This is the first volume in a new series of books by David Dobson designed to identify the origins of Scottish Highlanders who traveled to America prior to the Great Highland Migration that began in the 1730s and intensified thereafter.The events leading to the Highland exodus are worthy of mention. Much of this emigration was directly related to a breakdown in social and economic institutions. Under the pressures of the commercial and industrial revolutions of the 17th and 18th centuries; Highland chieftains abandoned their patriarchal role in favor of becoming capitalist landlords. By raising farm rents to the breaking point; the chiefs left the social fabric of the Scottish Highlands in tatters. Accordingly; voluntary emigration by Gaelic-speaking Highlanders began in the 1730s. The social breakdown was intensified by the failure of the Jacobite cause in 1745; followed by the British military occupation and repression that occurred in the Highlands in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden. In 1746; the British government dispatched about 1;000 Highland Jacobite prisoners of war to the colonies as indentured servants. Later; during the Seven Years War of 1756-63; Highland regiments recruited in the service of the British crown chose to settle in Canada and America rather than return to Scotland.Once in North America; the Highlanders tended to be clannish and moved in extended family groups; unlike immigrants from the Lowlands who moved as individuals or in groups of a few families. The Gaelic-speaking Highlanders tended to settle on the North American frontier; whereas the Lowlanders merged with the English on the coast. Highlanders seem to have established "beachheads;" and their kin subsequently followed. The best example of this pattern is in North Carolina; where they first arrived in 1739 and moved to the Piedmont; to be followed by others for over a century. Highlanders from particular counties in Scotland; moreover; settled in particular areas in the colonies; for example; those from Argyll tended to emigrate to North Carolina; to upper New York; and later to the Canadian Maritimes. Another factor that distinguishes research in Highland genealogy is the availability of pertinent records. Scottish genealogical research is generally based on the parish registers of the Church of Scotland; which provide information on baptism and marriage. In the Scottish Lowlands; such records can date back to the mid-16th century; but in general Highland records start much later. Americans seeking their Highland roots; therefore; face the problem that there are few; if any; church records available that predate the American Revolution. In the absence of Church of Scotland records; the researcher must turn to a miscellany of other records; such as court records; estate papers; sasines; gravestone inscriptions; burgess rolls; port books; services of heirs; wills and testaments; and especially rent rolls. (Some rent rolls even predate parish registers.)Mr. Dobson's series; Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration; 1725-1775; therefore; is designed to identify the kinds of material that is available in the absence of parish registers and to supplement the church registers when they are available. Scottish Highlanders on the Eve the Great Migration; 1725-1775: The People of Argyll is the first volume in the series; subsequent volumes will focus on Inverness and other Highland districts. While the present volume is not a comprehensive directory of all the people of Argyll during the mid-18th-century; it does pull together references on nearly 3;000 18th-century inhabitants. Coverage extends to all parishes within Argyll; with the exception of the Isle of Jura; which has been dealt with elsewhere in print. In all cases; Mr. Dobson gives each Highlander's name; a place within Argyll (birth; residence; employment; etc.); a date; and the source. In some cases; we also learn the ide
#3751280 in Books 2015-08-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .92 x 6.00l; 1.25 #File Name: 0806151773400 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Not Scum; But Good Men Pushed Beyond Reasonable LimitsBy WNC HikerEdward Coss completely destroys the myth that the early 19th century British soldier joined the Army to escape jail or transport to Australia; and that once in the Army; only the fear of being flogged kept him under control. Using an impressive array of data from Army records and historical accounts; Coss conclusively shows that the British soldier was far more likely to be a laborer or craftsman who joined the Army because it promised food and pay at a time when civilian life guaranteed neither. Unfortunately; the Army did not deliver on these promises to the soldiers who served under the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular War. Their rations; which were often not delivered; were at starvation level. They had no alternative to theft if they were to survive. But the overwhelming majority of them adhered to a code of conduct that prohibited theft from other soldiers or unnecessary violence against civilians. Men who broke that code were ostracized; making their survival far more difficult.Coss offers anecdotal; but very convincing; evidence about the importance of the six-man mess group as the basic unit to which soldiers gave their allegiance. Soldiers shared food; drink and plunder with their messmates and stood by them in battle. This; far more than any fear of punishment; accounts for the steadfastness of the British infantry in battle and its unbroken record of victories against the French in Spain. Coss also shows that the commitment 19th century British soldiers had to their mess mates is the same that American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq had to their small units. Unfortunately; he does not examine the negative example of Viet-Nam; where the U.S. Army practice of rotating individual men; rather than units; broke down the small group dynamic that is so critical to an army's success.Overall; Coss has written an enjoyable; readable book and made a major contribution to our understanding of the Napoleonic era.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This account of historical Soldiers offers insight for modern forcesBy BrettDr. Coss delivers an exceptional historical account of the common British Soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. The basic knowledge of how enlisted troops bond is essential understanding that officers should recognize and respect (coming from a person who put their foot in both wells). A further study of key points even emphasizes what to do in terms of taking care of modern veterans; albeit by studying what not to do. The book also includes a scientific approach to understanding energy requirements for Soldiers across different time periods that offers an added aspect of logistic requirements; even for the modern battlefield. I recommend this book for anyone building a team; whether a combat or a civilian workforce element; but especially for anyone beginning a military career.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. but I don't know if it was any worse than that of a soldier in the armies of ...By Nessim LevyIn some sense this is a polemical work as the author strives (successfully in my opinion) to restore the image of the British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. He brings forth example after example to support his view that the reputation of the common soldier has been unfairly tarnished over the years beginning with Wellington's disparaging comments which have been uncritically accepted because of the Duke's iconic status.Mr. Coss provides a host of deal about the soldier's pay; feeding; medical care; disciplining and dress. I think a comparison with the care; feeding; clothing and pay of soldiers of the other armies in these wars would have been helpful. Clearly the British soldier's lot was a difficult one; but I don't know if it was any worse than that of a soldier in the armies of France; Russia; Prussia or Austria.Over all this is a very interesting book that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in warfare from the perspective of the common soldier.
