Saturday, August 10, 2013

THE ISLE OF SKYE

According to some genealogical research I did some years ago, my great-grandfather Stephen Anderson was christened on the Isle of Skye on 15th November, 1831 just over 100 years prior to my own birth.  His sister Isabella was also christened there on 16th June, 1933.  They are the only two of the 10 Anderson children that appear to have been christened on the Isle of Skye but it would seem the family must have lived there for several years.  The youngest four children were christened in Australia.

It would seem that their father James Anderson was a shepherd so he was possibly employed on Skye before returning to Inverness on the mainland.  There is not a lot known about the intervening years.

James and Jessie Anderson and 6 of their children emigrated to Victoria, Australia in 1841 and this was around the time when many people were being turned off the land in Scotland.  The website 'cranntara.org.uk' tells us that the Highland Clearances are a notorious part of Scottish history.  During this time tens of thousands of men, women and children alike were evicted from their homes to make way for large scale sheep farming.  I have no idea whether my ancestors were involved in this clearance but the fact that they left the UK in 1841 makes me think that perhaps they were.

I haven't until now researched the Isle of Skye but upon doing so find it is a rather beautiful place.  I found these delightful pictures shown on 'beauty-places.com' and wanted to share them with you.



Dunvegan Castle:



Coral Bay:


I look at these pictures and ponder the fact that my ancestors once lived here and wonder if this is why I have such a love of the ocean, of mountains and cloudy skies.  Perhaps it truly is in my blood.

This by the way was my birth mother's family....Evelyn Maud Anderson was a granddaughter of Stephen Anderson.  Her father had moved to Western Australia as a young man where he met and married his wife.  They settled here and had 6 children ... 3 girls and 3 boys.  I was of course born here.

11 comments:

  1. It looks almost 'other worldly' doesn't it?

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    1. Yes it does Delores but as with many parts of Scotland and the surrounding islands there is some magnificent scenery. I believe it is warmer on the Outer Hebrides than on the Inner but I am sure it is very cold with blustery winds much of the year. I've always regretted never being able to afford to travel to the northern hemisphere.

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  2. It's a beautiful land with some wonderfully craggy bits topped by castles. which i bet are draughty as hell and hard to heat, never mind all the cleaning.
    My first husband has Scottish ancestry and we researched what tartan he could wear many years ago. We requested and were sent samples of the tartan with thoughts of getting kilts made for the boys, but we didn't get around to that, it was too expensive. I don't remember now what tartan it was and the samples are either lost or the ex has them.

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    1. I often wonder how people manage these days living in those old castles and large manor houses. Wouldn't like to have to pay their electricity bills.
      I am not sure about the Anderson tartan, I've never enquired but I feel they may be connected with one of the other clans. Will have to look into that myself. MOH was in the Royal Scots Greys regiment just after WW2 but fortunately he never had to wear a kilt.

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  3. Gorgeous scenery - but no doubt very bleak. And River is so right on the cleaning/heating castles front.

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    1. It's strange how we ladies think immediately of cleaning these vast homes and castles and the heating costs don't bear even thinking about,
      I know you've travelled a lot and wonder if you have visited the UK and Scotland in particular?

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    2. No. I have never been to the UK - despite my mother and brothers being born there.

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  4. Absolutely beautiful, but some of those shots look like a film set for a science fiction movie taking place on another planet.

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  5. I know they do look a little unreal but I assure you they are all pics taken on Skye. I've never visited Scotland but from photographs and films I've seen it is one really rugged place. A lot different to Australia although we have some rather dramatic scenery as well. I think it is very beautiful but not a place one would perhaps want to live.

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  6. You have gotta love a castle, how beautiful. xxx Rae

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  7. Thanks Rae. I often regret not having been able to travel to Europe to see so many historical buildings and places. Never mind cos I really enjoyed so much natural beauty when in New Zealand. I think perhaps River is right about the cleaning of a castle and keeping warm. lol

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