Sheep and Deer v. People in Berriedale Part A

To the Editor of the Northern Ensign 31st March, 1887

Written by Alexander Gunn and published in the Northern Ensign on 13 April 1887 – Part A

Note: This Letter to the Editor of the Northern Ensign gives the same data as a previous letter dated 27 March 1884. I blogged that letter in November 2013. Gunn spent a lifetime keeping the injustices of the evictions before the public, always backed up by meticulous evidence. So at the risk of being repetitive I will publish this 1887 version of the same data over two blogs. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me!

“The Injustice so palpable! The inhumanity so great” from Real Scottish Grievances by Donald Ross

Sir; - 

"Your correspondent “Sans Souci” in his interesting letter in your columns recently, would be none the worse of some little information about the state of matters in Berriedale in olden times. Sir John Sinclair is credited with being the author of all this desolation so graphically described by your correspondent. This is not the case, though, he was the originator of the clearances. He depopulated the two Straths of Berriedale, except what was done by James Horne who succeeded Sir John – not Donald Horne, as stated by your correspondent, though Donald may be said to have given the finishing touch to the desolating work on the estate. 

Previous to these clearances, there was a thriving herring fishing carried on at both Newport and at Auchnacraig. In the latter place I remember thirteen boats being engaged at the herring fishing and giving employment to a large number of the inhabitants of Auchnacraig and Badbea, and circulating a large amount of money in the district. I cannot speak as to the number of boats that fished in Newport, but there, too, a considerable number of the inhabitants got remunerative employment, and the money circulated in the district must have been a very great boon to the poor people."

"In the report of the Royal Commission on the crofters, it was stated that deer forests were the means of doing so much good in the way of finding employment for the people, and circulating as much money as if these districts were under cultivation. This statement is not borne out by facts, as any one acquainted with the state of matters before and after the clearances can testify. But for the benefit of your correspondent I will give him the number of families evicted on the Berriedale estate by Sir John Sinclair and his successors:"

A REAL “SCOTTISH GRIEVANCE.”

Duncan – “Oh but my mother is frail, and can’t be sent out of the country in that ship; will you not let Flora and her ---

Factor - [sternly] “No no lad – move on with the old woman; she will not be here in the way of his Lordship’s sheep and deer.”

Illustration from Real Scottish Grievances by Donald Ross. 

It refers to Lord Macdonald’s evictions at Boreraig on Skye. Mitchel Library Glasgow.  

See Electric Scotland for the terrible story of what happened to 96 year old Flora http://www.electricscotland.com/history/clearances/29.htm

 "In Berriedale, namely from the Millery Strath - Glutt, one tenant; Eskvin, one; Eshmacalmag, one;  Haborgue, one;  Eshnabing, one;  Upper Millery, one; Lower Millery, one;  Ardachigh, one; Toreshey, one; Duin, three; Taigh-an-Duin, one; Dalgheamich, two; Knock Feune, one; Ellaw-an-Duinag, one; Upper Borgue, two; Remalone, one; - in all 20."

 Wag More,  Old pre-clearances sheiling site

"In the Langwell Strath there were evicted from the Inver, five; Knocktarinrectan, one,  Elanloisg, one; Capernach, one; Taigh-an-Asary, one; Ruharigy, one; Tiornal, one; (held by George Gunn who had seven sons, all of whom were upwards of six feet, and having no equals in the country – some of them still alive); Taighnault, one; Bardnachie, one; Struan, one; Bualnohaoden, one; Garvary, one;  Breainheaglash, one;  Auldnaheath, one; Wag More, one; Uag Bhaig, (or Wag Baig), one; Badaskary, two;  Borgue of Langwell, one (where my great-grandfather lived during the proprietorship of Sutherland of Langwell); Corrag, one; Bualtarach, one – in all 25."

Uag Bhaig, or Wag Baig on Langwell water. My great great grandfather John McLeod worked here as a shepherd for James Horne before he was sent to work at Rumsdale

"In the Ousdale district, there were evicted from the township of Ousdale nine families; Borgue of Ousdale, two; Struie, eight; Clashvuick, three – in all 22. These were all evicted by Sir John Sinclair – a total of 67 families, all in comfortable circumstances. But the evil did not stop here, for the Hornes – first James and then Donald – following Sir John’s example, evicted from the cairn, four families, from Rinsary, six; Badbea, seven; Auchnacraig, thirteen – in all 30 – or a grand total from the estate of Berriedale of 97 families to make room for sheep and deer. Thus a population of close upon 500 were set adrift to gratify the whims of a trio of landlords."

To Be Continued.. 

My Comments:

The mention of George Gunn’s seven tall strapping sons was not just bragging but also was about the long-held custom that such superbly strong, fit men could be brought in as Highland soldiers to defend their own people or Imperial Britain – as they had done at the Napoleonic wars for example. In the past a family like that would have been worth some sort of respect, or merit from the Laird. But seven sons no longer saved them.