When Victoria came to the throne in 1837 very few
railway lines had been opened in Scotland, and those
which were operating were mainly for the benefit of
industry, transporting coal and other raw materials
between Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh. By the turn
of the century, within one generation, nearly all of
Scotland’s railways had been built, linking most major
towns and many small villages, stretching from the
Borders in the south to Thurso on north coast, and
operating many lines which are shut and deemed
unprofitable today. Journeys which had taken days
prior to Victoria’s reign, when the fasted method of
travel had been the horse-drawn carriage, were now
completed in a matter of hours.
The very earliest railways carried coal from mines to
coastal harbours; these included the Tranent and
Cockenzie Waggonway of 1772, which ran on wooden
rails, and the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway of 1805.
It wasn’t long before advances in engineering and the
development of more efficient steam engines presented
itself as an opportunity to the railway men of the early
19th century.
In the 1842 the Edinburgh and Glasgow line opened
and the popularity of the railways was becoming something
of a sensation. A rivalry developed between two major
companies, the Caledonian Company, which ran trains
into Glasgow, and the North British Company which linked
Edinburgh to Carlisle. The link to the English railway
network opened in 1848. In an attempt to compete with
the Caledonian Company’s dominance north of the River
Tay, the North British Company made plans to open an
east coast route by bridging both the Tay and the Forth.
So started some of the biggest engineering projects in the
world at the time.
Showing posts with label SCOTLAND. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SCOTLAND. Show all posts
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
The KINGS of SCOTLAND (15)
(4) Egidia, married to Sir Patrick Graham of Kincardine and
Dundaff, and became ancestress of the Grahams, Earls of
Strathearn.
(5) Margaret, married to Sir John Hay of Boyne and Enzie,
Touch, and Tullibody. Her daughter Egidia was married
before 1426 to Alexander Seton, afterwards Earl of Huntly,
and became the ancestress of the Setons of Touch.
3. Sir Andrew, of whose descendants, if any, there is no
record.
4. Egidia, who was thrice married ; first, to Sir James
Lindsay of Crawford ; second, after October 1357, to
Sir Hugh of Eglinton ; and third (contract October
1378), to Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith.
ROBERT II. first king of the House of Stewart, was born 2
March 1315-16, and was declared heir-presumptive to the
throne on 3 December 1318.
He fought at Halidon Hill in 1333 at the age of seventeen,
and was the first to raise the standard of freedom
after that disastrous battle. Encouraged by his example
other leaders joined him in his efforts to expel the English,
and in 1338 he was chosen Guardian of Scotland during
the absence of King David II. in France. He was present
in the ill-advised raid into England, which resulted in the
battle of Durham, 17 October 1346, where the king was
taken prisoner. The High Stewart commanded one of the
divisions of the Scots army, and after routing the force
opposed to him was overwhelmed by numbers and compelled
to withdraw. He succeeded in saving the wreck
of the army, with which, as Guardian for a second time,
he continued to maintain and assert his country's independence.
On the death of his uncle David II. he succeeded
to the throne as Robert II., 22 February 1370-1.
In this reign the succession to the crown of Scotland was
definitely settled by Parliament. King Robert died at
Dundonald, 19 April 1390, and was buried at Scone. He
married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Adam Mure of
Rowallan (dispensation by Pope Clement vi., 22 November
1347), and had by her :
1. JOHN, who succeeded him on the throne as ROBERT III.
2. Walter, married Isabella, Countess of Fife, and died
about 1362..........
Dundaff, and became ancestress of the Grahams, Earls of
Strathearn.
(5) Margaret, married to Sir John Hay of Boyne and Enzie,
Touch, and Tullibody. Her daughter Egidia was married
before 1426 to Alexander Seton, afterwards Earl of Huntly,
and became the ancestress of the Setons of Touch.
3. Sir Andrew, of whose descendants, if any, there is no
record.
4. Egidia, who was thrice married ; first, to Sir James
Lindsay of Crawford ; second, after October 1357, to
Sir Hugh of Eglinton ; and third (contract October
1378), to Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith.
ROBERT II. first king of the House of Stewart, was born 2
March 1315-16, and was declared heir-presumptive to the
throne on 3 December 1318.
He fought at Halidon Hill in 1333 at the age of seventeen,
and was the first to raise the standard of freedom
after that disastrous battle. Encouraged by his example
other leaders joined him in his efforts to expel the English,
and in 1338 he was chosen Guardian of Scotland during
the absence of King David II. in France. He was present
in the ill-advised raid into England, which resulted in the
battle of Durham, 17 October 1346, where the king was
taken prisoner. The High Stewart commanded one of the
divisions of the Scots army, and after routing the force
opposed to him was overwhelmed by numbers and compelled
to withdraw. He succeeded in saving the wreck
of the army, with which, as Guardian for a second time,
he continued to maintain and assert his country's independence.
On the death of his uncle David II. he succeeded
to the throne as Robert II., 22 February 1370-1.
In this reign the succession to the crown of Scotland was
definitely settled by Parliament. King Robert died at
Dundonald, 19 April 1390, and was buried at Scone. He
married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Adam Mure of
Rowallan (dispensation by Pope Clement vi., 22 November
1347), and had by her :
1. JOHN, who succeeded him on the throne as ROBERT III.
2. Walter, married Isabella, Countess of Fife, and died
about 1362..........
