Statistics of Tiree & Coll

On this page there is a collection of articles relating to the economy, population, land types, farm practices, and estate management of Tiree and Coll in the 1700s and 1800s. Articles 1-3 deal with both Tiree and Coll; Article 4 with Coll only; and Articles 5-8 with Tiree only. Article 9, by the 8th Duke of Argyll, explains the management of Tiree from 1753 to 1883 and the reasons for his policy of amalgamating small crofts into larger crofts or small farms capable of supporting a family in reasonable circumstances. To this end he encouraged and assisted the emigration of cottar and small crofter families to Canada (mainly) or Australia. Some went willingly to seek a better life for their families, but others felt they were coerced and were embittered as a consequence. Maclean of Coll and other proprietors in Coll cleared people from their island homeland in the same way. To download an article, click on its number in the table below.

No. Title Author Pages
1. A Summary of Parish of Tiry 1793, by the Reverend Mr Archibald McColl, in The Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-1799 Iain Campbell 12
2. A Summary of Parish of Tiree and Coll, by Rev. N. MacLean, in The (New) Statistical Account of Scotland 1843 Iain Campbell 9
3. Parish of Tyree and Coll in General View of the Agriculture of the County of Argyle with Observations on the Means of its Improvement (1813) John Smith, D.D. 3
4. Tiree and Coll in A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland 1846 Samuel Lewis 4
5. Farms in Coll in the 1700s Nicholas Maclean-Bristol
(Keith Dash) 		1
6. A General Description of the Island of Tiry in Argyle-Shire in 1768, by James Turnbull. A detailed review of agricultural practices and general conditions in Tiree. Turnbull's recommendations were the blueprint for land management and population policies implemented by successive Dukes of Argyll James Turnbull
(Nanette Mitchell & Keith Dash) 		9
7. Areas and Land Types of Farms in Tiree in 1768-1769: adapted from A Plan of the Island of Tirii in Argyle-Shire the Property of His Grace the Duke of Argyle Surveyed and Plan'd Anno 1768/9, pr Jas Turnbull. James Turnbull
(Keith Dash) 		2
8. Population of Farms in Tiree in 1768: adapted from James Turnbull's report of his survey of Tiree in 1768-1769 for the Duke of Argyll. James Turnbull
(Darryl Stout) 		1
9. Population of Farms in Tiree in 1787: adapted from a list attached to Inhabitants of the Argyll Estate 1779, by Eric Cregeen (1963). Rev. Archibald McColl
(Iain Campbell) 		1
10. Crofts and Farms in the Hebrides: Being an Account of the Management of an Island Estate for 130 Years. (1883). George Douglas Campbell
8th Duke of Argyll 		83
11. Argyll Estate Instructions Mull, Morvern, Tiree 1771-1805. Transcripts of written instructions by the 5th Duke of Argyll to his Chanberlain about the management of the Argyll Estate in Tiree, Coll, Mull and Morvern, and the Chamberlain's written reports to the Duke, with an extensive preface and explanatory footnotes to the transcripts. Eric Cregeen 306
12. Index of Tiree entries in Argyll Estate Instructions Mull, Morvern, Tiree 1771-1805, edited by Eric Cregeen (1964). Iain Campbell 10