Ledaig Bard

John Campbell : Bard of Ledaig
born : 1823
died : 1897
married : Catherine MacKeichan
Children : 5

JOHN Campbell was the son of Colin Campbell, of "Tighean Fhearchair," a part of old Oban now demolished. He was born there on the 22nd day of September, 1823. When a mere child, his parents removed to Ledaig in Benderloch, his father having been appointed parish schoolmaster, which post he held for thirty-five years.1

Early education for the ministry, but gave up due to ill health
Worked in commercial areas of Glasgow but the environment did not help his health, returned to Benderloch
Opened up a store but it did not thrive
Grew fruit and vegetables (?Ardrannoch?) and sold to Oban
Became PostMaster for the area (was this when the post office moved from Bonawe??)
Always studied, loved the gaelic language
Ministered to locals, creating a space

"natural cave he fitted up as a meeting house, where he conducted a Sabbath School and other religious services. The worshippers sat on trunks of trees, and the lay preacher's table and reading desk was the stump of a tree, associated in local tradition with Robert the Bruce's visit to the district on the occasion of his Parliament in Ardchattan Priory in 1308. The grotto, which was visited by many distinguished people during the poet's lifetime, was broken up in 1903, greatly to the regret of all the people in the district, to make way for the line of the new railway to Ballachulish.2

The Sunday school would have carried on, ?anyone know where?
He was extremely intelligent, and he corresponded with many learned gentlemen of the day including Professor Blackie.

A few years before his death, he as presented by his many admirers with a purse of sovereigns, and the comfort of his old age is portrayed by the pretty villa where he died, and where Mrs. Campbell and two daughters still reside. This villa, which is situated near Ledaig station, by its singular
beauty and the neatness of its garden, attracts the notice of every traveller.3

Colin Campbell / Jannet Cowan

Birth 22 Sep 1823 • Oban, Argyll
JOHN Campbell was the son of Colin Campbell, of "Tighean Fhearchair," a part of old Oban now demolished.
Baptism 10 Oct 1823 • Kilmore and Kilbride,Argyll,Scotland
move to Ledaig as a child his father having been appointed schoolmaster

1841 Census .. beside Craigneuk
Address: Altnadachy Ledaig
CAMPBELL Christy F 45 Argyllshire placename misspelt?
CAMPBELL Colin M 45 Teacher Argyllshire
CAMPBELL Ann F 45 Argyllshire
CAMPBELL Mary F 15 Argyllshire
CAMPBELL Archibald M 15 Argyllshire
CAMPBELL Ann F 7 Argyllshire
CAMPBELL Donald M 5 Argyllshire
CAMPBELL Sarah F 11m Argyllshire

The 18 year old John is not with the family - but might be Apprentice Shoemaker to Hugh McNiven at Island Ferry, Bonawe.

1860's founder of the MOD with 2 others4

1884 John’s book of poems was published and all proceeds went to the Mod. Link below

1892 ?first MOD

1897 Burial at Achnaba "A sweet singer, an ardent lover of nature, an earnest
Christian teacher, a most lovable man."

descendants & MOD :

Matheson Collection > Modern Gaelic bards > John Campbell
THE CELTIC MONTHLY vol 97 1893

https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_134039_smxx.pdf The Gaelic Manuscripts of Glasgow University A Catalogue Anja Gunderloch
Acc. H1: John Campbell, Ledaig
Two cardboard-covered notebooks with leather spines, size 5 ins by 8 ins. Pale blue ruled paper, paginated by the scribe and poet, John Campbell, Ledaig (shelf marks Acc. H1-2).198 His poems were published in 1884 although no close comparison between manuscript and printed versions was attempted.199 It is possible that the notebooks were used in the preparation of the printed work although there is also some material composed by Campbell in the notebooks that was not published. No information explaining how the notebooks came to the Department is extant although a connection may exist with the donor of the MacDiarmid Collection, Nurse MacPhail of Benderloch, John Campbell’s grand-daughter.200 Of the 62 poems printed, only 24 are found in the notebooks; the remaining 38 items are not represented here. Material in square brackets gives the title in the printed version. There is a substantial amount of unpublished material in Gaelic and English in the notebooks, ranging from full-length songs to occasional short verses to accompany gifts of flowers or New Year greetings. Some of the unpublished material comes from other authors although no systematic attempt has been made to investigate the potential authorship of such texts. There are a few instances where a text was taken down from recitation.
Some other material is housed in this box as well. There is a hand-written translation of the psalms which differs from published texts. Two notebooks and a glossary were prepared by John MacDougall of Kintyre.

197 See MacIntyre, Sporan Dhòmhnaill, 203-204.
198 For a brief biography of the poet see D. E. Meek (ed.), Caran an t-Saoghail (Edinburgh 20


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