It's your Electric Scotland newsletter meaning
the weekend is nearly here :-)
You can view what's new this week on Electric Scotland at
http://www.electricscotland.com/update.html and you can unsubscribe to
this newsletter by clicking on the link at the foot of this newsletter.
See our Calendar of Scottish Events around the world at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/calendar_help.htm
CONTENTS
-----------------
Electric Scotland
The Flag in the Wind
The Scottish Nation
The Celtic Monthly
Memoirs of Peter Henry Bruce
History of the Burgh of Dumfries
A Group of Scottish Women
Reminiscences of the Early Settlement of Dunedin and South Otago
Scots Minstrelsie
Scots Humour and Heroism
Family Tree DNA - Article from Bruce MacIntyre
Misc. - Craft Stories and Poems
The Scot in America
Prehistoric Scotland
The Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment
Mini Bio
The Scotch-Irish in America
Bits of Electric Scotland - Online Scottish Books
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND
-----------------
Well I'm now down in Kentucky working on migrating the web sites to a new
web server which is way faster than the old one and has much more storage
space. As I mentioned in that wee announcement I sent out we may be
unavailable for a wee while and some programs like our scotgenealogy,
scotsearch and our Electric Scotland Forums might be down for a wee while
while we get them moved over. As this is a physical migration it does mean
we need to unload the IP addresses to be able to transfer them to the new
machine. This is why things might be down for a wee while.
Steve says hello to you all and promises he'll do his best to get everything
working fine on the new servers :-)
I've also got my books "The South in the Building of a Nation". This is a 12
volume publication printed in 1909. I am looking at doing the first 3
volumes which mostly contain the histories of those southern states. Viginia
and the states formed from her original territory: Maryland, Kentucky, Wesr
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Georgia and the
states formed from its original territory: Alabama and Mississippi. Florida,
which, though it contains the oldest town in the United States, is not
treated in its historical order since it did not become a part of the United
States till 1819, but is placed after the Georgia group on account of its
proximity. The states west of the Mississippi River in the order of their
admission to the Union.
I won't be starting on those until I get back to Canada but this will
provide us background information as to what the Scots and Scots-Irish moved
into when they emigrated to America. You will also see many Scots and
Scots-Irish names mentioned through the histories. I have noted the many
references to England and English whereas it should really be Britain and
British but I think that's fairly obvious from the text.
I have also acquired a years copies of the weekly Scottish Canadian
newspaper for 1890/1 but it's going to take some thinking on how to get
these up on the site. They are around A3 in size so my A4/Letter scanner is
just too small. I also think I'll need to unpick the binder to be able to
get these scanned. Don't suppose there is anyone out there able to do these
larger scans? :-)
And just a note about this newsletter. I am considering whether it might not
be easier for you to get it through an RSS feed. It seems that every site I
visit these days offers an RSS feed and so shoulf you think this would be
easier for you I'd be prepared to look at this. Perhaps you could let me
know?
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do check out
the site for the full versions. You can always find the link in our "What's
New" section at the link at the top of this newsletter and pick up poems and
stories sent into us during the week from Donna, Margo, Stan, John and
others.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
------------------------------------
This weeks edition is by Jim Lynch who is also editor of the Scots
Independent newspaper. He tells us that we will now be getting a copy of the
regular Scots language column from the newspaper to read in the Flag. I
thought I'd carry the first issue here for you to read...
THE TRAUCHLES O TAMMY
Gin this airticle haed been written a month syne, A micht hae cad it “The
triumph o Tammy”; at that time, the jury i the Coort o Session haed juist
cum oot on Tammy Sheridan’s side. They fund he wes tellan the truith whan he
denyit the houghmagandie the “News of the World” haed chairgit him wi – an,
in effeck, that mony o the heich-heid-anes o his ain pairty war wrang ti
threip that he haed telt thaim the contrair. This wes Tammy’s moment. S.S.P.
memmers haed spent the lest month miscaain ilk ither wi aa the warst names i
the Marxist vocabular. Nae doot at this pynt a sleekit, bourgeois
politeecian wad hae cad on aabody ti lat byganes be byganes. Weel,
“Magnanimity in victory” micht hae been Winston Churchill’s slogan, bit it
wadnae dae fir Tammy. He yaisit his victory speech ti blecken the names o
the S.S.P. leadership a bit mair. It’s a guid thing that nane o the ither
faction war cairryin an ice aix…
An sae the fecht went oan, een mair sairly than afore. An uphaud o the S.S.P.
Executive said “a state of war now existed between Mr. Sheridan and the
party’s executive committee”. Tammy hissel said that a curn o his unfriens i
the S.S.P. haed gane sae faur as ti burn an eemage o him. In aa this, it
seems, there wes nae wird o ony muckle poleetical tulzie: the haill
quaistion wes whuther it wes Tammy or the Executive that wes tellan the
truith.
Efter this stushie, it wes nae surpreese ti fin Tammy stertin up his ain
pairty “Solidarity”. (The name is aither a sample o the Socialist sense o
humour, or a pruif that Marxists hae forgotten the history o the twintiet
century.) We are telt that twice as mony fowk cam ti his meetin as ti the
rival S.S.P. ane the day afore. Needless ti say, mony a haurd wird wes
spoken at ilk ane aboot the personalities on the ither side: no sae mony
aboot thaim castin oot owre policies. Marxists yist ti threip that Socialism
wes aa aboot the advance o the warkan cless as a haill, an that
personalities didnae maitter. In that case A cannae see hou aither pairty
can claim ti be uphaudan Marxist principles; bit than A’m ainly a bourgeois
naitionalist deviationist, sae whit wad A ken aboot it?
The Gaelic column is also available in this weeks issue.
Peter also reminds us that St. Andrews Day is celebrated on 30th November
and here is what he says...
This month we will once again celebrate our Patron Saint's Day, St Andrew,
on 30 November. Pressure to make Andermas a Public Holiday has finally made
progress with a surprising turn-aroundby the Scottish Executive which will
allow employees to take 30 November as a holiday from 2007.
Our National Flag also bears the name of our Patron Saint - the Saltire or
St Andrew's Cross, is the oldest in the Commonwealth and Europe, possibly in
the world. According to tradition it was adopted following a battle fought
in 832AD near Althelstaneford in East Lothian. The Scottish flag Trust, who
have done much good work in promoting The Saltire, give the following
account of how the 832AD battle resulted in The Saltire becoming the flag of
Scotland -
'An army of Picts under Angus mac Fergus, High King of Alba, and aided by a
contingent of Scots led by Eochaidh, King of Dalriada ( Kenneth mac Alpin's
grandfather ) had been on a punitive raid into Lothian ( then and for long
afterwards Northumbrian territory ), and were being pursued by a larger
force of Angles and Saxons under one Athelstan. The Albannach/Scots were
caught and stood to face their pursuers in the area of Markle, near modern
East Linton. This is to the north of the modern cillage of Athelstaneford (
which was resited on higher ground in the 18th century ), where the Peffer
which flows into the Firth of Forth at Aberlady, forms a wide vale. Being
then wholly undrained, the Peffer presented a major obstacle to crossing,
and the two armies came together at the ford near the present day farm of
Prora ( one of the field names there is still the Bloody Lands ). Fearing
the outcome of the encounter, King Angus led prayers for deliverance, and
was rewarded by seeing a cloud formation of a white saltire ( the diagonal
cross on which St Andrew had been martyred ) against a blue sky. The King
vowed that if, with the saint's help, he gained the victory, then Andrew
would thereafter be the patron saint of Scotland. The Scots did win, and the
Saltire became the flag of Scotland. When Kenneth mac Alpin, who may have
been present with his grandfather at the battle, later united Picts and
Scots and named the entity Scotland, Andrew did indeed become the patron
saint of the united realm.'