Monday, 2 November 2009
The KINGS of SCOTLAND (12)
...descent, but there seems to be no proof of this, and
no other notice of Simon is known.
ALAN, son of Walter, and second High Stewart of
Scotland, is supposed to have accompanied Richard Cceur
de Lion to the Crusades. He is said to have married Eva,
daughter of Swan, son of Thor, Lord of Tippermuir and
Tranent, but this seems to be founded on a mistaken reading
by Duncan Stewart of a charter in the Register of
Scone.* He died in 1204, leaving at least two sons :
1. David, who appears as a guarantor of King Alexander's
engagement to marry the Princess of England ; and
2. WALTER, who succeeded his father as High Stewart.
WALTER, third High Stewart, was the first to adopt the
name of his office as a surname. He was appointed
Justiciar of Scotland by Alexander n. in 1230, and negotiated
that king's second marriage. He is said by Duncan
Stewart to have married Beatrix, daughter of Gilchrist,
Earl of Angus, but no proof has been found of this, and
he died in 1241 ,**
leaving issue :
1. ALEXANDER, his successor.
2. John, killed at Damietta 1249.
3. Walter, married Mary, younger daughter of Maurice,
Earl of Menteith, and became Earl of Menteith
(see that title). He appears to have died soon after
13 June 1292, leaving two sons :
(1) Alexander, his successor in the earldom, whose representation
ultimately merged in the Ducal House of Albany by the
marriage of his great-granddaughter to Robert Stewart,
Duke of Albany.
(2) Sir John, who was ancestor of the Menteiths of Rusky and
Kerse.
4. Euphemia, married Patrick, sixth Earl of Dunbar.
5. Margaret, who is said to have been married to Nigel
or Neil of Galloway, Earl of Carrick.
6. Elizabeth, or according to others, Beatrix, stated to
have been married to Maldouen, Earl of Lennox.
7. Sir Robert Stewart of Tarbolton and Cruxton is said
to have been a son of this Stewart.
So also is William de Ruthven, ancestor of the......
* Liber de Scon, No. 125. The person referred to being
Alan, son of Walter Ruthven. Cf. the charter cited, and
the Chartulary of Lindores,
Scot. Hist. Soc. Ed. 30, 244.
** Chron. de Mailros, 151.
more to follow...........
no other notice of Simon is known.
ALAN, son of Walter, and second High Stewart of
Scotland, is supposed to have accompanied Richard Cceur
de Lion to the Crusades. He is said to have married Eva,
daughter of Swan, son of Thor, Lord of Tippermuir and
Tranent, but this seems to be founded on a mistaken reading
by Duncan Stewart of a charter in the Register of
Scone.* He died in 1204, leaving at least two sons :
1. David, who appears as a guarantor of King Alexander's
engagement to marry the Princess of England ; and
2. WALTER, who succeeded his father as High Stewart.
WALTER, third High Stewart, was the first to adopt the
name of his office as a surname. He was appointed
Justiciar of Scotland by Alexander n. in 1230, and negotiated
that king's second marriage. He is said by Duncan
Stewart to have married Beatrix, daughter of Gilchrist,
Earl of Angus, but no proof has been found of this, and
he died in 1241 ,**
leaving issue :
1. ALEXANDER, his successor.
2. John, killed at Damietta 1249.
3. Walter, married Mary, younger daughter of Maurice,
Earl of Menteith, and became Earl of Menteith
(see that title). He appears to have died soon after
13 June 1292, leaving two sons :
(1) Alexander, his successor in the earldom, whose representation
ultimately merged in the Ducal House of Albany by the
marriage of his great-granddaughter to Robert Stewart,
Duke of Albany.
(2) Sir John, who was ancestor of the Menteiths of Rusky and
Kerse.
4. Euphemia, married Patrick, sixth Earl of Dunbar.
5. Margaret, who is said to have been married to Nigel
or Neil of Galloway, Earl of Carrick.
6. Elizabeth, or according to others, Beatrix, stated to
have been married to Maldouen, Earl of Lennox.
7. Sir Robert Stewart of Tarbolton and Cruxton is said
to have been a son of this Stewart.
So also is William de Ruthven, ancestor of the......
* Liber de Scon, No. 125. The person referred to being
Alan, son of Walter Ruthven. Cf. the charter cited, and
the Chartulary of Lindores,
Scot. Hist. Soc. Ed. 30, 244.
** Chron. de Mailros, 151.
more to follow...........
The KINGS of SCOTLAND (11)
4 William the son of Alan of Salopscire,' for lands of
the value of two knights' fees. In a charter of 1185
William the son of Alan and Walter the son of Alan
appear as benefactors of the order of Knights
Templars. William Pitz-Alan supported David I. of
Scotland in asserting the rights of the Empress
Matilda to the English throne, and his brother
Walter Fitz-Alan seems to have accompanied David
into Scotland, and to have been identical with the
' Walter the son of Alan ' who appears as High Stewart
of Scotland in the reign of David I. and Malcolm IV.
This is rendered more sure by the fact that in 1335
that office was claimed by Richard Fitz-Alan, Earl
of Arundel (descended of William Fitz-Alan above
mentioned), as his by hereditary right, the real
holder, Robert Stewart, the representative of Walter
Fitz-Alan the original grantee, having been temporarily
dispossessed by the English.
