Yes, blood runs deep and thick in the Scottish lowlands. We may have immigragrated all over this world but the Boarders run deep in all of us.. I'm very Clan Scott-.U.S. and yes, this is my history too.
Kinsman, We were NEVER Lowlanders. They are a different breed to the north of us. We are of the Border and have more in common with our enemies/cousins on the English side of the Border. We often did "business" together. To this day neither side truly trust a Borderer and the Border only trusts it' own.
Border Reiver history is my favorite part of British history and among my favorites of world history. I was delighted to find Oliver’s, Armstrong’s, and Elliot’s among my ancestors.
very interesting vid mark - im a kerr over in n ireland. i also have read that the kerr motto "sero sed serio" comes from the battle of ancrum when the kerr's who were fighting for the english turned on them and attacked them from the rear thus helping win the battle. thus sero sed serio - late but in earnest.
Great video, Mark. One of the best. I was late getting to work today because I started watching it and couldn't turn it off! I was a bit disappointed that my Bell ancestors weren't mentioned. They were among those who were thrown out by King James and sent to Ulster.
@@MarkNicol123 In fairness, there were a lot of families, one has to make choices. I don't feel the least slighted. Of course, I wouldn't have minded if you had mentioned the infamy of the Turnbulls, but that's a different question.
Buy and read George MAcdonald Frazer --The Steel Bonnets. -- My husband's family received 25% of the Parish of Bewcastle ,a large parish on the Border) from Richard III, and provided a private army of Border Reivers , for the King. They hung on to their land through the Border settlement by James I in 1613. The land was subdivided through the Viking Law of Gravel kind ,Some Nixons and other Borderers went to Carlisle and other Nixons were sent to Northern Ireland. My husband has 4 branches of Nixons,plus Bells, Forsters, Nobls , Armstrongs and Grahams in his Ancestry. In 1640 the Vicar of Bewcastle (alias Nixon) was described as a noted freebooter -- illegal ale brewer)--In the 20th Century 3 famous Borderers were Billy Graham, Neil Armstrong, and Richard Nixon, whose Ancestor loved playing Border Football-- still played in Workington, Hawick and Langholm.The game is played in the streets and all resident males (and now females ) can play It is called Uppies and Downies, It is played at easter every year.
As an Armstrong whose family ended up in America for this very reason, this is so incredibly fascinating. Thank you so so so much for this. It’s really filling in some gaps in my family’s history and a lot of things are clicking now. None of your videos go unappreciated.
great video again mark what a great insight into our history here. great to know how these landowners amassed there fortune didn't realise it was so dark. thanks again.
Thank you so much for making this...there is not enough information about the Border Reivers, and history here in the North of Ireland is obviously very politicised, and so the exodus of persecuted Border Reivers into County Antrim, is overlooked as a unique event, and lumped together with the official "plantations". Keep up the good work!!
So much information on the Armstrong's. Thank you. I'd like to direct my relatives to this video. We're all descendants of the Armstrong's from Scotland and Ulster.
Tragic times. I can tell you feel deeply about this period of history. The end of an era seized by ruthless and opportunistic men. Well explained, and you filmed it very creatively as well.
Thanks for another great docco Mark. Just terrible how they utterly destroyed Mangerton. I knew of the 1602 treachery of the Scott/Buccleuch but not so much of the Kerr`s. Of course both of those families were Marsh Wardens before the "pacification" and as you say, often danced on both sides of the Kingly fence, even back then. Nevertheless, the Armstrong`s have survived and prospered all over the world. Invictus Maneo!
Thanks Mark Nicol. I've watched several of your videos and they've all been educational and entertaining. I've learned a lot about clan Kerr (for better or worse)- this gives me another piece to the puzzle. Kerr-ently in Canada "Sero-Sed-Serio"
1. Its rare to find Lowland documentary. 2. Never ever is the Clan of Maxwell ever mentioned. They held the English at bay with 60 knights in their castle at Caevalrock against Edward I and his entire army. Either we were hated by the English that much to be erased from memory or we even pissed off fellow scots to forget us. We were all over Dumfries and Glasgow. Its just odd we are never mentioned. Put aside the issues with the Johnstone clan.
