A DISPUTED FORTUNE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 245, 23 March 1875, Page 3

A DISPUTED FORTUNE.

We {Argus') find the following in the Highlander , an Inverness paper, of 17th October, 1874 ;

“ Some few years ago the death of Lord Clyde gave rise perhaps to more and greater hopes in this Island (Islay) than it caused of regret, although the great General was, through father and mother, an Islaymnn The hopes raised by the death of Colin M'Liver Campbell were nothing, however, to the hopes which have been raised by the accounts which have been moving about for some time regaiding the death of one Charles M‘Niven, who died some time ago in America, leaving property and cash to the value of at least a million sterling. It may be as well to mention bore a few particulars in the pedigree of this millionaire, to inform some who know less and to elicit information from those who know more. John M‘Niven of Bun an-uilt and Cora ghortain in Islay, emigrated to America, and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he bought land at a low figure, built four distilleries, and made an immense fortune. His sister Rachael M‘Niven was married to Donald M‘Bacharn, of Bridgend, and on the occasion of this union John sent Rachael £2,000 in specie as a marriage gift. The box which contained this valuable present may be seen at the present day in the possession of Dr Macdonald, Robertson street, Glasgow, who is a grandson of the aforesaid Rachael M‘Niven. Donald M‘Eacharn and this Rachel were the parents of Donald M‘Eacharn,whom many of the present generation remember, as being at one time in a good way, and with a large family, at Bridgend ; as also of Niel and Peter M'Eacharn of Dail, of Captain James M‘Eacharn, of Mrs Mill, Portaskaig, and of Mrs Macdonald, Tigh-nancuoc, the mother of Dr Macdonald already mentioned. We may mention that John, the son of the second Donald M‘Eacharn above, is now one of the chiefs in the large shipbuilding trade establishment of Robert Napier and Sons, of Glasgow ; and that Captain M‘Kaeharn, of the Glasgow Highlanders, is a great grandson of Rachael M'Niven, the favorite sister of the man who made the groat fortune. In the same way, we might trace the descendants of Kiel M'Niven, a brother of John’s aforesaid. Niel had a son who died without being married ; Jand two daughters, if not more. One of these was well known and much respected and liked in her day. She was Peggy M‘Niven, and the wife of Dugald M'Larty, who was for many years miller at Ealabus. Peggy, a decent woman, was the mother of a very large and nice family of sons and daughters, of whom, however, there is only one (James), now living. The eldest daughter, Mary, was married to Thomas Pattison, at one time distiller at Newton, near Bridgend, and afterwards at Octomore, now of Glasgow, The most of the family, the result of this marriage, are living in Glasgow. The younger M'Eacharns of Dail, James, Robert, and Neil, the sous of Peter, went to Australia, where James edited the Colonist newspaper. Dould— JDomhuull Ituadh na Dallach, —as has before now been mentioned in the Highlander , died while a young man in Islay, as did Peter, his cousin. Reverting to John M‘Niven, he left a son Charles, who got possession of the vast property, and died, according to the accounts which have reached Islay, leaving a natural son, also named Charles, who claims the estate of his father, a claim of course which the legitimate relatives dispute, and which may yet be a matter of litigation in the American Courts of equity ere the Islay expectants can handle any of the legacy.” We may mention that there are now resident in Melbourne four of the presumed male heirs to this vast fortune, namely, Mr Robert M’Eacbarn, formerly of the Lands Department, sou of Peter M'Eacharn, Daill ; Captain Robert M‘Eacharn, of the brig Emily, son of Neil M‘Bacharn, Daill; Capt Neil ‘M’Eacharu, veil known as commander of the Royal Shepherd some years ago, and Mr Archibald M'Eacharn (at present accountant in the firm of Messrs Permewan, Hunt and Co), sons of Mr Donald M‘Eacharn, of Bridgend. There are also four sisters of the latter—Catherine, Elizabeth, Eleanor, and Mary. They are all old colonists, and well known.