Campbell of Cornaig

Betty MacDougall

In the 1776 population List of Coll, quite a few Campbell families appear, somewhat surprisingly considering a degree of antipathy of the House of Breacachadh to the clan. One particular family was farming at Toraston and the three sons became prominent in island life. The eldest, Malcolm, later purchased Cornaig Estate. Murdoch bought Coalas and in the next generation, Neil's son Colin bought the two estates from his cousins when they became bankrupt. Perhaps the fact the the mother was a MacLean explains their presence. They claimed to be of the House of Barbreck.

Malcolm first got the tack of Cornaig estate when the MacLean family who held it were in financial difficulties and could not fulfil the obligations of the lease. Quite soon after settling in Cornaig, Malcolm was out shooting in the coastal gullies one day when he realised there was a ship in difficulties off-shore.

This was H.M. Caesar commanded by Captain Roddam Home. It was one of the larger vessels of the fleet, carrying 84 guns and a full complement of men. While sailing in the Hebridean waters, a violent storm had arisen and Captain Home was seeking shelter on the south coast of Coll. Several attempts were made by the crew to effect a landing in their small boats but they failed to find a safe harbour in the raging surf. The islanders were well aware of the presence of the ship but supposing it to be French, were somewhat alarmed and did not venture out despite the distress signals that were flying which they probably did not understand anyway.

Realising the gravity of the situation, Malcolm Campbell had a boat manned and went out to investigate to see if he could give assistance. The captain asked him to pilot the ship to Loch Swilly but Campbell offered instead to take her to Tobermory, as he was familiar with the tides and currents on that trip. The safe arrival of the ship there was followed by some days of festivities, the captain and officers, having organised a celebration ball to which all and sundry were invited.

Campbell refused all pecuniary reward but when his service was reported to the Lords of the Admiralty they had a silver urn presented to him with a letter stating that if at any time he or his descendants should apply for a position under the government it would be granted. The Duke of Argyll also sent a letter of thanks and commendation to Mr. Campbell.

The Admiralty Papers of 1798 record instructions for a cup to be made to the value 20 guineas. It was suitably inscribed, detailing Campbell's zeal and skill.

Malcolm's son and heir was John, known in the east end as Fear Chornaig. He had no family so assigned the cup to his sister Catherine who was farming Cliad at the time. Thereafter, by family consensus it was passed to a grandson of Malcolm by his daughter Marion. She had married another John Campbell who had settled in Pictou in Nova Scotia. He was her full cousin and brother to Colin who subsequently bought the two estates from his bankrupt cousins. This was the Colin who gave refuge in the east end in 1861 to the families that were displaced from the Stewart estate.

In 1886 the Halifax Morning Chronicle reported the arrival of the urn en route to Mr. Samuel Campbell, governor of St. Paul’s Island, grandson of the doughty Malcolm. The heirloom has remained with that family and is currently on loan to the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.

During the summer of ’91, Carolyn Campbell, to whose family the urn now belongs, travelled all the way from Wolfville, Nova Scotia to visit Coll. She is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Malcolm and was able to see the distinctive stones of her forebears in Crossapol graveyard. Malcolm’s stone still stands, as does another decorated with the wild boar emblem of the Campbells. Sadly, the third stone had fallen, its mandarin style ‘head’ severed.

Sources: Admiralty Papers. P.R.O. Kew.
Carolyn Campbell. Nova Scotia.