Hello Mike, Potato crops failed in Scotland but it didn't cause the same devastating famine as in Ireland where dependance on the potato was total in about 1/3 of the population. I think the surrounding areas in Scotland were able to assist in a way they couldn't or didn't in Ireland. Have a look at this - I've only skimmed through it. http://www.history.com/news/after-168-years-potato-famine-mystery-solved So it is possible your ancestors were affected by it but of course there was gold drawing folks to Australia at a great rate at the same time. Ian thinks those most severely affected by the famine went to America. Cheers, Mary

G'day. There were many people of Scot's ancestry in Northern Island who moved back to Scotland as a result of the famine, thus putting pressure on the population. I recall being amazed at the number of "Irish" showing on the census of 1851 for Maybole, Ayrshire. My FOX family moved from Guilford to Glasgow c1853, and one of their children on to NZ in 1876. I can also recall reading that potato exports from Ireland to England were maintained despite those growing them starving to death. Murray NZ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Paton via" <ayrshire@rootsweb.com> To: <AYRSHIRE@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 1:10 AM Subject: Re: [AYR] Was there a Potato Famine in Scotland in 1840's & 1850's > Hello Mike, > > Potato crops failed in Scotland but it didn't cause the same > devastating famine as in Ireland where dependance on the potato was > total in about 1/3 of the population. I think the surrounding areas > in Scotland were able to assist in a way they couldn't or didn't in > Ireland. Have a look at this - I've only skimmed through it. > > http://www.history.com/news/after-168-years-potato-famine-mystery-solved > > So it is possible your ancestors were affected by it but of course > there was gold drawing folks to Australia at a great rate at the same > time. Ian thinks those most severely affected by the famine went to > America. > > Cheers, > Mary > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message