The MacNeills and the MacVicars of Kintyre

The problem I have with the MacVicar family as they are recorded in Kintyre is coming to an understanding as to who they were. There appears to be no eponymous founder of the MacVicar family in the region. Any attempt to discover their origin as a Kintyre based family has been treated in the form of a fable. Angus J MacVicar's account of them in Kintyre received scant attention in his 'Sons of the Eagle', (MacVicar 1969). This is because he had no idea as to their origin. MacVicar does not pretend to have a an answer regarding MacVicar history in Kintyre. He simply addresses the question by referencing a remark made by a Professor Blackie of edinburgh University who is reported to have said of the MacVicars that 'they are a very ancient clan - 'formost among those who resisted the Roman invasion', (1969). Angus J MacVicar remarks that the idea is far-fetched and I agree with him. There is no evidence in support of Professor Blackie's assertion. I've never seen any evidence to suggest that the MacVicars are an ancient clan. The Argyll records might hold deeds and the 'Sasines' might yield evidence of land transactions naming MacVicar folk. My question is 'where is the evidence for the assertion that the MacVicars are an ancient clan?'

The on-going research by Virgil McVicker (www.clanMacVicar.org) into his genealogy reveals his ancestral line to the year 1550 in Stronmagachan Argyllshire. This is possible because virgil is descended through a 'chiefly' line. Angus J MacVicar says that he used the Records of Argyll by Lord Archibald Campbell, in his account of the MacVicars of Inverary, (1969). Anything other than scholarly research, in my view, is of no account. If we don't use objective scholarship in research we end up relying on subjective interpretation. The latter being mere speculation which is useless for scholarly research. I prefer to accept the scholarly version that seperates fact from fiction. A translation of the GAELIC MANUSCRIPT of 1450 (COLLECTANEA De REBUS ALBANICIS) suggests the word 'MOUGAILLAN' as recorded in the Gaelic Manuscript refers to the MacVicar clan. A note in the text says, 'MOUGAILLAN - the editor takes to be derived from the old Gaelic word 'MOIDGEALLAD' - 'a vow'. This clan it is to be presumed are the MacVicars of Argyllshire'. (see Skene's 'CELTIC SCOTLAND', vol.3).

Note: The genealogies of the Highland clans are based on transcriptions of a mediaeval manuscript from the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh. The manuscript as discovered in the early 19th century by the antiquary William Forbes Skene, who described it as an 'ancient parchment manuscript, containing genealogies of most of the Highland clans, and, which from internal evidence, appears to have been written about 1450'. Skene found it to be dated 1467 after which the manuscript takes it usual name, MS 1467, (sometimes 'MS 1450' from the original estimation of its date). Skene transcribed the manuscript, and published his translations and transcripts COLLECTANEA De REBUS ALBANICUS Vol 1 in 1839, and again with modifications in CELTIC SCOTLAND. The manuscript is now held in the National Library Of Scotland, where it is catalogued as ADV. MS, 72.1.1. It is made up of two unrelated sections, the first part dating to 1467 and the second part to about 1425.

