Emigration from the Scottish Catholic bounds, 1770-1810 and the role of the clergy

Abstract

In 1802, Edward Fraser of Relig, the Customs Collector in Inverness, commented on the numerous emigrations, especially from the Western Highlands and the Isles, which had taken place from about the year 1770. In his essay, he noted, in particular, the data concerning Roman Catholics who had quit their native soil in numbers far out of proportion to their total within the general population. Fraser suggested as causes: an anti-Catholic bias, conflict between the landowners and the Catholic clergy and the restrictive measures of the Penal Laws.

With the above analysis in mind, this thesis seeks to address the specific issue of Roman Catholic emigration from the area in the Highlands known as the "Catholic Bounds", between 1770 - 1810. The fIrst section of the work delineates the "Catholic Bounds", in a geographical and societal sense, with emphasis placed on the leading Catholic families and the ecclesiastical formation of the Highland Vicariate from 1732.

The second section concerns the various emigrations which took place from 1772 - 1810. For the sake of clarity, these have been arranged chronologically and geographically, the latter reflecting more the contours of the great estates of, for example, Clanranald or Glengarry, where the majority of the Roman Catholics lived, rather than flXed territorial designations. In order to test the accuracy of Fraser's comments, the underlying reasons for each of these mass removals of people will be noted. The role of the clergy is developed by means of biographical sketches of each of the priests who emigrated with their people, and they form a necessary, and sometimes, a major, component of these chapters. The thesis also seeks to examine the role of the clergy in general, but especially that of the bishops, whether as active participants, instigators or observers.