The antiquity of this ancient clan from Loch Awe
is enshrined in the old Gaelic verse
which, translated, runs:
The hills and streams and MacAlpin
But whence came forth MacArthur?
This means that even centuries ago, the MacArthur
origins were lost in antiquity, and
that the MacArthurs had always been there - that is, they were believed
to be original
settlers on the land. Another ancient saying went “There is nothing
older, unless the hills,
MacArthur and the Devil.”
At a very early date as well, some of the
MacArthurs came to the Isle of Skye, where
they became heriditary pipers to the Lords of the Isles. Duntulm was
the stronghold of the Lords of the Isles, the powerful "Clann Domhnuill,"
before they removed to Monkstadt, and Armadale Castle in the parish of
Sleat. Dunvegan Castle was the stronghold of "Clann Tormaid," that is the
Macleods of Macleod, who were likewise great warriors and very powerful
as aclan.
These two clans, the Macdonalds and the Macleods had extensive
possessions and steadfast retainers, including their pipers and bards.
The Macdonalds employed the MacArthurs for ages in this capacity, while
the Macleods of Dunvegan had the far-famed MacCrimmons.
Blood feuds existed very frequently between
these clans Some centuries ago one of the Macdonald Lords of the
Isles had a daughter married to Macleod of Dunvegan, but unfortunately
they did not live happily together. On one occasion they quarreled to the
point where the husband send the wife back home to her father.
About this same time a number of Highland chiefs
met at Dunvegan Castle to hold council with a view to sorting out some
of their differences. Those present included Macdonald of the Isles, Mackinnon
of Strathswordale, Maclean of Duart and of Lochbui, Macleod of Lewis, MacGhillechalluim
of Raasay, and others. Of course each chieftain had his piper and bard
along with him. In this council it was decided that the bard who made the
best "rann" or rhyme in praise of his own master was to receive a prize
or badge of honour immediately after breakfast the next day.
Macdonald of the Isles had Macarthur, his own piper and bard
at the time - called "Uilleam MacBeathaig." Lady Macleod, of course,
had an interest in the success of "MacBeathaig," her father's bard.
After all, she insisted that she, as a daughter of the Lord of the Isles,
was of higher nobility than her husband, a mere Macleod. Her mere Macleod
husband felt things to be the reverse. Lady Macleod had a private interview
with her father's piper MacBeathaig, and as a reward for his services,
should he do a good job and win, she promised him a "triubhas" of "clodh
breac scarlaid"; this being a cloth that she herself had prepared for her
husband.
During the rest of that day, MacBeathaig remained
pensively silent, while the other bards taunted him by saying, "Come on,
William, come on, my man, you do not attempt any preparation to praise
your master at all. You see and hear how we are exerting ourselves." MacBeathaig
retorted and said:-
"Se sinn fein a mholamaid,
Mar linne loma-lan;
Na h-uile sruthain a's tana,
'S iad a's airde gair."
The meaning of which is:-
"Our praise of self
Is like a full flood;
While all the shallowest streams
Will make the loudest noise."
The other bards listened but said nothing.
The next day came, and the lady told her protege MacBeathaig, that their
breakfast was just finished and it was time to begin. He thanked her ladyship
and went immediately forward to the breakfasting-hall. He quietly knocked,
and on the door being opened he stood there silently after bowing to the
assembled guests.
Macleod addressed him and said, "A Ghoistidh,
thig air t- adhairt," that is, "My friend, come forward." MacBeathaig
in bold, firm language expressed himself in the following emphatic terms:-
"Cha'n fheudar beannailt ri luchd nan
combladh, 'S ann de'm ioghnadh;
Fhuair sibh tigh agus leth Alba,
Le neart bhur daoine;
MacIonmhuinn, MacIlleatghan, 's Macleod
Leothais,
Truir bha 'feitheamh dreuchd
A'n teachd Mhic Dhomhnuill;
Fear-ionaid MhicLeoid a'Dunbhegain -
Dorsair seomair, -
'S bu mhath an inbh dha
Bhi 'feitheamh comhlaidh;
Morair Hundaidh nan each seanga,
Dha 'm biodh mor-shluagh,-
Bhiodh esan am freasdail stiorraip
'N am tearnaidh;
Fhuair iad duais mhaith a' cheann sin,
'Badenach o cheann gu ceann di,-
Aca tha i - aca tha i."