See The Scottish Flag Trust at http://www.scotsindependent.org/features/orgs/scottish_flagtrust.htm
The Saltire flies all year round, beside the Saltire Memorial erected in
1965 in Althelstaneford Kirkyard, to commemorate the event of 832AD. Thanks
to the efforts of the Scottish Flag Trust a doocote, beside the Kirk, has
been restored and converted in 1996 into the Flag Heritage Centre and
visitors can enjoy a short audio visual dramatisation of the traditional
origins of the Battle Flag of Scotland. There are spectacular views
northwards towards the site of the battle and earlier this year, 27 April
2001, Dr Winifred M Ewing MSP officially opened a new viewpoint/seating area
and restoration of copper panels, depicting the battle, in the Heritage
Centre. The Church and Saltire Memorial can be visited at any time. The
Heritage Centre is open daily between 10am and 5pm from April to September.
Admission is free. Althelstaneford lies some 20 miles from Edinburgh and is
easily accessed from the A1. The B1347 turn-off is a mile to the eat of
Haddington and is well signposted. There are many interesting places to
visit in East Lothian but make sure that you do visit Athelstaneford. This
weeks recipe comes from East Lothian and shares its name with another well
known landmark, the ruined stronghold of Tantallon Castle, several miles
east of North Berwick. Tantallon Cakes, a good shortbread variance, is a
tasty reminder of the part of Scotland which gave us our National Flag.
Tantallon Cakes
Ingredients: 8 oz plain flour ( 225 g ); 1 oz caster sugar ( 25 g ); 1 tbsp
rice flour; 1 tsp grated lemon rind; 4 oz butter ( 100 g )
Method: Preheat oven to 325 deg F/170 deg C or gas mark 3
Sift the flour into a bowl. Take out one tablespoonful and replace this with
one tablespoonful of rice flour. Now add the sugar and lemon rind. Finally
work in the butter with your hands into a lump the consistency of putty!
Place on a floured board and press with your hands not a rolling pin, till
it is about half inch ( 1 cm ) thick. Cut into rounds about one and half
inch ( 4 cm ) diameter. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake in a cool
oven for about 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle thickly with caster sugar while still
hot.
You can read this weeks issue, see the pictures and listen to the Scots
language at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
Have now heard from MSP Linda Fabiani who tells me she is now back at work
and plans to do a wee summary to bring us up to date and then she'll resume
her regular weekly diary. So should get the summary during the next few
days. You'll be able to read all this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fabiani/
The Scottish Nation
----------------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
We haw compted the C's with Cumming, Cunningham, Currie and Curteis. Now
onto the D's and added this week are Dale, Dalgarno, Dalgety, Dalgleish,
Dalhousie, Dallas and Dalmahoy.
The Cumming entry is quite large and here is how it starts...
CUMMING, properly COMYN, or DE CUMYN, a surname derived originally from the
ancient house of de Comines in France. Wyntoun (who wrote about 1420)
absurdly states that the first of the name of Comyn in Scotland, a keeper of
the royal chamber, acquired his designation from saying to all who knocked
at the king’s door, “Cum in!” It is impossible to attribute to ignorance
alone this exquisite blunder, as the antecedents of the noble family were
too familiar to be utterly forgotten in that age, especially by the prior of
Lochleven, any more than the fact that French had been the exclusive
language of the court and nobles of Scotland for upwards of two centuries,
during which period the family held sway. But they had been the vanquished
party, and it was the fashion of that age to vilify the unfortunate. This
incident shows how little reliance is to be placed on our earliest Scottish
historians, especially where national or party prejudices are concerned.
John count de Comyn in Normandy, descended from Charlemagne, on being
appointed governor of the chief towns in that duchy, assumed the name of De
Burgo. His eldest son, Hubert de Burgo, married Arlota, mother of William
the Conqueror, and from their son Robert the noble house of Clanricarde in
Ireland, and all the families of the name of De Burgh or Burke, in that
kingdom, are said to derive their descent.
In 1068, William the Conqueror, learning of an invasion on the part of the
Danes, in conjunction with the disaffected English, aided by Malcolm the
Fourth of Scotland, appointed Robert de Comyn governor of Northumberland,
who by a rising of the natives was massacred with his whole garrison at
Durham shortly after. The earliest mentioned in Scottish annals was William
de Comyn. He had been educated for the church under Gaufred, bishop of
Durham, sometime chancellor to Henry the First of England. He held the lands
of Northallerton and others in England, and from Prince Henry, the son of
King David, he obtained a grant of the estate of Linton-Roderick in
Roxburghshire, which is said to have been the first place of settlement in
North Britain of the powerful family of the Comyns. In 1133, he was, by
David the First, nominated chancellor of Scotland. His name appears as such
in some of the charters of that monarch. In 1142, he seized on the bishopric
of Durham, under a grant from the empress Maude, but soon after resigned
that see, reserving only certain of the episcopal estates for behoof of his
nephew and heir, Richard. In the reigns of Malcolm the Fourth and William
the Lion, the name of Richard de Comyn, appears among the witnesses to some
of the charters of those monarchs. In the reign of the former, he was a man
of great power and authority in Scotland, and by King William he was created
“justiciar” of Scotland, as only what is now the northern part of the
kingdom was then called. He married Hexilda, great-grand-daughter of King
Duncan, and died about 1190.
His son William was, in 1200, sent as envoy by William the Lion to
congratulate King John on his succeeding to the throne of England. He was
also engaged in several other embassies to the English court. He was sheriff
of Forfar, and, like his father, also held the office of justiciary for
Scotland, and various grants of land were made to him. He distinguished
himself by putting down a rebellion of the native tribes under Guthred, of
the family of Heth, otherwise MacWilliam, who had landed from Ireland, and
whom he put to death. Through his marriage, in 1210, with Marjory, countess
of Buchan in her own right, he became earl of Buchan. This was his second
marriage, and his son by it, Alexander Comyn, succeeded him in the earldom,
on his death in 1233, (see earldom of BUCHAN, ante). By his first wife (a
lady whose name has not descended to us), William earl of Buchan had two
sons, Richard and Walter. In 1230, Walter, who had become earl of Menteith
in right of his wife, acquired the extensive lordship of Badenoch by a grant
from Alexander the Second, (see BADENOCH, surname of, and MENTEITH, earl
of,) and thus became the founder of the senior branch of the Comyns. He
possessed large estates in the south of Scotland, and nearly caused a war
between Alexander the Second and Henry the Third, by erecting two castles,
one in Hermitage in Liddesdale and another in Galloway, without the consent
of the king of England, to whom the suzerainty of these districts of right
pertained. As he died without leaving heirs male of his body, all his
possessions went to the descendants of his brother Richard.
