Christiana Fergusson

Memorial to Chisholm and Ferguson, near Struy

Christiana Fergusson (also known as Cairistìona NicFhearghais, Catriona Nic Fhearghais, Christina Ferguson or Christiana Ferguson), possibly born in Contin, in Ross-shire, was a Scottish Gaelic poet who was active between 1745 and 1746. She mainly wrote about the impact of the loss at the Battle of Culloden and the destruction of Scottish Gaelic culture. She is most well known as the author of Cumha do dh'Uilleam Siseal.^[1][2]

Ferguson was married to William Chisholm, who was a smith, armourer and standard bearer for the chief of Clan Chisholm. Chisholm was killed at the Battle of Culloden. In his memory, Ferguson wrote Cumha do dh'Uilleam Siseal (Gaelic for Lament to William Chisholm), also known as Mo Rùn Geal Òg (My Fair Young Love).^[3][4][5][6]

A roadside memorial marks the site of Chisholm and Ferguson's cottage, near Struy in Strathglass.^[7]

References

1. MacKenzie, John (1909). Sar-obair nam bard Gaelach : the beauties of Gaelic poetry and lives of the Highland bards. Edinburgh: John Grant. pp. 373–4.
2. Ewan, Elizabeth; Innes, Sue; Reynolds, Sian, eds. (2006). The biographical dictionary of Scottish women : from the earliest times to 2004 (Reprinted. ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. Press. p. 69. ISBN 0748617132.
3. John Stuart Blackie (1889). Scottish Song... W. Blackwood & sons. pp. 234–238. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
4. Malcolm Maclean, ed. (2002). Great Book of Gaelic. Canongate U.S. p. 276. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
5. David Masson (1885). Macmillan's Magazine Volume 52. Macmillan and Company. pp. 309–310. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
6. John T. Koch, ed. (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 1033. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
7. "Chisholm Stone, Mauld". Highland Council HER. Retrieved 29 January 2014.