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Editor's
Notes:
1) The location referenced in
this letter seems to be spelled as either Coanich or Caonich.
It was a farm on the north side of Loch Arkaig, between the farms
of Callich and Kenmore. The Fassifern family sub-let it
during the 1760s from the official renters, the Camerons of Clunes
(Ewen Cameron paid the rent straight to Margaret Cameron, widow of
Donald of Clunes, as her son Duncan, the official Tacksman, owed
her money.) It seems that they in turn were going to sub-let
it to Alexander Cameron. It is unlikely he was going to be
living there, he in turn would sub-let the living accommodation to
someone else. Regardless of the spelling, this farm was
listed 1787
Lochiel Estate Rentals.
2) Listed in Stewart's "The
Camerons" as "Lieutenant" in the 78th Fraser's
Highlanders, which were raised in 1757
3) "Bowman," a Scots
term for an individual in charge of the cattle on a farm; a tenant
with a bow, which was a stock or herd of cattle, especially cows
Ewen Cameron, the recipient of
this letter was the nephew of Donald "The Gentle"
Lochiel. Later named "Sir Ewen" upon his son
Colonel John Cameron's death at Quatre Bras in 1815. He
lived at Inverscaddle in Ardgour at this time (or possibly Alnwick)
moving to Fassifern when his father died, in 1785. Ewen was
apparently in communication with his cousin young Charles Cameron
of Lochiel (son of Donald "The Gentle Lochiel," who
became the XXI Chief in 1762.)
Alexander Cameron, of "Achnaherie,"
the author of this letter, was that same Alexander Cameron
"of Strone and Achnakerry" whom supplied information for
the 1761 Valuation Roll of the Annexed Estate of Lochiel, stating
that "...his elder brother, Captain of Foot in North America,
is the Head of the Tribe of Macallonavies..." It is
believed that "Achnaherie" was not a spelling variation
of "Achnacarry" but another distinctive place. This
brother, John Cameron, the head of the Strone family, was in 1763
a Lieutenant in the 2nd Virginia Provincial Regiment and a
Volunteer in Colonel Montgomerie's Regiment. It is not
believed that John ever returned to Scotland. As for
Alexander, he was employed by the Fassifern family to handle all
of their stock deals. Until his death in 1771 he was the
principal judge at the annual Cattle Show at Inverlochy and was
known to the Fassiferns as "Sandy Strone." Alexander
was one in the same with that gent wounded at Culloden, who later
married Jean "A' Bhanntrach Ruadh" Campbell. This
youthful red-haired lass, once widowed a few years later, would be
the inspiration of the dual in 1772 between young Alan Cameron of
Erracht and his cousin, Alexander Cameron of Muirsheorlaich.
With Muirsheorlaich's death, which was said to have been
committed outside of the proper rules of the duel, young Alan
Cameron of Erracht fled into temporary exile [later to return and
become the famed General Alan Cameron of 79th Regiment fame.]
Twelve years later Charles
Cameron, XXI Chief passed away and his seven-year-old son, Donald
Cameron, became the XXII Chief. Ewen Cameron, the
aforementioned recipient of this letter, became one of the young
Chief's curators/guardians (along with Donald of Lochiel's mother,
Martha Cameron, and Donald "The Banker" Cameron, son of
Dr. Archibald Cameron, of 1745 Jacobite fame) and was appointed
factor of the Lochiel Estate after its restoration in 1784. This
reinforces the fact that the "Chief" whom the author of
this letter refers to was in fact Charles, XXI Chief and that the
Fassifern family were in close contact during those "grey
years" before restoration. |