On his creation as High Stewart of Scotland he
also received great estates in the lowlands of Scotland
from King David I. In 1157 King Malcolm IV.
ratified the grants of the office of Stewart of
Scotland to his family, and added greatly to his
possessions to support the dignity while travelling in
the service of the Crown. In 1164 he repelled an
invasion of Renfrewshire. He founded Paisley Abbey
the foundation charter of which further proves his
connection with Shropshire by showing that the
monks to carry on the work were brought from thence,
and that it was dedicated 'inter olios' to St. Milburga
of Wenloc in Shropshire. He died in 1177,leaving
by his wife Eschyna de Molle, widow of Robert
de Croc and daughter apparently of the Thomas
de Londoniis, whose son Malcolm was the first Doorward
of Scotland, Alan, who carried on the family
and its honours. ' Simon, brother of Walter the son
of Alan,' appears as a witness in the foundation
charter of Paisley Abbey. To him the Boyds, who
bear the same arms as the Stewarts, trace their.......
more to follow........
the value of two knights' fees. In a charter of 1185
William the son of Alan and Walter the son of Alan
appear as benefactors of the order of Knights
Templars. William Pitz-Alan supported David I. of
Scotland in asserting the rights of the Empress
Matilda to the English throne, and his brother
Walter Fitz-Alan seems to have accompanied David
into Scotland, and to have been identical with the
' Walter the son of Alan ' who appears as High Stewart
of Scotland in the reign of David I. and Malcolm IV.
This is rendered more sure by the fact that in 1335
that office was claimed by Richard Fitz-Alan, Earl
of Arundel (descended of William Fitz-Alan above
mentioned), as his by hereditary right, the real
holder, Robert Stewart, the representative of Walter
Fitz-Alan the original grantee, having been temporarily
dispossessed by the English.
On his creation as High Stewart of Scotland he
also received great estates in the lowlands of Scotland
from King David I. In 1157 King Malcolm IV.
ratified the grants of the office of Stewart of
Scotland to his family, and added greatly to his
possessions to support the dignity while travelling in
the service of the Crown. In 1164 he repelled an
invasion of Renfrewshire. He founded Paisley Abbey
the foundation charter of which further proves his
connection with Shropshire by showing that the
monks to carry on the work were brought from thence,
and that it was dedicated 'inter olios' to St. Milburga
of Wenloc in Shropshire. He died in 1177,leaving
by his wife Eschyna de Molle, widow of Robert
de Croc and daughter apparently of the Thomas
de Londoniis, whose son Malcolm was the first Doorward
of Scotland, Alan, who carried on the family
and its honours. ' Simon, brother of Walter the son
of Alan,' appears as a witness in the foundation
charter of Paisley Abbey. To him the Boyds, who
bear the same arms as the Stewarts, trace their.......
more to follow........
Sunday, 1 November 2009
The KINGS of SCOTLAND (5)
(7) Marjory, possibly a daughter, as Robert de Pinkeny, one of
the Competitors, claimed to be her great-grandson in 1291,
but her position is uncertain.
MALCOLM iv. 'the Maiden,' born 20 March 1141-2,
succeeded his grandfather 1153 : died unmarried, at the age of
twenty-three, at Jedburgh 9 December 1165. He had a
natural son, name unknown, in whose memory he granted
the right of sanctuary to the church of Innerleithen.
WILLIAM ' the Lion ' succeeded his brother : married 5
September 1186 at Woodstock, Ermengarde, daughter of
Richard, Vicecomes de Bellomonte: died at Stirling 4
December 1214, and was buried at Arbroath. By his wife,
who died 11 February 1233-4 and was buried at Balmerino,
he had :
1. ALEXANDER, afterwards king.
2. Margaret, was married, at York in 1221, to Hubert de
Burgh, Justiciar of England and Ireland.
3. Isabella, was married to Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk,
and died s. p.
4. Marjory, was married, at Berwick 1 August 1235, to
Gilbert, Earl of Pembroke. She died s. p. 17 November
1244, and was buried in London.
King William had several illegitimate children :
1. Robert de London.
2. Henry Galightly, whose son Patrick Galightly was a
Competitor in 1291.
3. Isabella, whose mother was a daughter of Robert
Avenel ; married, first, in 1183, to Robert de Brus, and
second, in 1191 to Robert de Ros. Her great-grandson
William de Ros was a Competitor in 1291.
4. Ada, was married in 1184 to Patrick de Dunbar, fifth
Earl of Dunbar ; she died in 1200. Her great-grandson
Patrick de Dunbar was a Competitor in 1291.
5. Margaret, whose mother was a daughter of Adam de
Hythus, was married to Eustace de Vesci. Her
grandson William de Vesci was a Competitor in 1291.
6. Aufrica, was married to William de Say. Her greatgrandson
Roger de Mandeville was a Competitor in
1291.
more to follow..............
the Competitors, claimed to be her great-grandson in 1291,
but her position is uncertain.
MALCOLM iv. 'the Maiden,' born 20 March 1141-2,
succeeded his grandfather 1153 : died unmarried, at the age of
twenty-three, at Jedburgh 9 December 1165. He had a
natural son, name unknown, in whose memory he granted
the right of sanctuary to the church of Innerleithen.
