Events Calendar

Ulster-Scots history becomes cutting edge research
Documents that tell the story behind how 10,000 Scots came to settle in Counties Down and Antrim 400 years ago have been developed into a cutting edge historical research tool.

The family manuscripts from Scots gentry James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery, who ended up each getting a third of Ulster chieftain Con O’Neill’s land after an intriguing
rescue plot, are now available in an ‘eBook’ CD rom format from The Ulster-Scots Agency.

The cross-border agency responsible for the promotion of the Ulster-Scots language, culture and heritage today launched its innovative ‘eBook’ to an audience of historians and local government representatives at Carrickfergus Castle, the place of O’Neill’s escape.

Before the Plantation of Ulster, two Ayrshire Scots, James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery, pioneered a massive settlement of 10,000 Lowland Scots to Counties Down and Antrim in May 1606.   Montgomery had masterminded the escape of Con O’Neill from Carrickfergus Castle, and his reward was to be half of O’Neill’s lands.  However, James Hamilton intervened and negotiated one third of the lands for himself.   The Hamilton & Montgomery Settlement was the first large-scale migration of Scots into Ulster.  

1000 copies of the CD rom have been produced and Agency Chairman Mark Thompson believes that it will greatly help explain what he calls ‘The Dawn of the Ulster-Scots’.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that historical Ulster-Scots research documents have been produced in this format,” he said.

“We have produced facsimile, searchable ‘eBook’ CD Rom editions of the two authoritative records of the Settlement. The advantage with this digital format is that the user will view a facsimile onscreen, which, thanks to leading-edge technology, can now be text-searched. The opportunities for research work are limitless. These will undoubtedly appeal to historians and genealogists alike, and provide a scholarly yet innovative starting point in telling the story of ‘The Dawn of the Ulster-Scots’.

“It is important to the Agency that we demonstrate the depth of Ulster-Scots cultural heritage and republishing these manuscripts is a major contribution. We have the support of the current Hamilton and Montgomery families in marking the 400th anniversary, and in this ‘eBook’ project in particular.”

Mr Thompson allowed the Agency to use his own personal copy of The Montgomery Manuscripts to be produced into the ‘eBook’ and believes that many Ulster-Scots groups and historical societies worldwide will find it immensely informative, and ultimately
inspiring. 

The Agency will be encouraging local councils and Ulster-Scots groups to mark this year as the 400th anniversary of how Ulster-Scots came into existence.

The Hamilton Manuscripts and the Montgomery Manuscripts were written by the family historians of the era, and were initially published in the early 1700s. The most recent printings are from around 1860 and are now valuable collectors items. Bringing this
material to today’s generation in a digital format provides an authoritative record of perhaps the most foundational event in Ulster-Scots history.