Derelict Cottages With Music On History Visit To South Uist Outer Hebrides Scotland

Tour Scotland 4K travel video with Scottish music, of derelict Highland Clearances cottages on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to South Uist, Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Deas, Outer Hebrides, Britain, United Kingdom. The island, in common with the rest of the Hebrides, is one of the last remaining strongholds of the Gaelic language in Scotland. South Uist's inhabitants are known in Gaelic as Deasaich. Colonel John Gordon of Cluny, of Cluny Castle, Aberdeenshire, embarked on removing people from their Hebridean homes in 1851 after he saw poor returns on his estate in the Western Isles, which included land on Benbecula, South Uist and Barra. Colonel John Gordon bought the islands from the 18th chief of Clanranald, Reginald George Macdonald, in 1838. Within nine years, the deteriorating condition of the islanders was described “ as a scene of wretchedness ” by Reverend Norman Macleod as land for farming was reduced for sheep grazing. Four years later, Gordon, who also owned six plantations in the West Indies and was described as the ‘ richest commoner ” in Scotland, began forced evictions on all his islands. A compulsory public meeting in Lochboisdale, South Uist, was held on August 11 1851, after which tenants were forced on board waiting emigration vessels. One Highlander, named Angus Johnstone, resisted with such pith that they had to handcuff him before he could be mastered, but in consequence of the priests’ interference his manacles were taken off and he was marched between four officers on board the emigrant vessel. On arrival in Canada the former crofters cleared from South Uist claimed that promises of work, and even land, in some cases, were non existent. These emigrants left with nothing but the clothing they wore. Dilapidated old sailing ships, used to carrying timber from the New World to Britain, put the return journey to financial benefit by carrying emigrants to Canada. Between 1847 and 1853, at least forty nine emigrant ships sailed from port, laden with these miserable people and were never heard of again. Many, who survived the journey, perished on the shores of the St. Lawrence. The starving Uist settlers were racked by cholera on the voyage or were forced to beg upon arrival. In the summer of 1851, up to last 1100 souls from Colonel Gordon's estates had landed at Quebec and begged their way to Upper Canada. In this condition, they walked twenty miles up the Brock Road from Dundas to Puslinch. Gordon, who also served as a Tory MP for Weymouth and Melcombe, Regis in England died in 1858 his estate ultimately passing to the wife of his late son, John Gordon of Cluny. Lady Emily Gordon Cathcart. who visited the estate once in 54 years, continued to encourage tenants to leave for Canada and stopped releasing land for farming. Some believe her support for emigration was to clear Catholic tenants from her property. Others say it was to boost the value of her stock in Hudson’s Bay Company and the Canadian Pacific Railway. The people of the Hebrides will never forget John Gordon of Cluny for his cruelties. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

No comments: