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 News
Micro Button Advertiser - Great Scot offering 15% discounts
The Flag in the Wind
The Scottish Nation
The Celtic Monthly
The Southern States of America
Skye Pioneers and "The Island"
History of Inverness County, Nova Scotia
Scots Minstrelsie
History of Scottish Medicine to 1860
Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario
Scottish Canadian Newspaper
Vacation Packages for Scotland
The Greatness and Decline of the Celts (New book)
The Plantation of Ulster
Campbell, James R. (Obituary)
Gettysburg: The American Culloden - A Clan Tragedy?
Early Lauder knights
Donna Flood
When God Paints
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND
-----------------
I was away in Toronto for most of this week and while there attended a
christening of a new grandson (Graeme) of Nola and Harold with their
daughter Torry and son-in-law Craig.
Also got an invite to the US Consulates home in Toronto for a small media
event. In actual fact it was quite an interesting meeting and four of the
Consulate staff had some Scots ancestry :-) We had Canadians from Iran,
India, Pakistan and Estonia there and of course myself from Scotland!
Managed to get back to Chatham on the Wednesday which with all the snow took
4.5 hours instead of the usual 3 hours due to that huge dump of snow. Was
glad to see that Derick had cleaned my drive for me while I'd been away.
I also noted with interest that Nola was heading off on the Wednesday for
around 3 weeks in Israel. Brave lady :-)
Mind that each Thursday I add around 8 pictures from Scotland to the site
index page and currently I am working on my trip to the Isle of Skye. I also
posted up two very high resolution pictures of Edinburgh that Morag sent in
to me.
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.
Micro Button Advertiser - Great Scot
http://www.greatscotshop.com/
----------------------------------------------------
Sally at Great Scot is offering all our USA vistors 15% off any purchases
made before February 19. As Sally already offers some very competitive
prices this is a great offer. All you need to do to get your 15% discount is
add the phrase HEATHER IN THE GLEN at the comment section when you check out
and 15% will be taken off your bill.
Sally also offers a time payment plan for purchasing a kilt which is $75
down and $60 a month on credit card. You get your kilt before the payments
are up and they don't charge interest. They just want folks to be able to
afford a kilt :-) Also, payment plan for folks who want more than the kilt
is $200 down and $75 month. Note that the 15% discount offer does not apply
to time payment plans.
Check out all the items available such as Highland Dress for men and women,
Scottish Clan Crests & Family Coat of Arms, Blankets & Scarves, Celtic
Jewelry, Pewter Crafts, Gifts and Needlework and lots more. They even offer
Tartan Yardage - Over 700 Scottish wool tartans for those who want to sew
their own kilt, up-holster furniture or decorate the castle with the flair
of the Highlands. The tartan cloth comes from Lochcarron in Scotland.
On their website, you can see samples of all of the colors and styles of
tartan fabric they offer. Once you've decided which colors you want, click
on the link marked "Yardage." There, you will find tartan ribbon and six
different weights of tartan fabric from which to choose.
So do visit them at
http://www.greatscotshop.com and perhaps get an early birthday or
christmas present while you are there.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
------------------------------------
Mind that The Flag is now in two sections (1) Political and (2) Cultural.
It's Ian Goldie's turn this week and amongst other articles he includes...
SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP today (Sunday) welcomed the support of eminent
economist Professor David Simpson, who has added his name to the growing
list of senior academics and business people who back the economic case for
Independence.
Writing in today's Sunday Times, Professor Simpson, who was the founding
Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute and was chief economic advisor
to Standard Life, set out the positive case for Scottish Independence from
an economic perspective. Professor Simpson also dismissed Labour's
scaremongering attacks on the economics of Independence.
The full text of Professor Simpson's article is as follows...
Independence for Growth
David Simpson
A growing number of people in Scotland today seem to share my view that if
the economy is to flourish so that we can escape from our culture of
dependence, that is most likely to be brought about by political
independence. Only a sovereign government can undertake the internal
arrangements and negotiate the international agreements necessary to serve
and protect Scotland's interests.
Much recent discussion on the economics of Scottish independence has centred
on the budgetary position in any one year, whether that be the Government's
own estimates, which look at the outturn figures from two years ago, or
alternatively independent calculations for the current financial year.
According to the latter, the non-oil budget deficit for this year is likely
to be somewhat less than the official estimate for two years ago, while we
know that the oil revenue estimate is more than £ 10 billion, and Treasury
forecasts show continuing high oil revenues in future years. Such is the
strength of oil revenues in the current financial year that it might even be
that Scotland is one of the few countries in the world currently recording a
fiscal surplus.
However, the central issue of the economic prospects for an independent
Scotland cannot be addressed by concentrating on current fiscal arrangements
budgetary balances, important though those may be. The real economic
argument about Scottish independence must rather focus on whether the policy
initiatives that independence would make possible could create a more rapid
and sustainable rate of growth than has been the experience of the Scottish
economy over the last generation.
Thus, even if the budgetary balance at the date of independence were to be
positive, then wrong- headed economic policies would soon produce a rake's
progress, and the consequent dissipation of that advantage. On the other
hand, even if the budgetary balance at that time were negative, wise
policies would produce within a very few years a transformed fiscal
position.
Incidentally, I find it strange that the existence of a continuing non-oil
deficit should ever be regarded as an argument for the political status quo,
since that surely illustrates the failure of past and current economic
policies in Scotland.
