117447: Angus Ferguson

Angus, born 1726, was the son of Roderick Ferguson. In 1740 he was employed as a servant by Donald MacLeod, the old Trojan, tacksman of Berneray.  Angus became a tenant in Borve.

In 1770 he gave evidence to the Court of Session regarding the disputed island of Grianam:

About 1751, whilst working peats at Abhainn Dubh, presumably Rubha na h-Aibhne Duibhe, Angus had noticed that an artificial path of stones some four to six feet wide, had been constructed from the point of Fiday in North Uist to the island of Grianam. Not long after he was sent with Finlay Morrison and Roderick MacLeod to find the North Uist tenants who had illegally gathered a heavy haul of seaweed landed at Port nan Long. They eventually arrived at the home of John MacDonald at Baile mhic Phail. They offered John the bribe of a load of seaweed from Berneray every time he informed them about Uist people taking seaweed from rocks belonging to Harris.

Alick Morrison’s paper The Grianam Case goes on to explain:

Having discovered the culprits, the three detectives made their way to their homes and demanded a crown from each of them. They were, however, so hospitably entertained and supplied with drink that they returned home to Berneray empty handed.