The Lowland Clearances

[Phil]

While not completely similar, economics were a factor in the border clearances, the border clearances can be seen as a precursor of the large scale displacement that came in the centuries after.


Rob

The only economics involved was who was stealing from whom. The troublesome border clans were a political issue addressed by James when he took over in London as part of the unification of his kingdom. The "borders" were re-named the "middle shires" and the troublemakers ruthlessly suppressed to bring peace to the area.

[Erikm]

This would be about the time my mothers side of the family the Gourlay's left Scotland for NC, thanks for posting about it Steve

[ChattanCat]

I am wondering if that is why G-G-G-G-G Robert Catanach found himself in Perth about 1770. He was a weaver. Unfortunatly, it is not known what circumstances led to him being in Perth. Either he moved from the highlands or previous generations had moved out of the Higlands. Wether he or his previous generations moved to the city for economic reasons is not known.

Any Ideas?

[Jock Scot]

I am wondering if that is why G-G-G-G-G Robert Catanach found himself in Perth about 1770. He was a weaver. Unfortunatly, it is not known what circumstances led to him being in Perth. Either he moved from the highlands or previous generations had moved out of the Higlands. Wether he or his previous generations moved to the city for economic reasons is not known.

Any Ideas?

Just for your information we regard Perth as the Southern border of the Highlands. I think that there is a geological feature(a fault line I think) that runs along a line just south of Perth and across Loch Lomond, about a third of the way up, that is the actual geological boundry. Another mildly interesting fact that may interest you, is that if an East/West line is drawn through the Southern part of Perth so the line goes from coast to coast, as of the year 2007, less than a million people live above that line in Scotland(roughly the Highlands).

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Just for your information we regard Perth as the Southern border of the Highlands. I think that there is a geological feature(a fault line I think) that runs along a line just south of Perth and across Loch Lomond, about a third of the way up, that is the actual geological boundry. Another mildly interesting fact that may interest you, is that if an East/West line is drawn through the Southern part of Perth so the line goes from coast to coast, as of the year 2007, less than a million people live above that line in Scotland(roughly the Highlands).

I believe that is what Mr. Churchill called it, "The tyranny of democracy". Whilst the Scottish Assembly in Edinburgh may be a good thing, it seems to lack a moral consciousness of the way the people "North of the Highland Line" actually live, and wish to be allowed to live. The same might be said of those vastly unpopulated areas in the Borders. Life for these people is different than for those who live in the conubanizations of Glasgow and Edinburgh. But yet it seems, at least from this remove, that the Scottish Assembly has no more regard for those "beyond the pale of the city" today, than did those city-dwelling rogues of centuries past. It should not surprise me in the least to see the number of Scots in the Borders and, especially, the Highlands be reduced by a further 50% in the course of the next decade.

While absentee land owners and the SPCK did much to "blot out" Highland ways and culture in the 18th and 19th centuries, it now seems as if faceless bureaucrats, acting with the authority of "city-fied" legislation, will continue that work into this, the 21st century.

How ironic that given a degree of "self rule" Scots may now be responsible for completing the clearances, a sort of cultural genocide brought about by the "tyranny of democracy".

[McClef]

But the Highlands and the Borders have a voice in the Parliament though not of course in the same numbers as the more populated Central Belt.

And Scottish parties, even unionist ones, know that they have to appeal to and listen to an electorate somewhat closer to hand and have to think in terms of Scotland and its needs and interests. The Highlands are not the remote and unknown places that they once were to Lowlanders.

[Jock Scot]

M.of R., I am afraid you could be right, there is little to hold the younger generation here these days.Was there ever? Love them or hate them, even the "Big Estates" cannot afford to employ too many staff now. Gone are the days when an "extra" stalker,ghillie,shepherd,gamekeeper,house maid,cook,gardener,forrester or whatever was employed to keep a local youngster from going off the rails.

[ChattanCat]

Just for your information we regard Perth as the Southern border of the Highlands. I think that there is a geological feature(a fault line I think) that runs along a line just south of Perth and across Loch Lomond, about a third of the way up, that is the actual geological boundry. Another mildly interesting fact that may interest you, is that if an East/West line is drawn through the Southern part of Perth so the line goes from coast to coast, as of the year 2007, less than a million people live above that line in Scotland(roughly the Highlands).

I know the Catanach's originated up north, ok low highlands. Robert Catanach (Catenach) is the furthest we have been able to trace so far. I assume that he or his parents/grandparents moved to Perth. Just don't know...

[Carolina Kiltman]

Population migrations have occurred, reoccurred, and are occurring throughout history and today. I am still (unsuccessfully) trying to find out where the earliest ancestor on my Father's side (a Catholic planter in Easter Shore Md, circa 1680's) came from. If I ever do, it will undoubtedly be related to something like the lowland clearances, or the Commonwealth, or?

I believe the largest in modern history was right after WWII when India and Pakistan (both East and West) became independent from Great Brittan.

[Jock Scot]

ChattanCat. I live not far from Torcastle, which I think is the "home of Clan Chattan", and when I am fishing sometimes I look up at the ruined castle.Its not much to see,but I did have a few pictures of it, but sadly my camera and pictures met with a watery end.I am not sure if this helps, but Torcastle is about 2/3 miles NE (upstream river Lochy) of Fort William in the Great Glen.