The debate on the economics of independence cannot be conducted as a balance
sheet exercise in any single past year, however interesting that might be to
the main participants. The key issue is what happens after the date of
independence, and what really matters then is the rate of growth of the
economy. Here, any objective measurement of the last 25 years will tell us
that something fundamental needs to change if Scotland's position, and the
performance of the Scottish economy, is to be improved over the next
generation. Our rate of growth has been a little under 2 per cent, decidedly
less than the UK as a whole, and only half the average rate of growth of
small western European countries.
These differences may seem minor in any one year, but over a decade they
make a decisive difference to economic prospects and welfare.
Thus, from a position of budgetary penury in the 1980s, the Irish finance
minister now sits in Dublin commanding a substantial budget surplus, thanks
in no small measure to their low Corporation Tax strategy boosting economic
activity. The only remaining problems for Ireland are how to disburse this
largesse in a sensible and non-inflationary way.
Across our east coast in Norway the Norwegian finance minister succeeded
perhaps better than any country in the world in avoiding the "resource
curse" of having too much of a good thing by investing the oil wealth in a
capital fund which will last almost forever.
Some people would argue that somehow Scotland would find it impossible to
pursue such competitive and successful economic policies. However, the
evident success of our near neighbours makes it difficult to sustain such an
argument.
If Scotland does decide on independence, our future will lie not in the
stars but in ourselves, in our ability to build a competitive economic
structure, to determine policies suitable for Scottish economic conditions,
and to encourage an economy based on long term growth, not short term
thinking.
It is on these aspects that the policies of the various parties towards the
Scottish economy should be judged, and it is on these factors that the
economic case for independence must rest.
Economic growth and, in particular, growth in sustainable employment are
largely the result of decisions taken by businesses. An independent
government cannot directly create profitable commercial opportunities but it
can help companies to realise these by pursuing business friendly policies.
This is all the more important because we are living in a world of
increasing mobility of capital and enterprise where there is intense
competition between governments to create tax and regulatory environments
that are friendly to business.
The best way that a government can help businesses plan for future growth,
in addition to providing low corporate taxes, is to do whatever is in its
power to reduce the range of uncertainty affecting business decisions. An
independent government is in a much stronger position than a devolved
administration to achieve this objective because it has direct control over
its budget, regulatory system and international economic relations.
Peter included a wee article on sweeties which I include here...
The Scots, as we have noted previously, are famous, indeed infamous, for
having a sweet tooth. This is sadly reflected in both dental and heart
problems but does not stop Scots 'soukin awa' on all types of sweeties. The
Border towns are particularly famous for having their own local brand of
sweets - Hawick for Hawick Balls; Jedburgh for Jeddart Snails; Peebles and
Galashiels for Soor Plooms; if we take back the town of Berwick, then
Berwick Cockles can be enjoyed again; and Moffat gives us Moffat Toffee.
Melrose, in the past, gave as Coltart's Candy ( pronounced Coolter ) which
is still remembered in a song written by Robert Coltat ( an early form of
advertisement ! ) himself. The chorus of 'Coulter's Candy' goes -
'Ally bally, ally bally bee,
Sittin' on yir mammy's knee,
Greetin' for anither bawbee,
Tae buy some Coulter's Candy.'
Melrose based Robert Coltart was a colourful travelling man whose famous
candy attracted bairn as if he was a Scottish Pied Piper. The candy was
aniseed-flavoured but the recipe and custom seem to have been lost following
Coltart's death in 1890. The recipe for Coltart's Candy might no longer be
available but we are able to provide a splendid recipe for Creamy Toffee
which will delight bairns of all ages!
Creamy Toffee
Ingredients: Half-pound sugar; quarter-pound margarine; 4 tablespoons syrup;
1 small tin condensed milk
Method: Put sugar, margarine and syrup in pan, heat until melted, then add
condensed milk, bring to boil, stirring all the time. Keep stirring for 20
minutes after it comes to boil. Test ball in cold water and pour into
greased tin.
Footnote: A vast improvement in the dental health of young children was
reported earlier this month - perhaps the Scottish diet is changing!
You can read the Flag, listen to the Scots Language, enjoy the Scots Wit and
lots more at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
You can view MSP Linda Fabiani's weekly diary at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fabiani/index.htm
Email Linda at
Linda.fabiani.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
The Scottish Nation
----------------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
Now moved onto the F's and added this week are Fillans, Fincastle, Findlater,
Findlay, Fingland and Finlay.
Here is a bit from the Fillans entry...
FILLANS, a surname evidently having the same origin as St. Fillan – the root
also fo Gilfillan – (which see), and probably derived from the Saxon word
fyllan, to fill, although, doubtless, a Gaelic origin may also be assigned
to it, the famous saint mentioned, whose name has been given to so many
chapels and pools in Scotland, and is associated with so much absurd
superstition, having lived so far back as the seventh century. He was abbot
of Pittenweem, but having turned a hermit, he died in the wolds of Glenorchy
in Argyleshire in 649. In the old monkish legends regarding him it is stated
that while engaged in transcribing the Scriptures, he left hand was observed
to shine with so much splendour as to afford him light enough to enable him
to proceed with his work, as he used to spend whole nights in that exercise.
Lesley, in his seventh book, says that this wonderful arm afterwards came
into the possession of Robert the Bruce, who enclosed it in a silver shrine,
which he ordered to be carried at the head of his army, but that previous to
the battle of Bannockburn, the king’s chaplain, with the view of preserving
it from the English, took it out and deposited it in some place of security.