In these lines the bard considered the chieftains
present as in no better position than mere menials or door-keepers to his
own renowned master, "Domhnull Gorm," Lord of the Isles. Macleod
attentively listened to the rhyme, but, furious with rage, he addressed
the bard saying, "A chon bhodaich, rinn thu luchd-muinntir uile dhinn"
(You churlish dog, you made servants of us all). The bard said nothing,
but, turning on his heel, went to his own chamber. Macleod knowing well
that MacBeathaig's poem was the best, soon followed him with the badge,
promised to the best bard, in his hand, and, having entered the room, said,
"Thig an so, a 'MhicBeathaig, agus gabh do dhuais" (Come hither,
MacBeathaig, and receive your badge).
The bard, according to the following emphatic
words, looked upon the badge with scorn, and told Macleod plainly, but
sarcastically, that he would receive a badge or reward in the halls of
music and song from his own great heroic chief, "Domhnull Gorm;" and not
only so, but would enjoy that distinguished hero's hospitality in all manner
of profuseness and comfort. -
" 'S ann a gheibhinn mo dhuais
Ann an talla nan teud,
Bho Dhomhnull Gorm, an t'armunn treun
ceum,
Bho Dhomhnull Gorm, bu clonhnard
Fodh chomhrag arm,-
Bho Dhomhnull Gorm, 'nan cliar 's nan
creach,
Mo bhiadh 's mo dheoch,
M' uisge-beatha 's m'fhion gu moch,
'S mo ghrian air loch."
Macleod's lady whose heart was gladdened by
the bard's success, took all care that before he left Dunvegan he was supplied
with enough for a new suit from her web of "clodh breac scarlaid."
The Skye MacArthurs once held extensive
lands, both in Islay and Peingowan on Skye, as well as at Hungladder on
Skye. Hung was possibly the name of a Norse princeling, or the name may
be derived from unga an ounce of silver, or the area of land which
could be rented for an ounce. It is said that one of the MacArthurs was
given a silver chanter by a banshee on condition he would enter the cave
of gold (Uamh an Oir) in a year and a day. This he did, never to return.
Luckily, this was not our MacArthur ancestor.
According to A HISTORY OF SKYE, Charles MacArthur
the piper was son of Angus
MacArthur, who was a hereditary piper to the Macdonald Lords of the
Isles. The Macdonalds maintained a piper in each of their three Baronies,
namely Sleat, Trotternish, and North Uist.
“In Trotternish lived the principal pipers
of that clan, the MacArthurs, who maintained the hereditary succession
here for several generations. They farmed as a freehold the district of
Peingown, in Kilmuir, where a hillock, called Cnoc Phail, is still pointed
out as the rendezvous where these pipers and their pupils delighted to
practice.”
On the 14th of November 1715, Angus MacArthur piped
the Macdonalds of Skye to the
onset of the battle of Sheriffmuir, while his son, Charles, practised
his profession in the service of Sir Alexander Macdonald during the student
days of the latter in St. Andrews, much to the entertainment of the Lords
of Fife. In 1726, a salary of 66lbs 13s 4d was paid to this piper, a perquisite
that was additional to his tenure of Peingowan” - A HISTORY OF SKYE, by
Alexander Nicholson page 187
The Piper William MacBeathaig, would have
lived in the early 17th century, since Donald Gorm Mor Macdonald, chief
of Sleat succeeded his father in 1585, and died in 1617.