The son of the latter, John Comyn, who was the first of the name known as
the “Red Comyn,” acted a conspicuous part during the minority of Alexander
the Third. He was justiciary of Galloway, and joined the other barons who
demanded security from Henry the Third of England, before they would allow
his daughter the young queen of Scotland to go to London for her
accouchement. In 1264, with John Baliol and Robert de Bruce, he led a body
of Scots to the assistance of Henry against his rebellious barons. He died
about 1274. William, his eldest son, appears to have married his cousin, the
heiress of Menteith, but left no issue. John, the second son, known as the
“Black Comyn,” became lord of Badenoch, and was named among the magnates of
Scotland who settled the Norwegian marriage of the princess Margaret in
1281. In 1286, on the decease of Alexander the Third, he was chosen by a
parliament which met at Scone, one of the six guardians or regents of
Scotland, during the minority of the Maiden of Norway, his cousin, the earl
of Buchan, being also one of them.
On the death of the infant queen, the “Black Comyn” became one of the
original candidates for the crown, as descended from King Duncan by the
daughter of his son Donald-bane; and at the meeting of Edward the First with
the competitors at Holywell-haugh, on 2d June 1291, he readily took the
oaths offered to him, acknowledging Edward as feudal superior of Scotland.
He afterwards, with the other competitors, the regents of the kingdom, and
many other barons, swore fealty to the English king. After the election of
Baliol to the vacant throne, he seems to have retired from public life. It
is uncertain when he died, but he was alive in 1299. He married Marjory,
sister of King John Baliol. Their son, John, also, like his grandfather,
styled the “Red Comyn,” possessed the same right to the Scottish throne
which was vested in Baliol himself, had the latter died without issue. He
adhered to the English interest as long as Edward supported his kinsmen the
Baliols, but when his insulting treatment of John Baliol drove the Scots
nobles to arms, he joined the army which, in 1296, under the leadership of
the earl of Buchan, invaded England, and carried fire and sword through the
county of Cumberland. Soon after he was among the Scots nobles and knights
who, with a strong force of followers, were admitted into the castle of
Dunbar by the countess of March, (Marjory Comyn, daughter of Alexander, earl
of Buchan,) and held in check the large army which Edward despatched under
Warrene, earl of Surrey. After the battle of Dunbar, April 28, 1296, the
castle surrendered to Edward himself. On this occasion Comyn was taken
prisoner but was soon released.
After the signal defeat of the English by Wallace at the bridge of Stirling,
in 11th September 1297, Comyn joined the patriot army, and at the battle of
Falkirk, July 22, 1298, he commanded the cavalry, but scarcely had the
battle begun when the whole body under his command turned their horses’
heads, and shamelessly fled from the field. He afterwards threatened to
impeach Wallace for treason for his conduct during the war, and that hero in
consequence voluntarily resigned the office of governor of Scotland, on
which Comyn and John de Soulis were chosen regents, and after some time
Bruce earl of Carrick and Lamberton bishop of St. Andrews were associated
with them in the government.
IN 1300, when Edward again invaded Scotland, the earl of Buchan and John
Comyn of Badenoch had an interview with that monarch, when they demanded
that Baliol their lawful king should be permitted peaceably to reign over
them, and that their estates, which had been unjustly bestowed upon the
English nobles, should be restored. Edward treated these propositions with
an unceremonious refusal; and, after declaring that they would defend
themselves to the uttermost, the king and the Scottish barons parted in
wrath. In 1302 he joined forces with Sir Simon Fraser of Tweeddale, and on
the Muir of Roslin defeated the English in three battles in one day, the
25th February 1303. The English came up in three divisions, one after the
other, each exceeding the Scots in number, and they were successively
defeated as they advanced; the first under Sir John de Segrave, the English
governor of Scotland; the second led by Sir Ralph de Manton, styled Ralph
the Cofferer from his office as clerk of Edward’s wardrobe; and the third
headed by Sir Robert de Neville. After that threefold victory he continued
at the head of the patriots, with Sir Simon Fraser and Sir William Wallace,
throughout the unequal and terrible struggle that ensued, thus nobly
redeeming his character, which had been tarnished by his flying from the
brunt of battle at Falkirk. Scotland having been again overrun by a fresh
army under Edward in person, Comyn, Wallace, and Fraser, unable to make head
against him, were driven into the wilds and fastnesses, where they still
carried on a sort of guerilla war against the convoys of the English.
Langtoft, the English historian, thus writes:
“The lorde of Badenauh, Freselle, and Walais,
Lived at Thieves’ law, ever robbing alle wayes.”
Edward is said at this time to have penetrated as far north as Cromdale, and
to have staid some time in the castle of Lochindorb, then the chief
stronghold of the Comyns. Stirling castle was almost the only fortress which
remained in the hands of the Scots, and the regent Comyn, with the view of
preventing a siege, attempted to defend the passage of the Forth against
Edward, but his small force was routed and dispersed by the English; and on
9th February 1304, the earls of Pembroke and Ulster, with Sir Henry Percy,
met Comyn at Strathurd (probably now Struthers) in Fife, and a negotiation
took place, in which the late regent and his followers, after stipulating
for the preservation of their lives, liberties, and lands, delivered
themselves up, and agreed to the infliction of any pecuniary fine which the
conqueror should impose. From this negotiation Wallace and some others were
specially excepted. Comyn’s conduct in the subsequent revolution which
seated his great rival Robert the Bruce on the throne, has already been
referred to (See art. BRUCE, or DE BRUS, ante). It was he who was stabbed by
Bruce before the high altar of the church of the Minorite Friars at
Dumfries, and slain, with his uncle Sir Robert Comyn, by Bruce’s attendants,
Lindsay and Kirkpatrick, on the 4th of February 1305-6. Besides his claim to
the crown of Scotland, he was also allied by blood to the royal family of
England having married Joan, sister and coheir of Aymer de Valance, earl of
Pembroke, whose father was uterine brother of Henry the Third.
John, his only son, died in 1325, without issue, and with him terminated the
male line of the principal family. He had two sisters; one of whom, Joan,
married the earl of Athol of the time, who obtained with her some small
share of the vast domains of the once powerful family of the Comyns of
Badenoch, but having revolted against Bruce, his estates were forfeited. The
power of the Comyns was effectually broken after the battle of Inverury, 22d
May 1308, in which King Robert the Bruce, although very ill at the time,
took the field in person against the third earl of Buchan of the Comyn
family, and defeated him and his followers with great slaughter. The name
afterwards sunk into an obscurity from which it did not emerge for
centuries.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/cumming.htm
You can read the other entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/index.htm
The Celtic Monthly
---------------------------
A magazine for Highlanders
Added the September 1903 issue which contains...
The Nicolson Institute Stornaway, Evicted, The Fairy Man, The Return of the
Men to "Bonnie Strathnaver", The Martial Music of the Clans, Strathnaver:
The Return, Skene as an Historian, Lady Lude of the "Forty Five", Armorial
Bearings of MacLean of Dochgarroch, Highlanders - United England Loyalists,
The Early Celtic Church, Concerning Aunt Betsy and Some Others, Highland
Scenery and Climate in Relation to National Music and Poetry.
You can read this issue at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celtic/september1902.htm
You can see the issues to date at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celtic/index.htm
Memoirs of Peter Henry Bruce, Esq
----------------------------------------------------
A Military Officer, in the services of Prussia, Russia and Great Britain
(1783)
Added Book 9 this week which contains...
