The Scotch-Irish

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From Scotland to Ulster …

Knowing the background of the Scotch-Irish in the “Olde Country” is important if we’re to understand this distinct community in America, a community that gave our country such notables as Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Neil Armstrong, Andrew Mellon, Elvis Presley, more than a dozen U.S. Presidents … and Andrew Bigham, the progenitor of my Bigham family tree.

Much has been written — in print and online — about the unique political and social history of the “Scotch-Irish” who moved from Scotland to Ulster, and then to the United States. There’s no need to provide a detailed account of that story here, but I will provide an overview as well as a bibliography and links for further research.

First, however, let me deal with the name “Scotch-Irish” and get that hot button topic out of the way. Yes, I know that scotch is a whiskey and people from Scotland are Scottish or Scots. But the fact is, the Scots who emigrated from Scotland to Ireland and then to America were neither purely Scottish nor Irish. They thought of themselves as Scots, and others thought of them as Irish. They were called Scotch-Irish and the name stuck. Although modern sensibilities have changed it to Scot-Irish, that a bit of revisionist history can’t change the fact that they were known as Scotch-Irish. I’ll use both interchangably and, in doing so, probably offend both my Scottish brethren AND historical purists!

Now … on with the story:

The mass migration of Scots to Ulster didn’t arise solely from the natural urge to seek new or better land or homes. It was a deliberate, state-sponsored plan hatched by James I of England and it sowed the seeds of violence and animosity that still linger in the region.

It took England many decades to defeat even a portion of the lands controlled by the fierce descendants of the ancient Celtic rulers. Finally, in 1602, England gained a toehold on Ireland and took possession of the land ruled by Irish chieftains Tyrone and Tyconnel.

Not only were England and Ireland divided by years of bloody conflict, but after the Protestant Reformation (1517-1648), religion was added to the differences that separated the two neighbors.

King James’ plan was to populate the area with Protestant English and Scottish settlers who would outnumber and thereby subdue the Catholic Irish. Although holding the title “King of Scots,” James had no love for his northern subjects, whom he called “utterly barbarous.”

No doubt he would have preferred filling his Irish plantation with loyal English Anglicans, but even he realized how difficult it would be to lure Englishmen away from the fertile land and civilized cities to what were now war-blasted ruins.

It was far easier to attract Scots from lowland counties such as Ayrshire, Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfriesshire, and Renfrewshire with promises of cheap land and low taxes. In addition to willing Scots, the English government forced many “undesireables” from Scotland (many of whom continually harried the British along the England-Scotland border) and shipped them to Ulster.

According to a 1622 survey, there were 3,100 English males in the Ulster Plantation and about 3,700 Scottish males. Another 4,000 Scots had settled in Antrim and Down, making the total number of Scots in the area about 7,100.

By 1640, some 100,000 Scots landed in Ulster and, like an alien occupation force, claimed it as their own. That number rose to close to 200,000 by 1697. It’s almost certain that the ancestors of Andrew Bingham were among them, even though his identity has not yet been determined.

They may have enjoyed superiority in numbers, but the Ulster Scots — who never considered themselves Irish — were in enemy territory. The displaced Irish attacked them, spurred on by their clergy and even Pope Urban VIII, who considered them heretics and devils.

On October 23, 1641, a Catholic uprising began lasting four months, answered by brutal reprisals from both the settlers and English troops. After the dust settled, the Irish population was decimated (the number of dead range from a conservative 200,000 to a staggering 1.5 million, roughly one-third of Ireland’s population).

According to “The Scotch-Irish Americans” by Robin Brownstein and Peter Guttmacher: “The property of every Catholic landowner became subject to confiscation. All who were accused of plotting against the English crown were executed; other participants were banished.”

The retaliation by King Charles I (James’ son and successor) had little to do with wanting to aid the Ulster Scots. It was simply his way of exerting control over Ireland. In fact, the plantation settlers from Scotland were beginning to realize that England was as much an “enemy” as the Irish.

The religious freedom they thought they would enjoy was short lived as, by 1632, Charles was working to eliminate Presbyterianism by forcing all residents in Ulster to join the Church of England.

Charles hammered away at their political freedom as well, demanding that they disavow allegiance to Scotland and take the “Black Oath,” pledging allegiance instead to the English crown.

Then, Charles made the mistake of taking on a more powerful religious opponent: The Puritans. The first English Civil Wars ensued and Charles was executed in 1649. Oliver Cromwell took control of a monarchy-less England until 1660, when Charles’ son, Charles II, regained the throne. By 1685, King James II — a Catholic — was wearing the crown.

It didn’t matter, however, who was at the helm, for England proved it was no friend to either Scotland or the Ulster Scots. The persecution of Presbyterians continued, and by the early 1700s, Presbyterians in Ulster were barred from holding most civil or military offices, their property was seized, their marriages invalidated, and their congregations dispersed.

The final straw for many Ulster Scots came when England began imposing unbearably high taxes on Presbyterian farmers — and forced them to tithe to the Church of England. Nature itself seemed to conspire with the English to drive the Presbyterians out of Ulster: crop failures and famine blighted the land in the first decades of the 18th century.

[NOTE: It was during this period -- around 1725 -- that Andrew Bingham, Sr., was born in the Ulster county of Antrim.]

On to America …

It’s not surprising that the Presbyterian Scots living in northern Ireland began looking for a new home. News from the colonies sounded promising. There was cheap, fertile land to be had, along with religious freedom, and a measure of political independence safeguarded by 3,000 miles of ocean.

And so began the waves of migration of the “Scotch-Irish” as they would be known in America. They fled Ulster in droves, emptying the region like a theatre after the final curtain call. From about 1720 to 1770, an estimated 200,000 persons boarded overcrowded sailing ships with what few belongings they could gather, and set forth for America. Most sailed into Boston or Philadelphia harbors and spread out to find their new Scotland.

Many settled in New England and large contingents of Binghams (almost immediately changed to Bigham by some) could be found in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Others — like “my” Bigham family — settled briefly in Pennsylvania before pushing on to the frontier lands of North Carolina.

Which brings us to Andrew Bigham, Sr. …

To learn more about the Scotch-Irish:

Online resources:

Wikipedia — always a good place to start

The Scots-Irish: The Thirteenth Tribe, on Ulster Ancestry — a superb summary of the history of the Ulster Scots in Ireland and America

Scotch-Irish and Ulster Scots Family Research — a short but good compendium of links

The Migration of the Scots-Irish to Southwestern NC — by Matthew A. C. Newsome. An article tracing the history of the immigrants from Ulster to North Carolina

Bibliography:

“The Scots & Scotch-Irish in America,” by James E. Johnson — A slender volume that has some good information and interesting illustrations, but about one-third of the book is devoted to “famous” Scots-Irish and the historical information is superficial. Probably meant for younger readers, might be best for a quick overview, particularly since it often sells for under $1 on Amazon!

“The Scotch-Irish Americans“, by Robin Brownstein and Peter Guttmacher — Another book probably meant for young adult readers, but the information is presented well enough for adults. The authors don’t talk down to the reader, and there’s a surprising depth of information here, as well as a nice selection of photos and illustrations. There are more complete books on the market about the culturally fascinating group, but if you want a good overview of their history and their life in the US, this is a good choice. Prices vary widely, so wait for a good buy.

More books and links to come ….