WILLIAM ' the Lion ' succeeded his brother : married 5
September 1186 at Woodstock, Ermengarde, daughter of
Richard, Vicecomes de Bellomonte: died at Stirling 4
December 1214, and was buried at Arbroath. By his wife,
who died 11 February 1233-4 and was buried at Balmerino,
he had :
1. ALEXANDER, afterwards king.
2. Margaret, was married, at York in 1221, to Hubert de
Burgh, Justiciar of England and Ireland.
3. Isabella, was married to Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk,
and died s. p.
4. Marjory, was married, at Berwick 1 August 1235, to
Gilbert, Earl of Pembroke. She died s. p. 17 November
1244, and was buried in London.
King William had several illegitimate children :
1. Robert de London.
2. Henry Galightly, whose son Patrick Galightly was a
Competitor in 1291.
3. Isabella, whose mother was a daughter of Robert
Avenel ; married, first, in 1183, to Robert de Brus, and
second, in 1191 to Robert de Ros. Her great-grandson
William de Ros was a Competitor in 1291.
4. Ada, was married in 1184 to Patrick de Dunbar, fifth
Earl of Dunbar ; she died in 1200. Her great-grandson
Patrick de Dunbar was a Competitor in 1291.
5. Margaret, whose mother was a daughter of Adam de
Hythus, was married to Eustace de Vesci. Her
grandson William de Vesci was a Competitor in 1291.
6. Aufrica, was married to William de Say. Her greatgrandson
Roger de Mandeville was a Competitor in
1291.
more to follow..............
The KINGS of SCOTLAND (1)
THE development of the modern Kingdom of Scotland from a
disorganised state in which, after the days of the Roman occupation,
different races warred for supremacy, belongs to general history,
and need not be treated of in the pages of a Peerage.
But it is necessary for a complete understanding of the pedigrees
of the Scottish nobility to notice briefly the individual sovereigns
who ruled over the kingdom after its component elements were
united into one people, who occupied, if not the whole, at least
the greater part of the country now called Scotland. These rulers
will be considered not so much in relation to their public acts,
which again belong to the province of the historian, as to their
alliances, offspring, and relationships, which permeate the whole
genealogical history of the Peerage.
The most convenient starting-point for such a purpose is the reign
of MALCOLM III. 'Ceannmor,' i.e. Great head or Chief. He
was the eldest son of Duncan I. by his wife, a cousin of Siward,
Earl of Northumberland : Duncan being the son of Crinan the
Thane by his wife Bethoc, eldest daughter and heir of Malcolm
II. King of Scots.* He was born about 1031. Between 1061
and 1093 he led five raids into England,devastating the northern
counties and bringing about a great invasion of his own country
by William the Conqueror in 1072, and by his son Robert in 1080.
In his last English raid Malcolm was defeated and slain at
Alnwick, 13 November 1093. He married, first, about 1059,
Ingibjorg, daughter of Earl Finn Arnason, and widow of Thorfinn
Sigurdson, Earl of Orkney.
He had by her :
1. DUNCAN, afterwards king.
2. Donald, died 1085.
A son Malcolm has been assigned
to him, but there seems
to be no positive proof of this.
* Chron. Picts and Scots, 152 ; Fordun, book iv. 39, 40, 44 : Scottish
Kings, by Sir Archibald Hamilton Dunbar, Bart., which book is
the basis of this article, and where full references are given to the
authorities for the statements made.
more to follow...........
The KINGS of SCOTLAND (2)
....Malcolm Ceannmor married, secondly, at Dunfermline
1068-9, Margaret (St. Margaret of Scotland), daughter of
Edward AEtheling. By her, who died 16 November 1093, at
Edinburgh Castle, and was buried at Dunfermline, he had :
1. Edward, wounded with his father at Alnwick, and died
near Jedburgh 16 November 1093.
2. Edmund, Prince of Cumbria and afterwards a monk ;
he died at Montague in Somersetshire.
3. Ethelred, Earl of Fife, and Abbot of Dunkeld buried
at Kilrimont.
4. EDGAR, afterwards king.
5. ALEXANDER, afterwards king, as Alexander I.
6. DAVID, afterwards king.
7. Matilda the good Queen Maud was married to
Henry I. of England, 11 November 1100, and died 1
May 1118 leaving a daughter Matilda, who was
married, first, to the Emperor Henry v., and second,
to Geoffrey Plantagenet, by whom she had a son,
Henry II. of England.
8. Mary, was married in 1102 to Eustace, Count of
Boulogne, and died 31 May 1116, leaving a daughter,
Matilda, who was married to Stephen, King of
England.
DONALD ' BANE ' succeeded his brother Malcolm,
but after six months was deposed by his nephew
Duncan, the eldest son of Malcolm III, in May 1094.
DUNCAN II. born circa 1060; he also reigned only six......
More to follow........
1068-9, Margaret (St. Margaret of Scotland), daughter of
Edward AEtheling. By her, who died 16 November 1093, at
Edinburgh Castle, and was buried at Dunfermline, he had :
1. Edward, wounded with his father at Alnwick, and died
near Jedburgh 16 November 1093.
2. Edmund, Prince of Cumbria and afterwards a monk ;
he died at Montague in Somersetshire.
