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Snippets of History |
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Date/Era 1883 |
Topic Crofting |
District Valtos |
Person Norman Stewart Parnell, Lord Napier |
| There has been a lot said and written about the importance of the Battle of the Braes in bringing about the Crofters' Scotland Act of 1886. What is lesser known though is that it was the men of Bhaltos who lit the candle in the first place. They were the agitators who got the ball rolling, and particularly Norman Stewart (Tormod Choinnich) who came to be nicknamed Parnell (after his Irish contemporary) for his efforts in getting people motivated to stand against the oppressors. The men of Bhaltos took their stand, along with those from Glendale and Braes. The days of the oppressive landlords were coming to an end. And when Lord Napier and his men visited the schoolhouse at Stoighseall on the 11th of May 1883, the men of Stafainn had plenty to tell them. These were the men who gave evidence on that day. [PICTURE] At the time the Commission viisted the district, William Mackenzie was the schoolmaster at Bhaltos. He attended as the official translator from Gaelic to English. | |