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CHAPTER 1
Discovering Your Scottish Heritage
Tartan, kilts, bagpipes, and the Loch Ness Monster instantly bring Scotland to mind, whether you have Scottish ancestry or not. You may be aware of your Scottish great-grandfather and are eager to uncover his Scottish origins. Or perhaps you simply feel connected to Scottish music or the sound of Scots Gaelic and are hoping to share a genetic connection with this fabulous country. While the overall numbers of Scots who have immigrated to the United States may be small compared with other ethnic groups, Scottish Americans (including John Witherspoon and Andrew Carnegie) have had an outsized influence on American culture and business. And because Scots immigrated to the United States for more than three hundred years, you may very well have Scottish ancestry hidden somewhere in your family tree (image A).
This chapter provides a brief introduction to the history of Scottish immigration to the United States. Knowing the circumstances surrounding your ancestors' arrival in the United States can provide insight into their lives and reasons for departure. This chapter also features a brief summary of Scottish cultural activities maintained by Scottish Americans, allowing you to experience your heritage and honor your ancestors in new ways.
IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES
Scots have been coming to America since Colonial times, and many Scottish immigrants have played an integral role in American history. Here, we'll outline some of the broad trends in Scottish immigration to the United States. See chapter 4 for more on Scottish history.
Scots in Colonial America: 1600s–1700s
Scottish American history began in the seventeenth century. Few Scots came to the Americas in the first half of the century because emigrating-minded Scots had better opportunities closer to home, most notably in Ulster (see the sidebar on Ulster-Scots).
However, this situation changed mid-century, when many Scots were forcibly removed from their homeland to the American Colonies. After being defeated by the English commander Oliver Cromwell in 1650 and 1651, captured Scottish troops were transported to Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. In these Colonies, they were sold into indentured servitude for seven-year terms.
The first Scottish American organization, the Scots' Charitable Society, was founded in Boston in 1657 to help the Scotsmen whose term of indenture expired that year. Covenanters, Presbyterians who were ardently opposed to government interference in the Church of Scotland, were also transported to the Americas during a period of religious turmoil in the 1680s.
Other Scots came to the Americas under their own free will. Scottish merchants operated throughout the American Colonies in the mid- to late-1600s, though they may not have been permanent residents. The Navigation Acts, passed by the English Parliament, forbid the Colonies from trading with any European countries besides England. Since Scotland was treated as foreign for the purposes of these laws, any direct trade between Scotland and the Colonies was illegal. Still, contemporary records suggest Scots regularly smuggled goods out of the Colonies.
Other voluntary emigrants settled in the colonies of East Jersey (now part of New Jersey) and Carolina. The proprietors of East Jersey, several of whom were Quakers, received their charter in November 1683, and the new colony attracted immigrants from all over Scotland. Charleston in Carolina became another highlight of Scottish immigration after a nearby settlement (Stuart's Town) was founded by Covenanters, then destroyed by the Spanish just two years later. The Stuart's Town settlers relocated to Charleston or the northern colonies.
In 1707, the separate nations of England and Scotland formed a political union creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain. After the Union, Scots were able to trade with and settle in British territories. As a result, Scottish migration to the American colonies began in earnest in the 1730s and reached its height after 1760. By 1790, Scots had settled in every colony from Maine to Georgia and (by some estimates) represented just over 5 percent of the population.
Two trends stand out about the experience of the Scots in Colonial America. Highland Scots (from the northern and western part of the country) tended to settle in frontier regions like the Cape Fear Valley in North Carolina, the Mohawk Valley in New York, and Darien in Georgia. Lowland Scots (from the southern and eastern part of the country) often settled in the more established parts of the colonies and frequently gravitated to the growing urban centers of New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Charleston. Additionally, educated Scots, both Highland and Lowland, were overrepresented in Colonial government and the fields of religion, education, and trade. These well-educated merchants, religious figures, and educators were often unable to find work in the homeland, so they followed their Scottish brethren across the Atlantic. Simply put, many Scots needed to leave Scotland to earn their keep, and they were willing to do so.
