Malcolm Lamont was born at Valtos, on the East side
of the Isle of Skye, son of
Murdoch Buie Lamont.
He was a prosperous cattle drover, operating between Skye and the Mainland.
The export of black cattle to the mainland had begun in a small way before
1600. It's development into the foremost Hebridean industry was pioneered
around 1650 by a warrior band from Skye who escorted numerous droves to
the great cattle trysts at Crieff and Falkirk. A fighter escourt was essential
to deal with Reivers (bandits, cattle theives) and the Skyemen's initiative
in opening the routes established a trade that became the principal source
of Hebridean wealth for nearly two centuries. The armed bands that roamed
the glens following the breakup of armies, despoiled the drovers of whole
herds, but men with courage and wits were still able to win through to
Crieff and Falkirk. The demand in the South for black cattle continued
to grow - in 1733, thirty thousand were sold at a guinea a head to English
dealers at the Crieff tryst.
The Drovers had a rather unique way to transport
the cattle from Skye to the mainland - they were taken across where the
sea channels were narrow, as at Kyle Akin or Kyle Rhea. They were taken
across at slack water in chains of five, tied jaw to tail with straw ropes,
and made to swim over. A four oared boat led each chain, wile a man at
the stern held the first cow's rope. A hundred animals could thus be ferried
in a day.
Circa 1816, Malcolm Lamont moved to the Bernisdale
district of Skye. Late in his life, he married Isabella Macdonald,
daughter of Angus Macdonald a Piper of some renown, who lived on the East
side of Skye. Malcolm and Isabella had 7 sons all born in Skye, not known
if they had any daughters, but possibly they did. In 1829, they emigrated
to Uigg, Prince Edward Island on the Mary Kennedy. They brought with them,
their two youngest sons, as well as Isabella's sister Frances (who married
John Ross of Flat River PEI), and Malcolm's nephew Murdoch Lamont (who
married Catherine Stewart of PEI)
Children of Malcolm Lamont and Isabella Macdonald
were:
1.Ronald Lamont, married lived in Montague PEI.
2.Angus Lamont died in India, a soldier. He was said to have fought in American civil war.
3.John
Lamont died 1882 Ripley Bruce Co, Ontario. He married 1st Euphemia
Macleod, 2nd
Sarah Lamont of Murray Harbour.
4.William Lamont died unmarried.
5.Murdoch Lamont died in USA.
6.Donald Lamont died in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
7.Ewen Lamont born 1817 Bernisdale Skye married Sarah Macpherson.
Source: Lamont family archives, oral traditions, catalina@intergate.bc.ca
Source: Prince Edward Island Pedigrees, archvies, PEI
Source: Skye Pioneers and the Island by Malcolm Macqueen page 49, 62.
Source: The Islands of Western Scotland, page 188, 189