Progress up the Wolga to Czaritza. - The Gost there. - A short history of
the Cossacks. - Stephen Ratzin's Rebellion. - Ordered to survey the Caspian
Sea, on which he proceeds to Taik and Yembo. - Island of Kula, and Turkistan
Tartars. - Gulf of Iskander. - River Oxus and the Usbeck Tartars. - The Gulf
of Carabuga. - River Darta. - River Ossa. - Gulf of Astrabat. - Provinces of
Terebat and Massenderan. - Gulf of Sinfili and City of Resbt. - Difficult
path of the Pyles. - The Rivers Ardeschin and Linkeran, and the famous
naphtha oil-pits. - The River Cyrus, or Kur. - The city of Baky. - City of
Shamachie. - City of Derbent. - The river Sulack. - Gulf of Agrechan, Island
of Trentzeni and city of Terki. - General description of the Caspian Sea. -
Watch tower on John's Island. - General Matuskin's marriage to the window in
tears. - Contest among the Kalmucks, and expedition against them. -
Description of their kibbets. - A battle with the Kalmucks. - Some odd
Customs among them. - The Baranetz, or Lambskin. - Returns for Moscow up the
Wolga. - A narrow escape from the ice. - Proceed by land. - A cruel robbery
in the woods. - A remarkable discovery of a town, with an account of it. - A
wild girl taken in the wood. - Arrival at Moscow.
You can read this book 9 at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/phbruce/page359.htm
You can read this publication at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/phbruce/index.htm
History of the Burgh of Dumfries
----------------------------------------------
Got up two more chapters from this book. The previous chapters can be read
at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/dumfries/historyndx.htm
Now up to Chapter 50 and 49 & 50 contain some interesting accounts of Robert
Burns. Here is how Chapter 49 starts...
TOWARDS the close of 1791, Dumfries could number among its citizens a man
who had already made some noise in the world, and who came to be recognized
as one of Scotland's most illustrious sons. His figure was remarkable ; so
that even a cursory observer must have at once seen that it was the outward
framework of an extraordinary individual. Five feet ten in height, firmly
built, symmetrical, with more of the roughness of a rustic than the polish
of a fine gentleman, there was a something in his bearing that bespoke
conscious pre-eminence; and the impress thus communicated was confirmed by
his swarthy countenance, every lineament of which indicated mental wealth
and power: the brow broad and high; the eyes like orbs of flame; the nose
well formed, though a professional physiognomist would have said that it was
deficient in force; the mouth impassioned, majestic, tender, as if the
social affections and poetic muse had combined to take possession of it; and
the full, rounded, dimpled chin, which made the manly face look more soft
and lovable. When this new denizen of the Burgh was followed from his humble
dwelling in Bank Street to some favourite friendly circle where the news of
the day or other less fugitive topics were discussed, his superiority became
more apparent. Then eye and tongue exercised an irresistible sway: the one
flashing with emotional warmth and the light of genius-now scathing with its
indignant glances, anon beaming with benignity and love ; the other tipped
with the fire of natural eloquence, reasoning abstrusely, declaiming finely,
discoursing delightfully, satirizing mercilessly, or setting the table in a
roar with verses thrown off at red heat to annihilate an unworthy sentiment,
or cover some unlucky opponent with ridicule. Need it be said that these
remarks apply to Robert Burns?
His first appearance in Dumfries was on the 4th of June, 1787, two months
after the second edition of his poems had been published. He came, on
invitation, to be made an honorary burgess; neither the givers nor the
receiver of the privilege dreaming, at that date, that he was destined to
become an inhabitant of the town. All honour to the Council that they thus
promptly recognized the genius of the poet. Provost William Clark, shaking
hands with the newly-made burgess, and wishing him joy, when he presented
himself in the veritable blue coat and yellow vest that Nasmyth has rendered
familiar, would make a good subject for a painter able to realize the
characteristics of such a scene. The burgess ticket granted to the
illustrious stranger bore the following inscription:-" The said day, 4th
June, 1787, Mr. Robert Burns, Ayrshire, was admitted burgess of this Burgh,
with liberty to exercise and enjoy the whole immunities and privileges
thereof as freely as any other does, may, or can enjoy; who being present,
accepted the same, and gave his oath of burgess-ship to his Majesty and the
Burgh in common form." Whilst tenant of Ellisland, a farm about six miles
distant from Dumfries, Burns became, by frequent visits to it, familiarly
known to the inhabitants. Soon after Martinmas, 1791, accompanied by Bonnie
Jean, he took up a permanent residence_ in the Burgh, and there spent the
remainder of his checkered life; so that Dumfries became henceforth
inseparably associated with his latest years. He had just seen thirty-one
summers when he entered upon the occupancy of three small apartments of a
second floor on the north side of Bank Street (then called the Wee Vennel).
After residing there about eighteen months he removed to a self-contained
one-story house of a higher grade in Mill Street, which became the scene of
his untimely death, in July, 1796.
What varying scenes of weal and woe, of social enjoyments, of literary
triumphs, of worldly misery and moral loss, were crowded within the Dumfries
experiences of the illustrious poet! There he suffered his severest pangs,
and also accomplished many of his proudest achievements. If the night
watches heard at times his sorrowful plaint, and the air of the place
trembled for a moment with his latest sigh, it long burned and breathed with
the immortal products of his lyre; and when the striking figure we have
faintly sketched lay paralyzed by death, its dust was borne to old St.
Michael's, and the tomb of the national bard became a priceless heritage to
the town for ever.
Dr. Burnside says of his parishioners, at the time when Burns became one of
them:-"In their private manners they are social and polite; and the town,
together with the neighbourhood a few miles around it, furnishes a society
amongst whom a person with a moderate income may spend his days with as much
enjoyment, perhaps, as in any part of the kingdom whatever." Other evidence
tends to show that the society of the Burgh was more intellectual than that
of most other towns of the same size in Scotland. Soon after Burns came to
reside in it, various circumstances combined to make it more than at any
former period, perhaps, a gay and fashionable place of resort. A theatre was
opened, which received liberal patronage from the upper classes of the
neighbourhood; several regiments were at intervals stationed in the Burgh,
the officers of which helped to give an aristocratic tone to its society;
and the annual races in October always drew a concourse of nobles, squires,
and ladies fair to the County town.
The Theatre was opened for the first time on the evening of Saturday the
29th of September, 1792, under the management of Mr. Williamson, from the
Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, London, assisted by Mr. Sutherland, from the
theatre of Aberdeen ; "when," says the Dumfries Weekly Journal, [The Journal
was owned and edited by Provost Jackson; and it is to his grandson, Mr.
Robert Comrie of Largs, that we are indebted for the passages quoted from
it.] "the united elegance and accommodation of the house reflected equal
honour on the liberality and taste of the proprietors, and design and
execution of the artists, and conspired with the abilities of the performers
in giving universal satisfaction to a crowded and polite audience. In a
word, it is allowed by persons of the first taste and opportunities, that
this is the handsomest provincial theatre in Scotland." It is added that Mr.
Boyd was the architect of the building, and that the scenery was from the
pencil of Nasmyth.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/dumfries/history49.htm
The whole book can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/dumfries/historyndx.htm
A Group of Scottish Women
-----------------------------------------
by Harry Graham (1908).
Our thanks to Julie for transcribing this for us.
We now have more chapters up and here is a bit about Mrs. Alison Cockburn
(1713 - 1796)
It is not easy to believe that the name of Alison Cockburn would have become
a household word in Scotland had her only claim to fame rested upon the song
with which it is always associated. “Flowers of the Forest” is surely not
worthy of the excessive praise that has been lavished upon it by most of the
compilers of Scottish song-books. Its success supplies but another instance
of how little need there is for a song to possess unusual literary merit in
order to become popular. The original words – for the ballad is of very
ancient date – have been lost long ago, but the simple air to which they
were wedded, after being handed down from generation to generation, has
inspired several writers to compose appropriate lyrics. Mrs. Cockburn’s
attempt is perhaps the most successful, but it would not be hard to pick
holes in her poem. The very obvious flaws in its scansion and rhyme are
sufficiently apparent.
THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST
I hae seen the smiling o’ fortune beguiling;
I hae felt all its favours, and found its decay:
Sweet was its blessing, kind its caressing:
But now ‘tis fled – fled far, far away.
I hae seen the forest, adorned the foremost,
With flowers of the fairest, most pleasant and gay,
Sae bonnie was their blooming; their scent the air perfuming;
But now they are wither’d and a’ wede away.
I hae seen the morning with gold the hills adorning,
And loud tempest storming before the mid-day.
I hae seen Tweed’s siller streams, glittering in the sunny beams,
Grow drumly and dark as they row’d on their way.
O fickle fortune! Why this cruel sporting?
Oh, why still torment us, poor sons of a day!
Nae mair your smiles can cheer me, nae mair your frowns can fear me;
For the Flowers of the Forest are a’ wede away.
Walter Scott and Robert Burns unite in praising this poem to the skies, so
it is perhaps rather presumptuous to find fault with it. “A fine set of
verses,” Scott calls it in one of his letters. But then Sir Walter was
prejudiced in its favour by being personally acquainted with the author. He
was forced, indeed, to admit that Mrs. Cockburn’s with and conversational
talents made a stronger impression upon her contemporaries than her writings
were ever likely to produce upon her descendants.
Burns, too, was a not altogether impartial critic. “‘Flowers of the Forest’
is charming as a poem,” he wrote, in 1793, to Thomson, when the latter had
asked his advice as to the projected publication of a series of songs to
suit a collection of the best Scottish airs. “The three stanzas beginning –
“’I hae seen the smiling of fortune beguiling’
Are worthy of a place, were it but to immortalise the author of them, who is
an old lady of my acquaintance.” (Once more we note the velvet glove of the
friend lightening the touch of the critic’s iron hand.) “What a charming
apostrophe,” he adds, “is
“’O fickle fortune! Why this cruel sporting?
Why, why torment us – poor sons of a day!’”
A charming apostrophe perhaps; but the rhyming of “fortune and “sporting” is
distinctly less charming. Burns, however, could not well avoid feeling a
kindly interest in this poem without exposing himself to a charge of gross
ingratitude. He had known it from the days of his youth. He entertained, in
fact, a sort of semi-paternal interest in it; for he himself had once made
use of it as the foundation of a juvenile set of verses. It was therefore
natural that he should keep a warm corner in his heart for a song which he
had plagiarised at the early age of seventeen when he wrote:-
“I dream’d I lay where flowers were springing
Gaily in the sunny beam;
List’ning to the wild birds singing,
By a falling, crystal stream;
Straight the sky grew black and daring;
Thro’ the woods the whirlwinds rave;
Trees with aged arms are warring,
O’er the swelling, drumlie wave.
Such was my life’s deceitful morning,
Such the pleasure I enjoy’d;
But lang or noon, loud tempests storming,
A’ my flowery bliss destroy’d.
Tho’ fickle fortune has deceived me,
She promis’d fair, and perform’d but ill;
Of monie a joy and hope bereav’d me,
I bear a heart shall support me still.”
A comparison of those verses with those of Mrs. Cockburn, which had
appeared, eleven years earlier, in a paper called The Lark, shows that not
only did Burns steal the idea of his poem from “Flowers of the Forest,” but
that many of the actual words were taken bodily from the text of that song.
The most that can be said for this offspring of his youthful pen is that it
was quite as good, and as much deserving of immortality, as the source of
its inspiration. After all, the same thing is true of songs as of verses, of
which Dr. Johnson very truly said that it was easy enough to write them; the
difficulty was to know when you had written a good one!
Had Mrs. Cockburn done nothing beyond writing “Flowers of the Forest” her
name would have been forgotten years ago. Had this ballad been written by a
less noteworthy woman, it would not long have survived the date of its
birth. But Mrs. Cockburn made her mark upon the social history of her day by
other and far more effectual means than as a mere writer of songs. She was
for many years one of the best known and best loved characters in Edinburgh
society. Her house was the rendezvous of all the interesting persons who
inhabited or visited the Scottish capital. Her parties were characterised by
an absence of formality, which did not detract form their charm; her
hospitality was of that simple kind which insures the comfort of guests
without laying them under too deep and obligation. The distinguished company
she kept made up for an occasional scarcity of food, and she herself was
fond of saying that her little repasts, at which such men as David Hume and
Lord Monboddo were often to be met, resembled those of Stella:-
“A supper like her mighty self,
Four nothings on four plates of delf.”
And you can read the rest of this entry at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/women/scottish_women_chapter11.htm
The other chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/women/scottish_women_ndx.htm
Reminiscences of the Early Settlement of Dunedin and South Otago
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compiler and Editor John Wilson (1912)
We are now up to Chapter 7 of this publication and note that each chapter is
a .pdf file. The chapters include...
Chapter I
The New Zealand Land Company - Whaling Trade - Free Church Association -
Reports - Selection of First Ships.
Chapter II
Incidents on the Voyages of Several of the Early Ships, together with an
Account of the Voyage of the "Bengal Merchant," in 1839-40, to Wellington.
Chapter III
Arrival of First Ships - Dunedin and Neighbourhood - Work Begun - Selections
- First Houses - Work and Wages - Rural Lands - South and North - Law and
Order - First Anniversary - General Notes.
Chapter IV
Incidents, Anecdotes, and General Descriptions compiled from Accounts of
some Early Settlers.
Chapter V
Church Matters, and some of the Early Ministers.
Chapter VI
Some of the Pioneer Women of Early Otago.
Chapter VII
The Early Settlement of Tokomairriro Plain.
Here is a wee bit from Chapter 2...
0N the 28th October 1839, Mr Dunlop of Graigton, then Lord Provast of
Glasgow, and a large party attended by some of the officers and the band of
the 1st Royals, sailed from Glasgow in a steamboat hired for the occasion,
to the barque "Bengal Merchant," lying off Greenoclr, and then chartered in
London, for the purpose of conveying the first Scotch colony to New Zealand.
On board the steamer there was served a sumptous repast, at which champagne
flowed in abundance. On reaching the vessel, his Iordship delivered an
appropriate address to the emigrants. He told them that, though going to a
beautiful country, and to enjoy a salubrions climate, they must lay their
account with many enduring hardships, and must labour hard before getting
fairly established in their adopted country. He exhorted them to cherish
kindly feelings towards each other; reminded them that, as their tenure of
life was short and uncertain, they wonld derive great consolation, when
traversing the stormy deep and when tossed by mighty waters. from the hopes
which the Christian religion afforded. He told them they were going to lay
the foundation of a colony, which in time might become a great nation -
a.second Britain.
On the 31st October the "Bengal Merchant" weighed anchor, and the emigrants
bade adieu to their native land.
"We left our native land, and far away
Across the waters sought a world unknown;
But did not know that we in vain might stray
In search of one so lovely as our own."
You can read this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nz/early/
Note: Just as a wee tip... when you bring up the appropriate chapter you'll
find the filename is early2s.pdf but if you were to delete the "s" to just
get early2.pdf then you'll get a larger .pdf file which will likely be
clearer to read. I have reduced the file sizes so that dialup visitors can
more easily download them.
