Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

KIL
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KIL
Reformation, it consisted of three parishes, Kilmuir,
Kil making, and Kilmartin, which latter has been
assigned as a district to a government church at
Stenschell There are 3 schools in the parish. Sa-
lary of parish-schoolmaster £30. Another of the
schools is supported by the Society for propagating
Christian knowledge ; salary £15. The third is an
itinerating Gaelic school in the southern district of
the parish The celebrated Flora Macdonald is
buried in the churchyard of this parish. The follow-
ing account of this heroine is taken from the ' New
Statistical Account': — "The story of the heroic
conduct of Miss Flora Macdonald, in conducting the
unfortunate Charles, in the disguise of a maid-ser-
vant, from the Long-Island to Monkstadt in this
parish, is so well-known, that any detail of it here is
unnecessary. Many were the trials, and severe the
hardships, which fell to the lot of the gallant Miss
Flora subsequent to this adventure. She was soon
seized and brought prisoner to London, where she
was, with Kingsburgh and many others, confined in
the Tower. All admired the dauntless part which
she had acted, and her case excited so much interest
that she was visited by the great and noble of the
land. Among the rest, she had the honour of a visit
from Prince Frederick of Wales, great-grandfather
of her present majesty, Queen Victoria. This gen-
erous prince was so much struck with the simpli-
city and dignity of the fair prisoner's character, that
he interested himself to procure her liberation.
When she had obtained her freedom, she found refuge
in the house of Lady Primrose of Dunipace, where
she was visited and loaded with honours by distin-
guished personages of all ranks and shades of politics.
Returning to her native isle, she was married, in the
month of November, 1750, to Allan, son of Mr.
Alexander Macdonald, of Kingsburgh, who resided
at the time of his marriage at Flodigarry, in this
parish. Upon the death other husband's father, his
son Allan succeeded him, and Flora, then Mrs. Allan
Macdonald, became lady of the mansion of Kings-
burgh. She afterwards went to North Carolina with
her husband, where he took part in the civil war
which then disturbed the peace of that country.
After undergoing many hardships in that quarter,
they deemed it prudent to return to Skye. The
vessel in which they sailed from America was met
by a French privateer, and an action took place, in
which Flora appeared on deck, where, with her
wonted magnanimity, she inspired the seamen with
courage, and assured them of success. Although her
arm was broken in the engagement, yet her native
spirit of heroism was not in the least degree damped.
She never more left Skye. She had seven children,'
live sons and two daughters, besides some who died
in infancy ; all her sons were officers, who distin-
guished themselves in the service of their king and
country. Her daughters, on the other hand, became
officers' wives. Ann was the lady of Major Alex-
ander JI'Leod, and died at Stein, in this island, about
six years ago. Her second daughter, Francis, was
married to Lieutenant Donald M'Donald, of Cuide-
rach. Of this interesting family none are now alive.
The celebrated Flora lived to an advanced period of
life, and retained to the last that vivacity of charac-
ter, and that amiableness of disposition, by which she
was always distinguished. On the 5th day of March,
1790, she departed this life, little more than two
years before the death of her husband. Her remains
were interred in the burying-ground of this parish,
within a square piece of coarse wall, which was
erected about the year 1766 to enclose the tombs of
the Kingsburgh family. Her funeral, it is said, was
attended by no fewer than 3,000 individuals of every
rank and class, and all were liberally served with
refreshment.* Now that the spirit of Jacobitism is
gone, and the world at large has ceased to regard the
claims of the House of Stuart, it is a matter of regret
that the dust of the memorable Flora, — in whose
bosom that spirit, so lofty and chivalrous, burned
with such unexampled fervour, — should be allowed
to moulder without a monument of the meanest de-
scription to mark her tomb."
KILMUIR EASTER, a parish situated partly in
the county of Ross, and partly in that of Cromarty ;
about 10 miles long, and on an average 4 miles broad ;
bounded on the north by Edderton and Kincardine ;
on the east by Loggie-Easter ; on the south by the
frith of Cromarty ; and on the west by Rosskeen.
It is situated on the frith of Cromarty, and commands
a finely variegated prospect of the peninsula and bay
of Cromarty. The shore is flat, and the soil sandy,
but tolerably fertile. Farther from the coast, the
soil becomes black and mossy, retentive of moisture,
and unfavourable for vegetation. The back-grounds
i reach into the barren moory district of Ardmeanach.
Balnagown-castle is an elegant mansion, partly an-
cient and partly modern, surrounded by extensive
plantations ; Tarbat-house is also a fine modern
building. New Tarbat, once the beautiful residence
of the Earls of Cromarty, has fallen to decay ; and
Delny, once the seat of the Earls of Ross, is also in
ruins. There are three villages in the parish, viz.,
Milutown, Bartaraville, and Portlich. Of these
Milntown is the principal, and has a population of
about 200 Population, in 1801, 1,703; in 1831,
1,551. Houses, in 1831-, 339. Assessed property,
in 1815, in Ross, £6,211; in Cromarty, £5,331.
The real rental is about £3,800 This parish is in
the presbytery of Tain, and synod of Ross. Patron,
Mackenzie of Cromarty. Stipend £211 13s. 3d.;
glebe £8 10s. Church built in 1798; sittings 900.
— Schoolmaster's salary £32 2s. 9jd. There are 3
private schools.
KILMUIR WESTER and SUDDY, a united
parish in Ross-shire, now more generally termed
Knockbain : See Knockbain.
KILMUIR. See Duiunish.
KILMUN, a pleasing little village at the head of
the Holy Loch, in the district of Cowal, and parish
of Dunoon, Argyleshire. The district of Kilmun,
or that portion of the parish of Dunoon which formed
the original parish of Kilmun, had a population, in
1837, of 833. There is a church at the village;
sittings 299. The minister of Dunoon officiates here
alternately with an assistant. We learn from Spotis-
wood, that " Kilmun was founded as a collegiate
church," in houorem Sancti Mundi Abbatis, by Sir
Duncan Campbell of Lochow, ancestor to the Duke
* ,l In the same burying place various members of the Kings-
burgh family were interred, as may be seen from tlie following
inscription on a marble slab, which was procured many years
ago by Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald, of Exeter, to be
placed over his mother's (Flora's) grave. The slab was, how-
ever, broken in conveying it to this place from the south ; and
no Iraginent of it is now left by tourists, who have carried it
off in pieces as curiosities. The inscription was as follows ; —
1 In the family mausoleum at Kilmuir, lie interred the remains
of the following members of the Kingston gh family, viz., Alex-
ander Macdonald, of Kingsburgh , his son Allan, his sous
Charles and James, his son John, and two daughters; and of
Flora Macdonald, who died in March, 171)1), aged sixty-eight—
a name that will be mentioned in history, and if courage and
fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour.' 'She was a
woman of middle stature, soft features, gentle manners, and
elegant appearance.' So wrote Johnson. The remains of
Flora's Ust surviving daughter, Mrs. Major Macleod, were
consigned to their kindred dust about six years since. The
said Mrs. Major Macleod has left only one daughter, Miss Mary
Macleod, still alive at Stein — So great was Flora's enthusiasm
for the Prince and his success, that she carried with her a part
of the sheet in which he slept at Kingsburgh, intending that,
when or where she might die, it might be used for her shroud.
She brought it back from America, and it is said that according
to her own request, it was the shroud in which she was luwer-
ed into the grave,"— New Statistical Account