Search on for information about ‘The Wee 21s’
Sir, I would like to ask for the assistance of your readers in trying to find some facts behind the story of a mystery about a branch of my family, the McConnachies, who were shepherds in Glen Lussa at Bord A Dubh cottage about 1870s to 1910s.
In trying to follow my family tree in the Campbeltown area, I have visited the cottage a couple of times, once in 2010 and again in 2014, only to find it demolished prior to the latter visit.
On my return visit I found a cairn, flag pole and plaque reading: ‘This cairn marks the area of the graves of three children of the McConnachie family who lived at Bord A Dubh around the period 1880-1910’, about 600 yards to the south-east of the cottage.
This was erected by the Rotary Club of Campbeltown and I have been in touch with them, but they are unable to furnish me with any further information on the family or the circumstances of the children’s death.
I understand the family were known as ‘The Wee 21s’ due to the size of the family. Possibly, due to their distance from Campbeltown, they did not record infant births and deaths readily as I can find very little in the National Records Office.
I would be most grateful if your readers could furnish me with any details or facts on the family and what was particular about these three children’s deaths to be bestowed a cairn, plaque and flagpole.
Thanking you in anticipation,
George Foster, fosterg@btconnect.com 07427612364.