60320: Malcolm Morrison

Calum Mhurchaidh Mhurchaidh

Malcolm (c1790-1874) Calum Mòr an t-Sruth was a son of Murdo Morrison and Ann MacDonald. He settled at 1 Ungeshader, also in records as Ungshader. An Sruth, the current, flow or stream, is the name used for Little Loch Roag in front of Ungeshader.

He married Ann Macleod and they lived at 1 Ungeshader. Malcolm and Ann had six children.

Malcolm was widowed in 1860 and at Bernera, in 1861 on February 14th, he married Marion Macdonald from Breaclete. The couple had no children and both died in 1874.

According to tradition Calum was a forceful character who effectively ruled the little township, deciding who would take which croft. 

He was famously strong, and managed to right a fallen standing stone which has since been known as Clach Chaluim Shunndaich.

In his book Stornoway and the Lews James Shaw Grant describes him as one of the worthies of the parish. There had been a dispute about the boundary between Lewis and Harris, which reached the House of Lords, and the Lord Chief Justice came to see the territory for himself. A memorial stone was erected on the instructions of Sir James Matheson, not far from the village of Crola, which bears the inscription Lord Kemble, Lord Chief Justice of England, sat here, 3rd September, 1853. When the question arose of transporting the huge stone the five miles across the moor from Morsgail, Calum Mòr an t-Sruth said he would take it on his back, if he got double pay – four shillings!