@@MarkNicol123 I was re-reading my comment. It comes across as whiney and angry, I wasnt! I was excited for border clan docs. I go to the Scottish games every year in Nor Cal its awesome. My grandafther was a Maxwell, our line emmigrated to the Catholic Colony of Maryland in 1661 from Ulster, they got to Ulster in 1607 and sold the larger Ulster estate barely 2 generations later, we dont know why. Quick question, I was reading some comments on a video about Scotland. One person replied "if you werent born and raised in Scotland, you cant call yourself a Scot." Whats your 2 cents on that? Cheers!
I traced my Elliot bloodline back to Ulster, and then to Roxburghshire/Jedburgh. Really cool to find a video about the border rievers and how our family came here. Thanks Mark!
Thank you, Mark! Learning so much about Scotland and my ancestor's history (I am a Bell) from your videos. Visiting Scotland for the first time in May 2018 and these videos will help me investigate my heritage.
Might be my favorite piece you've done on the Borders. Really well done all around. I'd love to see a follow up piece on the "Moss Troopers" that the Reivers morphed into after the Pacification. That's a section of the history I'm less familiar with and your take would be appreciated.
"Light cavalry par excellent". They were also much known for enthusiasm over science as warriors. No one liked going up against a Scot, High Land or Low Land.
your geography of Ireland is a bit off Roscommon is in central Ireland and is now part of the Irish republic other wise this is an insightful and informative video about the pacification of the borders. Kerr of Cessford and Scott of Buccleuch simply engaged in the longstanding custom of Scots nobility/clan chiefs of looking out for themselves as Burns put it "Such a parcel of rogues in a nation
mark nicol thank you so much for this video. My Mum was a Fairbairn also Clan Armstrong. I´ve lived in Quito, Ecuador since 1971. I still have family living in Irvine, Ayrshire. I´ll always love Scotland, even though I was born in London.
People always want to make the big to do about the Highlands. What if we get is that the borderlands were the ones constantly at war with neighboring countries. When armies marched over borders, it was those families in clans that they faced first. All the while, the Highlanders stayed safe and cozy for the most part in their Highlands.
@@marypetrie930 Ireland may not be attached, but at its closest it is only 12 miles away and can be seen from Scotland. There where still Irish and Viking raiders raiding Scotland from Ireland.
The Ancient And Distinguished Name ADAMSON The bleak moors and craggy hills of the Scottish/English borders set the scene for the birth of this notable surname Adamson. It is one of the oldest surnames with a history with is closely woven into the rich and beautiful tapestry of the border chronicles. Professional researchers examined some of the most ancient manuscripts such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Inquisitio The Ragman Rolls The Doomsday Book Baptismals Parish Records and Cantularies and tax records, and researchers found the first record of the name Adamson in the county of Berwickshire on the Eastern English / Scottish borders where they had been seated from very ancient times, before the Norman invasion of 1066 A. D. The early and middle development of the name showed many different spellings in the Archives, Your name Adamson occurred in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Adamsone Addamson Adamson and theses changes in spellings frequently occurred within the family name, Scribes and church officials spelt the name as it sounded and these spellings were not consistent during the lifetime of the same person. The family name Adamson is believed to be descendent from the Boernicians This ancient founding race of the north were a mixture of Scottish Picts and Angles, a race dating from the year 400A.D. Their territories ranged from Edinburgh in the north, southward to the North Riding of Yorkshire in England. By 1000 A.D. this race had formed into discernible clans and families perhaps some of the first evidence of the family structure in Britain. From this area we get some of the most impressive names history, surnames with strange nicknames such as the Srurdy Armstrongs, one whom was approximately the first to colonise the moon, the Gallant Grahams, the Saucy Scotts, the Angry Kerrs, the Bells, the Nixons, the famous Dixons, the Bold Rutherfords, the Pudding Somervilles, and most of the names ending in "son". Amongst this elite circle of clans and families the earliest record of the surname Adamson was found in Berwickshire John Adamson had a safe conduct passage to trade with England and Belgium. The senior branch of the family is that of Canton Castle notable amongst the family members during the early history The borders area of Scotland and England reached from Carlisle in the west to Berwick in the east. The clans