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MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula)

 Person

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Custom and story entitled 'Souming', 15 December 1894

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/55
Scope and Contents Custom and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Souming' [number and type of stock an individual croft can graze on a common grazings] describing the ages at which cows were included in the 'leibhidh' [levy], how in 1810 Lord MacDonald and MacCoinnich Bodhar of Lewis [MacKenzie of Seaforth, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] introduced new rules while Clanranald had no souming until 1820. MacRury states that in 1830 his grandfather had to send five...
Dates: 15 December 1894

Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 12 September 1890 to 1895

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1
Scope and Contents Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael but also used by John Ewen MacRury. The front cover bears a sticker which reads 'Gaelic Notes 1894-5. (Collection of traditions, tales, etc. by Alexander Carmichael (?). Many pages cancelled, indicating publication.) [Carmichael Watson Collection]'. The flyleaf reads 'Gaelic Notes, 1894-5' and the rear flyleaf contains a jotting which reads 'Wishing Guidhe'. The beginning of the notebook contains field notes made by Carmichael in Uibhist a...
Dates: 12 September 1890 to 1895

Story about 'MacCallain' and 'Frith making', 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/65
Scope and Contents Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about Duncan McInnes [MacInnes], Balavanaich [Baile a Mhanaich/Balivanich, Beinn an Faoghla/Benbecula] also known as MacCallain [Mac Ailein] who was well-known for making 'frith' [making incantations for a missing person]. Once a boat was caught in a winter storm returning from Uig, Lewis [Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] and with no wreckage or people it and its crew were thought lost. Mac Ailein was approached for frith and...
Dates: 1895

Story and customs about Leac na gruagaich, December 1894

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/57
Scope and Contents Story and customs written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about Leac na gruagaich [Leac na Gruagaich, Beinn na Faoghla, Benbecula], a stone which was on the croft of Angus MacAulay, Liniclate [Lionacleit] at 'Rudha Chuidh Oib or Cuidh an Obain', an old cattle fold. The tradition was to pour a little milk into the hollow of the stone to prevent the gruagaich letting the cattle out of the fold and into the corn. MacRury tells how Raoghnull MacRuaraidh 'a Cuial decendant...
Dates: December 1894

Story entitled 'Dealan De' [Yellow Butterfly], 30 January 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/83
Scope and Contents Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Dealan De' [Dealan-DèYellow Butterfly]. MacRury tells how there are many kinds of Dealan-Dè but this particular kind is uncommon and did not exist until Christ had risen from the dead. They all came out of Christ's tomb. He gives a lengthy, romantic physical description of the butterfly and tells how they are never seen around wrong-doers or where there is bad language. It is good luck for the butterfly to be seen...
Dates: 30 January 1895

Story entitled 'Meteor', 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/85
Scope and Contents Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Meteor' describing the first time he saw a meteor. He states that it was in October 1872, and that the meteor 'came down at a very slow rate in a spirally sort of way and leaving a train of faint fire behind it. It was about two miles distant from where I was it fell. Others saw it also and predicted a death within a few days and strange to say a woman died very near the place it fell a few days afterwards.' He...
Dates: 1895

Story entitled 'Prince Charlie', 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/78
Scope and Contents Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Prince Charlie' and telling the story of a blanket specially made for Bonnie Prince Charlie [Prince Charles Edward Stuart] after his defeat at Culloden, when he was staying Roisinish [Ròisinis/Rossinish]. An unmarried woman there by the name of MacMillan heard he had no bed clothes so persuaded her neighbours to make a blanket for him. They worked non-stop on the blankets and 'dried [them] on the face of the rocks...
Dates: 1895

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  • Subject: Customs X
  • Subject: Tales X

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Subject
Death 3
Isle of Lewis Ross and Cromarty Scotland 3
North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland 3
Superstition 3
Cattle 2