Scots Minstrelsie
-------------------------
Have now made a start at getting up some songs from the 5th volume of this
publication where all songs have the sheet music to go with them. This week
I got up...
A Guid New Year To Ane An' A'!
My Heart's In The Highlands
The Braes O' Yarrow
Where Are The Joys?
The Laird O' Cockpen
Last May A Braw Wooer
Corn Rigs
Kenmure's On And Awa', Willie!
Afton Water
The Siller Crown
Oh Were I On Parnassus Hill
Young Peggy Blooms Our Bonniest Lass
Wha'll Be King But Charlie?
The Lily Of The Vale Is Sweet
You can see these at
http://www.electricscotland.com/music/minstrelsie/volume5.htm
You can see the whole publication at
http://www.electricscotland.com/music/minstrelsie/index.htm
Scots Humour and Heroism
---------------------------------------
by Cuey-Na-Gael (1902).
Now completed this book with the final Appendix - Some Dates in Scottish
History
For readers who may wish to have a general oversight of Scottish History we
subjoin a few dates.
86. The Roman General Agricola defeated Galgacus, the leader of Caledonians,
and occupied the southern part of Scotland.
407. The Romans withdraw from Scotland, leaving the country to Celtic
tribes, viz: the Picts, North of Forth and Clyde, and the Scots from Ireland
in Argyleshire.
550. Saxons settled in South of Scotland, and Danes and Norsemen formed
colonies round the coast. The Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, belonged to
Norway.
563. St. Columba from Donegal settled in lona, and introduced Christianity
among the Picts.
844. Historical monarchy established under Kenneth McAlpin, King of the
Picts.
1124. David I. introduced Norman feudalism, and Scottish nobles grew
dangerously strong.
1291. Disputed succession. Edward I. choosing the side of Baliol, interferes
in Scotland.
1314. Bruce defeated Edward II. of England at Bannockburn, vindicating the
independence of Scotland.
1513. James IV. of Scotland was defeated at Flodden.
1542—78. Mary Stuart.
1603. James VI. of Scotland became heir to the English. throne as James I.
1638. National Covenant, (religious) signed at Edinburgh.
1643. Solemn League and Covenant (political and religious) adopted.
1644—50. Montrose’s Rebellion in aid of Charles I.
1660. Restoration of Charles II. Persecution of the Covenanters begins and
continues 28 years. Thousands flee for refuge to Ho!-land. The "killing
time".
1688—9. Claverhouse’s Rebellion in aid of James II.
1707. The Parliamentary Union of Scotland and England.
1715. The Earl of Mar’s Rebellion on behalf of the "Old Pretender", James,
the son of King James II.
1745. Rebellion of greater part of .the Highlands headed by Charles Edward,
the "Young Pretender", the grandson of James II.
1746. The Massacre at Culloden. Prince Charlie’s escapes.
You can read the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/humour/scots_humour.htm
Family Tree DNA
------------------------
I got in a private email from Bruce MacIntyre and as it contained, what to
me anyway, was some interesting information I asked if he'd mind sharing it
with our newsletter readers. While her agreed to this he did however ask
that I note that if he'd done this for public use he would have toned down
some of his comments about Oppenheimer's book :-) Here is what he had to
say...
Robert & Alastair,
Robert you are correct that Oppenheimer's book and other DNA uncovered
lately also backs up SIX MILLENNIA, but I count Mr. Oppenheimer to be a
"Spin Master" who does not always tell the whole story and such is true
within his book. With this in mind I find it easier to use my own DNA and
Haplogroup information to support SIX MILLENNIA.
As previously discussed between us, the majority of current DNA based
Migratory Charts are indeed far off in terms of overall, definitive,
accuracy in their current state, contrary to what some DNA scientists would
have us all believe. Mr. Oppenhiemer is exploiting some of the facts he
espouses in his Book to his own end. The vast majority of European Celts are
R1bxx Haplogroup, the vast majority of Celt descendants tested today within
England, Ireland & Scotland's test R1bxx. Most European Royal Families are
R1a Haplogroup (myself included, along with my Cousins the Chiefs of Clan
Donald, etc.) and this was a very small group by percentage of population
who also further tended to intermarry within their own, i.e., Royal to
Royal, even in most ancient times as backed up by the Irish annals, etc.
Galatae of Spain/Basque Region was indeed where my own ancestors lived for a
time and not all of us left to conquer Eirinn in 400 BC. What Opennheimer is
claiming, Basque/Spanish, is certainly "mostly" true, yet can also be
misleading as there were/are already R1bxx Celts in England, Scotland &
Ireland. Most scholars would hold that these are descendants of the Fir Bolg,
and other ancient Continental Celtic Clans. Fir Bolg being the ancient root
word from which we get our modern Country place name of Belgium. By their
own ancient record the Fir Bolg were forced to mine and carry "bags" of ore
(Tin) hence their Clan name. I personally believe that the original
inhabitants of the Western Isles came from both Belgium and Galatae. Some
scholars further claim that the Continental tin mines were waning in 400 BC
hence my ancestor's "migration" to Ireland, although I know the motivation
to be a we bit different. To me the most objectionable two claims in
Oppenhiemer Book is that the Basque were not/are not "Celts" which is
patently untrue, and that all, if not the vast majority of ancient Western
Islanders, i.e., England, Scotland & Ireland were/are of Basque lineage.
As you know my own small ruling Clan of Milesian Celts migrated from Scythia
(Prussia to the DNA crowd) to Egypt, then to Galatae of Spain (in modern
terms the Basque region) and finally in 400 BC to Ireland. However, when we
conquered Eirinn we were absolutely a relatively small number numerically
speaking, perhaps 225 -400 strong. The numerically superior native
population of Island peoples greatly outnumbered us. The native Clanns,
already dwelling in England, Ireland, Scotland, et al. in 400 BC were
absolutely Celtic by our ancestor's accounts, excepting the De Dannon rulers
of Eirinn. That large group of native Clanns, De Dannon excepted, test
R1bxx, primarily R1b1 Haplogoup, and perhaps the then ruling De Dannon would
also test R1b1. With this said, I should not fail to mention the Cruithnee,
whom the Romans called Picts, our ancestors have them arriving first in
Eirinn about 385 BC and then shortly thereafter being relocated by agreement
into NW Alba/Scotland. However, they too must have been R1bxx haplogroup
according to the overwhelming numbers of R1b's now living in the Western
Isles.
As you both know sensationalism and controversy sell books and that is the
game Mr. Oppenheimer is playing. Its "the same old story" that many of these
DNA scientists are trying to publish or perish, even if wrong or misleading
in their message, in order to make money and further their own careers. When
they are caught misleading the DNA crowd merely says things like "its a new
science and things will change" which then absolves them from any wrongdoing
or mal intent!
Bruce
You can purchase a copy of Bruce's Six Millenia from
http://www.glennoe.com/sixmillennia.html
Misc
-------
Donna sent in three craft articles about
Her Back Porch at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/crafts/crafts20.htm
We Were Indians at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/crafts/crafts21.htm
Sewing Room at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/crafts/crafts22.htm
Also a poem, There are Creepy Crawlies, at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/poetry/poem16.htm
John sent in a doggerel, Sneddin Gress at Meiklewood Cricket Ground, at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel189.htm
The Scot in America
-----------------------------
By Peter Ross, L.L. D. (1896)
[Transcribed by Judy Lowstuter of Celtic Jouneys, with many thanks -
http://www.celticjourneys.us]
Got in Chapter 2 - Pioneers - and here is hpw it starts...
