Donald
How extremely interesting. A lot of information to digest and I will print it out to digest.
The information I have is that my ancestors Stuart/Stewart came down the west coast from Ross & Cromarty and settled in Devon. Probably put in at Bristol and went east to Devon. With the help of a 3 cousin we have managed to trace back to 1650 but still in Devon so the story that was handed down thru the generations is more than likely false or so long ago that it took on a life of its own.
There has never been found any mention of Scottish ancestory that we could find and the earliest appearance in Devon was 1650 born in Chard and Axminster. This information was compiled mostly from old parish registers, wills and the IGI. Most of them were ag labs and blacksmiths in the early years up to about 1870 when some moved on up towards London and Kent. Gardening was pretty important to them as one went to Howth Castle, Ireland in 1907 to be head gardener there and several others kept on as domestic gardening.
I am glad you were able to shed some light on the Highland Clearances. Perhaps I will try to find something on Scotlands People, but as I have no parent names to begin with and no actual place names it will probably be impossible.
One never knows what will turn up. Truly interesting, thank you |hug|