While, however, the Bruce was addressing his prayers to the empty shrine, it
was observed to open and shut suddenly; and, on inspection, the saint was
found to have himself deposited his luminous arm in its old place, as an
assurance of victory! The belief in the power of St. Fillan in the cure of
lunacy was long held in the Highlands, and the superstitious observances by
which his aid was supposed to be procured, were for centuries performed at
his chapel and pool in Strathfillan, Breadalbane. There is a village in
Perthshire of the name of St. Fillan.
You can read more of this entry at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/fillans.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 July 1912 issue at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celtic/july1912.htm
This contains...
Lieutenant-Colonel George J. MacFarlane, The Medical Book of Dunolly, Gaelic
Proverbs, Memorial to Scotland's National Patriot - William Wallace, The War
Song of The Hays, The Sons of Rob Roy, The Late Alexander Carmichael LL.D,
Fionn's Wars with the MacGregors, Cameron's "Isle of Skye", Notes on the
Celtic Year, The MacFadyens, Famous Highland Bowman, Celtic Notes and
Queries, H. Cameron Gillies M.D., Our Musical Page.
You can see the issues to date at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celtic/index.htm
The Southern States of America
----------------------------------------------
Published in 1909.
Added this week are...
The History of Georgia - Chapter IV
Georgia in the New Nation, 1865 - 1909
The History of Alabama - Chapter I
Colonial and Territorial, Alabama, 1540 - 1819
The History of Alabama - Chapter II
Alabama from 1819 to 1865
The History of Alabama - Chapter III
Reconstruction in Alabama
Here is how Chapter I - The History of Alabama, Colonial and Territorial,
Alabama, 1540 - 1819 starts...
The Alabama-Tombigbee Basin and Its People.
THE division of territory embraced within the state of Alabama has had a
long and eventful history, but not under the modern name. It has been
subject to five flags, besides the Indian occupation, and during each period
has been connected with other districts and enjoyed a different name. There
is no doubt, however, as to the unity of the river basin which makes up the
main part of the modern state. The sources of the Coosa lie in Georgia and
those of the Tombigbee in Mississippi, and the great bend of the Tennessee
has been added on the north for good measure; but the Alabama-Tombigbee
basin, nevertheless, makes up a unit, economic as well as historic.
Alabama a Geographical Unit.
If one will take a map of America he will find that, although the
Mississippi receives many large tributaries on the west from its source to
its mouth, there are none of any volume on the east side below the Ohio. The
great Apalachian mountain system comes to an end before it reaches the
Mexican Gulf or the Mississippi, but its foothills and highlands throw all
streams southward instead of permitting them to reach the Mississippi River.
It does more, for, while there are a number of rivers flowing to the Gulf,
the watershed and hill country are so pronounced as to make in the Alabama-Tombigbee
drainage system a basin greater and of more diversified interests than any
other east of the Mississippi. Geographically speaking, there would be room
for three Gulf commonwealths between the Mississippi and the Atlantic, and
for only three, excluding the Florida peninsula, which is sui generis. The
rivers draining to the Atlantic must cause the population of that district
to have their interest centred on the ocean, while those near the
Mississippi would look, in their turn, to the west. Intermediate between the
two there should be a state looking to the Gulf at the mouth of Mobile
River. And such has been the course of events.
The physical basis of history includes as its main factors climate, soil and
rivers. In this instance the climate is mild, permitting of ice, but with
summer weather prevailing over half the year. Geologically the soil shows
several belts. One runs in a limestone crescent, beginning near the Ohio
mouth and ending near the Atlantic, cutting across the Gulf-bound rivers.
This is the fertile Black Belt, producing cereals, especially maize, and
nut-bearing trees, although wheat and cotton were not native. Northward was
the rough country between the Gulf rivers and the Tennessee Valley,
abounding in minerals, but not of much importance in early days. Southward
of the Black Belt was the low Coastal Plain, made up largely of sand, and
covered with pine forests. The river basins were alluvial and their
vegetation luxuriant. Large game, such as deer, bear and, in early times
buffalo, abounded, birds were numerous, the beaver plentiful, and fresh and
salt water fish to a large extent determined the course of migration and
settlement.
The Indians.
The Indians built their habitations mainly upon the bluffs of the rivers,
where water and fish were abundant and near which the maize grew with little
cultivation. The origin of the Indians is still unsettled. Those of the Al
abama- Tombigbee basin were mainly of three stocks. To the west were the
Choctaws, and north of them on the sources of the Tombigbee lived the
Chickasaws. These two tribes were of the Muscogean race, as was the other
great division which now concern us, the Muscogees proper, on the Alabama
River and its sources.
There is some reason to think that the Indians of historic times were
preceded by other of a higher state of culture. Not that remains are
extensive enough to justify any theory of Mound Builders, or that some works
found on the Gulf necessarily call for an Aztec origin, but up on the Black
Warrior River, at what has been called Moundville, have been found evidences
of a civilization superior to that anywhere else near the Gulf. There are
numerous large mounds, and from them has been taken pottery of a high grade,
many rare stone implements, and in particular a bowl or vase representing a
bird so well executed as to earn the title of the Portland Vase of American
archaeology.
