Number 21 - Information on residents

1805 – 1891 Donald and Lilias (neé Grant) McLean and family

Donald Maclean was a son by the second marriage of Allan Malean of Drimmin in Lochbuy, Allan Maclean, like many Highland gentlemen, had a lifestyle that exceeded the income from his Highland estate and so borrowed money with the estate pledged as security. When Donald’s half-brother, Charles, inherited the family estate, instead of easing the financial burden, he added to the financial pressures, being described as ‘a careless, imprudent and extravagant man’. Thus the property had to be sold when Charles became bankrupt.In the 1790s Donald was apprenticed to the solicitor, Colquhoun Grant (portrait by John Kay). Although by the time Donald worked for him Grant was one of Scotland’s most respectable lawyers, but when younger he had been the heroic Lieutenant Grant, part of Prince Charles Stuart’s bodyguard, and mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in Tales of a Grandfather. It was reputed that he: ‘exerted the pen to as good effect as he had formerly played the sword; and in advanced age, he was noted as a man who both knew how to acquire money, and how to preserve it when it was acquired.’ Donald was much taken by one of his employer’s daughters, Lilias, and in 1793 they married and in 1796, Donald became a solicitor (WS) in his own right.Donald and Lilias eventually had sixteen children, and to give space to the growing family, in 1805, Donald bought the new house in Albany Street. Following on from his father-in-law, he built up a significant number of clients from Mull and as his office was at Number 21, Albany Street saw many Mull visitors. So much so that Donald was known to many in Mull as ‘Mr Maclean Albany’.Donald acted as the Chairman of the Trustees of the Lochbuy estate and the young 20th Chief of Lochbuy, Murdoch Maclaine, stayed with the Macleans in Albany Street while in the army. The twenty-year-old man took a fancy to the Maclean’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Christine, and in spite of criticism from some of his family – ‘a foolish and imprudent marriage’ said one – they married. Donald, always a cautious man, and short of money, only agreed on the understanding that he could not give any dowry and that Murdoch agreed to sign an elaborate marriage contract.Donald’s prudence was in stark contrast to his father and brother. Even if he had not been innately cautious, his ever-expanding family forced him to watch his money. He was always complaining: ‘I am most scrimp for money.’ He well understood all too well that the financial return for owners of Highland estates was poor. Most tenants were overdue in rent and, in the face of the landlord’s pressing for payment, pled poverty - no doubt the truth given their hard lives - until the threat of eviction would force payment. Eviction was a constant dread as the law allowed a Precept of Removing and Ejecting to be served. However, this was a costly process and so for most landlords eviction was only undertaken as a last resort. The eviction notice was broadly focused: ‘Flitt and Remove himself, his wife, Bairns, Family, Servants, Subtenants, Cottars, Dependers, Goods and Gear forth, and from his occupation and possession of the said lands.’ This draconian edict meant that one notice might evict up to fifty 50 people. Donald advised clients against eviction. As he said to his son-in-law: ‘You cannot blame your poor people for buying meat in preference to paying you. If you could get them to cultivate their land in a proper manner, most could well supply themselves.’