3. Ethelred, Earl of Fife, and Abbot of Dunkeld buried
at Kilrimont.
4. EDGAR, afterwards king.
5. ALEXANDER, afterwards king, as Alexander I.
6. DAVID, afterwards king.
7. Matilda the good Queen Maud was married to
Henry I. of England, 11 November 1100, and died 1
May 1118 leaving a daughter Matilda, who was
married, first, to the Emperor Henry v., and second,
to Geoffrey Plantagenet, by whom she had a son,
Henry II. of England.
8. Mary, was married in 1102 to Eustace, Count of
Boulogne, and died 31 May 1116, leaving a daughter,
Matilda, who was married to Stephen, King of
England.
DONALD ' BANE ' succeeded his brother Malcolm,
but after six months was deposed by his nephew
Duncan, the eldest son of Malcolm III, in May 1094.
DUNCAN II. born circa 1060; he also reigned only six......
More to follow........
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
WW1 and the Scots
....After the Battle of Loos Scotland would never
again provide half the number of infantrymen
for a massed attack on the Western Front, but
there were to be two other battles in which
Scots played a leading role and suffered a
disproportionate number of casualties.
The first of these was the Somme in 1916,
in which three wholly Scottish divisions took
part as well as Scottish battalions serving in
other divisions. (During the course of the battle
between July and November a total of fifty-one
Scottish infantry battalions took part in the
fighting on the Somme sector, but they were
never in the front line at the same time.) The
second was Arras, in 1917, which saw the
deployment of forty—four Scottish battalions
on the first day plus seven Scottish-named
Canadian battalions, making it the largest
concentration of Scots ever to have fought together.
The novelist John Buchan estimated that the Scots’
presence at Arras was seven times greater
than the army that fought under Robert the
Bruce at Bannock-bum in 1314,and it was
larger than the total number which had fought
at Loos...
(from 'The flowers of the forest' by Trevor Royce)
Scotfamtree has access to all available
World War One Medal cards,Pensions,
service records and many Newspaper reports.
again provide half the number of infantrymen
for a massed attack on the Western Front, but
there were to be two other battles in which
Scots played a leading role and suffered a
disproportionate number of casualties.
The first of these was the Somme in 1916,
in which three wholly Scottish divisions took
part as well as Scottish battalions serving in
other divisions. (During the course of the battle
between July and November a total of fifty-one
Scottish infantry battalions took part in the
fighting on the Somme sector, but they were
never in the front line at the same time.) The
second was Arras, in 1917, which saw the
deployment of forty—four Scottish battalions
on the first day plus seven Scottish-named
Canadian battalions, making it the largest
concentration of Scots ever to have fought together.
The novelist John Buchan estimated that the Scots’
presence at Arras was seven times greater
than the army that fought under Robert the
Bruce at Bannock-bum in 1314,and it was
larger than the total number which had fought
at Loos...
(from 'The flowers of the forest' by Trevor Royce)
Scotfamtree has access to all available
World War One Medal cards,Pensions,
service records and many Newspaper reports.
Scotfamtree book store
We have a vast selection of books for sale
via our wee shop.A few examples are
shown here.
About the Author
After graduating from St Andrews University
with an honours degree in history in 1970,
Elspeth Wills has spent her career as a
researcher, interpreter and writer within
advertising, marketing, economic development
and visitor attraction environments. She has
written over a dozen books on subjects as
varied as natural history, new town development
and Scottish innovation.
About the Author
Alistair Moffat was born and raised in Kelso.
He took degrees at the universities of St
Andrews, Edinburgh and London and played
rugby for Kelso and his universities. In 1976
he took charge of the Edinburgh Festival
Fringe as it grew into the largest arts
festival in the world.
About the Author
Samuel Johnson became famous as a
poet and a moral essayist before completing
his most famous project, The Dictionary of
the English Language. James Boswell met
Samuel Johnson in 1763, when the two
began their trip around the Hebrides, and is
celebrated not only as Johnson's biographer
but also for the disarming honesty of his
personal diaries. Formerly a lecturer in Celtic
in Glasgow and Edinburgh universities, Ronald
Black is Gaelic Editor of The
and a columnist in the West Highland Free Press.
In addition to numerous academic articles he is
author or editor of: Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair:
The Ardnamurchan Years, An Tuil: Anthology
of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse,
An Lasair: Anthology of 18th Century Scottish
Gaelic Verse, Eilein na h-Oige: The Poems of
Fr Allan McDonald and The Gaelic Otherworld.
Our Bookstore
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/scotlanfamily-21
via our wee shop.A few examples are
shown here.
About the Author
After graduating from St Andrews University
with an honours degree in history in 1970,
Elspeth Wills has spent her career as a
researcher, interpreter and writer within
advertising, marketing, economic development
and visitor attraction environments. She has
written over a dozen books on subjects as
varied as natural history, new town development
and Scottish innovation.
About the Author
Alistair Moffat was born and raised in Kelso.
He took degrees at the universities of St
Andrews, Edinburgh and London and played
rugby for Kelso and his universities. In 1976
he took charge of the Edinburgh Festival
Fringe as it grew into the largest arts
festival in the world.