The Indians were in the stage of culture known as barbarism, claiming
descent through the mother, and having a gens ("iksa"), phratry and tribe
organization well developed. They were in the transition from the hunting to
the agricultural state, but were prevented by the absence of cattle from
developing the intermediate pastoral condition, which elsewhere has been
almost essential in the advance to civilization. They used pottery but not
iron. Like all primitive peoples, religion entered into almost every act of
their life. Animism - the belief that every object has life, a faith marked
by the use of totems - prevailed, rather than the monotheism often
attributed to them. War and hunting were the principal occupations of the
men, while the women were the agriculturists. They had not developed an
alphabet, and their traditions, which were many and full of interest, were
transmitted with the aid of wampum belts from generation to generation.
What would be the effect on these natives of the advent in their country of
races further advanced in culture? Would the contact be as a spark to
inspire or a fire to consume?
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/south/south31.htm
The book index page is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/south/index.htm
Skye Pioneers and "The Island"
---------------------------------------------
by Malcolm A. MacQueen (1929).
Have now completed the final two chapters of this book including...
The Ross's of Kinross, Uigg and Eldon
Rev. Samuel MacLeod and Other Families
Again good genealogy in these account and here is a bit from the final
chapter...
Norman MacLeod, one of the 1829 settlers, died in Uigg in 1837, aged 75. His
wife was Margaret, daughter of Donald Macphee of Skye. His parents were,
Neil MacLeod and his wife Sophia Nicholson.
Mr. and Mrs. MacLeod were accompanied to P.E.I. by their children, Samuel,
Roderick, John, Murdoch, Mrs. Angus Macdonald, Mrs. James Macdonald, Mrs.
Cameron and Neil, who lived in Vernon River.
I. SAMUEL taught school in Pinette and Flat River. There he married Margaret
Currie, who had emigrated to that district with her family from Mull,
Scotland. From 1840 to 1870 he was minister of the Baptist Churches in Uigg
and Belfast. He died on August 23, 1881, aged 85. His wife died on February
27, 1902, aged 95. Their children were:
1. NORMAN, d. July 1928, aged 91, married, with issue: Hammond, Samuel,
George R. (McGill), Asst. City Engineer. Montreal, married Margaret Furness,
with issue; James D. (B.A. Acadia), minister, married, with issue;
2. MALCOLM, d. April 29, 1903, aged 64, married Esther Robertson, East
Point, d. Sept. 12, 1923, aged 73, with issue:
a. SAMUEL, on the old homestead, married Miss Vaniderstine, with issue,
among others, Florence;
b. ELLA;
c. ALEXANDER R. (B.A. McGill), Rhodes scholar, barrister-at-law, Vancouver,
married, with issue;
d. MARGARET;
e. DUNCAN, married with issue;
f. HADDON SPURGEON (Guelph Agr. Col.);
3. JAMES (McGill), M.D., Charlottetown, married Margaret Alma Gates, d.
1927, with issue, among others, Dr. MacLeod, Moose jaw;
4. DUNCAN (B.A. McGill), barrister-at-law, Charlottetown, unmarried;
5. SARAH, wife of William MacLeod, Bridgetown, Dundas, with issue;
6. MARY, unmarried;
II. RODERICK, d. June, 1888, aged 85. His wife Catherine, d. Dec. 2, 1882,
aged 75. Among their issue were:
1. MALCOLM, K.C., for two generations the leader of the bar, and the
outstanding man on the Island;
2. JOHN, unmarried;
3. ANN, d. March 4, 1905, aged 58, wife of Alexander Martin, M.P.,
Valleyfield, b. March 14, 1842, d. April 13, 1921, with issue: Albert J. (Dal.
Cornell), C. E. Montague, Belle, wife of H. W. H. Knott, barrister,
Montreal;
4. KATHERINE, died 1929, unmarried.
III. JOHN, married Rachel, daughter of Donald Gordon. She died January 11,
1915, aged almost 98. Without issue;
IV. (BIG) MURDOCH was born in Skye in 1815, and died July 29, 1889. On
October 6, 1837, he married Margaret Gunn in Miramichi, N.B. She died August
26, 1916, aged one hundred all but two or three months. They had several
children. Of these John Murdoch, one of the most successful farmers on P.E.I.,
lives on the old homestead. He was born April 20, 1848. He married his
cousin, a daughter of "Little" Roderick MacLeod of Uigg Rear, sister of the
late judge Neil MacLeod, of Summerside. Their son and only child, Otis, with
his wife Evelyn MacLeod and children, live with them. Another son of Big
Murdoch is William MacLeod, a well-known resident of Bridgetown, Dundas,
P.E.I.
You can read the rest of this account and see the genealogy at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/skye/pioneers21.htm
You can read all the chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/skye/pioneersndx.htm
History of Inverness County, Nova Scotia
----------------------------------------------------------
By J. L. MacDougall (1922)
Inverness County is part of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. I am now up to the
District Sketches which contain a ton of genealogical information. You can
read the chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/canada/inverness/index.htm
The Districts added this week are...
District of Strathlorne
Broad Cove Shore and Broad Cove Banks
Here is some of the information contained in the account of District of
Strathlorne
The name of Strathlorne was conferred by an Act of the provincial
legislature, and was first intended to apply to the valley formerly called
Broad Cove Intervale. Now the statutory appellation is extended to the whole
municipal district. The territory consists, however, of several distinct
sections whose baptismal names defy all changes. We have Black Glen,
Strathlorne, North Ainslie, Loch Ban, Campbellton, Black River, North
Highlands, Sight Point, Broad Cove Banks and Inverness town.
