There is one incident that is infamous in the local history of Armadale and that is a fight that took place in the Inn belonging to my very own ancestors Alexander Munro and Barbara Mackay. The incident is recorded in a contemporary document held in the National Records of Scotland, (Ref:AD14/22/196).
The fight took place on Saturday 15th September 1821. John MacDonald from the hamlet of Farr who was returning from herring fishing was the victim of a "disorderly and brutal attack" and had his pocket book containing £3 taken from him. The attack was carried out by one Rupert MacDonald and Thomas Mackay (son of George Mackay). They were assisted by a "raskilly strolling Irishman" named William O'Brien.
John MacDonald was born in the parish of Farr and had joined the Navy at the age of 18 and served in it for 8 years. He later went aboard an "East Indiaman" for seven years before returning home to Farr to work as a teacher. In July of 1821 he had gone to Wick in the county of Caithness for the herring fishing. Walking back from Wick John MacDonald had fallen in with two other men, Alexander MacDonald from Stemster and Donald Mackay from Auchumore. At about noon the three men had gone to the Inn at Armadale that was kept by Barbara, wife of Alexander Munro, a boat carpenter in Armadale.
Earlier that day Rupert MacDonald, Thomas Mackay (son of George the miller) and Hugh Mackay, a skipper had also gone to the Inn at about breakfast time and had three half munchkins of whiskey. Aye Mackay (son of William) and George Mackay the miller joined them along with the landlady's son Donald Munro. Rupert MacDonald, Thomas Mackay and Hugh Mackay had been herring fishing at Helmsdale and had gone in for a dram when they landed. George Mackay had come in about an hour later to get them to draw up their boat and secure her as the tide was flowing.
The landlady was unable to give John MacDonald and his two acquaintances any change of a pound note but showed them to a room where the other six men were drinking. Alexander MacDonald had said that they should not disturb the six men and should take a different room by themselves. However the six men said that the other three were welcome and made room for them. The two parties sat on opposite sides of the table.
The three had a half munchkin of whiskey. Each had a glass and put the rest around the company. The six men offered them some of their own whiskey and used a good deal of flattering language. However while everyone was drinking a dispute arose between John MacDonald and Rupert MacDonald about the Gaelic language. Rupert asked John where he was brought up. John said that he was "weaned" in Armadale. Rupert did not understand the meaning of the word weaned and asked John to explain it in Gaelic. John held his tongue for two or three minutes while Rupert repeatedly asked the same question. John eventually answered adding that Rupert did not know what the Gaelic language is, saying that it was not a language and was only spoken by "radicals". Rupert disagreed and the two men came to high words but George Mackay, the miller intervened and advised the two to drop the subject.
John MacDonald then asked George Mackay for some local news. George told him about the recent death of Thomas MacDonald in Armadale. John then said that Thomas would no longer give information to the excise officer about his brother or Adam Matheson in Farr for smuggling or "brewing" whiskey. Rupert MacDonald then said it was a "dammed lie" and three others agreed. John said that O'Brien had written a note which Thomas had given to the excise officer. Rupert MacDonald, who was now much the worse for drink and John MacDonald stripped off their coats and started fighting...
John seized Rupert by his neck tie. When Rupert cried out for help, Thomas Mackay, who had been in another room of the house forced open the door (which was attached by leather straps or hinges) and threw it onto the floor. Mackay gave John a severe blow under his right eye. The landlady then came in and saw John and the two other men wrestling on the edge of the bed. They then broke off and had a drink of whiskey to make up.
Rupert MacDonald was not satisfied and asked for another half munchkin of whiskey. The good landlady was not willing to give but on being urged by George Mackay she did so. Hugh Mackay told John MacDonald that he would "put his eyes in his shoes" if he challenged the company. John replied that he was "not afraid of anyone".
Rupert MacDonald then sent a young boy to fetch his brothers, George, Sutherland and John, who were all fishermen. They arrived with their mother, Mary Bain and O'Brien who had been eating with the family. When George Mackay saw them all he said "God preserve us, this does not look well". Mary Bain said to John MacDonald "my lad we have heard you language before". All of them then began to threaten John MacDonald. The landlady advised the three men who had come from Caithness "For Gods sake it is better to be off with you". They went off as fast as they could to Farr.
As John MacDonald tried to leave he was brought back inside and Rupert MacDonald said "Oh you Bastard how can I let you go unpunished after so abusing my father whose bones are in the grave". Rupert was prevented from hitting him but John was knocked down onto a bed in the room. John got up and tried to escape but he was chased to a hollow about 100 yards from the Inn where he was hit and kicked on the ground. Two men helped him and Catharine, wife of Angus Mackay the cooper, took him into her house. A girl was dispatched to get John's brother, Murdoch MacDonald, from Farr. Murdoch arrived and sent for William Mackay, a church elderman to come and bleed his brother. William Mackay arrived and felt for John's pulse and found him in a "very low state". Mackay did not want to bleed him but Murdoch MacDonald very much wanted him to be bled. John was given some whiskey to raise his pulse and he was bled from the left arm, drawing a "broath plate full of blood which was at first very black but in the end became thinner and a more natural colour". Although he was feverish on Sunday night, the following day John MacDonald was well enough to be taken home on horseback.
Several people were "examined" at Dornoch, the county town of Sutherland. However the authorities eventually decided that there was insufficient grounds for bringing the case before the Circuit Court. The sheriff deput noted that it seemd to have been a "casual fray" and it "would have been better if it had been followed by speedy punishment before the Sheriff".
Link to page with map of Armadale and probable location of Alexander Munro's Inn
Note: The Old Statistical Account of Scotland (1791 - 1799) says the following regarding inns in the parish of Farr: The number of houses employed in selling spirituous liquors are 6; one in Armadale, and 5 in Strathnaver. The effect they have on the the morals of the people, is certainly mischievous. It is greatly to be wished that proprietors, particularly in the Highlands, would take some method to stop this evil. (Volume 3, page 544).
Note: The New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834 - 1845) says the following regarding inns in the parish of Farr: There are three licensed inns, so situated as to be convenient to the parishioners and the public at large. Tippling houses are entirely suppressed, and their extinction has a good effect on the morals of the people in general. (Volume 15, page 79).