iGenealogy Blog

In review of the McColl Family Papers, I found an old letter (scans of it to come soon), that was written in 1846 by the Chief of the Clan McColl at that time to an unknown person. The name is written so I can’t quite read it, but looks to be similar to “Kul”? McColl. Perhaps someone could help me determine the origins of this letter, and verify its contents. The letter outlines the history and traditions of the Clan McColl of Appin. (Please note that any misspellings or missing information are original, or due to the difficulty of transcribing this old document)

Minifield 4th Oct 1846

My Dear Sir

I am sure you are very angry with me for not answering your kind letter sooner. But I found it impossible to do so. Not being acquainted with the ancient history of the Highlands. I applied to a cousin of mine, the Reverend Mr.? McColl of Glenorchay whose brother, Coll, a catholic priest collected a great mass of information throughout the Highlands and Gle. embracing a well written history as traditional information, ancient poetry?, or from these circumstances, I thought his brother the most likely person to give a correct outline of the history of the Clan McColl. The priest went to Australia some years ago where he died, he took all his manuscripts with him and what I now send is furnished by the Clergyman from memory alone, but it appears to me from what I heard in my younger days from old people to be quite correct as far as it goes. I think where he mentions that in after times the McColls became the vassals of the Stuarts should be suppressed. They the McC had at one time large possessions in Appin, but through the vicissitudes of the time and the bad faith and treachery of the Stuart who in common gratitude ought to have supported them they in the end lost all their lands, except that which I still hold. The priest before he embarked for Australia got the McColl crest and Motto engraved in London. He sent and impression of it to his brother, but in his letter to me he says the does not know how to take an impression from it. If there is any use in this information I am sorry you should want it so long but Mr. M Cooll has been from home for the last fortnight assisting his Brethren in administering the Sacrament in different parts of Argyllshire.
I hope you will be able to make out a good case for the poor McColls, this antiquity was never doubted. I shall be happy to hear from you . I am my dear Sir – Yours truly
Kul? McColl
[Note written on the side] The Chief man of the Clan McColl at above date

The History and tradition of the Clan McColl of Appin

The history of the Clan McColl is very much lost in antiquity, yet the tradition still extant of the Clan shows their origin to have been both Noble an ancient. The name Coll or Cole or Colla, can be traced to an early period in the genealogy of families, both in Ireland and in Scotland, the first person of note of the name of whom I have read, was Coll or Colla, and Uamh-theistfir Coll, or Colla, the Monster a Prince in Ireland. In the 4th Century from whom it is said the McDonalds are descended. Whether the McDonalds take their origin from this Coll or Colla and Uamh-theist is difficult to determine, but it is a well known fact that the name Coll is still as well as in ancient times a name peculiar both? Clan McDonald. It is therefore evident that the Clan McColl must as the name of itself indicates, have come of the Colls of ancient times
The person from whom the McColls of Appin are descended is said to be Solla dubh (ie Black Solla or Solomon, Son of Coll, 2nd Son of McDonald, Kin or Lord of the Isles. This Solla dubh, had for his inheritance the Island of Coll, from which Island he fled and took up his residence in Lorn in the neighborhood of Oban, but having committed some crime in Lorn he absconded and went to Appin where he found protection. He had afterwards to fly from Appin and made his way to Rosshire when he settled and married the daughter of a Miller of the name Michael by whom the had several sons of whom the ancient family of the McCuloc[ink blotch here] of Glastuleih? in Rosshire. The wife of this same Solla dubh or black Solomon, the Son of Coll having died he left Rosshire with his Brother in law Michael, of whom the Carmichaels of Appin and returned to Appin where he married and settled for life, from whom the McColls are descended – a numerous and brave Clan in Appin in ancient as well as in Modern times – they had property a part of which, one of them still retain in Glencrain in Appin. It therefore appears that the McColls are a branch of the McDonalds, descended as the name indicates from Coll or Colla the 2nds Son of the Lord of the Isles – Their crest is a Highlander with Shield and Dagger?-Motto
Ferris tigo –
Maccollasky
(Ie seiath nehu Colla
or McColl’s Shield)
The McColls
In latter times became the vassals of the Stuarts of Appin – They fought their battles and at all times defended their cause with fidelity and bravery, but without anything like a suitable recompensation for their services

This entry was posted on Monday, November 13th, 2006 at 10:40 am and is filed under McCall / McColl. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.