AS might be expected of a race which began, so far as we know to the
contrary, in Greece, sojourned in Egypt, Portugal, and other places, and at
presernt has it's headquarters in the northern portion of the island of
Great Britain, the Scots early began to turn their attention to America.
Indeed, it has been gravely argued that America was really discovered long
before Columbus was heard of by a band of Scotch mariners who were driven by
stress of weather on the coast of Newfoundland, and a full account of the
discovery now reposes in the "transactions" of some learned society. It is
alleged that the mariners' boat was too much battered by the waves to be of
any more practical service out at sea, and as the Scots got a hearty welcome
from the natives they concluded there was no use of struggling with wind and
weather any longer and they settled down, were adopted by the aborigines,
and married among them. The Captain, as was natural, married a princess.
Most all Europeans of whom we have record who married into Indian families
got princesses for their brides, and from that we infer that princesses were
more plentiful than were young women of ordinary degree. Had the Captain
only written home an account of the adventures of himself and his crew, what
priceless documents the epistles would have been to-day! His name would have
been revered as the discoverer of America, while we would have been erecting
statues in his honor and celebrating his anniversary! But he missed his
opportunity, and, as Scotsmen, Scotsmen abroad especially, very seldom do
that, we are rather inclined to doubt the whole story.
Mr. J. M. Moine, in his interesting paper on "The Scot in New France,"
suggests that among Cartier's crew, when that discoverer made his first
acquaintance with Canada, were several Scots seamen. "Herue, Henry," he
says, "seems to us an easy transmutation of Henry Herue, or Hervey." Again,
in reference to another, he remarks that "michel Herue sounds mightily in
our ears like Michael Harvey, one of the Murray Bay Harveys of Major Nairn."
With reference to the facility with which names may be changed or adapted to
circumstances, Mr. Le Moine gives an illistration which came under his own
observation. "We once knew, at Cap Rouge, near Quebec, a worthy Greenock
pilot whose name was Tom Everell. In the next generation a singular change
took place in his patronymic; it stood transformed thus: Everell Tom.
Everell Tom in the course of time became the respected sire of a numerous
progeny of sons and daughters -- Jean Baptiste Tom, Norbert Tom, Henriette
Tom, and a variety of other Toms."
In the same interesting monograph, Mr. Le Moine brings to our notice a
veritable Scotch pioneer in the following words: "Who has not heard of the
King's St. Lawrence pilot, Abraham Martin dit l'Ecossais -- Abraham Martin
alias the Scot. Can there be any room for uncertainty about the nationality
of this old salt -- styled in the Jesuits' 'Journal' 'Maitre Abraham,' and
who has bequeathed his name to our world-renowned battlefield (the Plains of
Abraham). * * * The exhaustless research of our antiquarians has unearthed
curious particulars about this Scotch seafaring man -- the number, sex, and
age of his children; his speculations in real estate; his fishing ventures
in the Lower St. Lawrence. Sometimes we light on tid-bits of historical lore
anent Master Abraham not very creditable to his morality. Once he gets into
chancery; as there is no account of his being brought to trial, let us hope
the charge was unfounded -- a case of blackmail originated by some 'loose
and disorderly' character of that period or by a spiteful policeman. On
September 8, 1664, the King's pilot closed his career at the ripe age of
seventy-five."
There is, however, something mythical and unsatisfactory in all we know of
this industrious and enterprising personage, and we turn with satisfaction
to consider a greater man in every respect, although by a curious freak of
fortune his name has not been immortalized by any world-renowned landmark
like the Plains of Abraham. This was the Earl of Stirling, in many ways one
of the most extraordinary men of his time, a man who was restless in his
activity, who won fame in many walks of life, who was one of the most
extensive landowners of which the world has any knowledge, yet who died poor
-- a bankrupt. William Alexander was born at Menstrie, Stirlingshire, in
1580. Through the influence of the Argyll family he obtained a position at
Court, and became tutor to Prince Henry, eldest son of James VI. He soon won
the good graces of the sovereign by his learning, his shrewdness, and his
poetical abilities, and when the crowns of Scotland and England were united
Alexander followed the King to London. That Alexander enjoyed much popular
favor and high reputation during his lifetime as a poet is undoubted,
although few except students of literature venture to read his productions
now. They are heavy, discursive, and, with the exception of a few of his
sonnets and his "Paraenesis to Prince Henry," rather monotonous. But the
evidence that he was a slave to the mannerisms and affectations of the age
cannot blind us to the fact that he was really possessed of a rich share of
poetic ability. With his poetical writings or his merits as a poet, however,
we have nothing to do in this place, nor do we need to discuss the question
as to whether or not he wrote King James's "Psalms," or even the nature of
his statesmanship as exemplified in his official relations with his native
country. We have to deal with him simply as a colonizer -- one of the first
to colonize America. His career at Court may be summed up by mentioning that
he was knighted in 1609, created Lord Alexander of Tullibody and Viscount
Stirling in 1630, Earl of Stirling and Viscount Canada in 1633 and Earl of
Dovan in 1639. A year later he died.
Lord Stirling found that the English were striving to establish colonies on
the American seaboard, and thought, like the patriot which he undoubtedly
was, that his own countrymen should have a share in the rich lands across
the sea. Early in 1621 he sent a petition to King James for a grant of
territory in America on which he hoped to induce Scotsmen to settle. "A
great number of Scotch families," he told his sovereign, "had lately
emigrated to Poland, Sweden, and Russia," and he pointed out that "it would
be equally beneficial to the interests of the kingdom, and to the
individuals themselves, if they were permitted to settle this valuable and
fertile portion of His Majesty's dominions."
The petition was granted by the King -- probably that was satisfactorily
arranged before it had been committed to paper -- and indorsed by the Privy
Council. When these formalities had been gone through, Lord Stirling entered
on formal possession of what is now mainly included in Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, a goodly portion of the State of Maine and
of the Province of Quebec. This territory was to be known as New Scotland --
Nova Scotia the charter dignifiedly called it -- and over it the new owner
and those acting for him were supreme even to the establishment of churches
and of courts of law. For some reason, not now exactly known, Lord Stirling
at once handed over a part of his new dominion to Sir Robert Gordon of
Lochinvar. That part is known as Cape Breton, but it was then given the more
national name of New Galloway.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/scotinamerica_chap2.htm
You can read the rest of this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/scotinamericandx.htm
Prehistoric Scotland
-----------------------------
By Robert Munro, M.A., M.D.
[Book transcribed by Regina Puschelik for which many thanks]
Got in Chapter IX - Abodes of the Living - Social Life
You can reads this chapter as a .pdf file at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/prehistoric/phist_chapter9_pg329-362.pdf
The Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment
------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Nola Crewe for letting me know of this information.
As the intro paragraph says...
The United Empire Loyalists who settled in the county of Hastings and Prince
Edward organized the first local Militia units for self-defense. The
Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment is the modern descendant of those
Militia units...