As you might expect, all emigrants from this time period reached the Colonies by sailing ship, but their method of departure depended upon their circumstances. Highlanders from the same parish often sought their fortunes together in the New World, traveling in large groups. More commonly, individual extended family groups left together: patriarch, his children, and their spouses and children. Generally, these groups, large and small, paid for their own passage. Others were forced from Scotland. The Scottish government continued to transport convicts to the Americas (though Scottish courts sent considerably fewer than the English). A number of Scots indentured themselves, binding themselves to serve a master for a certain number of years in exchange for passage and (if they were skilled) an annual salary. Many Scots were actually indentured in London, having travelled to the metropolis to seek a living and deciding to emigrate to the colonies only after they were unable to find a living.
In this age of sail, most cities along the eastern seaboard served as ports of entry for immigrants. Scots arrived in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Charleston, Savannah, and many others. Toward the end of the Colonial period, Philadelphia became the most common port of entry for Scots arriving from Europe. Immigrants would travel from these port cities to their ultimate destinations, either over land or by local ships.
While the average Scot probably did not face any outright discrimination during the eighteenth century, they often were looked upon unfavorably. This feeling in the Colonies mirrored a similar trend in England, where both nations were still adjusting to the eff ects of Union. This disfavor was exceptionally strong in the Chesapeake area, where many Colonial planters resented their indebtedness to the Glasgow tobacco merchants.
This resentment boiled over in the already contentious climate in Colonial America, and Scottish immigrants played a large role in stoking the flames. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, ten of the thirteen Colonial governors were Scottish, and both the English and Loyalist Americans scapegoated the Scots as the cause of the war (image B). In the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jeff erson wrote of "Scotch and foreign mercenaries" that had been sent to "invade & deluge us in blood," likely referencing German Hessian and Scottish Highland soldiers who had been recruited to defeat the rebelling Colonists. However, Scottish-born members of the Continental Congress, particularly John Witherspoon, objected to the negative characterization of their homeland. Ultimately, the reference to "Scotch mercenaries" was removed from the final document.
After the conflict was over, Scots had to decide whether or not to live in the new nation. Many Highlanders (who had come to the Colonies in the 1760s and 1770s) were, like other recent immigrants, Loyalists, and left the United States at the end of the war. Roughly half of the Highlanders in the Cape Fear and Mohawk Valleys left after the War, heading for Canada, the Caribbean, or Scotland. But the other half stayed — determined to make peace with their neighbors and the new country.
The 1800s: A "Century" of Emigration
Though many Scots came to the United States early in the country's history, immigration came to a standstill between 1775 and 1820. Immigration was made difficult due to the American Revolution (1775–1783) and War of 1812 (1812–1815) on the US side, in addition to the French Revolution (1789–1799) and Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) on the European side. Afterwards began what is known as the "century" of immigration, lasting roughly from 1820 until 1930. This time period saw millions of people migrate across the world, especially from Europe to North America.
Scotland was particularly affected by mass emigration. Scotland's population grew between 1841 and 1921, but it lost between 10 and 47 percent of its natural increase per decade and saw its population decrease between 1921 and 1931:
Year Scottish population
1841 2,620,184
1851 2,888,274
1861 3,062,294
1871 3,360,018
1881 3,735,573
1891 4,033,103
1901 4,472,103
1911 4,760,904
1921 4,882,407
1931 4,842,554
In terms of emigrants as a percentage of the homeland's total population, only Ireland and Norway lost more of their populations to emigration during this time period than Scotland.
However, the actual numbers of Scots in the United States were quite small compared with other immigrant groups, especially in individual communities. For example, Germans flocked to the Midwest, where they greatly outnumbered Scots. In 1850, Germans in the city of Cincinnati outnumbered Scots in the whole state of Ohio 7:1.
People from all over Scotland settled successfully in every region of the United States during this period. They continued to settle in New York City and Philadelphia, established farms in Ohio and Wisconsin, and built adobe homes in California
No matter where they went, Scots — who were white, English-speaking, and Protestant — tended to be "invisible" to the rest of society, a phrase first used to describe them by historian Charlotte Erickson. Scots and other British immigrants were seen as more able to assimilate into American culture than other, non-English speaking European populations.
However, their ability to speak English masked the vast diff erences in the social and political structure of the two countries, as well as the difficulties these immigrants faced in their new homeland.
In the first half of the nineteenth century, most Scots who immigrated to America came in family groups and moved to rural, farming communities from the Northeast, the Central Belt, and the Border regions of Scotland. They often chose their destination from a guidebook or at the suggestion of those who had previously settled in the United States. Many were urban people who thought farming would be a better life, or farmers seeking an improved quality of life.