Along the coast this district runs from the Northeastern boundary of Poplar
Grove at Sight Point to the Southwestern boundary of Broad Cove Marsh at
Deepdale. It is essentially a Highland district. Nowadays we do not hear so
many of the mountain melodies "When the kye comes hame", nevertheless, the
succulence of the Gaelic mouthful has not all disappeared. Nor will it, if
we are true to type. Otherwise, we shall have our deserts.
There is a Protestant church and a resident minister at Inverness and at
Strathlorne. The new Catholic parish of Inverness comprises all of this
district except Campbellton and Loch Ban. Studied harmony exists between the
different denominations. In numbers the Catholics preponderate, but the
majority is not large. There is no sectarian striving for such majorities
here. You will hear the church bells of Inverness at Strathlorne, and those
of Strathlorne at Inverness, and they sound so much alike that you cannot
tell the difference. No jar, no break, no discord. Picture to yourself the
delight, on a fine Sunday morning, of hearing this tolling testimony of
peace and concord, borne upon the balmy breezes from the valley to the sea.
These people are more than Catholics or Protestants; they are Christians
all. If exceptions there be, they are so few and ill-advised that good men
are ashamed to notice them.
The common schools of this district are not, we regret to say, a shining
success. The schools of Inverness town are, of course, an exception. These
always maintain a high standard of efficiency. But there are ten rural
schools and school sections within this district, not one of which can be
called a sparkling institution. Fifty years ago we could find here and there
in the rural communities, a clever and creditable school, conducted by a
smart and competent young man in the heyday of his ambition. No such thing
today. All the country schools of the present day would seem to be of a
kind; and over them all, or the most of them, there would seem to hang the
chilling spectre of mediocrity, gaunt, grey and hopeless. For this
deplorable state of things there are three main causes: 1st, all our young
men of talent and education have totally abandoned the teaching profession
in this County; 2nd, the pecuniary support provided for our schools is.
woefully inadequate; 3rd, there is a marked apathy and indifference among
trustees, parents and people, towards our country schools and school
children. Woe unto posterity, if these things do not change.
Nearly all the people of this district are farmers who own the land they
till. Those who live near the shore, also, engage in fishing at certain
seasons. In recent years the young folk have taken to mining at Inverness
where there are excellent deposits of bituminous coal. Farms are looking up
here, and will continue so to do if care and prudence hold sway. In years
gone by the farms here suffered by reason of the exodus of the young people
who had to go abroad for employment. The reason for that exodus has ceased
to exist, but the call for efficient service at home has grown, and is
growing. We trust our sensible farmers, as well as our laborers will realize
the opportunities that have come to them. We trust both farmers and laborers
will realize that their strength and hope are wrapped up in their fidelity
to their own vocational work.
You the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/canada/inverness/chapter23.htm
You can read the rest of the chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/canada/inverness/index.htm
Scots Minstrelsie
-------------------------
Started work again on the final volume 6 of this publication complete with
sheet music. The index page is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/music/minstrelsie/index.htm
To volume 6 I added...
My Collier Laddie
He's A Cronie O' Mine
Turn Ye To Me
The Bonnie Wells O' Wearie
You can see these at
http://www.electricscotland.com/music/minstrelsie/volume6.htm
History of Scottish Medicine to 1860
----------------------------------------------------
by John D. Comrie (1927).
I have up another four chapters which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/medical/scottish_medicinendx.htm
Chapter VII - General Practice in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Impediments to progress Anderson's Scots Pills - Professional fees -
Military Surgeon's emoluments - Richard Wiseman, "the father of English
surgery" - The new cure of fevers - Pharmacopoeia issued by the Royal
College of Physicians, Edinburgh - Animal substances introduced - Irregular
practice by mountebanks - Medical literature - Smallpox epidemics -
Inoculation adopted in Scotland - Sibbens and croup - Account-book of Dr.
William Cullen - The whey cure - Description of an 18th century Scottish
country practitioner.
Chapter VIII - The Eighteenth Cenury Voluntary Hospital Movement
First Scottish Voluntary Hospital - Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - Payment
of hospital staff - Clinical lectures - First children's hospital -
Institutions for sick poor - Town's Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary -
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary - Dumfries Infirmary - Montrose, Dundee, Paisley,
Inverness, Greenock, Perth and Stirling Infirmaries - Asylums for the
insane.
Chapter IX - The Medical School of Aberdeen
Foundation - "Mediciners" at King's College - Diploma of M.D. degree -
Medical Officer of the Burgh - Skeen's treatise on the plague - The Gregorys
- Marischal College - Lecturers on medicine - "Burning of the burking-house"
- Aberdeen Medical Society - The University of Aberdeen.
Chapter X - The Early Medical School of Glasgow
Salaried Medical Officers - Peter Lowe - Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons
- Code of rules - Prosecution of quacks - Medical library formed - William
Cullen and Joseph Black.
Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our thanks to Nola Crewe for sending in more of these...
McKay, John C. at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/kent/mckay_john.htm
McDonald, Captain Allen H. at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/kent/mcdonald_allen.htm
Here is the account of John C. McKay...