or families to the north of the borders become Scottish after about the year 1000, and to the south they become English Nevertheless despite the border many would still unite the clans powers unto them selfs owing little allegiance to either Scotland or England having territories and interests on both sides of the borders. Clan warfare became so intense that in 1246A.D. 6 chiefs from the Scottish side and 6 from the English side met at Carlisle and produced a set of laws prevailing in England and Scotland or for that matter anywhere else in the world. For example it was a far greater offence to refuse to help a neighbour recover his property wife sheep cattle or horses than it was to steal them in the first place. For refusal of assistance to a person could be hanged on the instant without a trial ,While clan were on this hot trod from which we get the modern expression "hot to trot" they were protected against almost all eventualities. In 1603 the crowns of Scotland and England were united under James VI of Scotland who found it expedient to disperse the unruly borders clans, In 1587 on act of Scottish Parliament had condemned certain borders families for there lawlessness. The Border Clans largely the Strathclyde Britons on the western border and the Boennicians on the Eastern Border marches were dispersed to England northern Scotland and to Ireland some were banished directly to colonies In Ireland they were granted lands previously held by the catholic Irish. They signed an undertaking to remain protestant and faithful to the Crown. Nine heads of families were transferred to northern Ireland during the plantation of Ulster and they settled in the counties of Armagh and Down. Life in Ireland was intolerant to many of these uprooted families and they sailed aboard the Armada of sailing ships known as the "white sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of there original passenger list, many dying on the way were buried at sea. Amongst the first pioneers who could consider be kinsmen of the family Adamson of that same Clan or family was Thomas Adamson who settled in Galveston Texas in 1872 George Adamson settled in Virginia in 1679 John Adamson settled in Barbados in 1678. these migrants became the backbone of the first settlements from Maine to Cumberland Gap. They provided much of the stock which produced the early presidents and Governors of the United States. In Canada they settled in Nova Scotia, the St, Lawrence and the Ottawa Valley. During the American War of Independence those loyal to the Crown moved northward into Canada and become known as the United Empire Loyalists. The family name Adamson provided many prominent contemporaries, Sir Harvey Adamson was Lt. Governor of Burma in 1890, Professor Colin Adamson, Rector, London Polytechnic, Estelle Adamson, O.B.E. , Director of Nursing, St. Thomas Hospital London, Joy- Frederike Victoria Adamson Painter, Sir Kenneth Thomas Adamson, Orthodontist, Rt Reverend Mgn. Canon Thomas Adamson, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, William Owen Campbell Adamson, Director General Confederation of British Industry, The most ancient grant of Coat of Arms researched was; On a silver background a red star between three blue crosses. The Crest was; A red cross, The Ancient Family Motto for this distinguished name was: " Crux Mihi Grata Quies" ( The Cross Gives Me Welcome Rest) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For all Families of Adamson I give Thanks: The Family chain was broken but the reunion in the Garden of Eden is soon to be in everlasting Loving Harmony
I'm from America, but this is the area where my relatives come from. They were the Rutherfoords. The Rutherfoords were tightly aligned and related to the Douglases and Humes.
@@chemtrooper1 You can trace it back even further to the town of Rudervoorde in Belgium which you probably know used to be called Flanders. The Rutherfords are connected with the Erembald family. They were chased out of Flanders and went to Scotland.
"Sero Sed Serio." Say what you want: sycophant or intelligent; however, our name lives in infamy among the borderlands. Although, I think categorizing Sir Robert Kerr as a reaver and a ruffian's a bit of hyperbole, it was a brutal world back then. Great job though Mark.
James Kerr the other thing you need to remember James is there were different branches of the Kerr family mainly the Kerrs of Cessford as I discuss, but also the Kerrs of Ferniehirst. This was another important clan and Ferniehirst castle is still open today as a tourist attraction. Be interesting to know which branch you trace back to.
I'm only poking you, you did a phenomenal job! I don't know which branch I'd trace back to; I don't think we have records that go back to the motherland.
Its not actually a question of England freeing Scotland, James I became James VI. The current Royal family got their "right" to the Throne from their Stewart roots. The vote should be "Will we let England be free"?
