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; Articles 4-8 with Tiree only. Article 7, 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 cottars and small crofters off their lands 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. Tiree and Coll in A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland 1846 Samuel Lewis 4
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. Index of Tiree entries in Argyll Estate Instructions Mull, Morvern, Tiree 1771-1805, edited by Eric Cregeen (1964). Iain Campbell 10