The MacArthurs of Skye
Listen, Oh Listen!
The antiquity of this ancient clan from Loch Awe is enshrined in the old Gaelic verse which, translated, runs:
According to A HISTORY OF SKYE, Charles
MacArthur the piper was son of Angus MacArthur, who was a hereditary
piper to the Macdonalds. 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 ot the entertainment of the Lords of Fife.” - A HISTORY OF SKYE,
by Alexander Nicholson.
It is not known when the Piper Angus MacArthur
died, but son Charles succeeded him 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."
The 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...”
"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 finish the stone of Piper Charles MacKarter."
To the make of a piper go seven years ...
At the end of his seven years one born to it will stand at the start
of knowledge, and leaning a fond ear
to the drone he may have parley with old
folks of old affairs.
Playing the tune of the 'Fairy Harp', he can hear his fore folk,
plaided in skins,
towsy-headed and terrible, grunting at
the oars and snoring in the caves,
he has his own whittle and club in 'The Desperate Battle' ... where
the
white-haired sea-rovers are on the shore,
and a stain's on the edge of the tide; or, trying his art on Laments,
he can stand by the cairn of kings, ken
the colour of Fingal's hair, and see the
moon-glint on the hook of the Druids.'
- NEIL MUNRO - (1864 - 1930) http://www.piobaireachd.com/druids.htm
THE MACARTHUR PIPERS OF SKYE
Angus the piper M'arthur b. C1665, islay, lived Peingown in Kilmuir,
Angus died in 1745, Scotland. He
piped the Macdonalds to the battle of Sheriffmuir, He had 3 sons,
Charles, Ian and Neil.
Children of Angus the Piper M'arthur:
****************************************************************************
I. Charles the piper M'arthur b. C1706, Hungladder in Kilmuir died
1780 Kilmuir Skye. He was the last hereditary piper at Duntulum to the
Macdonald Lords of the Isles.
"Other pipers who were taught by the MacCrimmons were the noted MacArthurs,
who came to Skye from Ulva near Mull and were taken on as hereditary pipers
by the Lords of the Isles then resident in Duntulm. One of the most famous
of the MacArthurs was called Charles, and it is said that he often went
with the chief to Edinburgh and to Ayrshire where her met and befriended
the noted poet of that part - Robert Burns. It is said locally that MacArthur
passed on to Burns many of the local song tunes and that Burns adapted
them and used some of them for his own songs. Charles MacArthur is buried
in Kilmuir Cemetery and over his grave is a memorial stone with an incomplete
inscription. Legend says that this was caused by the tragic death of his
son who was paying for the sculpture of the stone."
What history of Clan Arthur would be complete without mention of the
famed MacArthur pipers, hereditary pipers for the MacDonald's. They were
recognized throughout the land in excellence, next to the MacCrimmons,
and kept a school for piping at Peingown, near Hunglader and Kilmuir.
From an early time, Clan MacArthur became famous for the number and
quality of its pipers. Following the dispersement of the clan after the
beheading of Chief Ian, the piping branches were spread widely throughout
the Inner Isles, principally at Mull, Ulva, and Islay. By the end of the
17th Century, Skye MacArthur pipers were firmly established at Hunglader
on the Trotternish Peninsula., between Kilmuir and Duntulm Castle. The
first piper mentioned was Angus (approximately 1665-1745). His son, Charles
(c1668-c1768), would become the most famous of the MacArthur pipers.
He studied 11 years under Patrick Og MacCrimmon, the most celebrated piper
of his day. Charles had two sons, Donald and Alexander, both good pipers.