Aye it was a brutal time and place . But lets not pretend that these guys were innocent victims . Despite the old songs and proudly told tales , these men were murders , rapists , thieves , pure bastards . Not the type you would want your children to hang out with
aidan harrison without a doubt you are right. But the entire society was like that including the Kings of Scotland and England it was a different time. Also the Scotts and Kerrs were like that, the whole point of this film is that society changed but why did these few select families benefit whereas all the others perished or got deported.
@@MarkNicol123 Good point . Most of the "Great " people of the past were in truth no better than gangsters . From Emperors to Kings/Queens , Lords ,( Fill in your own categories ) . All , by our standards , criminally insane . Ah those were the days
Seems a very angry Armstrong, spare a thought for the native Ulstermen who had these thieves and cut throats forced upon them. And for the record Roscommon is in Connacht not Ulster.
As an Armstrong, thank you for making these. I visited Gilnockie castle for my honeymoon last week and I had no idea about the Armstrong history. I'm determined to learn all I can now and these are proving invaluable.
Are you still here Mark? Wonderful videos and information about the borders. I'm a Sheffield born, half Irish man, love the history and how you show it. When I think about it, the boders must have been a very unsettled and dangerous place. You portray and display just that....I find your documentaries both educational and beautiful, aswell as a way of looking at the present in an informed way.
Yes still here John! Just very busy last couple of years with work, live presentations and tours….. so not really had a lot of time to make videos. Thanks for watching😁 Hopefully get some new stuff out this year!
Good man!!!! I'm fascinated with the borders and how life must have been in them times. Armstrong's and Nixon's are the obvious surnames that centuries later went on to do outstanding and remarkakable things. I always feel a sense of history and it's hard to explain.....when being in or around the border, of the lives lost and great struggle, but yet great beauty is all around..... and a sense of joy that it's still not the case.
This could be a clue to my family history. My ancestors went by "Bull" for at LEAST six generations, almost certainly more, eight? My great grand father returned to using the ancient name between 1870 and 1880. Most of the other lines descended from our still anonymous ancestor that brought this line to Virginia Colony about 1610-1620 also returned to using Turnbull. This has to because parent to child over the generations they were taught that they were Turnbulls. I cannot imagine an alternative. This is a span of two hundred years that they maintained the tradition. The discussion regarding the extermination of anybody with a Reiver family name is the best theory I have come up with that they would have changed what they called themselves to the world. We were not one of the major families, but people knew the Turnbuils well enough that the authorities deemed it necessary to round up as many as they could, line 200 Turnbulls up, and hang every other man in the line. "Ethnic cleansing"? I'm convinced. It's a vicious history forced on the Border Families by the ambitions of the powerful. I am going to run this theory by our Clan (Family) genealogists and get a gouge on their opinions. My wife and I were enchanted by the Border country, and especially the people, on our first visit last year 2018, we will be back for our fourth visit next March. See ya then mate, I hope! Thanks for another great video Mark.
My ancestor was certainly one of those ejected, most likely, in the early 1600s. I was lucky enough to visit Smailholm this June 2019. I didn't expect much. I was wrong. Once again.
Iv been trying to find out more about my scottish heritage I found out I come from the gray family and the wypers. Research into the grays has led me here but I havent found out much beyond that they were a border clan. 2 of my oldest friends are an elliot and a johnstone, thought that was kinda wierd when i found out we all come from border clans but our families have been in canada for multiple generations.
Just getting into my lineage. McCollough is predominantly Scottish from what I am told but I am at step one of this. It can be daunting at first to be sure! Visiting Scotland is definitely on my bucket list! Thanks for all your work!
I am a Border Clan...of USA...all the way from Scotland...ARMSTRONG's.... My heart is in Scotland... Wish this was a better more easy on the ear... and the audio is terrible... Wish I could see and hear it done by another.... I stand with our Motto....and keep hoping.