About the Author
Samuel Johnson became famous as a
poet and a moral essayist before completing
his most famous project, The Dictionary of
the English Language. James Boswell met
Samuel Johnson in 1763, when the two
began their trip around the Hebrides, and is
celebrated not only as Johnson's biographer
but also for the disarming honesty of his
personal diaries. Formerly a lecturer in Celtic
in Glasgow and Edinburgh universities, Ronald
Black is Gaelic Editor of The
and a columnist in the West Highland Free Press.
In addition to numerous academic articles he is
author or editor of: Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair:
The Ardnamurchan Years, An Tuil: Anthology
of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse,
An Lasair: Anthology of 18th Century Scottish
Gaelic Verse, Eilein na h-Oige: The Poems of
Fr Allan McDonald and The Gaelic Otherworld.
Our Bookstore
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/scotlanfamily-21
Monday, 19 October 2009
Beggars
An Act for the Punishments of ‘Randy Beggars, Thiggars and
Egyptian Sorners’ was passed in 1698 which permitted beggars,
vagabonds or vagrants after conviction to be whipped,
then burned through the ear-lobe with a needle or a hot
iron about one inch in diameter and sent to another county.
Magistrates began sentencing those convicted to be
transported to the West Indies.Their numbers increased
during the ‘seven ill years’ of 1695-1701. The harvests
were ruined by poor weather and food prices rose
causing a parallelrise in poverty, begging and thieving.
Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun reckoned that there were ‘around
100,000-200,000’ vagrants in Scotland; he advocated making
them free slave labour and seized on transportation as a
means of disposing them. He decided to make an example of
the worst elements of them, called ']ockies’, and he
persuaded the Government to present 300-400 men to the
state of Venice to serve in their galleys against the
‘common enemies of Christendom’ - the Moors. Fifteen
hundred Scots soldiers, taken as prisoners at the
Battle of Worcester ln 1687, were transported to Guinea
to work in the gold mines.
Thirty- two women convicted of a variety of crimes at the
Magistrates Court in Edinburgh in March 1695, chose banishment
without trial to the plantations in America rather than be
put in prison. In ]une of the same year, ]anet Cook of Leith
also agreed to This punishment and promised never to return
under penalty of death. In January 1696, Elizabeth
Waterstone was also banished, without trial but with her
own consent, to the plantations.
This situation occurred on a number of occasions over a wide
period of time. A horse—stealer, Robert Alexander in 1698, and
William Baillie, a gipsy, in 1699, received a stay of execution and
Were put ‘under pain of death’ should they attempt to return.
Four boys, notorious thieves, and eight women who were
that and worse, were called before the magistrates of
Edinburgh, and ‘interrogat whether or not they would
consent freely to their own banishment furth this kingdom,
and go to his majesty’s plantations in America...’
Extract from:Domestic Annals of Scotland, (first edition)
by Robert Chambers, 1874.The entire book is being
digitised (over the coming winter)
for the benefit of our members.We have approx
200, 19th Century(Scottish)Historical books ,100 of
which ,have already been digitised.
Egyptian Sorners’ was passed in 1698 which permitted beggars,
vagabonds or vagrants after conviction to be whipped,
then burned through the ear-lobe with a needle or a hot
iron about one inch in diameter and sent to another county.
Magistrates began sentencing those convicted to be
transported to the West Indies.Their numbers increased
during the ‘seven ill years’ of 1695-1701. The harvests
were ruined by poor weather and food prices rose
causing a parallelrise in poverty, begging and thieving.
Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun reckoned that there were ‘around
100,000-200,000’ vagrants in Scotland; he advocated making
them free slave labour and seized on transportation as a
means of disposing them. He decided to make an example of
the worst elements of them, called ']ockies’, and he
persuaded the Government to present 300-400 men to the
state of Venice to serve in their galleys against the
‘common enemies of Christendom’ - the Moors. Fifteen
hundred Scots soldiers, taken as prisoners at the
Battle of Worcester ln 1687, were transported to Guinea
to work in the gold mines.
Thirty- two women convicted of a variety of crimes at the
Magistrates Court in Edinburgh in March 1695, chose banishment
without trial to the plantations in America rather than be
put in prison. In ]une of the same year, ]anet Cook of Leith
also agreed to This punishment and promised never to return
under penalty of death. In January 1696, Elizabeth
Waterstone was also banished, without trial but with her
own consent, to the plantations.
This situation occurred on a number of occasions over a wide
period of time. A horse—stealer, Robert Alexander in 1698, and
William Baillie, a gipsy, in 1699, received a stay of execution and
Were put ‘under pain of death’ should they attempt to return.
Four boys, notorious thieves, and eight women who were
that and worse, were called before the magistrates of
Edinburgh, and ‘interrogat whether or not they would
consent freely to their own banishment furth this kingdom,
and go to his majesty’s plantations in America...’
Extract from:Domestic Annals of Scotland, (first edition)
by Robert Chambers, 1874.The entire book is being
digitised (over the coming winter)
for the benefit of our members.We have approx
200, 19th Century(Scottish)Historical books ,100 of
which ,have already been digitised.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Darkest Scotland
In 1890, after one of his African journeys, H. M. Stanley wrote
a book entitled In Darkest Africa, setting out his adventures in a
continent where life was short and brutish. Soon afterwards
William Booth wrote a book entitled In Darkest England,
recounting the miseries and hardships of the English poor whom
his Salvation Army was striving to succour. Nobody wrote a
book about Darkest Scotland. It might well have been the most
horrifying of the trilogy.
