The Scots Gaelic Myth

[tripleblessed]

Scots Gaelic was spoken by the Highlanders who settled in the Cape Fear region of NC (modern Fayetteville), but that's a long way from the Outer Banks and a different settlement pattern.

Scots Gaelic died out in the Cape Fear region after the American Civil War.[/url]

Both my parents came out of Montgomery County, Georgia. A history of said county included newspaper clippings and interviews which referred to
landowners teaching their servants to speak Gaelic in the home, as that was the family practice. I believe that had disappeared by about WWI. I
know that neither parent mentioned having heard it, but I find it interesting that it wasused. It is perhaps related to the fact that many came to these
shores by force, not choice. Having never had much of a shot at owning anything, they became owners of land; many to most grants were in excess
of 200 acres, control (NOT ownership) over which would have made them close to wealthy in Scotland. Many happily viewed themselves as landed
gentry and attempted to live so. My folk owned much land, some in the thousands of acres, but my grandfather was born in a log cabin. By my
childhood, everyone spoke in terms of being "poor dirt farmers". Changing times and perceptions.