This kind of reminds me of the Black Hawk Trail we have here in Wisconsin, USA; you'll find markers related to the events of the Black Hawk War ranging all over the southern part of the state, even running right through the University campus in the capitol city, with the trail's end being not far from my hometown. From what you described, Sir Robert and Buccleuch sound like they were far-sighted enough to realize that times were changing and opportunistic enough to take advantage of it. Whatever else, you can't blame them for doing what they did; as you said, the Reivers had no loyalty except for their own families, not kings, not countries, just themselves and their kin. If they didn't do what they did, they would've failed to protect themselves and their own. One thing's for sure, no conquering army in history ever succeeded in the long run without the aid of people from the other side, whether it was Reivers turning on Reivers or Apache tracking down Geronimo or the Romans employing barbarians as auxiliary legions. For better or worse, history is what it is: a stone path leading to the present.
terrorcop101 you are spot on man!! I’m going to go and look up the Black Hawk War as I have to say I don’t know hardly anything about it! Thanks for the tip. And cheers for watching.
@@MarkNicol123 thank you for putting this up, it's hard to find a documentary specifically on the Border Reivers and, as a bonus, I get to know just what a Reiver is
Great stuff.good people are telling this story now.Little know bit of history,am from newcastle and i dont think i knew the real importance of the reivers until i was about 50.Once you know the names you can see their importance not only in the areas history,but world history
I visited and toured Smailholm Tower in 2014. Glad to have seen it. My family were Blscksmiths in Roxburgshire. The Hunter family was shown on the map of the Reivers.
My family, the Littles were in Ulster for a very long time. My Great Grandfather left Ireland for Canada in 1883. My Grandfather left Canada for a factory job in the US in 1920. I recently visited the Scotland borders and it was unbelievably beautiful and peaceful there.
I watched to the point where he over dramatically used the term ' ethnic cleansing ' . Let's be honest here , I'm fascinated by my reiver roots but culturally they were thieving scumbags . In Britain we were just about to enter the age of the enlightenment but our border folk lived like 19th century Sicilian mafia - or worse . Be proud of the amazing heritage but cut out the sentimental crap.
Excuse me! Excuse me! But can we get a group hug going on here for the other Mark? As yet another Great ScotT - I am feeling a big "Boo hoo hoo" coming on here. From a Scott standpoint, jeepers jeepers losers weepers. Like the proverb of old, "he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day." When the Moonlight was out, so were the Scott's collecting the 'border tax', When the king abolished the border tax, the Scott's were out, and the middle march was theirs. Problem? Or jealousy?
I think this is one of your most powerful videos. The history of this wonderful place is so fascinating and compelling - but your story telling definitely brings to life the reality of those times, which was clearly turbulent and brutal. Brilliant.
it is odd the English are blamed for crimes against Scotland in the past and I don't disagree with this. but it is odd the first Scottish /English king did this in this way. I am descended from Irish English and a river clan and I for one no that the past was a crewel and evil time .
If you do your history you will see that the Scots invaded and raided England many times committing exactly the same "crimes" that you only attribute to the English! But then again, that contradicts the myth doesn't it!
@@marypetrie930 I have ancestors on both sides and some were raiders . I did not say it was one sided war, never is one sided . Being a statement about one man is not about blaming one side .
My mother and I just learned about this part of Scottish history. We have Johnstons, Littles, and Bells from this area in our family history which we read were all reivers. We are still researching our family history and have some letters that go back as far as the 1800s, and are looking for more information further back, but it seems like it’s going to be difficult now knowing the history of the area better. Thank you for sharing your knowledge because there’s not much available out there.
Shared this excellent documentary on the pacification of the Borders on my FB page as we (Clan Bell) prepare for the upcoming Scottish / Highland Games season in the States. Nice job Mark!
Mark Nicol Perhaps. They did marry into the scots-irish in early America. I know Thom(p)son was a border reiving family. When we came to America my many great grandfather Bartholomew Thompson was a great American revolutionary war vet.
Did you say, by 1616 there were no more Borders rivers? Why would a Scottish King do this to his own people? What were the Border Clans doing that was so wrong?
Because as romantic as they might be portrayed as self reliant stoic people who kept themselves to their own rules and way of life, the reality is that they were a thuggish lot constantly menacing their neighbors and causing no end of trouble for those trying to maintain some kind of law and order in the region.
