Hebridean Case Studies

The MacIver Family

In search for facts about the MacIver family, I took a trip to Scotland in 1966. By boat and train from London, I traveled to Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

The gateway to Lewis is the town of Stornoway, ‘Queen of the Hebrides’, and the finest seaport on the west of Scotland north of the Clyde. Stornoway has two main manufacturing industries -those connected with the fishing industry and Harris Tweed. Stornoway is a busy place, its piers alive with the scream and flutter of gulls as the silver harvest of the night is unloaded from the trim fishing boats - yet seals swim in the harbour, a delight to the visitors.

The trip to the Isle of Lewis is very pleasant. I took an early morning train from Glasgow to Malaig traveling through beautiful country. At Malaig, I boarded the boat and had a good passage to Stornoway enjoying tea with scones and jam.

I visited with Annie and Norman Maciver who welcomed me warmly when they heard I was a MacIver. Norman assured me that we were related, as all MacIvers from the Isle of Lewis descended from Ivor MacIver.

Annie spent two years in Canada working for T.B.MacAulay at the Sun Life Assurance Co. in Montreal. While in Canada she visited Angus and Effie MacLennan in Scotstown. Her cousin, Malcolm MacAulay, married Etta MacLennan. We have exchanged several letters and they were able to put me in touch with one branch of our family who lived in Shader.

I took a bus ride around the Island and visited [Lower} Barvas where my grandfather lived. I was able to get a picture of one of the old houses made of stone with a turf roof, barn attached at the back. These houses are now closed. The people live in new stucco houses with electricity. Many have a loom in their homes and work for Harris Tweed, A small car stands in front of most of the homes. The country outside of Stornoway is bleak and barren. There are many peat fields where peat is cut, dried and used for fuel. The airport was built in 1939.

I attended a Gaelic service Sunday morning. The church was full. The church was similar inside to Chalmers Church in Gould (Quebec). The service was conducted the same as Gaelic service in Canada. A good looking Scot, returned from Detroit, preached the sermon.

To visit the Isle of Lewis where my MacIver family came from was a very special experience for me. There was so much to remind me that this was where my people had lived: MacIver written on shops, the Gaelic church service, scones on the table, strict observance of the Sabbath, warm welcome from the inhabitants. I felt very much at home.

Character rather than class has always been the accepted standard in Lewis. Men are valued for their character and ability. Although the Islander is strict in his religion he has a great fund of humour which his appearance often belies.

Excerpt from History: the families of Sherman-MacIver by A. Isabel Sherman,1971 p.41