravintrianvoir? See below.
Keravintrianvoir	(1½)	12	1751	c. NL 9445		Keratrianvoir with Kerameanoch in 1794
Kerremeanach	1½	12	1674	c. NL 9445
Kerahusagar	(1½)	12	1751	c. NL 9445	RHP 8826	Ballehusiger(1663), Kerachusagar(1743)
Kerachrosegar	1½	12	1674	c. NL 9444	Blaeu Langlands(1801) RHP 8826	Krosgairth(Blaeu), Krossiegers(1674), Kerachrosegar(RHP 8826), Kerachrasgar(Langlands)
Keranokile	1½	12	1674	c. NL 9444	Langlands(1801) RHP 8826	Kerrienakill(1663), Reranakeill(1674)
(Traigh) Ghrianal	1½	12	1674	NL 9344	Blaeu RHP 6795	‘Quarterland'(1663), Grinok(Blaeu), Griyenll(RHP 6795)
Sandaig	1½	12	1674	NL 9443	Blaeu RHP 6795 Langlands(1801)	‘Quarterland'(1663)
Balemartine	1½	22	1674	NL 9741/9841	Blaeu RHP 6795, Langlands(1801)
The Reef	12		1541	NM 0045	Blaeu RHP 6795	Reiff(ER XVII pp532-3, 1541), Ryfmoir(Blaeu), this became common ground but I do not know if it was always so
(Traigh) Bhi	3		1541	NL 9440/9540		Bee(ER XVII pp532-3, 1541)
Soroby parish total	80¾
Tiree total	150¼m

 

Bal-Ayg and Balephetrish

Bal-Ayg (Baluaig) and Balphetrish are sometimes treated as the same unit but, on the basis of the evidence in ER XIII & XVII, RHP 6795 and the 1674 rental, I think they may have once been distinct farms worth 1m and 3m respectively.

 

Cu’ Dheis

The situation with Cu’ Dheis is complex. In 1509 two farms are specified: 30s Ownglesch(1509) and 20s Ballino making a total of 50s or 3¾m. In 1541 Cowelche is mentioned at 3m(40s) along with another 10s which is listed separately and may have been part of Heryne. Since Balinoe does not appear in 1541 it seems likely that Cowelche was originally worth 50s but in the early sixteenth century was splitting into two farms of Cowelche(30s) and Balinoe(20s). They appeared individually in 1509 but for some reason were not listed separately in 1541.

Units of 10s are each one-eighth of a tirung which was 6m (80s). Similarly 10s equals 6 mail-lands so the 18 mail-land of Cuish in 1663 equals 30s or 2¼m or ⅜ tirung.

 

Mhurstat

Murdat was 22 mail-land (2¾m) in 1663; 3½m waste in 1674.

 

Nyerin

In RHP 6795 Yrine is shown between Balephuil & Hynish.

 

Kerrefergus

I only have two references for Kerrefergus; one as 11 mail-land (=1m 5s) in ABA FH233 which is a rental for 1663, the other as 1½m (=12 mail-lands) in a rental for 1674. Other names occurring in the 1663 rental prove that Kerrefergus was not the same as Kerahusagar, Kerachrosegar, Keranokile or Kerremeanach. The only other name which begins with Ker- is Keravintrianvoir so they may be the same.

 

Quarterlands

There are six quarterland units (worth 1½m each) which I have not included in the total. These begin with the element Kerr- which is a version of ceathramh or quarter. They do not appear in the earliest assessments but by the time of Turnbull’s survey (1768-9) two of the older ounceland farms (Murtod and Kilkenneth) had been broken up. His map (RHP 8826) shows the following farms in the north-western corner of Tiree (reading N to S):

Muirdat

Kerahusagar

Kerachrosegar

Keranokile

Kilchenichmore

Kilchenichbeg

Grianal

Sandaig

 

I suspect that Muirdat, Kerahusagar and Kerachrosegar were subdivisions of the old Murtod ounceland and that Keranokile, Kilchenichmore and Kilchenichbeg were fractions of the ounceland of Kilkenneth. This accounts for three of the six Kerr- names. Kerahusagar is given as 36 mail-lands in Turnbull’s report but I think this was because it contained two other quarterlands of 12 mail-lands each – Kerremeanach and Keravintrianvoir. They do not appear in 1768-9 but are found before (1751) and after (1794). The final quarterland is Kerrefergus which I think is an earlier name for Keravintrianvoir. Kerrefergus is documented in 1663 and 1674 but not thereafter. Keravintrianvoir does not appear until 1751. I presume Kerremeanach and Keravintrianvoir were by Kerahusagar.

 

 

In a section entitled ‘Names from Kenavara’ Brownlie (p 154) refers to a feature called ‘Na Dabhaichean’ (The Vats). I do not know if this refers to a natural feature reminiscent of vats or tubs or whether it has to do with land-assessment. Otherwise I have found no reference to davachs.

 

It is striking how valuable the farms of Tiree were relative to other parts of the Highlands & Islands. Elsewhere there were few farms worth a whole davach or ounceland. In Tiree there were still 16 intact in 1509.