The horror can, to some extent, be quantified. One of Balfour's
last actions as Prime Minister in December 1905 was to appoint a
Royal Commission on the Poor Law and the Relief of Distress.
It was to inquire into the working of the Poor Laws and into the
other methods used 'for meeting distress arising from want
of employment,particularly during periods of severe industrial
depression'.
The chairman of the commission was Lord George Hamilton and
among its members were Beatrice Webb, later president of the
Fabian Society, and William Beveridge, later the Liberal member
for Berwick-on-Tweed and author of the Beveridge Report which
formed the basis of the modern National Health Insurance scheme.
The commission spent more than three years collecting evidence,
which occupied nearly fifty volumes and provided a
comprehensive picture of conditions among the British working
classes during the late Victorian and early Edwardian period.
Issued in 1909, the report was in two parts.
The majority report comprised a series of proposals for minor
reforms to improve the existing services but the minority report,
inspired by Beatrice Webb and written by her husband Sidney
Webb, later Lord Passfield, proposed much more radical
measures. Among these were the introduction of old age
pensions, an eight-hour working day for certain industries,
and the recognition of a national minimum standard of living
below which nobody should be allowed to fall.
The evidence gathered by the commission included detailed
statistics regarding Scotland. These can be supplemented
by the Report on Housing and Industrial Conditions in
Dundee, published in 1905 by the Dundee Social Union,
by a study of the home environment of 1,400 school-
children in Edinburgh, published in 1906 by the Edinburgh
Charity Organisation Society, and by the 1911 census returns.
These sources reveal that half the houses in Edwardian
Scotland had only one or two rooms. The meanest houses
were to be found in the towns of the central industrial belt.
In Armadale in 1911 almost 83% of the population lived in
one- or two-roomed houses. Among other towns where
more than 70% of the population lived in such houses were
Airdrie, Clydebank, Lochgelly and Motherwell, while in Perth
only 30%, in Edinburgh 37% and in Aberdeen 38.6% of the
population occupied one- or two-roomed houses.
Overcrowding was a concomitant hardship. It existed, in the
Registrar-General's definition, where the average number of
persons per room (not per bedroom) was more than two. The
1911 census recorded that 56% of one-roomed houses in
Scotland had more than two occupants, 47% of two-roomed
houses had more than two persons per room, and 24% of
three-roomed houses also had more than two persons per
room. Glasgow was the most overcrowded city in the United
Kingdom, for over half its population lived at a density
of more than two persons per room. In Dundee in 1904
almost half the population was similarly overcrowded and
a detailed study of nearly 6,000 houses in the city showed
that 21% had no sanitary accommodation for women and
children, while 10% had none for men. Even where the
occupants had access to a water-closet or other sanitary
arrangements within or adjacent to the home, these were
often shared by many people. Of the 6,000 houses studied in
Dundee, almost a thousand had sanitary accommodation
shared by more than 25 persons, over two thousand had
sanitary accommodation shared by between 13 and 24
persons, and two thousand had sanitary accommodation
shared by not more than 12 persons. Most of the remaining
thousand had sanitary accommodation for men only.
In 1912 a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire into
Scottish urban and rural housing conditions, with special
reference to the housing of miners and agricultural labourers
, and to report on legislative changes considered desirable
to remedy the existing defects. The commission's report
was not published until 1917. It revealed that although the
number of people in Scotland living at a density of four
or more per room had fallen between 1901 and 1911
from 9.6% to 8.6% of the population, the number living
at a density of more than two per room, and therefore by
official definition 'overcrowded’, had barely changed,
being 45.7% in 1901 and 45.1% in 1911. The report
showed that the reason for the failure to reduce
overcrowding by any appreciable amount was simply a
sharp decline in house-building.
In Glasgow, for example, between 1901 and 1904 a total
of 13,080 houses (with an estimated 34,500 rooms) had
been built; between 1907 and 1910, 3,488 houses
(with an estimated 9,460 rooms); and between 1910
and 1913 only 945 houses (with an estimated 2,750 rooms).
A classic case of municipal lethargy in enforcing the
powers available under the 1890 Housing of the Working
Classes Act occurred in Port Glasgow. In 1901 the
medical officer of health reported that a district of the
town, where houses were crowded together with insufficient
sanitary accommodation and inadequate ventilation, was an
insanitary area under the terms of the act. The town council
accepted the report but because of local objections a
statutory inquiry was necessary.
Agreement was finally reached in 1904 and the- following
year Parliament sanctioned an order for the compulsory
purchase of the condemned properties. A council committee
was appointed to negotiate the purchases and by the end
of 1911, ten years after his initial report, the medical
officer was able to record that the scheme was nearing
completion.
Above is a brief look at Royal Commission's report on the
poor law and the statistic's are very interesting but what
the people themselves?What about the vast numbers of
sick or out-of-work folks during these times?
For a more fuller picture of Social conditions we need
to look towards the poor relief records ,held in various
archives across Scotland.
Scotfamtree have since day-one of our site,believed in
tracing these records on behalf of our members,especially
for those members who can not,easily,gain access to
these archive records.
a book entitled In Darkest Africa, setting out his adventures in a
continent where life was short and brutish. Soon afterwards
William Booth wrote a book entitled In Darkest England,
recounting the miseries and hardships of the English poor whom
his Salvation Army was striving to succour. Nobody wrote a
book about Darkest Scotland. It might well have been the most
horrifying of the trilogy.
