The Largieside Distillers

The battle being raged at the present time between the Argyll Group and Guinness for control of Distillers bears little resemblance to the battle in the early years of the 19^th century between the Campbeltown Revenue men and the local illicit distillers of Largieside and Clachan. The Revenue men by cutter on sea patrol and on horse back on land were the scourges of the small farmers, shepherds, cottars and labourers who, unable to pay high rents demanded by their superiors and landlords turned to the illicit manufacture of whisky and smuggling. The glens of Kintyre with their pure water and secluded lands were ideal sites for the stills. In 1792 there were five licensed distillers in Kilcalmonell parish and three in neighbouring Killean parish. Following a steep rise in rents in Loup and Balnalill Estates in 1806 virtually every farmer turned to smuggling as an additional source of income.

A typical rent would be one or two 3-year old wedders at six shillings each, six dozen eggs and six hens valued at four shillings plus a sum of money which entitled the tenant to a seat in church. The tenants were also bound to cart loads of turf for dyking, grow oats and bear for meal, flax for coarse linen and give the services of a man and a cart free for two to six days annually. It was to Robert Armour, coppersmith, in Campbeltown that a large number went to purchase their stills and fortunately some old records still survive in Kintyre Antiquarian Society's library. Around Clachan the pioneers were Angus Gilchrist and Malcolm McEachern in Arifeach, Alexander and Donald McCoag in Loch Kieran, Gilbert and Malcolm McEachern, also in Loch Kieran, John McStalker in Achravad, and Alexander McAlester, Donald Thomson and Archibald McEachern, who formed a company at Dunskegg. They were soon joined by Gilbert and Samuel Currie at Lochend, John McKechney, Achaglass, Alexander Graham, Carnebeg, and John McLean and Archibald Milloy, Loch Kieran. The product being the only medicine of the times, was much in demand and a plentiful supply met local needs as well as being exported up the Clyde as far as Paisley from Skipness. As early as 1806 Duncan McNiven, a local merchant, was paying ,2 per gallon and accepting quantities from one pint upwards.

In 1815 John McTaggart, Neil McIlreavy, John McKinven, Neil Downie and Duncan McLean set up in business at Achapharic, an old township above the present Cleit Church. Their neighbours, John McCoag and Son, Beachmore, soon joined them and a striving still operated in Achapharic glen near the waterfall. The remains are to be found built into the bank of the burn and well camouflaged from the prying eyes of Revenue men of that time. The 1817 records show many larger stills and a list of new names following showing the spread of the industry. The main ones found were Alexander and John McFarlane, Auchnadryan, Largiesland, Hector and Finlay Currie, Courshelloch, Largiesland, Donald McEachern, Auchnadryan, Largiesland, John Campbell, Carnbeg, Largiesland, now in Garvoline, Skipness, Archibald McMurchy, Stewartfield, Clachan, Samuel and Coll McAlester & Co. Brantian, Ballochroy Glen, Donald McMillan & Neil McEachern, Achravad, Clachan, John McFiggan, farmer, Barr, David Turner, innkeeper, Barr, Neil McCorkindale and Edward McCallum, Barr Glen, Gilbert McEachern and Angus Bell, Clachaig Glen, Muasdale, Archibald McEachern, Cleongart, Bellochantuy, Neil Downie and Malcolm Curry, Drumore-na-Bodach. In addition over twenty householders in Rhunahaorine shared in a large still hidden in a tunnel in a bog nearby. This still was a major supplier for Kintyre, and also shipped from Grogport to Saltcoats in Ayrshire. It was the target for Captain Watson and Gauger Brown from Campbeltown, who raided the village every day without success. It was under the control of Dugald McLachlan with the main operators John McInnes and Duncan Downie. Eventually it was forced to close when Duncan Downie, chased by six Revenue men fled the village, never to return, turning up later in America. The shareholders too scattered, many emigrating to Ontario.

McFater, McEachran, McKay, McMurchy, McPherson, McKinnon, Carmichael, Smylie, and McMillan families, descendants of shareholders were found in 1880 when Hugh McLean, factor to Lord Stonefield, surveyed Ontario and the Prairie Provinces of Canada, on behalf of Kintyre Agricultural Society for further emigration. He found well-doing farmers owning their own lands, many named after the places their ancestors had left.

