Scotch Irish Settlement of the Shenandoah Valley

Backcountry Notes ^ | MArch 20, 2010 | Jay Henderson

[jay1949]

"These [Scotch Irish settlers] were the right sort of people to found a commonwealth that should stand the wear and tear of a hundred ages." – Henry Ruffner, President of Washington College (1836-1848). Ruffner's "Early History of Washington College" recounts the settling and development of the Valley of Virginia. An excerpt from "Early History" was printed in Henry Howe, "Historical Collections of Virginia" (1852), which fortunately is more available than the original. Reproduced here are Howe's introduction and the engaging Ruffner excerpt.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Scots...not Scotch.;-)

[ReneeLynn]

ping!

[ReneeLynn]

Whattya got against Scotch? ;)

[SonOfDarkSkies]

I don't want it moving up to the Shenandoah Valley when it can settle in right here with me!

Yum!

[BnBlFlag]

Scots...not Scotch.;-)

Although I have an English surname, I am predominatly “Scots-Irish”. I belong to the “Scotch-Irish” Society of the U.S. out of Pa. They insist on being called “Scotch” rather than “Scots”. I believe Scots is the correct term, however.

[stylin19a]

It’s a bummer being a Scot-Irish alcoholic...I want a drink but I don’t want to pay for it.

[Textide]

My understanding was that the English call us Scots-Irish, and in the US we call ourselves Scotch-Irish.

[mountainlion]

Whattya got against Scotch? ;)

It does not taste like butterscotch.

[PoplarBluffian]

Thanks, saving for later read. My mom’s family were Scot-
Irish in Va. mid 1700’s. Dad’s family came here about the same time from Germany & married into a Scot-Cherokee family so your article covers all of it! I love reading the history that surrounds my family.

Several ancestors were in the revolution and the events of this week-end weigh heavy on my heart. They would not be amused...sigh...

[squarebarb]

thanks for another good post, Jay.

I took your advice and tried to find ‘the Roots of Appalachian English’ (App. studies conference 1990) online and had no success. Also tried to find ‘How Scots-Irish is your English?’ on line (Journal of East Tenn. 1995)with similar lack of success.

These really interest me. Any suggestions? Do these journals have a phone number where I can call and order the relevant issues? Thanks!

[VOA]

bump for publicity

[SonOfDarkSkies]

I am 3 parts Scot and 1 part Scots-Irish, but I know not to argue with an Irishman, in whole or in part!;-)

So, whatever they want to be called is fine with me.

[crz]

Exactly. I wonder what kind of Scotch they drink?

[crz]

The tem Scot comes from the romans who call pirates who would raid the Isles for slaves and other things..The word Scot comes from Scotti which meant such.

The Scotti came from Ireland-Scotti Irish and went to Scotland and founded Dal Riata-the ancient kingdom that was the forerunner of Scotland. The ruins of Dal Riata are on the Mull of Kintyre not far from Lochgilphead (sic) and I have been there several times as my family came from that area.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to ReneeLynn for the ping.

Pipes and Drums of FreeRepublic ping!

This is an ultra-low-volume ping list (typically weeks to months between pings, for matters related to Highland bagpipes and Scotland).
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this list.

Going to the Games? Organize a Clan FReeper get-together!

[jay1949]

Try these links:

http://www.cas.sc.edu/engl/dictionary/articles/HowScotchIrish.doc

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED323066&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED323066

also:

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED445334&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED445334

http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh30-2.html

[PoplarBluffian]

LOL! I have to rememer that...

[RegulatorCountry]

Scotch is the correct pronunciation among the Scotch-Irish of VA, NC, SC and TN. It’s a linguistic throwback, like many unique words in the foothills and mountains here. I’ll stick with their name for themselves, personally.

Another linguistic oddity pertainining to the Shenandoah Valley, would be that up is down, and down is up. If you’re going down the Valley, you’re headed toward DC. If you’re going up the Valley, you’re headed toward NC. It refers to altitude instead of north and south.

[jay1949]

The term Scotch-Irish is the traditional descriptor; Scots-Irish is the more recent and evidently (forgive me!) politically-correct term. The original Ruffner text used Scotch Irish -- no hyphen -- and this seems to have been the usage in the early 19th century. As far as I am concerned, these all have the same meaning, describing the ethnic Scots who had settled in Ulster Plantation before migrating to America. I use Scotch-Irish (or Scotch Irish) because I fancy myself a traditionalist. Apparently this usage constitutes "fighting words" in some precincts -- but could we expect anything less of Scotsmen from Ireland?

Oh, and if the English use "Scots-Irish," I consider that another reason to use "Scotch-Irish."