My Glass ancestors came to Northumberland late 17/early 18c from Highlands.Why?

[belfordian]

I was told by my grandfather that our Glass ancestors moved from the Highlands to North Northumberland probably late 17/early 18c. Was there some external event around then likely to motivate this move? Can anyone suggest starting points for establishing where they moved from? I don’t know dates or names, only very common recurring forenames amongst descendants. My grandfather believed  seven sons had  come from Ross and Cromarty……but that sounds rather fanciful. However, he must have heard that from his family.

This is definitely a case of looking for a needle in a haystack but I’m fixated on attempting to discover more. Can anyone offer some guidance on researching this further, please?

[Gadget]

It was most likely part of the Highland Clearances

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances

There are many studies/reports available 
e.g.
https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/research-enterprise/cultural/centre-for-history/research/research-alliances/the-napier-commission/

I have quite a few books and papers, including  the Napier Commission report but not names.


Gadget

[belfordian]

I understood the Highland Clearances started from about 1750. My ancestors were in Northumberland before then. Ironically, many Northumbrian shepherds were recruited to move in the opposite direction………

[Forfarian]

The 17th century saw a lot of religious upheavals, with Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Roman Catholics all persecuting or being persecuted. Then there was the related matter of the royal succession and in the early 18th century various Jacobite risings, of which the ones in 1715 and 1745 are the best known.

[GR2]

You would really have to work back in Northumberland until you came to evidence that an ancestor arrived from Scotland. Looking at the index on ScotlandsPeople for Glass births from 1600 - 1720, they are spread across the land from Inverness to Elgin, Aberdeen, Dundee and also in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Some in Glasgow and Rothesay.

[Gadget]

I see that you list  Northumberland, Fife, Roxburghshire for your Glass family. Have you followed these back?

[Gadget]

I see that you did have a thread on your Glass family in 2019

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=817937.0


PS - beware of family stories. I was told by family that my Scottish ancestors came from Caithness.  I later discovered that they were from the South West (Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway) and Ireland.

Also, a brief comment in the  Wiki summary:

The Highlands, as an agriculturally marginal area, was the last part of mainland Britain to remain at risk of famine, with notable instances before the 19th century in 1680, 1688, the 1690s, 1740–1, 1756 and 1782–3.

[Forfarian]

You might find this interesting reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasite

[belfordian]

Thank you. Johns particular religious views have not been adhered to by my ancestors!