It is not known the year when the Piper Angus
MacArthur died, but he probably would have been about age 30 years of age,
when he piped the Macdonalds into the battle of Sherrifmuir on November
14, 1715. If this was the case, then his father would have been born about
30 years before this, which would put his birth at approximately 1685.
If we allow another 30 years or so for Angus’s grandfather, his birth would
have been approximately 1655. Allowing another 30 years for another generation
back, we would come to the year 1625, so it is most probable that William
MacBeathaig was the Piper Angus’ great grandfather.
The Piper Charles MacArthur succeeded his father Angus as hereditary
piper to the Macdonalds. Charles was every bit as talented as his father,
being described by the 18th century traveller Pennant as “A master of
his instrument." He accompanied his young master Sir Alexander Macdonald
during the student days of the latter in St. Andrews, much to the entertainment
of the Lords of Fife. In 1726, a salary of 66lbs 13s 4d was paid to this
piper, a perquisite that was additional to his tenure of Peingowan” according
to History of Skye.
This same Piper Charles MacArthur is buried in the
Kilmuir Churchyard in Skye, only a few
steps away from the tomb of the celebrated Flora Macdonald. His tombstone
is unusual, to say the least! Sadly, it is completely open to the elements,
and over the years, the writing has all but disappeared on it now. On the
stone, is written the Epitaph:
“Here lyes the remains of Charles Mackarter whose fame as an honest man and remarkable piper will survive this generation for his manners were easy and regular as his music and thus the melody of his fingers will...”
Tombstone of the Piper Charles MacArthur
And here, for some inexplicable reason, the
words inscribed upon the tombstone come
to an abrupt end. It is said, that the MacArthurs on Skye became
extinct in the year 1800,
when the last of them, Angus MacArthur, son of Charles, departed for
London. Did Angus not pay the engraver to finish the stone? Did Angus leave
the island, forgetful of the fact that his father’s tombstone remained
unfinished? No one on the island knows the answer to this story of the
unfinished epitaph on the tombstone of the piper Charles MacArthur.
As I stood gazing down at this stone in 1997, I
had an irresistible urge to finish the words. They went like this:
“Here lyes the remains of Charles Mackarter whose fame as
an honest man
and remarkable piper will survive this generation for his manners
were easy and regular as his music and thus the melody of his fingers will..."
- "end, and his children's children will be robbed of their heritage, language
and culture. But far across the seas and down through the years, yet they
will still remember, to return one day, to say a prayer and honor the memory
of the Piper Charles MacKarter."
Although it has yet to be completely documented,
it is most probable, that our great great great grandmother Catherine MacArthur
was a daughter of this same Piper Charles MacArthur. Catherine died on
Skye, sometime before 1803, and her husband Old Donald Nicholson emigrated
to the New World on the Polly along with his grown up children. There
was also an Alexander MacArthur who came on the Polly, and who signed the
Petition for Dr. Macaulay in 1811, it is possible that he was a brother,
or a relative to Catherine. Catherine MacArthur was of the right age to
have been daughter of Charles MacArthur, since she herself, had grown up
children by the year 1803, making it most probable that she was born circa
1753 or so. It is also known that her husband Donald Nicholson came
from Floddigarry on Skye, which is situated at the extreme northern end
of the Isle of Skye, within a very short distance to the cemetery where
the Piper Charles Macdonald is buried - there is no doubt that Catherine
came from this area as well.
According to PEI sources, Old Donald Nichlson
had seven beautiful daughters, who were much in demand, he and Catherine
also had 2 sons, Charles and Malcolm. It is highly probable that these
two boys were named in the traditional Scots naming patterns, for their
paternal and maternal grandparents. If so, Malcolm was named for his paternal
grandfather Malcolm Nicholson, and Charles born in 1796, was named for
his maternal grandfather Charles MacArthur. For their family, see the Nicholsons
of Scorrybreac.