This past week has been all about making new contacts that would eventually help me in researching my Cornett ancestry and understanding exactly who they were. I found a connection and a book entitled, "Bicentennial Heritage Grayson County, Virginia 1793", which was published in 1995 by the Grayson County Bicentennial Foundation. This book is no longer in print, unless you are lucky enough to have a copy of it in your possession already.
My "connection" has sent to me, parts of this book as they relate to the Sutherland and Cornett families and to myself. Just scanning through these pages, I'm thinking that my new "connection" might in actuality be related to me in some way, not just through the Sutherland lines, but also through the Cornett family too. How exciting is that? Finding a family member that has been researching the same families lineage that I am; I am super excited to read through these papers more. There are several pages of Cornett names and their ranks listed on both the American Revolutionary War and the Civil War pages.
There is still the mystery that surrounds Alexander Sutherland (Southerland) and his wife, Margaret Elizabeth Bryan. Who were they really? What were their hobbies? Did Alexander like to hunt like most men back then? In what year did he move to Virginia from Scotland? What kind of life did they live? Will I ever find out who Alexander really was? So many questions, so few answers.
In my past posts, you've read about Alexander and his role in the British Army. I think I read somewhere that he was 2nd Lieutenant. But don't quote me on that just yet! He has been the most intriguing family member I have researched so far; probably because there are so many different views from so many other people, that the truth has yet to be documented. Alexander Sutherland is a true mystery; one that I hope I can solve one day.
Searching high. Searching low. I've been researching Alexander Sutherland for some time now; I can't seem to get the man out of my head. I have been scouring the internet for anything to do with the Sutherland surname. Alexander would be my 4th great grandfather who was born June 3,1743 in Sutherland, Caithness, Scotland, and died in the year 1843 in Grayson County, Virginia. I know that he married Margaret Elizabeth Bryan, who was from Culpepper, Virginia sometime in the year of 1784. I'm not sure of the exact date, but I do know it was supposedly during that year. Alexander's father was Samuel J. Sutherland born 1717 in Scotland and his mother was Jane Barbour born 1719, also in Scotland.
I have heard a few different stories as to how he came to the United States. While in Scotland he served in the British Army. One side of the story tells us that he switched sides and fought for the Revolutionary forces, and another story says that he deserted the British Army, (or even right after the war) to settle in the rugged mountains of Virginia. In my own opinion, I believe he and another man may have deserted and come through the lines of the American Revolutionary soldiers and ended up coming to the mountains of Virginia by way of North Carolina, as the border was very near but were first in Wythe County, Virginia.Wythe County is where he would have met Margaret Elizabeth Bryan, his future wife. Margaret was the sister of a man that Alexander had befriended. Back then the mountains were considered a wilderness, untouched by the people as far as farming and settling this land. Later, Alexander married Margaret, whom the family called "Peggy" (Peggy Bryan). They may not have married in Culpepper, Virginia but in Wythe County. I just have to find proof if there is any.
I imagine that I will have a pretty difficult time finding any legal documents because at that time during the war, many of the homes and even the courthouse itself, was in fact, burned to the ground. So any records they may have had, were destroyed.
During the time that Alexander came to America, the Scotland Clearances were in full force; so Alexander inevitably felt that he should join the British Army and come to the states to escape the risk of starvation. The Clearances was the clearing of people from Scottish lands so that sheep could be raised instead. It sounds horrible to let your own people die of starvation in order to raise sheep. The clearances took place in the Highlands, which is where some of the Sutherland family comes from. Some from Caithness; but most others came from the coast to coast band across Scotland.
The Sutherland family actually had their own clan; the Sutherland's were also intertwined with the Campbell's, since the Countess of Sutherland married into the Campbell family. I recently received an email, name is private, sorry. But in this email, I was told that the Campbell's are now very close to the Queen of England; and that the original Sutherland Duke was killed by his wife and her family- whose last name was Gordon and the Sutherland Castle is now Dunrobin. But Sinclair Castle, near Edinburgh, is where a lot of Sutherland information is now.
I will definitely be investigating the link between the Sutherland and Campbell families. It seems an interesting story as to how or even why the Sutherland Duke was killed by his own wife and her family. Were they the devious sort, marrying their daughter to a titled man and then killing him off so they could gain his property and the castle itself? Very interesting indeed!
Image Source: Lemons Photo Credit: Photographer~ James and James
I have always wanted to visit Scotland, and now I have an even better reason to travel there. My Sutherland ancestors. What a great way to experience the life,the beauty, the culture, and all the people of the land than to visit the place where your ancestors grew up. I may still have family there that I never even know about! Which is a good reason to continue writing this blog. Right now, I'm stuck on the Sutherland branch of my family tree. Alexander, well he's giving me fits right now; where is his information hiding? Is his data in an archive building somewhere collecting dust in the corner of a dark room that nobody ever goes to anymore? Well Alexander, I will find you! One day soon before I'm old and gray I hope! In this post, I kind of want to talk about the Highlands of Scotland where some of my Sutherland family come from.
The Highlands of Scotland lives up to the picturesque postcards with scenes of outstanding natural beauty, and while its' just natural for you to think of this region as mountainous, there are also miles and miles of beautiful coastlines with turquoise waters and wildlife. The Highlands aren't just all landscapes of green valleys and majestic mountains, but also the historic, remote castles, and the distinctive culture and language of the welcoming towns.
Even though Scotland is so beautiful, there was such hardship for the Highlanders of the region; the Scottish Clearances were during the time when Alexander Sutherland came to America. He probably thought it was in his best interest to join the British Army and come to the mainland than it would be to stay in Scotland and most likely starve. The Clearances were the terrible clearing of people from Scottish lands so that they could instead, raise sheep.
"These clearances were in the Highlands -- where the Sutherland family comes from. The Highlands of Scotland is from the Northern border of Scotland and south (about the top third of Scotland). Sutherland County is from the East coast to the West coast of Scotland. Caithness is in the upper Northeast area of Scotland. Some Sutherland's were from Caithness -- but most are from the coast to coast band across Scotland. The people were moved from the lands so they could raise sheep and many were starved or driven out."
(text content was taken from an email I received recently, name if author is confidential for privacy reasons).
"For the people who moved to the coast, life was inevitably hard. They had to adjust to a new lifestyle and try to earn some semblance of a living from fishing- something that most people had no experience doing. In many cases they continued to farm on their small plots of land. The early clearances were the most harsh of all because no alternative was offered. Emigration and migration were discouraged by the landlords as being against the interests of the country and most notably themselves. Kelping demanded a large workforce and while it prospered the landlords and to some extent the people prospered. However, once the kelp prices began to fall during the 1820s this situation changed. Those who did choose to migrate or emigrate were seldom the poorest people in society. They had the means to support themselves in Scotland if they had wished for the emigrating Highlander of this period chose to go to America." The Clearances of Scotland
Geographically Scotland consists of 2 parts: the mainland and the islands. On the mainland, one can discern 3 clear landmasses: the northern Highlands, the central Highlands and the Lowlands. The Highlands are divided by the Great Glen, a narrow gap in the mountain landscape. It's no wonder many people thought America was the land of opportunity. As compared to the life style they had been living, this must have been such a life saver for them. No pun intended.
I think that is enough for tonight! (Remember I'm on Hawaii time) More to come tomorrow. What would you like to read on this blog? Dunrobin Castle of Highland, Scotland? Let me know!