The horror can, to some extent, be quantified. One of Balfour's
last actions as Prime Minister in December 1905 was to appoint a
Royal Commission on the Poor Law and the Relief of Distress.
It was to inquire into the working of the Poor Laws and into the
other methods used 'for meeting distress arising from want
of employment,particularly during periods of severe industrial
depression'.
The chairman of the commission was Lord George Hamilton and
among its members were Beatrice Webb, later president of the
Fabian Society, and William Beveridge, later the Liberal member
for Berwick-on-Tweed and author of the Beveridge Report which
formed the basis of the modern National Health Insurance scheme.
The commission spent more than three years collecting evidence,
which occupied nearly fifty volumes and provided a
comprehensive picture of conditions among the British working
classes during the late Victorian and early Edwardian period.
Issued in 1909, the report was in two parts.
The majority report comprised a series of proposals for minor
reforms to improve the existing services but the minority report,
inspired by Beatrice Webb and written by her husband Sidney
Webb, later Lord Passfield, proposed much more radical
measures. Among these were the introduction of old age
pensions, an eight-hour working day for certain industries,
and the recognition of a national minimum standard of living
below which nobody should be allowed to fall.
The evidence gathered by the commission included detailed
statistics regarding Scotland. These can be supplemented
by the Report on Housing and Industrial Conditions in
Dundee, published in 1905 by the Dundee Social Union,
by a study of the home environment of 1,400 school-
children in Edinburgh, published in 1906 by the Edinburgh
Charity Organisation Society, and by the 1911 census returns.
These sources reveal that half the houses in Edwardian
Scotland had only one or two rooms. The meanest houses
were to be found in the towns of the central industrial belt.
In Armadale in 1911 almost 83% of the population lived in
one- or two-roomed houses. Among other towns where
more than 70% of the population lived in such houses were
Airdrie, Clydebank, Lochgelly and Motherwell, while in Perth
only 30%, in Edinburgh 37% and in Aberdeen 38.6% of the
population occupied one- or two-roomed houses.
Overcrowding was a concomitant hardship. It existed, in the
Registrar-General's definition, where the average number of
persons per room (not per bedroom) was more than two. The
1911 census recorded that 56% of one-roomed houses in
Scotland had more than two occupants, 47% of two-roomed
houses had more than two persons per room, and 24% of
three-roomed houses also had more than two persons per
room. Glasgow was the most overcrowded city in the United
Kingdom, for over half its population lived at a density
of more than two persons per room. In Dundee in 1904
almost half the population was similarly overcrowded and
a detailed study of nearly 6,000 houses in the city showed
that 21% had no sanitary accommodation for women and
children, while 10% had none for men. Even where the
occupants had access to a water-closet or other sanitary
arrangements within or adjacent to the home, these were
often shared by many people. Of the 6,000 houses studied in
Dundee, almost a thousand had sanitary accommodation
shared by more than 25 persons, over two thousand had
sanitary accommodation shared by between 13 and 24
persons, and two thousand had sanitary accommodation
shared by not more than 12 persons. Most of the remaining
thousand had sanitary accommodation for men only.
In 1912 a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire into
Scottish urban and rural housing conditions, with special
reference to the housing of miners and agricultural labourers
, and to report on legislative changes considered desirable
to remedy the existing defects. The commission's report
was not published until 1917. It revealed that although the
number of people in Scotland living at a density of four
or more per room had fallen between 1901 and 1911
from 9.6% to 8.6% of the population, the number living
at a density of more than two per room, and therefore by
official definition 'overcrowded’, had barely changed,
being 45.7% in 1901 and 45.1% in 1911. The report
showed that the reason for the failure to reduce
overcrowding by any appreciable amount was simply a
sharp decline in house-building.
In Glasgow, for example, between 1901 and 1904 a total
of 13,080 houses (with an estimated 34,500 rooms) had
been built; between 1907 and 1910, 3,488 houses
(with an estimated 9,460 rooms); and between 1910
and 1913 only 945 houses (with an estimated 2,750 rooms).
A classic case of municipal lethargy in enforcing the
powers available under the 1890 Housing of the Working
Classes Act occurred in Port Glasgow. In 1901 the
medical officer of health reported that a district of the
town, where houses were crowded together with insufficient
sanitary accommodation and inadequate ventilation, was an
insanitary area under the terms of the act. The town council
accepted the report but because of local objections a
statutory inquiry was necessary.
Agreement was finally reached in 1904 and the- following
year Parliament sanctioned an order for the compulsory
purchase of the condemned properties. A council committee
was appointed to negotiate the purchases and by the end
of 1911, ten years after his initial report, the medical
officer was able to record that the scheme was nearing
completion.
Above is a brief look at Royal Commission's report on the
poor law and the statistic's are very interesting but what
the people themselves?What about the vast numbers of
sick or out-of-work folks during these times?
For a more fuller picture of Social conditions we need
to look towards the poor relief records ,held in various
archives across Scotland.
Scotfamtree have since day-one of our site,believed in
tracing these records on behalf of our members,especially
for those members who can not,easily,gain access to
these archive records.
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