Achnacree beag was a good sized farm, which varied in size through the 1800's. We need to learn what caused these changes. And what the boundaries of the farmland was.
- 1851 it was 400 acres
- 1861 it was 300 acres, employing 3 men
- 1871 it was 200 acres, 60 of which were arable
Other names
- Achnacridhe beag
- Achnacriebeg
- Auchnacreebeag
- Achnacreebeag
- Aonach-ard-o-heragan1
- Achnacree : meaning : tree field (from achadh na craoibhe-field of the tree 2 or field of the trembling = presumably from the spongy moss = (crith-trembling or shaking).
The area around Achnacree is rich in prehistoric monuments, indicating this has been an important area for habitation for over 6,000 years.
There is a votive spring, mid way up the hill behind Achnacree, named tobar bhile-na-banna, offerings still being left here into the early 1700's2
Chambered cairn at Achnacreebeg from http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=30682
and more with images in The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Archaeology and Prehistoric Annals of Scotland, by Daniel WilsonThere is a chambered cairn that is very well described in the 2011 newsletter of the Lorn Archeaology and Historical Society.
a Neolithic chambered cairn with two chambers set on the edge of an agricultural terrace, above a river overlooking the Moss. The mass of stone forming a round cairn that would have covered the chambers has gone but the remains of old settlement buildings seen close by may represent re‐use of the stones. The site seems to have been quarried for stone by 1845 (New Statistical Account). Dr Angus Smith’s sketch is similar to today’s monument with only the base layer of cairn material surviving but with the remains of a kerb on the south edge. Achnacreebeg was excavated by Dr Graham Ritchie between 1968 and1970. LAHS members were among the volunteer helpers. He found 2 periods of construction. The primary cairn was a closed chamber with 5 upright boulders and a large cap stone of flat granite now lying on its side. At a later date a small passage grave on the southeast side was constructed and the cairn enlarged to form an oval shape.
This chamber had 7 upright boulders with dry stone walling between. A short passage led from the edge of the mound into the chamber where undisturbed deposits contained a flint knife and sherds of Neolithic pottery, the shape and decoration said to be similar to Ulster pottery. The passage chamber had been filled in with stones and earth that contained sherds of Beaker pottery, flints, jet disk beads and cremated bone probably representing cremation. The entrance had been blocked with an apron of stones piled in front.
Neolithic cairns were the communal burial places of early agricultural communities.3
https://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/gutenberg.org/4/7/9/4/47948/47948-h/47948-h.htm
Cromlechs at Achnacreebeg from http://www.electricscotland.com/history/etive/chapter20.htm
The Achnacree cow - fables of Lochnell (1885 newspaper clipping to add here)
1712 Will
MacArthur Catharine 23/04/1712 Achnacreebeg? john maacarthur spouse to John MacArthur in Auchnairibeg, parish of Ardchattan TD Argyll Commissary Court CC2/3/8 (2 pages)
Sinclairs lived in Achnacree Beag in the 1800's (likely arriving in the late 1830's)
Sinclairs : Joiners of Kilchrenan
Archibald Sinclair born 1803 ? Kilchrenan Dalavich
Duncan Sinclair born July 1799 Kilchrenan Dalavich
- married Ann Sinclair of ?Barcaldine Ardchattan (from family information)
- 1 : Duncan Sinclair 17 July 1839 (Achnacreebeg) - 1922
- 2 : Ann Sinclair 11 Jan 1841 (Achnacreebeg)
- 3 : Colin Sinclair 14 Aug 1842 (Achnacreebeg)
- 4 : John Sinclair 18 April 1844 (Achnacreebeg)
- 5 : Malcolm Sinclair 1 May 1846 - 1 May 1846 (Achnacreebeg)
- 6 : Archibald Sinclair 18 May 1848 (Achnacreebeg)
- 7 : Peter Sinclair 30 Sept 1850 (Achnacreebeg)
- 8 : Margaret Sinclair 25 June 1852 (Achnacreebeg)
- 9 : Isabella Mary Sinclair 19 May 1855 (Achnacreebeg)
- 10 : Malcolm Sinclair 3 May 1857 (Achnacreebeg) - died in NSW Australia
- married Christine McGregor 3 Aug 1882 - died in Australia
- 1 : Anne Sinclair 30 Dec 1903 Taraphocain - died in Australia
- 1906 family emigrate to Australia
- 2 : Margaret Sinclair 26 July 1910
- 3 : Isabella Mary Sinclair 20 Oct 1912
- 4 : Archibald Duncan Sinclair 3 Oct 1915
records for Achnacreebeg
Name: Duncan Sinclair
Spouse's Name: Anne Sinclair
Event Date: 31 Jul 1838
Event Place: Ardchattan,Argyll,Scotland
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: Duncan Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 17 Jul 1839
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Anne Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: Ann Sinclair
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 11 Jan 1841
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: Colin Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Aug 1842
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: John Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 18 Apr 1844