As early as 1825 the smuggling was causing concern to the parish ministers. The Rev. John McArthur of Kilcalmonell wrote to Kintyre Presbytery, asking for action to be taken against "The Thinkings", these being drinking parties held on Sunday afternoons by lower classes of persons and lasting throughout the evening until the following morning. In the 1845 Statistical Account he wrote "The peasantry endeavour to better their condition by recourse to smuggling. It is impossible to calculate the amount of evil this unholy and unpatriotic traffic is the cause of." The Rev. Donald McDonald of Killean wrote "Before 1821 cottars and day labourers supported large families on the profits of smuggling whisky, a trade which though lucrative enough was damaging to their morals. A smuggler could earn the shillings per week thus enabling him to keep a horse and an additional cow."

In 1820 a levy was imposed on all landowners and the proceeds used to apprehend criminals. It was paid out as "Rogue Money" by Sheriff Dugald McTavish at Campbeltown to Angus McDonald, the Sheriff Officer, there. Lists of criminals and wanted men were published twice yearly in the North British Advertiser.

One such list showed John and Neil McMurchy, Rhunahaorine, Archibald McEachern, Cleongart, and Robert Gardner, Corputachan, all wanted for illicit distilling. A successful search for Robert Gardner in Angus McDonald's record reads:

Sept 5 1825: To my trouble going to Corputachan searching for and apprehending Robert Gardner bringing down and lodging him in jail

Two days at 7/6 per day

                                                                                                                                          ,0:15:0

To paid a horse and cart for taking down the prisoner

                                                                                                                                               5:0

To maintaining him on the road

                                                                                                                                               2:0

To paid four assistants at 4/- each day

                                                                                                                                           1:12:0
                                                                                                                                          ,2:14:0

The Sheriff Officer was unsuccessful in tracing John Campbell mentioned earlier. His account reads:

March 18 1824: To my trouble in searching for John Campbell in Garvorline, Skipness, distance 30 miles,

four days and three nights at 7/6 per day

                                                                                                                                          ,1:10:0

To paid four assistants at same time at 4/- each per day

                      3:4:0
,4:14:0

By 1850 with the introduction of large distilleries smuggling being suppressed severely it was only carried out in inaccessible areas. The last recorded account in Clachan area was at Achaglass burn, where Revenue men surprised a party at work. The shepherd in Scotmill, Archibald McTavish or Thomson, shown on wanted lists, quickly removed the vital parts and ran off pursued by several Revenue officers. "Come back, Thomson, we know you", they shouted but he being fleet of foot made for Skipness from where he took a boat to Arran, then crossing to the mainland he remained in the Borders for almost seven years before returning. The last man to ply his trade was Johnny Blue at Ballochroy. The remains of his still can be found on the bank of the small streams running into Loch a' Vogart some two miles above the old township of Kilmichal. His family were millers at Ballochroy Mill for many years and his casks were made by John McKinlay, the cooper there. A descendant of John McKinlay possesses the small anvil used for making the iron hoops.

Johnny Blue made two brands "Moonlight" and "Daylight", the former being twice the strength of the latter. "Moonlight" was exported, being carried across Kintyre in specially made casks. In order to defeat inspections by Revenue men, John McKinlay made casks with a false bottom at either end. Both ends were then filled with butter with the whisky safe in the centre compartment. They had many narrow escapes; on one occasion having to throw a complete still into Loch Garasdale where it may still lie.

John McKinlay, widower of Mary Blue, died in 1894, whilst Johnny Blue died in 1895 at the age of 88 years. almost a century later the World's Press carried the story of his "Moonlight" and "Daylight" brands when it was discovered that a descendant of the Blue family was none other than President Ronald Reagan of the United States of America. His battle is not to control distillers, but to win control of Space. The illicit distillers were fortunate to have lived at a time when there was no risk of surveillance from space by Revenue men!

The author wishes to acknowledge the help received from Mr. Murdo MacDonald, archivist, Lochgilphead for material made available for research.

The text of this article first appeared in issue 19 of the Magazine of the Kintyre Antiquarian and Natural History Society and is republished in "Celtic Spirit" with permission of the author and the Society (e-mail address for contact: elizabeth.marrison@virgin.net).

Text © Ian Macdonald; photo © Irma Adriaanse; map © Alex Kraaijeveld