Tuesday 26 April 2016

Caithness & Patagonia


We are Going to be on the Telly!!




Team Patagonia
























Caithness meets Patagonia in Inverness



Press & Journal Saturday 9th July



















Now available Live to Order from Whittles Publishing

http://www.whittlespublishing.com/Caithness_to_Patagonia



http://www.whittlespublishing.com/Caithness_to_Patagonia


FISHERMEN FAMILIES
A number of those who went from Caithness to Patagonia came from crofter/fishing families. This is all that remains of the fishing station at Achastle.




























BAIN FAMILY CROFT

Seven of the Bain family, plus a niece and nephew left Caithness for Patagonia. They were crofters and fishermen in Caithness and played a key role in the development of sheep farming in Patagonia. Their original croft house at Mavesy still stands


















BIG BUSINESS

Angus McPherson from Caithness began his Patagonian shepherding life on Estancia San Gregorio, one of the largest sheep farms in Patagonia.













THE CAITHNESS HOMESTEADS

Two Caithness families with Patagonian connections lived at Todholes in Lyth. All that is left of the crofting community is this old steading.























THE DESCENDANTS 

Gathering of Caithness Patagonian descendants on Sunday 21st February at Lyth Arts Centre



NOT JUST SHEEP

Not all of our Caithness Patagonian Pioneers were employed as shepherds.

One was an administrator at a refrigeration plant and another worked as an electrician

What did your Patagonian ancestor do?











Caithness Patagonia Legacy

Shop in Argentina named after a Grandmother's place in Caithness 






























Who Do Think You Are



















The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry

The Caithness Patagonian connection captured by a team of Caithness Stitchers. See the whole tapestry - http://www.scottishdiasporatapestry.org/announcements/world-premiere-supporting-events





















Could these be Caithness Patagonians?




















WE ARE ON THE BILL!

Join us at the Scottish Association of Family History Societies 25th Annual Conference 




















WHY PATAGONIA?

Our good friends at the John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier continue to help. Today they have published this update



PATAGONIAN MINISTERS

The remoteness and the scattered nature of the Patagonian estancias meant that people were often far away from any form of religious support. The Church of Scotland and the United Free Churches recognised the problem and put a lot of effort into supplying ministers. This advert from the Scotsman in 1925 demonstrates their commitment

Minister – C of S or U.F. minister wanted immediately for Patagonia, preferably under 35; three years engagement (renewable); part of each year in Buenos Aires; salary, £600; new motor car; £100 annually for expenses and first class return fare; unique opportunity for vigorous man. Applications, before July 4th, to Thomas Henderson, 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh.[1]



[1] Scotsman June 17 1925

WHO ARE THESE CAITHNESIANS?















PATAGONIAN ROAD KILL

In 1922 John Hamilton accidentally ran over a rare Patagonian Weasel. Mindful of the need to preserve our natural history, he had it sent to Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh (where it remains to this day)













CAITHNESS FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

The Caithness Family History Society Journal for Sept/Oct contains our article on Caithness & Patagonia
















WOMEN in PATAGONIA

Many of the Caithness Patagonian Pioneers returned home to find a wife.
For the women in Patagonia the choice was limited!
"In Patagonia the female population was scarce whereas the male population had grown in comparison and was not very demanding in terms of beauty and still less of personal assets"












CONFERENCE 

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies 2014 Conference takes place in Dunfermline on 26th April 2014 and the Caithness Patagonians have a slot in the programme.












ANOTHER PUZZLE?
This is in Patagonia, but can we recognise anyone?











IDENTITY?
Does anyone know who this is? 
Could he be a Caithness Patagonian?
















A NEW HORIZON
Patagonia is a long way from Caithness, both physically and mentally. Apart from the wide horizons common to both there is, literally, a world of distance between the two. In the late 19th century however, a number of Caithness people took on the challenge of Patagonia.

















Thanks to the contacts in Patagonia - the stories begin to unfold






















Next talk is in Caithness Horizons on 8th May with Caithness Family History Society



Many thanks to all the Patagonian Pioneer families that are offering to open up their 'archives'





















Talk arranged at Wick Heritage Centre on 5th March. Hoping some more descendants pop out. 








We know that some went first to the Falkland Islands and the archivists at Jane Cameron National Archive and the Falkland Islands Company have been most helpful. 


























In the late 19th and early 20th centuries a number of Caithness people left their native shores for the distant lands of Patagonia.
Who were these people and why did they travel half way across the world for work?