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: Malcolm Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 01 Feb 1846
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: Archibald Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 18 May 1848
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: Peter Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 30 Sep 1850
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
Name: Margaret Sinclair
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 25 Jun 1852
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-4 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 1041003
1855 birth of Isabella Mary .. we have the Stat Birth records image
Achancreebeg
Name: Isabella Mary Sinclair
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 19 May 1855
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-1 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 6035516
Name: Malcolm Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 03 May 1857
Birthplace: ARDCHATTAN,ARGYLL,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Duncan Sinclair
Mother's Name: Ann Sinclair
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11504-1 , System Origin: Scotland-ODM , GS Film number: 6035516
1841
(where is Duncan ?? head )
SINCLAIR Ann F 25 Farmer Argyllshire
SINCLAIR Duncan M 1 Argyllshire
SINCLAIR Ann F 1m Argyllshire
MCCORQUODALE Allan M 15 Ag Labourer Argyllshire
MCINNES John M 15 Ag Labourer Argyllshire
MCCOLL Archibald M 12 Ag Labourer Argyllshire
MCFADYEN Ann F 20 Female Servant Argyllshire
MCPHERSON Mary F 14 Female Servant Argyllshire
Piece: SCT1841/504 Place: Ardchattan-Argyllshire Enumeration District: 6
Civil Parish: Ardchattan Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island:
Folio: 6 Page: 7
Address: Auchnacribeg
1851
Ardchattan Achnacreebeg
Sinclair Duncan Head M M 50 Farmer of 400 acres ARL Dalavich
Sinclair Ann Wife M F 34 - ARL Ardchattan
Sinclair Duncan Son U M 11 Scholar ARL Ardchattan
Sinclair Colin Son U M 8 Scholar ARL Ardchattan
Sinclair Ann Dau U F 10 Scholar ARL Ardchattan
Sinclair John Son U M 6 Scholar ARL Ardchattan
Sinclair Archibald Son U M 2 - ARL Ardchattan
Sinclair Peter Son U M 6m - ARL Ardchattan
Cameron Dugald Servnt U M 19 Farm Servant ARL Ardchattan
Clark Sarah Servnt U F 30 General Servant ARL Ardchattan
McCorquodale John Servnt U M 12 Herd ARL Lismore
1861
Achnacreebeg
Duncan Sinclair 61 Farmer Of 300 Acres Employing 3 Labourers
Ann Sinclair 47
Ann Sinclair 20
Colin Sinclair 18
John Sinclair 16
Archibald Sinclair 12
Peter Sinclair 10
Margaret Sinclair 8
Isabella Sinclair 5
Malcolm Sinclair 3
Catharine Mckenzie 28
Parish: Ardchattan; ED: 5; Page: 7; Line: 10; Roll: CSSCT1861_69
this family moved to Culnadalloch for the next 30 years
1862 Post Office Directory Achnacree : Bonow : D Sinclair, farmer
1867 Will
McFarlan Donald 23/07/1867 Tacksman Achnacreebeg intestate tacksman of the farm of Achnacreebeg, united parish of Ardchattan and Muckairn Inventory Dunoon Sheriff Court SC51/32/15 (1 pages)
1871 Ancestry transcription - corrections welcome
Achnacriebeg (Achnacreebeag)
Hugh McFarlane 34 (1837) Kelbude?Kilbride? Argyll; Farmer of 200 acres, 60 of which are arable
Manon McFarlane 24 (1847) Stratheard, Skye
Helen McFarlane 3 (1868) Ardchattan
Hugh McFarlane 8 Mo (1870) Stratheard, Skye
Alexander McColl 77 (1794) Appin, Argyll; Servant
Donald Fraser 18 (1853) Ardchattan; Servant
Mary Cameson 18 (1853) Ardchattan; Servant
Parish: Ardchattan; ED: 5; Page: 6; Line: 18; Roll: CSSCT1871_89
1878
There are several dairy farms in Benderloch. Mr Kinnes, Ledaig, keeps Ayrshire cows, which are of the very best kind, and makes butter and cheese. Mr Bannatyne, Achnacreebeg, keeps the same kind of stock. Mr Colthart, Loch Nell home farm, (Balure, Lochnell or Kintaline) has Ayrshire cows.4
1881
1891
1901
**1911 census**
504 004 00 002 Craigmore to Achnacreebeg
Achncreebeg
7 rooms with windows (9 in the household)
Donald Bannatyne head 56 both Gaelic and english : Married Farmer Employer born in Barnhill, Kintyre
Sarah Bannatyne wife 33 both Gaelic and English; married, had 7 children of which 4 were born alive - of these all are still living; born in Kilninver Oban
William Bannatyne son; 6; in school, born Ardchattan,
Duncan C Bannatyne son; 5; in school, born Ardchattan,
Katie S Bannatyne daughter; 3; born Ardchattan
Flora McDonald Bannatyne; 6 months old; born Ardchattan,
Jeanie McBride; servant 16; single; general servant (domestic) born Paisley English only
James McColl, servant, 27 both Gaelic and English; ploughman; born Bunessan Argyll
David Watson Boarder 52 single no occupation from Paisley weak minded
separate household Bothy
Peter Cooper Head 35 Married Tramp from Ireland
Edward Cooper Son 13 born in England
1928 The Scotsman - Wednesday, 1st August 1928, page 2 Holiday Rental of Achnacree : Sitting 2-3 Bedrooms for September : owners Kennedy Achnacree.
canmore record for farmhouse : https://canmore.org.uk/site/140733/achnacreebeag
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