This changed somewhat in the second half of the nineteenth century, when many more single men and women came to America. As the second Industrial Revolution took off in the United States, booming factories required more employees, and Scots had several advantages over other immigrant groups coming to America at this time. First, many had the advantage of heavy-industry experience. Second, they were fluent in English, literate, and numerate due to the excellent education system in Scotland (again, especially as compared with other countries). These factors meant that Scots were able to acquire better jobs and command higher wages, especially in management roles (such as in coal mines).
The last period of significant Scottish migration to the United States occurred in the 1920s. This migration might have been larger if it hadn't been for the restrictive immigration acts passed by the US Congress during this decade. After the first quota act of 1921, immigration from the United Kingdom was reduced by almost 20 percent. After the Scottish economy (which had depended upon heavy industry like shipbuilding in World War I) collapsed, Scots still found the United States an attractive destination. By 1930, the Scottish-born population in the United States had increased by almost 100,000 over that of 1920, increasing from 254,570 to 354,323.
SCOTTISH TRADITIONS AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES
All things Scottish have become increasingly popular since the release of the successful films Braveheart (1995) and Brave (2012), as well as the television series Outlander (first aired in 2014). However, Scottish Americans have actively maintained and promoted Scottish culture in the United States for centuries. They have formed organizations, hosted dinners, and held sporting events. Shops in America sell imported goods like tartan fabrics and chocolates. Learning about these various cultural events and symbols will help you more greatly appreciate your Scottish heritage.
Scots and Scottish Americans also celebrate their heritage through traditional dress. The kilt, the traditional garment for Scottish men, is popular at Highland games (see the later section), weddings, and other special events on both sides of the Atlantic. In Scotland, the kilt (first worn in its current form 270 years ago) is also the favored garment for supporters of Scottish sports teams.
Tartan, a checkered pattern of multiple colors, has been associated with Scotland (especially the Highlands) for many centuries. Since the early nineteenth century, families or regions have adopted particular setts (patterns), though there are no rules limiting who may wear which tartan pattern. If your family doesn't have a tartan (or you don't like the one "assigned" to your family), simply pick one you like. You can search all officially registered tartans from the Dress Gordon to the Edinburgh Zoo Panda tartan at the Scottish Register of Tartans . Scottish Americans have also developed a ritual called the Kirkin' o' the Tartan, during which the tartan fabric and their associated families are blessed. The first one was held in Washington, D.C. in the early years of the Second World War, and churches of various denominations can host them.
Another way to get in touch with your Scottish heritage is to eat traditional foods. Scotland is particularly known for the high quality of its salmon and beef. Oatmeal, which grows well in the Scottish climate, is another staple. Some foodstuff s like shortbread, scones, Irn-Bru (a carbonated drink), whisky, and haggis (off al, suet, oatmeal, onions, and spices all boiled together in a sheep's stomach) are well known and either adored or shunned, depending upon one's taste. Other yummy Scottish fare include Forfar bridies, crescent-shaped savory pies; Scotch pies, double-crusted savory pies (image C); stovies, a one-pot meal of meat and potatoes; Scotch broth, a lamb and barley soup; Cullen skink, a soup of smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions or leeks; and cranachan, a dessert containing oats, cream, whisky, and raspberries.
Scots and their descendants in the United States have established an array of organizations to maintain their heritage and encourage interest in Scotland. These groups include clan organizations, St. Andrew's Societies, Caledonian Societies, and Scottish American Societies. These groups sponsor, organize, or attend various Scottish heritage events and holidays throughout the year. The sections that follow discuss some of the most prominent.
Highland (or Scottish) Games
Scottish organizations will put on these exhibitions of Scottish music, food, sport, and culture. As the name implies, these festivals feature athletic competitions (including caber toss, Braemar stone toss, and Scottish hammer throw), as well as contests for Highland dancing, fi ddling, and piping. Many close with a "massed" band performance, in which several band groups come together to play at once. Attendees can also eat Scottish food, take dance workshops, and purchase goods imported from the United Kingdom while enjoying Scottish music and dress (image D). Highland Games are held variously throughout the year, though most are in the summer — fi nd a list here . (Continues…)
Excerpted from "The Family Tree Scottish Genealogy Guide"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Amanda Epperson.
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