JOHN C. McKAY (deceased). No one looking over the prosperous farms of Howard
township, County of Kent, Ontario, and all ignorant of its history, would
imagine what a wilderness it once was, and that within the memory of many of
its present citizens. One of the sturdy pioneers, now deceased, to whom so
much is owed by the present generation, was John C. McKay, a farmer on
Concession 3, who was born in Prince Edward Island, in February, 1839, son
of John and Mary McKay natives of Scotland, who settled at Prince Edward
Island. There the father died and his widow married John Oliver; she died in
Chatham township, leaving two children by her first marriage: John C., and
Robert, who lives at McKay’s Corners, in Harwich.
John C. McKay came to Chatham when a young man, and learned the carpenter’s
trade, which he followed for a number of years, building houses all over the
county. IN 1860, he married Miss Mariah McCann, of Harwich, born in 1844.
Soon after his marriage, he purchased his present homestead, all of which
was wild land. Beneath the huge trees, he built a small log cabin, in which
the family made their home for some years, until it was burned down, and he
replaced it with another, which served as a residence until 1892, when he
built the large brick residence , in which his widow now makes her home.
Here he passed away in May, 1901.
His first wife died April 14, 1885, the mother of twelve children, eight of
whom are still living: (1) John, the eldest, born in 1863, married Miss Rose
Clark, in 1887, and they have four children, Ethel, Rhoda, Olive May and
Valetta; they reside in Harwich on his farm. (2) James, born in 1865, is
unmarried and is engaged as a carpenter at New Orleans. (3) George, born in
1869, is a tailor of Leamington. He married Miss Gowey, of Ridgetown, and
has two children, Harold and Georgia. (4) Walter, born in 1869, in Howard,
is a tailor of Essex. He has been married twice, first to Miss Robson, of
Leamington, who bore him one child, John C. McKay, now deceased. By his
second marriage he has one child, Clara. (5) Robert, born in Howard in 1871,
married Mamie Mow, of Harwich township, where he resides on a farm. He has
one daughter, Flossie. (6) Anna, born in 1873, in Howard, married Joseph
Miller, a resident of Chatham, and has three children, Jessie, Neta and
Zeta. (7) Bertha, born on the homestead, in 1875, married James Baker, and
resides in Dresden, Ontario. She has four children, Byron, Irvin, Eva and
Grace. (8) Mary, born in 1877, and educated in the Howard schools, near the
home built by her father, is unmarried and is a most charming young lady,
and an important factor in the social life of the community.
In January, 1889, Mr. McKay married Miss Jennie McEachran, the estimable
daughter of Neil and Mary (Smart) McEachran, prominent pioneers of Harwich
township. Neil McEachran was born in Argyll, Scotland, and his wife Mary
(Smart) was born in England, but they were married in Canada, and were among
the early settlers of Harwich, where Mr. McEachran died; his wife survives
and is still residing on the homestead. Mrs. McKay was born in October,
1865, and educated in the home schools of Harwich, where she remained until
her marriage. Mr. And Mrs. McKay settled on his farm, and he at once began
making extensive improvements until it is now one of the best in County
Kent. Two children were born to this marriage, Neil, born March 12, 1890;
and Jennett, born November 15, 1895.
Mr. McKay was a member of the Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife, and
that body owes much of its prosperity to both. Politically, he was a member
of the Reform party, and took an active part in local affairs. He was a
member of the Masonic Lodge at Chatham, and was buried with Masonic honours,
his funeral being a large and imposing one. At his death Mr. McKay
bequeathed to his children no trivial example, no darkened ideals. The
influence of his character reaches beyond the term of his own existence. His
public life – the relation which he bore to the general community – was such
as to stimulate others to high and noble deeds.
You can read other biographies at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/kent/index.htm
Scottish Canadian Newspaper
--------------------------------------------
Added another issue of this newspaper...
April 2, 1891 at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/scotscan/issue19.htm
April 9. 1891 at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/scotscan/issue20.htm
Vacation Packages for Scotland
-----------------------------------------------
Have provided a page where you can view vacation packages for Scotland
including...
Art and Artist Vacation Packages in Scotland
History Vacation Packages in Scotland
Food, Wine Tour Packages and Cooking Schools in Scotland
Fishing Packages, Lodges and Outfitters in Scotland
Scuba Diving Packages, Resorts, Boats and Diving Centers in Scotland
Bicycle Tour Packags in Scotland
Hiking, Trekking, and Walking Tours in Scotland
Castle Hotels and Castle Tours in Scotland
Cultural Expedition Tours in Scotland
Kayaking, Canoeing, and Whitewater Rafting in Scotland
Sailing and Boating Packages in Scotland
Golf Resorts and Golf Vacations in Scotland
Golf and Spa in Scotland
You can order up free brochures from many of these companies.
See
http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/vacation_packages.htm
The Greatness and Decline of the Celts
--------------------------------------------------------
by Henri Hubert (1934).
Have made a start at this new book and my thanks to Alan McKenzie for doing
this book for us.
Here is the substantial foreword to the book for you to read here and we
also have the first chapter up as well.