If the interpretation is correct, the MacVicars were an established clan before the mid 15th century. But, is there an 'ancient' origin to the MacVicar clan? George Fraser Black's 'The Surnames Of Scotland Their Origin And Meaning' (1946 New York Public Library) gives numerous examples of recorded versions of the MacVicar surname, but none recorded earlier than the 1480s, and they were MACNAUGHTONS who became priests, and their descendants as a result of their ancestors priestly occupation, were therefore known as 'sons of the vicars' and appellation was stabilized as a proper surname as 'MacVicar'. (G F Black 1946). For example JAMES MACNAUGHTON or MCVICAR, 'tenant' in the BRAES OF TAYMOUTH. So, for those descendants of the MACNAUGHTONS the history of their MacVicar surname is relatively recent. But, what about the MacVicars of Kintyre? Angus J MacVicar gives a fabulous account of their entry into Kintyre. The fable tells of an eagle flying from Antrim N. Ireland and placing a baby in GlenBreckie, Southend, (Glen Breakerie). There are McVicars recorded in ANTRIM. THE 1803 AGRICULTURAL CENSUS FOR NORTH ANTRIM shows: JOHN MACVICAR of RAMOAN parish in the townland BROOMORE; WILLIAM MACVICAR in DERRYKEIGHAN - townland ISLANDAHOE; DANIEL MACVICCAR in ARMOY -townland ARMOY; NEAL MACVICKAR in DUNLUKE - townland BALLYHUNSLEY; PAT MCVICKAR in DUNLUKE - township BALLYHUNSLEY and JOHN MCVICKER in ARMOY - townland KILCROAGH. It's not known if they are descendents of Argyllshire folk or of native Antrim stock. Returning to the fable, the baby of the fable is said to be the progenitor of the MacVicars of Kintyre (MacVicar 1969). The area given in the fable is correct, Southend in Kintyre has MacVicars living there from 1591. As for the founder of the MacVicars of Kintyre, I suggest we might look to the MacNeills for an answer. In particular, the MacNeills in Carskey (Carskiey). It is at this point that I turn to the research of a Kintyre historian A I B Stewart who was a regular contributor to the Kintyre Antiquarian & Natural History Magazine. Stewart's piece THE EVOLUTION OF GAELIC SURNAMES IN KINTYRE (No. 34, p, 20, Autumn 1993) gives what I consider important insight into the possible founder of the MacVicars of Kintyre.

Stewart writes,'Another name of localinterest is McVicar, which firt occurs in the person of GILQUHANE McVICAR, joint tenant with HECTOR MACNEILL, Carskey, of the Mull Of Kintyre in 1591. However it has to be noted that in 1505 the rector of KilBlaan (Southend) was Sir Morice McNeill who had a let of the KilBlaan lands. He died in 1527 and was succeeded by GILLICALLUM McNEILL alias McPERSONE who was tenant of Kilchattan, Cristlach and Dalnauchliek, also in the Southend district. We can see the tentative adoption of the surname McPHERSON by the son of a parson and no doubt the McVICARS got their name the same way and perhaps even from the same man. Certainly there were in later times strong family connections between the CARSKEY MACNEILLS and the MCVICAR family.' Stewart further writes, 'By 1636 the old 4 mkland of the Mull of Kintyre occupied in 1505 by Hector MacNeill, Carskey, and Neil McMolan had been divided into several small farms named after their occupiers, BALLEVCICCAR the occupiers being JON MCVICCAR, HEW MCVICCAR and DUNCANE his brother'. (Stewart 1993).

