RARE FIND
Following is an extract from a book which was kept by the Dean of Lismore. The Dean of Lismore Argyll was the keeper of Highland Literature in the 15th century. The particular volume this extract was taken from had layed burried away in a family attic collecting dust and seemingly forever forgotten until an Uncle took interest in having a part of the writting translated from Galic into modern English. To his surprise the following was found.
First known Gaelic Poetess.
The Poem was recorded in
1431 A.D.
Her name, Effric MacCorquodale, married to Hector Torquil
MacNeill of Castle Sween, Knapdale Argyll.
Note: at that
time the name MacCorquodale was in transition from Norse to
Gaelic,
(ie. Effric Neyn Coreitill ).
On her husbands death, the Dean of Lismore describes her poem as
very spirited.
Efric laments her husbands death as
follows.
ROSARY, THOU KINDLEST SORROW;
THOUGH ART EVER MY
DELIGHT;
TELLING OF THE NOBLE BOSOM;
WHERE I LAY
UNTIL TONIGHT.
DEATH HAS FILLED ME WITH IT'S SADNESS;
WHERE'S THE
ARM I CLUNG TO LONG?
AH! I SAW IT NOT DEPARTING;-
HIS THE VALIANT AND THE STRONG.
JOYFUL VOICE OF SOFTEST MUSIC;
KNOWN IT EVERYWHERE
REMAINS;
LION OF MULL OF THE WHITE TOWERS,
HAWK
OF ISLAY OF SMOOTH PLAINS.
THERE'S NO JOY AMOUNG OUR WOMEN;
AT THE SPORT MEN ARE
NOT SEEN;
LIKE THE SKIES WHEN WINDS ARE SILENT,
SO WITH MUSIC IS DUN SWEEN.
ON CLAN-NEILL THEY'VE TAKEN VENGEANCE;
SEE THE PALACE
OF THE BRAVE!
CAUSE TO US OF SAD LAMENTING,
TILL
THEY LAY US IN THE GRAVE.
Effric Neyn Coreitill
The name MacCorquodale has, through the ages, been spelt several
ways, however, there is no denying the fact it is derived from the
Norse "Thorketill" or "Torquil", a descriptive name meaning Cauldron
of the Spirit. The name continued to evolve with the addition of Mac
as the prefix thereby making it MacTorquil, The Son of Torquil, or as
spelt by a scribe in 1430, Mactorquedil and further evolving to its
present spellings of McCorquodale, MacCorquodale, MacCorkindale and
many other variations.
One of the founding races of Scotland were the Dalriadans. This
race was descended by the early Irish Kings, specifically King Colla
da Crioch who was banished from Ireland in 327 A.D. along with 350
clan chiefs, settling in the Western Isles.
It was in the ninth century the name MacCorquodale (Torguil as
it was known then) gained prominence. It is said that at his final
battle, Alpin, the father of Kenneth MacAlpin (the first King of
Scotland), was beheaded and his head carried away by the Picts who
exposed it in their town. It was, however, recovered by a soldier
named Torguil, and as a reward he was invested with lands on Loch
Aweside (Lochawe) by Kenneth MacAlpin.
The Maccorquodale name then emerged as a Scottish Clan in the
territory of Argyll where they were a family of antiquity seated at
Phantillans and estates in that Shire. One of the first records was of
Eugene MacCorquodale who appeared before the Sheriff of Perth in 1430
and in 1434 Ewen MacCorquodale was Lord of Phantillans. His son, Ewen,
the next Chief granted some of his lands named Edderlin to Archibald
the Earl of Argyll in exchange for other lands. In 1509 his successor
Ewen was Chief of the Clan and by 1600 they had become associated with
the outlawed Clan MacGregor.
Much of the Scottish History was lost during this period from the mid 1600's to the 1800's due to poor record keeping caused by the turmoil of the times. Clan societies are now trying to reconstruct Highland history. But, typical of the ancient conflict between highlander and Edinburgh, many ancient highland clans have still not officially been recognized by the Lord Lyon of Scotland.
It is in this time period we believe my arm of the Clan
MacCorquodale began in North Uist.
In the 1660's a warrior by the name of John MacKay was forced to
leave the Island of Ilay in Argyll by one of the predominant clans,
the Campbells. John MacKay's armour bearer was one Donald
MacCorquodale. John MacKay and Donald moved to North Uist after
leaving Islay. John Mackay then moved on to Skye but Donald remained
behind in North Uist. This Donald MacCorquodale is said to be the
origin of all families and all descending branches bearing the name
MacCorquodale from North Uist. My particular branch emigrated to
Tiree, a small Island off coast of western Scotland. John
MacCorquodale was born in North Uist sometime in the early 1800's and
married Mary MacDonald in 1858. One of their children (we are not
certain how many children they had)was
Donald MacCorquodale, born March 13, 1861 in Carinish, North Uist and married Mary Cameron. From this union came nine children.
Following Jeannie's death in 1927, Archibald remarried to Christina Watson Cairns. Christina was born April 10, 1906 in Loanhead Scotland (a suburb of Edinburgh) From this second marriage there were five more children.
TO BE CONTINUED
Many thanks to those who have helped me so far in my search. Many thanks to my cousin Rhod, Malcolm whom I had the fortune of finding through his niece and Ian. If you have any additional information that would be useful please don't hesitate to e me at...