I HAVE already explained and justified the division of Hubert’s work on the
Celts into two volumes. With the present volume we find ourselves in the La
Tène period. It begins by describing a new expansion, then a retreat, the
florescence and decline of the
Celtic world. It is about 500 B.C. that the La Tène civilization appears
with an increase of the population, which descends from the heights into the
plains, an advance in technical processes, and a growth of prosperity which
give rise to the great historical expeditions. The movements which now take
place are different from those described in the previous volume, about which
we have little direct information. From definite evidence it can be seen
that operations now assume a “coordinated, concerted, and, one might say,
political character”, and that is a great novelty among the Celts. All round
the circumference of the Celtic world this activity manifests itself - first
in Italy, the Danube Valley, and Britain, and then in Eastern Europe and
Asia Minor, the south-west of France, and even in Spain. They found
settlements, or rather the previous inhabitants mingle with them, and they
contribute and receive in varying proportions. But what the advanced bodies
receive - for example, the idea of a political life in Italy, and
intellectual and moral culture in Greece - will benefit the whole Celtic
world, doubtless in different degrees. The Celts “enter the history of the
world”. “Unsettled and unruly elements,” bands of barbarians, “great
companies,” will still break in; the energy, courage, and “roving spirit” of
the Celts will make some of them mercenaries in great demand, freelances
scattered among many peoples. “Mercenary service was a regular Celtic
industry, and a well paid one”. But the mass of the race is settled, and the
Celts are involved in the politics and economics of the whole world. Being
both inventive and receptive, they are agents for the unification and
progress of mankind. There are, it is true, Gallic Celts and British Celts,
Celts of the Danube and Germany and Italy; but a Celtic civilization has
grown up which is comparatively homogeneous and comparatively native in its
character.
From the end of the third century onwards the Celts are in conflict with
Rome on every side. Their civilization stands face to face with a different,
and in some respects higher, civilization, while from behind they are
pressed by a people of lower culture, the Germans, with whom, as we know,
they have a real “intimacy”. The more active the civilizing and political
influence of the Celts is in Germany, the harder they will be pressed by
their neighbours, to be finally driven back. There was a twofold process -
“a process of assimilation of the German world on the one hand, but on the
other, as a result of that very assimilation, a process of penetration by
the Germans into the Celtic world”. The Cimbri, Teutones, Suevi were
Celticized Germans, mixed with Celts to a various extent.
You can read the rest of this foreword and the first chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celts/index.htm
The Plantation of Ulster
----------------------------------
by Boyd Gray.
Got this interesting article from Boyd Gray who is running the Summer School
in Northern Ireland. Here is how it starts...
One of the most important turning points in Irish history was the Flight of
the Earls. On 14th September 1607, Hugh O’Neil, the Earl of Tyrone, and Rory
O’Donnell, the Earl of Tyrconnell, along with a small party of their family
and followers, boarded a small ship at Rathmullen and sailed for Spain. The
reason for the earls’ flight is hard to determine. There is some suggestion
that O’Neill believed the new Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Arthur Chichester
was attempting to usurp him. But King James had reassured O’Neill in 1606
that his fears were unfounded.
There are also suggestions that in fact James was on the verge of arresting
the earls for treason but no proof of this has ever been found. Some
historians argue that O’Donnell and his kinsman, Maguire, were intent upon
joining the Spanish forces in their war in the Netherlands. Whatever their
intention at the time, they never returned and this left the way clear for
King James I to seize their land and inaugurate the most ambitious
plantation ever undertaken in Ireland. Hundreds of thousands of lowland
Scottish planters arrived over the next hundred years and changed the
character of Ulster forever.
The land confiscated by the Crown after the Flight of the Earls was
allocated to specially chosen undertakers from the lowlands of Scotland and
the border areas of northern England. The most important region designated
for plantation was The Laggan Valley, prime farmland running south from the
Foyle and Swilly estuaries. It was divided into two parts: Lifford and
Portlough and was awarded to the Cunningham and Stewart families from
Ayrshire. They brought tenants with them and leased them farms at low rent.
Only a few of the native Irish received any land and many moved west to the
Barony of Kilmacrenan.
You can read the rest of this article and get the link to his Summer school
at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/ulster_plantation.htm
Campbell, James R.
-----------------------------
Got in this obituary...
James R. "Jim" Campbell died peacefully at his home in New York City on
Friday February 9th around 2 pm. Jim was battling lung cancer that was
diagnosed in August of 2006.
A native of Ohio who served in the United States Air Force and was a
graduate of Yale University, Jim worked in the transportation industry and
was the former VP of Human Resources for the Long Island Bus Company. He was
a devout Christian who loved his service as a deacon of the Episcopal
Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Jim was a proud Scottish-American and was very active in New York's Scottish
Community. He was a member of Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New
York. He worked tirelessly on the National Tartan Day New York Committee and
helped with the National Tartan Day parade. Jim was the 73rd Chief of the
New York Caledonian Club, and he was very active as Chairman of the Finance
Committee and the former New York City Trustee for of Clan Campbell (North
America).
Jim will be sorely missed by his friends and the New York City
Scottish-American community. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday
February 14th at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan.
Gettysburg: The American Culloden - A Clan Tragedy?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Chagnon sent in this article and here is how it starts...
Six years ago, when my family and I were touring in Scotland, one of the
tems on my “Must Do” list was to visit the moors of Culloden at dawn to
commune with the ghosts of the lost Highlanders bound through eternity to
inhabit that sad place. I imagined a toast in their honor with a wee tot of
Uisghe Beathe.