Stewart says the record shows an individual known as GILQUHANE McVICAR as the first recorded 'McVICAR' in Kintyre. GILQUHANE McVICAR must have had a close relationship with HECTOR MCNEILL, in CARSKEY. HECTOR is described by Alasdair Roberts as 'an educated man who could read and write', (Franciscan Converts in Kintyre, by A Roberts). HECTOR had welcomed the Franciscan priests to CARSKEY in 1624. Johnston in his SOUTHEND THROUGH THE AGES writes of the MACNEILLS OF CARSKEY - 'The clan IAN MHOR MACDONALD was the chief family in KINTYRE at the end of the 15th century - one branch of the clan was the MACNEILLS OF CARSKEY'. The bound volume 'ROLL OF THE VALUED RENT OF ARGYLLSHIRE 1751' details by name, extent and valuation the lands of the parish in which CARSKEY lies. ARCHIBALD MACNEILL of CARRISKEY appears as owner of no more than four merklands in all; whereas in the rental of Crown Lands of 1505. (the earliest known written record of the family) his forbear, HECTOR MAC IAIN MACGILLECALUM appears as occupant that year of twelve merklands of CARSKEY and the four merklands of MULL. By 1751 large tracts of land had passed from the MACNEILLS OF CARSKEY into the possession of the noble house of ARGYLL. The '1751 ROLL OF VALUED RENT' reads as follows, 'parish of KILCOLMKILL, KILBLAAN and KILKIVAN. ARCHD. DUKE OF ARGYLL for his property in the parish - valued rent in sterling money £.S.D ballimacviccar 2/3 £02:14:04'. BALMACKVICAR is thus named and indicated on the PONT - FORDON map of the second quarter of the 17th century, at which period it was tenanted by three members of the MACVICAR family; a JOHN MACVICAR, tenant of BALMAVICAR is also on record in 1653 and 1678. The township ws uninhabited at the time of the ARGYLL ESTATE CENSUS of 1779. There is a MACVICAR Laird in KINTYRE. Donald and Kelly mentions 'DUNCAN MACVICAR, LAIRD OF LARGIE' in 1699 (SADDLE & CARRADALE: A CHURCH HISTORY, P Donald M Kelly, 2003). The identity of the progenitor of the MACVICAR family of KINTYRE is nowehere referenced. But, I think there may be a clue as to a possible candidate for the founder of the MACVICARS of KINTYRE in the person of GILQUHANE MACVICAR, who is joint tenant with HECTOR MACNEILL, CARSKEY. If we look at the christian name GILQUHANE we can see it is composed of two seperate elements. The first element points to the servant role of the holder of the name, 'GIL' is contraction of 'GILLE' meaning 'SERVANT'. The second element of the name 'QUHANE' is problematic. But, I suggest three possibilities to the root of the second part of the name, two names having an ecclesiastical connection. Firstly there is the christian name GILLEONAIN meaning 'SERVANT OF (S.) ADAMNAN'. This name appeals to me because it has a link to the MACNEILLS of BARRA and it is a recognised christian name that G F Black in THE SURNAMES OF SCOTLAND: THEIR ORIGIN AND MEANING (1946), says is a christian name only, (Black, p,305). Another equally compelling name to consider is the surname GILQUHOME, but there is no suggestion is was used as a christian name, (Black, p, 309) and thirdly, there is MACGILLEVARQUHANE so close to the rendering of GILQUHANE which is translated 'son of the gille of (S) Barchan'. I prefer to think of GILQUHANE as an idiosyncratic rendering of GILLEONAIN on the grounds of its MACNEILL connection and its also a christian name. It is not known if GILQUHANE MACVICAR was an incomer to KINTYRE or of native stock. Finally another surname that might be a strong contender for the source of the GILQUHANE christian name is to be found in the surname MACILWHAM. If we return to the surname 'GILQUHOME', G F Black says it is derived from 'MACILWHAM' (Black 1946) and cites 'MACILQUHAM', M'ILQUHAN' and 'MCGILLIQUHOME', which according to Black are synonymous with MACILWHAM. However, I suggest the derivation for GILQUHANE is under our nose in Stewart's paper. I suggest the christian name GILLICALUM is the source of GILQUHANE. Stewart says that GILLICALLUM is a popular christian name in southern Kintyre, the traditional landing place of St Columba. The commonest local surname being McCALLUM from McOLCHALLUM in turn derived from MACGILLIECALLUM, (Stewart 1993). As for GILQUHANE MCVICAR, there is no hint of his relationship to HECTOR MACNEILL other than 'joint tenant' of CARSKEY. But, his christian name and surname clearly show he was the son of the vicar and a servant to the church and as such he may indeed have been the son of GILLICALUM MCNEILL alias MCPERSONE in CARSKEY. Many Breadalbane surnames contain aliases. For example, MACVURRICH alias MCPHERSON is one example of many highland 'alias' surnames.