Charles died in the late 1700s and was buried at Peingown in the
same cemetery as Flora MacDonald. At the time of Charles death, Donald
commissioned a carved headstone. The stone read, "Here lies the remains
of Charles MacKarter whose fame as an honest man and a remarkable piper
will survive this generation. For his manners were easy and regular
as his music and the melody of his fingers will." The stone was never finished
because Donald drowned while bringing a boatload of cattle from Uist to
Skye, leaving the mason unpaid. Therefore the mason abandoned
the task. The popularity of MacArthur and MacCrimmon piping ushered
in the bagpipes as Scotland's national instrument, replacing the clarsch
or Celtic Harp. Perhaps, the most influential MacArthur piper was also
our last hereditary piper to the Lords of the Isles. Angus, son of Charles'
brother Ian Ban succeeded his uncle as piper to Lord MacDonald. Shortly
before his death he was responsible for a manuscript of 30 piobaireachds
(pronounced 'peebrocks'), six composed by family members. Apparently Angus
would play the tunes on a practice chanter while John MacGregor, himself
an accomplished musician, set down the tunes in staff notation. These tunes
were recorded in the key of C, five notes lower than the now standard key.
The current universally accepted key was later standardized by Donald MacDonald
and Angus MacKay. Upon Angus MacArthur's death in the spring of 1820,
his cousin Alexander, Charles' surviving son, petitioned Lord MacDonald
for the position of piper, but was denied. He then immigrated to America.
xx( Angus macarthur, teacher to piper donald macdonald was laying on his
deathbed, beside him was john Macgreggor III piper to the highland society
of london, who was writing down everything he said. also present was andrew
robertson society painter and musician from aberdeen. and so the highland
society of london’s MS came into being (http://www.piperanddrummer.com/reviews/default.asp?aID=1160
There was a story told of one of the MacArthur pipers who played so
well and gave such satisfaction to MacDonald, that he was offered a high
reward should he change his surname to MacDonald. The piper's reply was
"No. You will always find me ready to follow your banner, wear your tartan
and crest, and play your clan music, but my name must be MacArthur."
http://www.clanarthur.com/History4.htm
Abercairney's Salute
This piobaireachd was composed by Charles MacArthur, before spoken
of, on the following occasion. James Murray, Esq. of Abercairny, a delightful
property about four miles from Crieff, in the county of Perth, married
Lady Christian Montgomery, daughter of the Earl of Eglinton; and Sir Alexander
MacDonald of the Isles married her sister Lady Margaret. This connexion
produced a friendship and many' reciprocal visits, and Abercairny became
very fond of the Pipes, and had MacArthur, his brother-in-law's Piper,
a
frequent guest at his own seat. Having enlarged, and much improved the
mansion, a grand dinner was given, when every one praised the elegance
of the new buildings, particularly the dining-room, which was allowed to
be in every respect perfect. (This room is in what is now called the old
castle. Its dimensions are 33 feet by 21, and 15 feet in height; and it
.is lighted by four very large windows.) " The room and entertainment
are not," observed the hospitable proprietor, " altogether complete; one
thing is wanting to render them so, to some of us perhaps—Charles MacArthur,
to animate the feast with his presence, and with the stirring notes of
his great Pipe."
1826 Captain Neil MacLeod, who died in 1844 and knew Iain Dubh MacCrimmon and the elder Simon Fraser, wrote a remarkable "History of the MacCrimmons and the Great Pipe" but the edition was quickly suppressed because it contained opinions which were offensive to the clergy and other people of that time. It is believed that only two copies were saved from destruction. Both went to Australia. One belonging to Gesto's son Norman, who died at Melbourne c. 1847. That copy is said to be in Canada at the present time. The other volume was in the possession of Mr. Simon Fraser of Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, a descendant of the hereditary pipers to the Lords Lovat, who died in 1934. Mr. Fraser's paternal grandmother was a first cousin of Gesto, and his maternal grandfather was a son of the celebrated Charles MacArthur, hereditary piper to the MacDonalds of the Isles and a pupil of Padruig Og MacCrimmon. Simon Alexander Fraser (1845 - 1934) was born into a family with strong piping traditions. His father, Hugh, had been taught by Iain Dubh MacCrimmon in Skye. His mother was the Grand-daughter of Charles MacArthur, who had been extensively taught by Patrick Og MacCrimmon. She may have been a descendant of the MacCrimmon family herself. She was not a piper, but she knew lots of canntaireachd and piping history, which she taught to her son. Her son was brought up to manage some big farms around Mansfield. He was an expert rider of horses. His leather and whip-making were renowned. He made and repaired violins and bagpipes, too. When he was about forty years old he started taking bagpipe lessons from Peter Bruce, the leading piper of the famous Bruce family who lived on a farm at Benalla. The Bruce family migrated from Glenelg in Scotland in the 1830's They had been taught the music from Donald Ruadh MacCrimmon and Captain Neil MacLeod of Gesto. They migrated to Australia in the 1830's, Simon Fraser was Peter Bruce's only pupil. They both knew the canntaireachd and the secret MacCrimmon traditions, so it was easy for Simon to take up the pipes
Charles M'arthur married ? with children;
A1. Catherine M'arthur b. 1700'S, skye married Old Donald Nicholson.
