From Scotland to North Carolina - A Life-Changing Journey with Mike MacIntyre
"It has long been the policy both of the Crown and of myself, Mr. Fraser, to encourage the settlement of land in the Colony of North Carolina by intelligent, industrious, and godly families, to the furtherance of the prosperity and security of all (…) a good many Highlanders and families from the Isles of Scotland have been induced to come and take up residence here. Why, when I arrived, I was astonished to find the banks of the Cape Fear River quite thick with MacNeills, Buchanans, Grahams, and Campbells!” - Diana Gabaldon, Drums of Autumn
The above extract is from Diana Gabadon’s novel, Drums of Autumn, the fourth book in the Outlander series of novels. The series, as you probably know (or, if you don’t, here is a quick round-up of the tv show) cleverly combines elements of history and fantasy to craft a romantic story based on the Jacobite rising of 1745. The story continues as its two main characters, Claire Randall and Highlander Jamie Fraser, arrive in Wilmington, North Carolina, with hopes of a better life. Like any other historical fiction, Outlander bases its stories on real events, but it also allows some creative input to enhance the narrative. The characters are largely fictional, but the premise is historically accurate.
When did the Highland Scots emigrate to North Carolina?
After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, many Scots emigrated to the United States, and North Carolina became home to at least 20,000 highlanders. History tells us that these Scots, despite their differences in culture, language, and religion, not only adapted, but also became an important part of the society of "The Old North State". However, they did not forget their homeland nor their traditions, and good fighters as they were, they always sought to keep their customs alive. Clan gatherings were a regular part of their lives, and up to this day, there are celebrations and get-togethers among the North Carolinians whose ancestry originates in Scotland.
In 1956, Agnes MacRae Morton of Linville, North Carolina and Donald F. MacDonald of Charlotte, North Carolina, co-founded the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, a popular event in which “clans officially come together to celebrate their Scottish heritage”. The celebration is a great sign of how the Scottish presence continues to be very much alive across the south-eastern state. We look forward to attending one day!
An Interview with Mike McIntyre
Last Wednesday, we were honoured to have the opportunity to interview the former Congressman and Co-Chair of the Friends of Scotland Congressional Caucus, Mike MacIntyre. You can watch the full interview here:
In his intriguing insight into US political life, Mike updated us on the meaning of a Caucus is created and the reasons behind the formation of the Friends of Scotland. As he explained, Friends of Scotland began as a community united not only by a common ancestry, but by the shared goal of keeping a culture alive. Now they even have their own tartan and Mike was proudly wearing his for the interview!
Mike also told us how his MacIntyre ancestors arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina on board the ship Jupiter (here is a link to the passenger list on board the ship in case your ancestors were there too), coming from the Isle of Lismore, in the Inner Hebrides. As he explains, it was his Scottish ancestors that helped fund the First Presbyterian Church in Lumberton, North Carolina – the very same church that he grew up in. One of his ancestors, in fact, did take the role of Clerk of Session at some point, and so did Mike’s father and Mike himself.
He fondly describes how he discovered the book The Scottish Highlander Carmichaels of the Carolinas, a genealogical record of the descendants of a group of Carmichaels from the Scottish Highlands, that ventured to North and South Carolina in the 18th century. Thanks to the information contained within it, Mike and his family were able to track the burial places of his predecessors, and learn more about their everyday lives.
There are many inspiring stories to be told from the Scottish exodus to North Carolina. We started this blog with a quote from a fictional novel and rounded it up with the testimony of a direct descendant of two Scots who emigrated to America all those years ago. As a fan of the series, it’s been fascinating to hear Mike telling these anecdotes with such thoughtfulness and care. And the fact is that sometimes, reality is better than fiction.
We would like to say a big thank you to Mike and his family for joining Anna for a hugely interesting interview and we can't wait to visit North Carolina one day soon. We always love to hear your stories here at ScotlandShop. Would you like to share an anecdote that lies in your family history? Get in touchand let us know.
