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The Highland Clearances

After the Jacobite rebellion in 1745-46, the Clans of Scotland's highlands were disbanded. The clans had been ruled by chiefs who treated their subjects as family members; most of them were. As the 18th century progressed, many of the chiefs got a taste of the rich life of the lowlands and London. It was not enough to have the wealth of land and warriors. They now needed cash. The lairds searched for ways to make more profit. They "improved" their land by introducing large scale sheep farming. In the process, many of them brutally evicted people whose families had resided on the property for many generations. It is now known as the Highland Clearances. In the county of Sutherland, the daughter of the last Earl married an English nobleman, the Marquis of Stafford, owner of a very large estate in England. In the marriage, he obtained the largest estate in Scotland. In the first twenty years of the 19th century, his representatives or "factors" removed thousands of people from their ancestral homes. They burned the homes, furnishings and all. They then either shipped them off to America or Australia, or moved them to miserable dwellings along the shore. They were replaced by a few shepherds. If you have questions about the Clearances, especially in Sutherland, e-mail me or check out these links.