An important source of research material regarding references to Macvicars in Kintyre is 'MACNEILL OF CARSKEYS JOURNAL 1703 - 1743' . Macvicars are mentioned as tenants on farms on the estate. The first entry in the estate journal is dated NOV.29 1703 and refers to BARBARA CAMPBELL Relict to the deceased Baillie McVicar. The referenced MCVICAR was Baillie PATRICK MCVICAR, merchant in Campbeltown. PATRICK and his wife BARBARA CAMPBELL were the parents of REV. NEILL MCVICAR of ST CUTHBERTS in Edinburgh. BARBARA CAMPBELL ws the daughter of MAJOR JOHN CAMPBELL (died 1685). In a letter dated 27 December 1706 (Scottish Record Office GD/170/641) PATRICK CAMPBELL 'writer' in Edinburgh writes to ALEXANDER CAMPBELL of BARCALDINE and refers to REVD. NEILL MCVICAR as 'OUR CUSINE'. REVD. NEILL MCVICAR ws the brother of GEORGE MACVICAR of LOW GARTVAIN, SOUTHEND, KINTYRE, and grandson of the 'Major' and PATRICK CAMPBELL 'writer' has been identified as the son of DONALD GLASS CAMPBELL of INVERINAN and grandson of PATRICK CAMPBELL of INVORGELDIE and BARCALDINE and his wife BARBARA CAMPBELL daughter of PATRICK CAMPBELL of EDINCHIP. Major JOHN CAMPBELL had three daughters; MARGARET married LAUCHLAN MCNEILL, AUCHENSAVILL, SOUTHEND, KINTYRE (LACHLAN was 'tacksman' of AUCHENSAVILL, SOUTHEND between at least 1682 until his death in 1722. The estate journal mentions the receipt of £18 Scots of liquor by MALCOLM of CARSKIEY, 'To my uncle LACHLAN in AUCHENSAVIL his funeral'); BARBARA married Baillie PATRICK MCVICAR of CAMPBELTOWN, KINTYRE and JENNET married JOHN MCNEILL son of MALCOLM MCNEILL of CARSKEY. Their marrieage contract is dated at Campbeltown 25 February 1676 (S.R.O. RD2/62). The cautioners or guarantors respecting the marriage between JENNET CAMPBELL and JOHN MCNEILL were LACHLAN MCNEILL son to NIALL Oge MACNEILL, and PATRICK MCVICAR, 'indweller' in CAMPBELTOWN. The deed was registered in the BOOKS COUNCIL & SESSION on 23rd November 1683. (Dalrymple Deeds Vol.62). Major JOHN CAMPBELL'S origins may never be known, but, he appears to have been accepted as a younger son of CAMPBELL of CLAONARIGH, a property south of INVERARY, a branch of the MACIVOR CAMPBELLS. The 'major' was executed in 1685 for his part in Argyll's abortive rising. (see Major JOHN CAMPBELL'S OBITUARY 1685, by A I B Stewart in Kintyre Antiquarian & Natural History Society Magazine, No.29, p, 15, Spring 1991).

The family relationship between the MCNEILLS of TIRFERGUS and CARSKIEY was close and far too complicated to account for in this paper. For MCVICAR history, ELIZABETH MCNEILL the daughter of TORQUIL MCNEILL of UGADALE, married REVD. JOHN MCVICAR, Minister of KILDALTON in ISLAY and son of Baillie PATRICK MCVICAR, CAMPBELTOWN, one of the cautioners recorded on the marriage document (see above). Confirmation of the relationship of PATRICK MCVICAR'S wife BARBARA CAMPBELL, is to be found in a Memorial addressed to the Duke of Argyll by GEORGE MCVICAR, tenant of GARTVAIN, SOUTHEND, KINTYRE asking for an extension of his lease. GEORGE states that he is a grandson of Major JOHN CAMPBELL, executed in 1685 for his support of ARGYLL, and that ie is a brother of REVD. NEILL MCVICAR of WEST KIRK, EDINBURGH. In the ROYAL BOUNTY PAPERS there is a letter dated 22 September 1729 from the REVD. JOHN MACVICAR of KILARROW, KILMENY and KILMOCHAN in ISLAY to his brother REVD. NEILL MCVICAR of the WEST KIRK, EDINBURGH. REVD. JOHN married ELIZABETH MCNEILL the sister of NEILL MCNEILL (who stabilised the surname to MCNEAL). TORQUIL MCVICAR was the son of REVD. JOHN and ELIZABETH. TORQUIL was a member of council and commander of the militia in TOBAGO during the French wars. After the forfeiture of ARGYLL in 1683, PATICK MCVICAR appeared as a local factor for BOYLE of KELBURNE, the commisioner of the forfeited Kintrye estate. In CAMPBELTOWN IN THE 1715 & 1745 STEWART UPRISINGS by Reverend James Webb we read 'Officers and men recruited from Campbeltown August 1715 - ENSIGN PATRICK MCVICAR'. (not the Baillie Patrick McVicar, he is dead by 1703).