When it became apparent that dawn came awfully early in those northerly
lands (around 02:20 AM when we were there), this dream, like the dream of
those who fought there in support of the Jacobite cause, was doomed to
failure. I did visit Culloden later in the day, however, and I did have that
toast to the ghosts of those who died there 260 years ago. Let’s let the
idea of Culloden rest for a bit…
Recently, I had occasion to visit family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Having
the opportunity, I took a day to wander over the hills of the site of the
American Civil War [see Note 1] Gettysburg Nation Military Park, just 70
miles west down the Lincoln Pike (US Hwy 30). It was a magnificent day,
cool, breezy, big puffy clouds tacking across a Delft blue sky, gorgeous
autumn foliage all aflame. Although the main attractions and information
centers had their usual quota of crowds, out on the gentle slopes of
Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge, and the steeper sides of Culps Hill,
Little Round Top and Big Round Top, a man could wander at will and actually
commune alone with the past.
I was standing near the crown of Cemetery Ridge next to the famous “Copse of
Trees”. This was the focal point that my Great Great Grand Uncle, Robert E.
Lee, had chosen as the primary target for the Confederate assault on Day
Three of the battle. This action is more commonly known as “Pickett’s
Charge” [See Note 2]. I looked over the gentle rolling slope towards the
tree line of Seminary Ridge nearly a mile away to the west. I could “see”
the long lines of those 12,500 incredibly brave, doomed men of the
Confederate Divisions start the advance that would see 50% of their number
remain on the field just an hour after the “charge” was broken by the guns
of the Union defenders.
As I stood there, leaning on my trusty walking stick, my view became
blurred, due, no doubt, to the gusts of wind cresting the ridge from below.
Suddenly I became lost in time, unsure if I was at Gettysburg, or if… at
Culloden six years ago. An unseen hand reached from the sky and slapped me.
The parallels and similarities of the two events, separated by all the years
of two and a half centuries and all the miles of half a world, were as clear
to me as if etched on a US Park Service panel in front of me. It was
down-right spooky. What follows is my attempt to make these similarities and
parallels just as clear to you, too. I make no claims to being a scholar of
either the history of the American Civil War, or of the history of the
various and sundry Jacobite rebellions in Scotland. I have, however, read
more than one book about both of these areas of interest along with many
more about the history of the land of our ancestors’ birth in the Old World
and the land of our forefathers in the New World. I will certainly take no
offense if one of the readers of this article takes umbrage with my
observations or wishes to debate the subject. These are, after all, just my
own thoughts on the matter and my own “high level” view of events about
which many thousands of books have been written. This is not intended to be
a detailed, foot-noted, rigorously pursued, academic treatise. The reader
should note there is a lack of consistency in the historic records
concerning the details about both battles, particularly in such areas as
exact numbers of combatants, killed-in-action, wounded, missing-in-action
and captured. I’ve used what I feel to be reliable sources for the numbers I
quote. I guarantee anyone with a computer and Internet access could come up
with different numbers in about 30 seconds. In any event, the exact numbers
themselves are irrelevant to the points I am trying to make.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/Gettysburg.pdf
Early Lauder knights
------------------------------
by Gregory Lauder-Frost, FSA Scot.
Greogry sent in this account which starts...
The founder of the ancient Scottish family of Lauder was a Norman mercenary
knight named Sir Robert de Lavedre (for origins of this surname and its
early spellings see The Lauder Surname in The Scottish Genealogist Volume
XLV number 2, Edinburgh, June 1998) who was recruited at the English Court
by Malcolm Canmore to assist the latter to recover his father’s crown from
the usurper Macbeth. Proceeding to Scotland in 1057 Sir Robert was involved
in many skirmishes and battles, notably at Dunsinane, and Birnham Wood
where, according to J.Stewart Smith writing in The Grange of St.Giles
(Edinburgh 1898) he "signally distinguished himself by his prowess in the
field against Macbeth". Sir Robert received for his services estates and
lands in the Lothians, Berwickshire, and Moray, the latter being part of
Macbeth’s own properties. The early Lauder family had an ancient coat of
Arms which was simply a shield with a white background bearing a griffin
rampant. There would later be cadet variations on this.
In 1138 numerous minor Scottish/English conflicts and arguments resulted in
the major Battle of the Standard at North Allerton in North Yorkshire.
Joanni Lavedre, filio secunda de Laudertown, a descendant of the first Sir
Robert Lauder, is recorded as being amongst the mounted knights under Prince
Henry, King David’s son, on the Scottish right. This was a defeat for the
Scots and John Lauder and many others barely managed to escape.
In 1188 another descendant, Sir Robert de Lavedre appears on the scene as on
of the Scottish nobles who accompanied King William the Lion’s brother
David, Earl of Huntingdon, to fight in the Third Crusade. As an emblem of
his presence in Palestine, Sir Robert, upon his almost miraculous return,
got for his personal crest a Saracen’s head on a sword.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/lauder5.htm
Donna Flood
-------------------
Donna sent in a journal entry about the dedication speech made at the
college today as one of my paintings was hung in the lounge. You can read
this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/journal/journal80.htm
She also sent in a poem, The Rain is a Haze at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/poetry/poem23.htm
When God Paints
--------------------------
I received a collection of 11 pictures in an email and thought I'd share
them with you at
http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/fantastic_pictures.htm
And finally a wee security tip I got in...
Tip from Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your
home or someone trying to get in your house, just put the black box on your
key ring facing your car and then press the panic button for your car. The
alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you
turn it off or the car battery dies.
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home
for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:
It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no
installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house
and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it
with the button on the key fob chain.
It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off
when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or
rapist won't stick around .... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be
looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the
criminal won't want that.
And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot.
The alarm can work the same way there.
This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could
save a life or a sexual abuse crime.
And that's all for now and I hope you and your families all have a great
weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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