Ormidale Memorial

Below we bring you, bit by bit, a memorial that Ormidale wrote in 1798 laying out his grievances against his brother (“the late Otter”) in an attempt to have his will overturned. We have done our best to decipher Ormidale’s scrawl but please feel free to offer corrections of any word you think we have misread. We are quite sure that there will be a few.

Excerpt 4

Here we have Ormidale starting to write the memorial itself. It’s quite an unusual document and is a good example of how you can find family history information in unexpected places if you just keep digging. It’s also an example of how people make mistakes. Uncle Alexander joined the Earl of Argyll’s rebellion in 1685, not in 1785.

Memoriall for

Ormidale and his son

Dated 29 January 1798

Mr George Andrew

Writer at Edinburgh

Page 1 At Ormidale 26th and following day 1798

The following are the heads of a Memorial Wrote by

Alexander Campbell of Ormidale setting forth Grievances

regarding his father his oldest brother George his brother late Otter

and himself and also Others concerned with the Familie of Otter

Note 1

It is Necessary to begin about the year 1785 about said

Year the Memorialists Uncle Alexander he was a Rebell by Joining

and adhering to the Argyle Familie he was obliged to Flee to

Holland and bear Arms as a Single Shouldier when his Estate

was forfeited and given to one Commisiary McLean who possess=

=ed it for two or three years time

Excerpt 5

At this period landowners were able to choose the minister for their parish, with Kirk members having no say. People were deeply unhappy about this state of affairs and it led to some ministers leaving the Established Church and forming Secession Churches. It eventually led to the Great Disruption of 1843, when the Free Church was formed.

It was common for younger sons of landowners, i.e. those who would not inherit the estate, to go into the clergy or the military, which is what has happened here. Then, when his older brother died, John Campbell became heir to the estate.

2 About the year 1704 the memorialists Father John had a

Wife daughter to Colin Campbell of Ardkinglas and also he was

Placed Minister in the Parish of Glendaruel he being only

Twenty One Years of Age then where he lived till his aforesaid

Brother Alexander was killed at the Battle of Hotchstad in Flanders

When the said John gave up said parish and being nixt

Heir to his Brother as said (who had a natural son to whom he

left money) the said John took possession of the Estate of Otter

Where he resided and about the year 1715 When a Rebellion

Broke out When said John was Active supporting the Argyle

Family under Archibald Brother to Duke John of Argyle

About said year said John his said wife died and left one

Son named George and one daughter afterward married to late

Mr Campbell of Southhall

Excerpt 6

Again, this extract shows how detailed family history information can be found in unexpected places. In this example we also have some information about teachers at Glasgow Grammar School.