Ulster-Scots: Why the Loves were more Scottish than Irish.

Before we delve deeply into the life of Alexander LOVE and his descendants in America, I thought you might be interested in where he immigrated from and why.

The story of the Ulster Scots, known in America as the Scots-Irish, begins in the Scottish Lowlands, land bordering England, in the early 1600s. The Scots in this area were Presbyterians, spoke mostly Scottish Gaelic and lived in extreme poverty as subsistence farmers. For centuries, their lives were dominated by constant warfare between England and Scotland. The disruption of war created constant economic difficulties unseen in other parts of the British Isles. According to the Ulster Scots Society, "They lived with constant economic oppression because soldiers trampled their crops, rustlers stole their livestock, taxes were high, and wages were low."

Ulster refers to a Province in Northern Ireland, which was culturally and geographically similar to Scotland in many ways. This made it an attractive area for the Scots to settle. Although, Scottish people had migrated to this region for centuries, the Hamilton & Montgomery Settlement of May 1606 bolstered a huge increase of Scottish migration. Approved by King James I, who ruled over Scotland, England, and Ireland, this act allowed a private, self-financed settlement in the counties of Antrim and Down. The first settlement was so successful that the British government decided to expand its involvement.

Instead of placing the burden on private investors, the second wave of settlement included extensive planning and supervision by the English and Irish governments. The counties where these new settlements were allowed expanded to include Armagh, Tyrone, Donegal, Cavan, Fermanagh and Derry. The migrants were primarily Scottish, but some English also decided to leave for these plantations. The British government's goal was to settle loyal subjects in Northern Ireland as a buffer from the Native Irish. English and Scottish politicians also saw an opportunity to rid themselves of an undesirable population, while the impoverished Scots saw an opportunity to better their lives.

Many Scots stayed in this area over the next four generations and some are still there today. However, our family was caught up in another way of migration, this time to Pennsylvania, which began in 1717, a year before Alexander Love was born.

In the mid-late 1600s, Ulster experienced an economic boom spurred by successful wool and linen industries. Threatened by this success, the English Parliament imposed hefty trade restrictions on the manufacture, sale, and exportation of wool in Ulster. The result caused a serious economic depression in the area. At the same time, rents were increasing on leased land and a huge drought further decimated the economy. Many residents saw little opportunity in Ulster and looked for new opportunities in the New World.

For more information on Ulster Scots, click here and here.