In MACNEIL OF CARSKEYS JOURNAL 1703 - 1743 there are references to MCVICAR tenants on the estate. The COMPT BOOK (in the journal) was compiled by MALCOLM MCNEILL Merchtt att Campbeltoune Kintyre. He was Laird of Carskey. His wife was a MACNEILL from ANTRIM. The MACNEILLS were a KINTYRE family, originally of GIGHA and with later branches at CARSKEY, TIRFERGUS and UGADALE. The MACNEILLS had been in CARSKEY for at least three hundred years prior to 1505, (the earliest known written record of the family), but they did not get a charter before 1700. Prior to that date they were properly designated as 'in' CARSKEY. After 1700 they became 'of' CARSKEY.

Nov. 29 1703 BARBARA CAMPBELL relict to the deaceased Baillie MCVICAR (my ed. presumably PATICK MCVICAR the merchant in Campbeltown).

Nov 1717 JO MCVICCAR in Lailt for plow timber £00.15.00.

Arpyll 8std 1718 Then reed from NEILL MCVICCAR for one groat land of LAILT the soume of twenty six pounds Scots -

Febry 22 1725 Then receaved from and in FFebry 12 1733 DIORMID MCVICCAR.

March 1725 GEORGE MCVICCAR Mercht in CAMPBELTOUN.

May 1727 JOHN MCVICCAR in LAILT. One hyde and two skins.

MCVICCAR DIARMOID Borgadillmore 1722 tenant.
MCVICCAR DIARMOID Borgadillmore 1730/34 tenant.

MCVICCAR, GEORGE Campbeltown 1725 Merchant.

MCVICCAR JO. Lailt 1717/18 tenant.

MCVICCAR JOHN Borgadillmore 1735/36. tenant.

MCVICCAR, NEILL Lailt 1721 tenant.

Notes: The properties of Lailt and Borgadile are situated north-east of CARSKEY home farm.

The monumental inscriptions in KINTYRE show MCVICARS in various kirk cemeteries.

2 MACVICARS are Iin BRACKLEY graveyard, CARRADALE.
6 MACVICARS in KILKERRAN (old) graveyard, CAMPBELTOWN.
1 MACVICAR in CLACHAN cemetery (new).
3 MACVICARS in KILCOLMKEILL church, SOUTHEND.
1 MACVICAR in KEIL (new) SOUTHEND.
1 MACVICAR in KILCHOUSLAND graveyard CAMPBELTOWN.
15 MACVICARS in KILKERRAN (new) graveyard CAMPBELTOWN.
1 MACVICAR in KILNAISH graveyard.
20 MACVICARS in ST BRIDE'S CHAPEL, LOCH GAIR.
1 MACVICAR in TARBERT graveyard.

KILCOLMKIEL churchyard SOUTHEND Parish 'erected by JOHN MACMILLAN MACNEILL of CARSKEY in memory of his father HUGH MACMILLAN tenant of GARTVAIN who died 18 Feb 1830 aged 87 years and of his mother BARBARA MACVICAR who died 11 August 1829 aged 84 years'. (KEIL cemetery east end).

For researchers of MACVICAR folk the records give tantalizing clues to their past. Individual MacVicars show up as witnesses to legal transactions in various locations in Argyllshire. In 1622 the property of DONALD McGILLIBREID Mc VICCAR was seized for not removing from the lands of BENBECULA; Donald McVicar (INVERNEILL Estate Baron officer) witnessed the signing of the minute of the set of the land of COSINDROCHET, 24 December 1802, (see Inverneill Estate Papers SRO); M'Vicar a 'tobacconist' appears in the DUMFRIES WEEKLY JOURNAL dated 13 March 1798 and a GILLENEW MCVICAR of AUCHIBRECK appears in 1525 (Black p, 305, 1946). 'GILLINEW'being a version of 'GILLINEF' meaning 'Servant Of The Saints', (Black 1946). A I B Stewart of Kintyre references the AUCHINBRECK GENEALOGY in his piece regarding the father of LACHLAN MCNEILL BUIDHE. The frustrating part of researching 'MACVICAR' folk lies in trying to make connections from fragments. That aspect of family research is familiar to all historians.

W A Covington.
August 2009
covo18@hotmail.com
www.clanMacVicar.org