Until now,
the only book of substance written on the Isle of Jura was by Donald
Budge. Published in 1960, his book has become a classic. It is now out of
print, very difficult to find, quite pricey and, more than likely, it is
out of the price range of many people. I’ve only known of two copies to
come on the market in the last ten years and both sold for $100 or more.
Budge’s book is one that book owners do not lend! Until now, other
than the fairly recent and excellent work of Gordon Wright and Norman Tait,
who published pictorial books or small pamphlets about Jura, there is not
much on the market that would give one a concise portrait of what the Bard
of Jura, Neil Shaw, referred to in his epic poem, Crossing To Jura,
as the "Dearest Island under Heaven". Until now, a major work has
never been written about Jura. Until now…
Peter Youngson has changed all that
with his 550-page book on Jura that is definitive, easily read, not nearly
as expensive, and one that gives the reader a feeling of having "been
there" when he or she has finished reading the book. Who is Mr. Youngson?
He served the Jura Parish Church from 1975–1988. Any of you who have been
fortunate to dip your toes into the waters of the Sound of Jura probably
visited the Parish Church. In a back room of the church, there are walls
lined with pictures of Jura residents through the years that will take you
back in time as few events will. This is Peter Youngson’s work, a gift to
all of us before he left Jura.
Why, you may ask, are you reviewing
a book about a small isle that basically has not even been discovered by
Scotland’s own people? Easy answer. Hundreds of people left Jura over the
years to settle throughout various places on the eastern shores of the
Atlantic Ocean, but mostly they found their way up the Cape Fear River in
North Carolina. They settled around what is now Fayetteville, branching
out into Cumberland County (yes, that one named "Butcher" of Culloden) and
later into Bladen County, where my ancestors settled straight off the boat
from Jura. The Governor of North Carolina was giving land away and, for
people who did not even have the proverbial pot, this was a gift from
heaven. It is stated in Scots Magazine that in 1768 "between
forty and fifty families have gone from the island of Jura for Cape Fear
in Carolina to settle thereabout and in Georgia." This happened over and
over.
Youngson has done the Scottish community a great favor
by writing this book. It is more than just a book about a small, neglected
Hebridean Isle. It is about a way of life on this Scottish island
that was mirrored in both the Outer and Inner island communities of the
Hebrides. It tells of the problems faced while scratching out a meager
living under sad circumstances and how later the people of Jura had to
endure the hard line of management they lived under when the Campbells of
Jura took possession of the island from the MacDonalds. These hard working
people would have qualified for food stamps in today’s world. They would
be some of the same people some of us ridicule in the grocery store.
You will read about the man who killed Lachlan Mor, a
Jura man, "a dwarf hatched by the devil," who offered his services to
Maclean only to be insulted by Lachlan and told he would disgrace his
followers with such a contemptible figure. Dubhsith, as he was called,
went over to the MacDonald’s side, was warmly welcomed and later, during
battle, let go an arrow that found its mark just beneath the armpit of
Lachlan. His decision to insult the little man cost him his life.
Citing the Manuscript History of Craignish,
the author tells the story of the fight between the Shaws
and Campbells. John Dou Campbell was killed by the Shaws. The "why?" is
not mentioned. Later Ronald Campbell and his men slew fifteen Shaws in
revenge "not sparing the chief of them although at the time married to his
own sister". Ronald, now being afraid of his neighbors, ran straight to
the Earl of Argyll for protection. In 1604, a bond was signed by both
parties forgiving each other of the slaughter with a penalty of 1,000
merks for breaking the bond. I do not know how much a "merk" was back
then, but it must have been a sizable amount since, as far as I know, the
peace between the Campbells and Shaws was never broken.
Following in the footsteps of the Bard of Jura, Neil
Shaw, this book could easily have been entitled JURA: Dearest Isle
Under Heaven. What a great book to have as fall approaches, when the
days and nights put a chill in the air, and we don sweaters and coats,
make hot soup, and settle down by the fireplace with this good book in
hand for a nice read. You’ll spend a little time with Youngson’s book, but
you will be glad you did so. My son, Scott, gave me a cup a few years ago
that quotes Thomas Jefferson: "I cannot live without books," and JURA:
Island of Deer fits into that category.
I paid £34.75 ($51.78 @ $1.49 per pound) to Fiona, a
friend on Jura, for the book, including shipping. You will find this book
at Ward Weems and Sons. Ward advertises in The Family Tree,
and we like to support those who do. The book was published this year by
Birlinn Ltd (www.birlinn.co.uk) in
Edinburgh, Scotland, ISBN 1 84158 136 4.
I will be glad to receive a Scottish author’s new book
for review consideration. However, whether the book is reviewed or not, it
becomes the property of The Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library. Note: For
the record, it is worth mentioning that this writer buys his own books for
review in this column. By the time I have finished with a book, it is
marked for life and, while it may be "messed up for you," the markings
provide me with a highway through the book when I pick it up again. More
importantly, this way the library gets a new, unmarked copy for all to
enjoy.