Catherine apparently died in Skye
and her husband Old Donald Nicholson
emigrated with their grown up children to PEI
They had 7 beautiful daughters
and 2 sons Malcolm and Charles
A2. Donald M'arthur b. C1765, skye, m. Margaret Unknown,
b. 1791, Scotland, d. Canada.
Donald drowned between skye
and uist. With children;
B1. Duncan M'arthur born
1813 Scotland married in Canada Catherine Unknown born Ireland died after
1870
Duncan died 1870 Canada, buried Annon Cem, Sydenham Twp, Canada
With children
C1. Duncan M'arthur
C2. Anne L. M'arthur
C3. Catherine M'arthur
C4. Two other children
B2. Angus M'arthur pioneer
of Sydenham born 1814 Scotland married Margaret Ferguson on May 1843, ??New
Monkland, LAK ?? With children;
C1. Alexander McArthur
C2. James McArthur
C3. Sarah McArthur
C4.+John McArthur
C5. Thomas McArthur
C6. Mary Agnes McArthur
C7. Duncan McArthur
C8. Margaret McArthur
C9.+Peter McArthur
C10.+Angus MacArthur
B3. James M'arthur born 1816,
Scotland died Canada married Isabella Southerland in 1855 Canada
with children
C1. Christiva McArthur born after 1855, Canada
C2.+Margaret McArthur born after 1855 Canada died after 1880 Canada with
children
D1. George McArthur born after 1875, Canada
C3. Isabella McArthur
C4. John McArthur
C5. William McArthur
C6. James McArthur
C7. Sarah McArthur
C8. Jane McArthur
C9.+Alexander McArthur born after 1875 Canada died after 1910 Canada married
Grace Helen Vail
about 1908 Canada with children;
D1.+James Alexander McArthur born 9 Apr 1909, Owen Sound, Ontario
Canada died after 1994, Canada
married Elizabeth Forrest Grant with children
E1. Marsali Jane McArthur
E2.+James Kevin McArthur
E3.+Peter Grant McArthur
E4. Lex Colin McArthur BIRTH: 1 Jun 1959
E5. James Kevin McArthur born 29 Jan 1949, Vancouver, B.C., CAN
D2. Helen McArthur born about 1910, Canada died after 1994, Canada
http://www.web.netactive.co.za/~donmac/d0024/g0002463.html#I05313
A3. Alexander M'arthur born c1760 Skye, died Canada.He failed to become
piper to Clan Donald, so became a
violinist He married ? with children;
B1. Alexander M'arthur born
may 8 1807 North Carolina USA married Sept 22 1827 in North Carolina Sarah
Benton. Alexander died March 14 1868 Carroll, TN, USA With children;
C1. Margaret Jane M'arthur born dec 3 1829 North Carolina
C2. John Benton M'arthur born april 3 1832 Carroll TN married Mary Catherine
Butler.
John died before feb 8 1899 in Carroll TN
C3. William Alexander M'arthur born oct 23 1836 Carroll TN married 1st
Nettie Espy Butler.
William died oct 31 1918 Pleasant Hill, Cass Co Missourie
C4. Daniel Martin M'arthur born oct 23 1836 Carroll TN married 1st Mary
Anne Matlock married 2ndly
Sophronia Annette Wilkens. Daniel died oct 3 1899 (date of one marriage
was Aug 18 1889(
C5. Mary Anne M'arthur born nov 15 1838 Carroll TN married G.L. Jones.
