Hunter Set Adrift upon the World

The Sutherland Clearances
1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-0-85790-262-7
Verlag: Birlinn
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 496 Seiten

Winner of Saltire Scottish History Book of the Year 2016 They would be better dead, they said, than set adrift upon the world. But set adrift they were - thousands of them, their communities destroyed, their homes demolished and burned. Such were the Sutherland Clearances, an extraordinary episode, involving the deliberate depopulation of much of a Scottish county. What was done in the course of that episode was planned and carried out by a small group of men and one woman. Most of those involved wrote a great deal about their actions, intentions and feelings, and much of it has been preserved. There are no equivalent collections of material from those whose communities ceased to exist. Their feelings and fears are harder to access, but they are by no means irrecoverable. In this book James Hunter tells the story of the Sutherland Clearances. His researches took him to archives in Scotland, England and Canada, to the now deserted straths of Sutherland, to the frozen shores of Hudson Bay. The result is a gripping, moving, definitive account of a people's struggle for survival in the face of tragedy and disaster which includes experiences which have not featured in any previous such account.

James Hunter is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of the Highlands and Islands. He has written extensively about the north of Scotland and about the region's worldwide diaspora. In the course of a varied career Hunter has been, among other things, director of the Scottish Crofters Union, chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and an award-winning journalist. His book Set Adrift upon the World (Birlinn 2016) was Saltire History Book of the Year in 2016.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hunter, James

Leseproben

Some actors in the clearance drama

Auld, William Senior Hudson’s Bay Company man with a very low opinion of the Sutherland people the Earl of Selkirk recruited for his Red River settlement.

Bannerman, Donald Much-loathed sheriff-officer and constable in charge of the clearance of scores of Sutherland communities.

Brander, James Clerk or secretary to Patrick Sellar until 1817. Afterwards Sutherland’s procurator fiscal. Supervised many evictions.

Brougham, Henry MP Leading Whig politician. Close friend of James Loch. Helped Loch ensure that Sutherland Estate policy was not criticised in parliament.

Cameron, Duncan Senior North West Company man at Red River. Key organiser of efforts to sabotage the settlement there of clearance refugees from Sutherland.

Chisholm, William Tenant at Badinloskin, Strathnaver. The burning of his home by Patrick Sellar in June 1814, and the subsequent death of Chisholm’s mother-in-law, Margaret MacKay, led to Sellar being charged with culpable homicide.

Cleugh, John Shepherd. Targeted by 1813 protestors in the Strath of Kildonan. Afterwards sheep-farming tenant of Pollie on the north-western fringes of Strathbrora.

Clunes, William Army officer and member of long-established Sutherland family. The creation of his Torrish sheep farm in the Strath of Kildonan precipitated the Kildonan uprising of 1813.

Colquhoun, Archibald MP Lord advocate who dealt with the repercussions of the opening phase of clearance in Sutherland.

Cranstoun, George Edinburgh lawyer and Sheriff of Sutherland during opening phase of clearance. His independent mindedness led to his falling foul of James Loch and the Staffords.

Dudgeon, Thomas Easter Ross farmer whose opposition to clearance led to his organising in 1819 a subscription-based mass movement. Seen by James Loch and the Staffords as a serious threat to their plans for Sutherland.

Edwards, Abel Hudson’s Bay Company surgeon who helped care for Kildonan emigrants at their encampment on the Churchill River in the winter of 1813–14.

Gordon, Joseph, of Carrol Sold his Strathbrora estate to the Staffords in 1812. Edinburgh-based businessman and lawyer. Opponent of clearance. Acted for several clearance critics. Detested by the Staffords and James Loch. Helped clearance victims leave for Nova Scotia.

Gordon, Robert, of Langdale Long-established tacksman (tacksmen were traditional tenants of gentry background) at Langdale, Strathnaver. Father-in-law of David MacKenzie. Gordon’s lands were among those taken over by Patrick Sellar who treated him contemptuously.

Grant, Cuthbert Métis leader who, in alliance with the North West Company, harassed Red River’s Kildonan settlers who were seen as a threat to the Métis way of life.

Grant, George MacPherson MP Owed his Sutherland parliamentary seat to the Staffords. Very much their poodle. Staunch supporter of clearance.

Gunn, Donald Caithness teenager who, following his recruitment by the Hudson’s Bay Company, accompanied emigrants from Kildonan to Hudson Bay. Wrote about this, many years later, in his History of Manitoba.

Hall, James Shepherd targeted during 1813 protests in the Strath of Kildonan. Afterwards sheep-farming tenant of Sciberscross, Strathbrora.

Jackson, Andrew Commander of American forces at the Battle of New Orleans where hundreds of Sutherland soldiers, serving with the British army’s 93rd Regiment, were killed at a point when, back home, their communities were being destroyed.

Loch, James Commissioner to the Marquis of Stafford and, in effect, chief executive officer of the Stafford business empire. In overall charge of Sutherland Estate developments from 1816. Planned the mass evictions of 1819–20.

McDonald, Archibald Appointed by the Earl of Selkirk to help get emigrants from Kildonan to Red River by way of Hudson Bay.

MacDonald, William Recruiting sergeant for the 93rd (Sutherland) Regiment. In 1813 travelled to London on behalf of the Kildonan rebels. Instrumental in involving the Earl of Selkirk in Sutherland affairs.

Macdonell, Miles Appointed by the Earl of Selkirk as initial governor of the earl’s Red River settlement.

MacKay, Angus As a boy of 11, fled from one of Patrick Sellar’s evicting parties in Strathnaver. As an old man, testified to Lord Napier about his experiences.

MacKay, Angus and Jean Married in Kildonan in 1813. In April of the following year, trekked on snow-shoes from Fort Churchill to York Factory. Settled eventually in Ontario.

MacKay, Donald Strathbrora-born fur trader. Active in the North American interior in the late eighteenth century. Returned to Sutherland and settled at Ascoilemore, Strathbrora. Collaborated with the Earl of Selkirk. Leading opponent of clearance.

MacKay, John Successful businessman and railway contractor of Sutherland background. Gave evidence to Lord Napier and backed land reform.

MacKay, William, of Achoul Member of long prominent Strathnaver family. Tacksman of Achoul beside Loch Naver. Dispossessed twice in the course of the clearances. In his nineties when evicted for the second time.

MacKenzie, David Minister of Farr, the parish including Strathnaver. Vacillated between endorsement of, and opposition to, clearance.

MacKenzie, William The Stafford family’s Edinburgh lawyer.

McKid, Robert Sheriff-substitute of Sutherland during opening phase of clearance. Deputy to George Cranstoun. With Cranstoun’s backing, mounted 1816 prosecution of Patrick Sellar.

MacLeod, Donald Stonemason. Cleared from Strathnaver. Wrote extensively, influentially and bitterly about the clearances. Highly critical of the Sutherland clergy.

Maconochie, Alexander MP Lord advocate in succession to Archibald Colquhoun. Helped James Loch ease George Cranstoun out of Sutherland’s sheriffship.

MacPherson, Kate Left her Strath of Kildonan home for Red River in 1813. Nursed typhus sufferers at Sloop’s Cove on the Churchill River in the fall of that year. Afterwards settled at Red River.

Munro, John Evicted during Patrick Sellar’s 1814 clearances in Strathnaver. Lead organiser of the successful effort to have Patrick Sellar arrested and tried.

Napier, Lord Diplomat and colonial governor. Chairman of 1883 royal commission of enquiry into crofting unrest and crofter grievances.

Rae, William MP Lord advocate in succession to Alexander Maconochie. In 1821 persuaded by James Loch to send troops to Sutherland to assist with evictions.

Reed, Gabriel Leading Sutherland sheep farmer whose Kilcalmkill farm stretched from Strathbrora to the Strath of Kildonan.

Robertson, Colin Hudson’s Bay Company man who succeeded Miles Macdonell as governor of the Earl of Selkirk’s settlement at Red River.

Ross, Charles Sheriff of Sutherland in succession to George Cranstoun. His appointment was subject to the approval of James Loch and the Staffords whose bidding he did without question.

Ross, Jessie and Gordon Gordon was a Strathbrora schoolmaster. Gordon’s protest to the Marquis of Stafford about the circumstances surrounding his wife and children’s eviction from their Ascoilemore home was treated by the Staffords and James Loch as a serious threat to them.

Ross, Walter Minister of Clyne, the parish including Strathbrora. Staunch supporter of clearance.

Roy, John Sutherland Estate surveyor.

Sage, Alexander Minister of Kildonan. Generally opposed to clearance.

Sage, Donald Son of Alexander. Preacher at Achness, Strathnaver, during later phase of clearance. Author of biography dealing at length with clearance period. Critic of clearance.

Selkirk, Earl of Kirkcudbrightshire estate owner. Impassioned critic of clearance. Hudson’s Bay Company shareholder. With HBC backing, helped people quit Kildonan for his Red River settlement – today the city of Winnipeg.

Sellar, Patrick Factor (or manager) of the Sutherland Estate, in association with William Young, from 1811 to 1817. Also tenant of several estate farms. His conduct of evictions in Strathnaver in 1814 led, in 1816, to his being tried in the High Court on culpable homicide charges.

Stafford, Marquis and Marchioness of Owners of the Sutherland Estate. Jointly responsible for the Sutherland clearances. She brought her ancestral lands in Sutherland to their partnership. He brought English estates, extensive business interests and immense wealth.

Suther, Francis Principal factor of the Sutherland Estate in succession to William Young and Patrick Sellar. Lead organiser of the mass evictions of 1819–20.

Sutherland, Alexander Younger brother of John Sutherland of Sciberscross. Army officer. Lived in London. Fiercely opposed to clearance. Source of much of the London press’s critical coverage of events in clearance-era Sutherland.

Sutherland, Angus MP Descendant of people cleared from the Strath of Kildonan. Influential land reformer. Gave evidence to Lord...