The Beagle Log, 11 March 2008 - Scotch-Irish

Last edited by Don on Thu 13 Mar 2008 - 1:04; edited 2 times in total

My earlier posts dealing with the French and Indian Wars seemed to have been received with some interest. Here is another historical tidbit that may be of interest.

The term “Scotch-Irish” is little known in the British Isles. In North America Scotch-Irish refer to emigrants from Northern Ireland in the early 1800’s. (In the British Isles, they were known as the “Ulster Scots”.) Most Scotch-Irish moved to the English colonies, living on the western frontier from Pennsylvania, through the Shenandoah Valley, down the Appalachia’s, to George. A much smaller number settled in New England. An estimated 200-250,000 migrated between 1717 and 1776. They comprised 10-15% of the population at the time of the American Revolutionary War.

Who were the “Scotch-Irish”?

Their forbears came from the Scottish Lowlands. They were sent to settle the “Ulster Plantation” by King James I. Life for Lowland Scots in the early 17^th century was not great and Northern Ireland offered great rewards. All was well until James died. Charles I, James successor, was pro Anglican and anti Presbyterian and proceeded to force the Anglican Church on the Scottish people as well as others in the England; this being one of the factors leading to the English Civil War. The war ends, Oliver Cromwell is in charge and sets out to suppress the Scotts (Charles I was a Scot after all). In mid-century, Cromwell turns his attention to Ireland and goes after both Catholics and Presbyterians with equal zeal. With Cromwell’s death, Charles II resumes the crown – and bad gets worse for the Scots. Emigration from Scotland to Ireland increases. James II, a stout Catholic, follows Charles II. In 1688, he is deposed by William of Orange, a protestant. His accession to the crown results in one last large wave of Scots to Ireland. Under William, all is relatively well religion wise. On the down side, the Ulster Plantations were successful and competed with British merchants. Although Scots in Northern Ireland had the same rights as their English counterparts, constraints were placed on their business activities. 1717 marks the start of the mass migration of Scotch-Irish to North America. Up to a quarter million emigrated over the next 50 years.

{If I misstated any of the above English history, please let me know}

Scotch-Irish descendents melded into mainstream America. The large migration of Catholic Irish in the mid 19^th century popularized the term “Scotch-Irish” to differentiate the earlier protestant emigrants (and their

descendents) from the Catholic Irish.

Chester Smith, my great-grandfather married Ellen Wilson (my great-grandmother) who was of Scotch-Irish decent. My Wilson line traces back to James Wilson born 1692 in Londonderry, Ireland. His family roots, no confirmation on this, were in Argyle Scotland from where his ancestors emigrated in 1612. In 1729, James and family came to Boston with other families from whom I have some ancestors: McGee, Riddell, Thompson, & McCellan. They settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire. By the mid 1700’s, the Wilson clan had moved to Colrain, Massachusetts when that community was founded.

Many Americans have Scotch-Irish roots. Some are:

- Andrew Jackson 7th President, 1829-37
- James Polk 11th President, 1845-49
- James Buchanan 15th President, 1857-61
- Ulysses Grant 18th President, 1869-77
- Chester Arthur 21st President, 1881-85
- Grover Cleveland 22nd and 24th President, 1885-89 and 1893-97:.
- Benjamin Harrison 23rd President, 1889-93
- William McKinley 25th President, 1897-1901:
- Theodore Roosevelt 26th President, 1901-04:
- Woodrow Wilson 28th President, 1913-21:
- Richard Nixon 37th President, 1969-74
- Bill Clinton 42nd President, 1993-2001
- Ava Gardner (movie star)
- Michael Keaton (actor)
- Robert Mitchum (actor)
- Audie Murphy (soldier and actor)
- Dolly Parton (singer and actress)
- George C. Scott (actor)
- Jimmy Stewart (actor}
- John Wayne (actor)
- Stephen King (author)
- Jefferson Davis (Confederacy President)
- Sam Houston (Texan statesman)
- Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (Confederate General)
- John McCain (Senator, U.S. Presidential Candidate)
- George B. McClellan (Union General)
- George S. Patton (US General)
- J.E.B. Stuart (Confederate General)
- Arnold Palmer (golfer)
- Neil Armstrong, (astronaut)
- Davy Crockett (frontiersman)
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Don

Hi Don ::

Thanks for the above. Love reading all your historial posts.

Luv Jean

Hola Don!

Yes, it is very interesting and once again local isues have a worldwide impact!

Hasta luego! Gillian :
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''What will survive of us is love.'' Philip Larkin