A few things to get you started: (Clan) Hall - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Hall#Clan_Hall_Society Reed - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_(name) Border reivers - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_reivers Redesdale - www.revitalisingredesdale.org.uk/
Ignore the Clan Hall links they wear Kilts and have Highland type games! They think they are Scots! Halls came from Normandy and are of Viking descent! My Mother like yours was of Hall descent!
Brilliant i hope you do more ! sounds all over the place at times , but i like all the music and how you use it , very informative and i think you would do well as a Scottish presenter ..
Excellent video the Border reivers are neglected by academics as is Border history as a whole . I have links to the Armstrong’s of Sorbie in Ewes but I’m not sure how they relate to other branches .
Correction: three US presidents. Jackson, Johnson, Nixon. You also forgot to mention that the Scott Buccleuch/Kerr connection was by marriage prior to 1603. Great video of a topic conveniently forgotten.
Greg Cozier yes there's more to the story but difficult to fit in 25 minutes. Never thought aboutJackson. My ancestors were Croziers. Are you in Scotland?
Half of me is ARMSTRONG. In 1998, I had the pleasure of spitting on the plaque dedicated to James V at Holyrood House. That was for my ancestor Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie Mangerton, and when my son found out what I had done; rather than chastise me, he said: "Dad, I wonder whether James V though of this; that 468 years after he hanged our ancestor, a descendant of Johnnie Armstrong would come by to spit on his plaque". If I were the first Armstrong descendent to do so; I am proud of that fact! INVICTUS MANEO!
My favourite video by far, really interesting and informative. I agree with the comment below a follow up on history of the border towns common ridings would be really interesting. Well done..fair enjoyed it!
Good video Had to get used to the accent . Great explanation of the the Border reivers origins and also the Armstrong Clan. My great great grandparents (Armstrongs), were in Ulster and later came to america.
Little Bull oh aye! Notorious reivers the Turnbulls. Found an ancient cemetery near Minto recently which was nearly all Turnbull graves, I’ll send the link. Cheers for watching!!
Been enjoying your informative recordings Mark. Tracked my ancestors down to the borders. Most were cleared off their lands to Ulster. It’s reckoned 250 to 400 thousand later left Ulster for the new world. Brutal times, sadly not part of the history taught in our schools in Scotland. It’s took me 40 years to put the pieces together. Keep up the good work. I’ve been enjoying my trips to the tweed valley and have been using your videos to get about.
I found this video researching my lost Armstrong ancestors. Very good information. Is there somewhere I can go for resources and more information? Much appreciated!
I’m in the Scott family clan and I didn’t realize Walter Scott was so violent against his own Scottish neighbors but I guess that’s why the current Duke of Buccleuch is one of the largest land owners in Scotland besides the Queen.
Robert Rogers, New England born and raised frontiersman, tracker, mercenary, hero of the French and Indian War and acknowledged as founder of the US Rangers came from Ulster Scots / Borders heritage.
not forgetting the earlier scots in the americas, also people forget many of these ulster scots would still have been full scots having lived in ulster a few years or even months then leaving for amerikay to join their kin.
Crazy to think how the Kings harshly treated the people of the Borders. But that's how the world worked backed then I guess, persecute those who oppose.
Mark Nicol This is nice sitting watching and learning. What gets me is how our schools can make history boring . It may have changed since my days. Good work Mark.
The pacification of the Border region was brutal and merciless but could it have been accomplished any other way? These were families that had lived their own lives on their own terms and they were themselves no strangers to pillage and rape and murder. Could anyone see them giving up the life of raiding their neighbours to become farmers or sheep herders? They were hard men, violent and unforgiving to those who stood against them and to glorify the Reivers or turn them into some kind folk heroes is both wrong and misleading. The creed of the Reivers could have been “do as thou will shall be the whole of the law” in other words, no right or wrong , just might makes right! For those who trace their roots back to those families on both sides of the border, you may see this differently. I can only say , for example, those living in America who do you feel about the LA gangs, the Mafia and even the drug cartels? To think the riding families of the border region are any different is naive. James the 1st of Great Britain did what he had to do in bringing peace to a part of his kingdom which remained beyond control of any previous Monarch. Harsh, brutal, even inhumane it may have been but again, how else do you deal with a situation like the one James faced?