1800 Col. A Macdonnell forms the 1st Regiment of Prince Edward Militia.
1804 Col. J Ferguson forms the 1st Regiment of Hastings Militia.
The above Regiments provided units which served in the War of 1812 and the
McKenzie Rebellion of 1837-8. During the 1860's, time of the Fenian threat,
the Canadian Government authorized the formation of new independant infantry
companies.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/regiment_hpe.htm
Mini Bio
------------
Added a mini bio of the Murison Family of Gamrie at
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/minibios/m/murison.htm
The Scotch-Irish in America
----------------------------------------
Found an interesting online book, "The Scotch-Irish in America: proceedings
and addresses of the 1st-10th congress, 1889-1901." while searching for
another book. You can read this at
http://www.archive.org/details/scotchirishiname00scotiala
Bits of Electric Scotland
-----------------------------------
It was suggested that I might highlight bits of the site that I thought
might be of general interest.
This week I thought I'd highlight the "Online Scottish Books" section at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/online_books.htm
As the page says... "This is a list of Scottish book sites where either I've
discovered them while browsing or have been told about them by visitors to
the site. In this case these books have been scanned in so you actually load
a picture of each page to read it." All of these links are to external sites
and here is a list of what we have...
A tour through some of the islands of Orkney and Shetland ...
Patrick Neill
The Center for Retrospective Digitization, Göttingen State and University
Library
This is the center where the above book came from and has many other English
texts of Scottish history. Thanks to Wolfgang Schlick for letting me know
about this resource.
Early Canadiana Online
Early Canadiana Online (ECO) is a digital library providing access to over
1,279,000 pages of Canada's printed heritage. It features works published
from the time of the first European settlers up to the early 20th Century.
Travels in the interior inhabited parts of North America in the years 1791
and 1792
This is a book by Patrick Campbell about his travels in North America in the
years 1791 and 1792. He was most interested in visiting Scots who had
settled in this area to find out how they were doing and so his account is
reckoned very accurate as to the economic situation at this point in
history.
The Battle of Moores Creek
On the morning of February 27, 1776, Patriot militia at Moores Creek Bridge
defeated a Loyalist army marching to rendezvous with a British force on the
North Carolina coast. This early Patriot victory during the American
Revolution helped delay a full-scale British invasion of the southern
colonies for several years.
Questia
This is a site that carries online books and by clicking the link you'll get
a list of Scottish History books that they carry.
David Thompson's narrative of his explorations in Western America, 1784-1812
Thompson, David, 1770-1857 ; edited by Tyrrell, Joseph Burr, 1858-1957
Lord Selkirk's diary, 1803-1804
A journal of his travels in British North America and the Northeastern
United States.
The Canadian journal of Lady Aberdeen, 1893-1898
Aberdeen and Temair, Ishbel Gordon, Marchioness of, 1857-1939. Saywell,
John, 1929.
The journal of Alexander Henry the Younger, 1799-1814, Vol. I
Henry, Alexander, 1739-1824. Gough, Barry M., 1938.
The journal of Alexander Henry the Younger, 1799-1814, Vol. II
Henry, Alexander, 1739-1824. Gough, Barry M., 1938.
The Pioneer Exploration of Scotch Boy John Tod
The life and times of John Tod, a pioneer fur trader and one of British
Columbia's founding citizens.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
Here you will find volumes 53 (1843) through to 94 (1863).
Alexander Begg's Red River journal
And other papers relative to the Red River resistance of 1869-1870
Colin Robertson's correspondence book, September 1817 to 1822
Containing accounts of his exploration of Western parts of Canada and the
United States and includes interesting information on the Hudson Bay Company
and its amalgamation with the North-West Company.
An historical journal of the campaigns in North America for the years 1757,
1758, 1759 and 1760, Vol. I
By Knox, John, d. 1778. Covering the battle for Quebec.
An historical journal of the campaigns in North America for the years 1757,
1758, 1759 and 1760, Vol. II
By Knox, John, d. 1778
An historical journal of the campaigns in North America for the years 1757,
1758, 1759 and 1760, Vol. III - Appendix
By Knox, John, d. 1778
Customs of the American Indians compared with customs of primitive times,
Vol I.
Lafitau, Joseph François, 1681-1746.
Customs of the American Indians compared with customs of primitive times,
Vol. II.
Lafitau, Joseph François, 1681-1746. Fenton, William Nelson, 1908
Notes of a twenty-five year's service in the Hudson's Bay territories
McLean, John, 1799-1890
Part of dispatch from George Simpson Esqr, Governor of Ruperts Land to the
Governor & committee of the Hudson's Bay Company, London, March 1, 1829 :
continued and completed March 24 and June 5, 1829
Simpson, George, Sir, 1786
The diary of Simeon Perkins, 1766-1780
Perkins, Simeon, 1735-1812 giving account of the history of Nova Scotia.
The diary of Simeon Perkins, 1780-1789
Perkins, Simeon, 1735-1812 giving account of the history of Nova Scotia.
The diary of Simeon Perkins, 1790-1796
Perkins, Simeon, 1735-1812 giving account of the history of Nova Scotia.
The Hargrave correspondence, 1821-1843
Hargrave, James, 1798-1865
The journal of Major John Norton, 1816
Norton, John including his accounts of travelling through Cherokee country.
The letters of John McLoughlin, from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and
Committee ; first series, 1825-38
McLoughlin, John, 1784-1857. The story of the Hufson Bay's activities on the
Pacific Coast.
The letters of John McLoughlin, from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and
Committee ; second series, 1839-44
McLoughlin, John, 1784-1857
The letters of John McLoughlin, from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and
Committee ; third series, 1844-46
McLoughlin, John, 1784-1857
The letters of Letitia Hargrave
MacLeod, Margaret Arnett, 1877-1966. Letters sent to her family in Scotland.
The logs of the conquest of Canada
Wood, William, 1864-1947 includes accounts of the seven years war and in
particular the battles for Louisberg and Quebec.
The town of York, 1793-1815: a collection of documents of early Toronto
Firth, Edith G., 1927 The account of how Toronto came into being.
The town of York, 1815-1834: a further collection of documents of early
Toronto
Firth, Edith G., 1927
The Valley of the Trent
Guillet, Edwin Clarence, 1898. Explores the settlements on Lake Ontario
covering the Trent area.
Chamber's Book of Days
A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities in connection with the Calendar.
The Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, Volume I,
The succession of Scottish ministers in the Church of Scotland from the
Reformation, by the Rev. Hew Scott, D.D.
Chamber's Book of Days
A miscellany of popular antiquities in connection with the calendar,
including anecdotes, biography & history, curiosities of literature and
oddities of human life and character and all searchable on the site.
The Historie of Scotland
By Holinshed, Raphael, d. 1580
British Agent
by R. H. Bruce Lockhart. 1933. This is a first person account of times in
Malaysia and Russia and an insiders account of WW! and the Lenin era.
Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia
Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800 by
Lyman Chalkley.
Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill
In 1832 they emigrated with their Scottish husbands to Canada, settling in
the backwoods of what is now Ontario, near present-day Lakefield. They
recorded and interpreted their experiences as pioneers in books.
Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh
by James Grant, was printed as a periodical in the 1880s and is now seen as
a set of three or six volumes, and describes its history, its people, and
its places by using anecdotal historical text with endless illustrations.
The Canadian settler's guide
By Catherine Parr Traill
University of Guelph
This is a collection of books that have been scanned in from the rare book
department at the McLaughlin Library at the University of Guelph under the
Open-Access Text Archive project.
The Scotch-Irish in America
proceedings and addresses of the 1st-10th congress, 1889-1901
You can get the links for all these books at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/online_books.htm
And that's all for now and I hope you all have a great weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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