Mary died nov 15 1854 Mt Comfort
C6. James A. M'arthur born march 1841 Carroll TN died in civil war near
Lagrane Tennessee
C7. Henry Vile M'arthur born dec 22 1844 Carroll TN married Elizabeth Lily
Jones.
Henry died jan 24 1903 Oregon Co, MS, USA
B2. Alexander M'arthur b. 1812, Scotland,
fought in MacKenzie Rebellion m. Janet Gillies, b. 1828,
of Bognor, d. April 8 1908, Sydenham ontario, buried: Annon,
ontario cemetery.
Alexander died may 7 1889, buried: Annon, ontario cemetery. With
children;
C1. Captain
Archibald M'arthur b. April 13 1855, m. Lucy M'gregor, b. 1855, d.
1943, of
owen sound. Captain Archibald died Nov 9 1913, drowned in great lakes
storm.
C2. Donald
M'arthur
C3. John A. M'arthur
C4. Catherine M'arthur
C5. Anne M'arthur
C6. Janet M'arthur
C7. Mary M'arthur
B4. John M'arthur
B5. Peter M'arthur
B6. Five other children
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II. John (ian) Ban M'arthur son of Angus Macarthur b. C1708, Scotland,
m. Marion M'lean, b. Scotland. John died 1779, He was a piper to
Sir Alexander macdonald. Children of John Ian Ban M'arthur and Marion M'lean:
A1. Angus M'arthur b. C1750, Scotland, d. 1820, london england - "Lady Macdonald's Lament" - This fine piobaireachd, was composed in 1790 by Angus MacArthur, the family Piper, on the death of Elizabeth Diana, Lady of Alexander, first Lord MacDonald, who died 18th October 1789. It is taken from the original MSS. in possession of the Highland Society of London.
A2. Charles M'arthur b. C1755, Scotland, m.?. Charles died after
1781, Canada.
B1. Charles M'arthur d. Canada.
B2. Dugald M'arthur b. 1813, Scotland,
m. before 1840, in Scotland, Rachel unknown, b. 1817,
Scotland, d. Canada. Dugald died AFT 1851, Canada.With children;
C1. Isabella M'arthur b. 1840, Scotland, d. Canada.
C2. Alexander M'arthur b. 1842, Scotland, m. before 1885, in Canada,
Sarah Colville Alexander.
died June 8 1900, Moosomin Sask, Canada with children;
D1. Maggie MacArthur
D2. Dempsy MacArthur
D3. Charles MacArthur
D4. Russell MacArthur
D5. Henry MacArthur
D6. Baby MacArthur
C3. Neil M'arthur b. 1844, Scotland, d. Canada.
C4. Charles M'arthur b. 1846, Scotland died canada
C5. Margaret M'arthur b. 1848, Canada, d. Canada.
C6. Dugald M'arthur b. 1850, Scotland, d. Canada.
C7. John C. M'arthur b. Jan 25 1852, Canada, m. Jan 1880, in Canada,
Miss M'corkindale
John died after 1884, Canada. With children;
D1. Jennie MacArthur
D2. George S. M. MacArthur
D3. William MacArthur
B3. Five other children
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III. Neil M'arthur b. C1710, Scotland, d. 1762, west indies son of
Angus M'arthur married ? with children;
A. John M'arthur b. C1750, Scotland, d. 1790, Edinburgh.
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1700'S MACARTHUR, CATHERINE, of Skye, to PEI
on the Polly in 1803. She married DONALD NICHOLSON of Skye. She is quite
possibly a daughter of the Piper Charles Macarthur. With children among
others;
1.Catherine Nicholson m. John Gillis of Orwell
Cove PEI with children.
2.Flora Nicholson m. Donald Macleod of the
Kendrom Macleods of Skye with children.
Source: Macarthur family archives, catalina@intergate.bc.ca