As we know, newly published books aren’t the only source of excellent knowledge to aid in our genealogical research.

There are many oldies but goodies, including the subject of today’s book review, The Scotch Irish: A Social History by James G. Leyburn, published in 1962.

In this case, although the title is outdated, as the people are now called Scots-Irish, the contents of the book itself are excellent both in its scope and detail.

James Leyburn (1902-1993) was a scholar, author and college professor of sociology at Washington and Lee University. This book was published by the University of North Carolina Press.

Contents

Foreward
Introduction

Part I: The Scot in 1600

1. Poverty and Insecurity
2. Domestic Life of the Lowland Scot
3. Scottish Social Institutions in 1600
4. Religion in Scotland
   
   A. Before the Reformation
   
   B. The Reform and After
5. The Mind and Character of the Lowlander

Part II: The Scots in Ireland

6. The Plantation of Ulster, 1610 and After
7. Causes of the Scottish Migration
A. Economic
B. Religious
8. The Pioneer Scots in Ulster, 1606-1634
9. The Hard years, 1634-1690
10. Intermarriage with the Irish
11. The Character of the Ulster Scot

Part III: The Scotch-Irish in America

12. The Migration
13. Scotch-Irish Settlements
A. Southeastern Pennsylvania
B. The Valley of Virginia
C. The Upper Carolinas
D. Indian Menace to Settlement
E. Smaller Settlements of Scotch-Irish
(1) New England
(2) The Middle Colonies
(3) the Tidewater South
14. Frontier Society
15. The Presbyterian Church
16. The Scotch-Irish in Politics
17. Final Estimate

Appendix I: The Name “Scotch-Irish”
Appendix II: Important Events in Scottish History
Notes
Bibliography
Index

The Scotch-Irish: A Social History is not a quick read, but although it is scholarly in approach, it’s not overwhelming to read, either. There’s a lot of information to digest!

I first became interested in the Scots-Irish when I found a number of ancestors in my husband’s family tree that were clearly Scots-Irish.

Through previous reading, I was familiar with much of the historic emigration, but not so much with the social causes of the Scots move first from Scotland to Northern Ireland and then from Ireland to the American colonies.

Leyburn does an excellent job moving the Scottish people through historical eras, explaining the social, economic and religious factors that influenced the lives of both Highlanders and Lowlanders and which eventually pushed many of the Lowlanders to seek a better life in Ireland.

Chapter titles identify many of these factors.

I have a much more in-depth understanding of the Scots-Irish and why they made the choices that they did. For example, I had no idea about Scottish history – that the Highlanders and Lowlanders were really two distinct cultural groups that lived very different lives in the 1600s, although life was difficult for all.

I was aware of the strife in the borderlands between the Lowlanders and the English, but never knew that the Renaissance pretty much passed Scotland by.

I was also cognizant of the contributions that Scots-Irish made to the winning of the American Revolution. George Washington himself said the war could have been lost without them.

However, I learned so much more about life under the feudal system, which lasted into the 1600s in Scotland, the lack of opportunity for a better life and the increasing importance of both Presbyterianism and education to the Scots.

I highly recommend Leyburn’s book to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how the Scots-Irish came to be, how they’ve remained very Scottish in their outlook and the contributions they’ve made to American colonial life and beyond.

The Scotch-Irish: A Social History is available online for as little as $2.00 for a used copy in good condition. That’s a bargain!