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Archiver > NCBLADEN > 2000-02 > 0949943986


From: "Dee Thompson" <>
Subject: Re: RE:Very Limited List
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 12:19:46 -0500


Please note Richard A. Bain's e-mail pointing out that the Bachelor of Leith
"never
left the waters around the British Isles". Therefore this ship's records
should not be used as information regarding emigration. Merely utilize the
information gleaned from a passenger's examination, and perhaps the date of
his/her original departure.

Note: copied as written.
William Gordon saith that he is aged sixty and upwards, by Trade a Farmer,
married, hath six children, who Emigrate with him, with the Wives and
Children of his two sons John and Alexander Gordon. Resided last at Wymore
in the Parish of Clyne in the County of Sutherland, upon lands belonging to
William Baillie of Rosehall. That having two sons already settled in
Carolina, who wrote him encouraging him to come there, and finding the Rents
of Lands raised in so much that a Possession for which his Grandfather paid
only Eight Merks Scots he himself paid Sixty, he was induced to emigrate for
the greater benefit of his children being himself an Old Man and lame so it
was indifferent to him in what Country he died. That his Circumstances were
greatly reduced not only by the rise of Rents but by the loss of Cattle,
particularly in the severe Winter 1771. That the lands on which he lived
have often changed Masters, and that the Rents have been raised on every
change; and when Mr Baillie bought them they were farmed with the rest of
his purchase to one Tacksman (footnote 45. A middleman who leased a large
piece of land from the owner and sublet it in small farms.) at a very high
Rent, who also must have his profits out of them. All these things
concurring induced him to leave his own country in hopes that his Children
would earn their Bread more comfortably elsewhere. That one of his sons is
a Weaver and another a Shoe Maker, and he hopes they may get bread for
themselves and be a help to support him.

Wm. Sutherland, aged Forty, a Farmer, married, hath five children from 19 to
9 years old, lived at Strathalidale in the Parish of Rea, in the County of
Caithness, upon the Estate of the late Colonel McKay of Bighouse; Intends
to go to North Carolina; left his own country because the Rents were raised,
as Soldiers returning
upon the peace with a little money had offered higher Rents; and longer
Fines or Grassums (footnote 46: A premium paid to a feudal superior on
entering upon the holding.), besides the Services were oppressive in the
highest degree. That from his Farm which paid 60 Merks Scots, he was
obliged to find two Horses and two Servants from the middle of July to the
end of Harvest solely at his own Expence, besides plowing, Cutting Turf,
making middlings (footnote 47: manure heaps), mixing Dung and leading it out
in Seed time, and besides cutting, winning, leading and stacking 10 Fathoms
of Peats yearly, all done without so much as a bit of bread or a drink to
his Servants.

George Morgan, Aged thirty four, Married, hath two children. One 7 the
other One year Old, a Farmer last at Chabster in the Parish of Rae, and the
County of Caithness, upon lands belonging to Mr. Alex. Nicolson Minister at
Thurso. Goes to Carolina leaving his country for the same reasons and upon
the same Motives assigned by John Catanoch, who was his Neighbour. See
Pages 3d & 4th of this report.

Willm. Sutherland Aged twenty four, married, left an only Child at home.
Resided last in the Parish of Latheron and County of Caithness, upon the
Estate of John Sutherland of Forse. Goes to Carolina because he lost his
Cattle in 1772, and for a farm of 40/ Rent, was obliged to perform with his
Family and his Horses so many and so arbitrary services to his Landlord at
all times of the year, but especially in Seed time & Harvest, that he could
not in two years he possest it, raise as much Corn as serve his Family for
six months That his little Stock daily decreasing, he was encouraged to go
to Carolina, by the Assurances of the fertility of the land, which yields
three Crops a year, by which means Provisions are extremely cheap, Wheat
being sold at 3 shills. a Boll, Potatoes at 1 Sh so that one Mans labour
will maintain a Family of Twenty Persons. He has no Money, therefore
proposes to employ himself as a Day labourer, his Wife can spin and Sew, and
he has heard of many going out in the same way who are now substantial
Farmers. At any rate he comforts himself in the hopes that he cannot be
worse than he has been at home.

-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Pinion <>
To: Dee Thompson <>
Date: Sunday, February 06, 2000 8:33 PM
Subject: Re: RE:Very Limited List


>Dee,
>
>What does your book say on William Gordon, Wm Sutherland, Willm Sutherland
>and George Morgan? If you could, that is I hope you can check I would be
>most grateful.
>
>Thanks, Diane
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dee Thompson <>
>To: <>
>Date: Sunday, February 06, 2000 12:16 PM
>Subject: Re: RE:Very Limited List
>
>
>>The only information that I have on these passengers was what I gave you.
>I
>>do
>>have ( Bibliography #22) the records of 1774-1775 (Records of Emigrants
>from
>>England and Scotland to North Carolina). This book is not indexed. It
>>includes only passages made during this period for the following ships:
>>Carolina, Margaret & Mary, Union, Polly, Magna Charta, Briton,
>>Friendship, Pallas, Carolina Packet, William, London, Newmarket,
Mary
>>& Hannah, Lowther, Commerce, Jamaica Packet, Jackie of Glasgow,
Christy,
>>Ulysses, Monimia, Ajax, Bachelor of Leith, Jupiter of Larne, and Diana.
>The
>>most spectacular list is that of the Bachelor of Leith, as it gives a
>>detailed account of the "Examination of Emigrants from the Counties of
>>Caithness and Sutherland on board the Ship Bachelor of Leith bound to
>>Wilmington in North Carolina." "15th April 1774, Alex Ramage Master,
taken
>>by the officers at the Port of Lerwick." Because of this detailed
>>information I'm listing those passengers in case any of you spot a
familiar
>>name (these names indicate a "family, - not individual members of the same
>>family:
>>William Gordon
>>William McKay
>>Wm. Sutherland
>>John Catanoch
>>Eliz. McDonald
>>Donald McDonald
>>John McBeath
>>James Duncan
>>Hector Mcdonald (as written)
>>William McDonald
>>Hugh Matheson
>>Will m. McKay
>>Alex. Sinclair
>>George Grant
>>William Bain
>>George Morgan
>>Willm. Monro
>>Patrick Ross
>>Alexr. Morison
>>George McKay
>>Donald Gun
>>John Ross
>>James Sinclair
>>Aeneas McLeod
>>Aeneas Mackay
>>Donald Campbell
>>Wm. McRay
>>Willm. McLeod
>>Hugh Munro
>>Willm. Sutherland
>>James McKay
>>
>>Dee

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