Dear all, I would like to make contact with anyone who has ancestors from the Kingussie area of Inverness-shire. I am especially interested in collecting family stories relating to this part of Badenoch, particularly those concerned with emigration, etc. There is one story, for instance, of an emigration that took place in 1838 which caused the writing of a well-known song 'Gu 'm a slan do na fearaibh / Theid thairis a' chuan' ('A health to the fellows / Who'll cross over the sea!'). Here is an excerpt from Rev Thomas Sinton's 1909 account: "In the year 1838, a large number of people emigrated to Australia from the neighbourhood of Kingussie. The 'St George', by which they had taken passage to Sydney, lay at Oban, so it was necessary for them to make the long journey to Fort William in carts, and thence proceed to the place of embarkation by steamboat. Their departure from Kingussie took place at mid-summer, and on the day of St Columba's Fair - Latha Feill Chaluim Chille. This fair was the occasion of a general gathering of the inhabitants of Badenoch; and to it many resorted from a distance for purposes of trade or mere amusement. Several near relatives of the writer, who were among those present on the memorable day referred to, used to describe with deep emotion the scenes of heart-rendering grief which they witnessed." I wonder whether any listers' ancestors were among those passengers on the 'St George'? It would be great to hear from you. I am interested in pursuing the above enquiries in relation to a research project I am running based at the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie called 'Highland Homecomings'. The project is concerned with cultural connections between the 'old country' and people of Highland descent dispersed throughout the world. If you would like to find out more visit the research web site at http://www.scotweb.org/homecomings I look forward to hearing from you. With best wishes, Paul Basu. ==================================== HIGHLAND HOMECOMINGS PROJECT http://www.scotweb.org/homecomings homecomings@scotweb.org Highland Folk Museum Duke Street Kingussie Inverness-shire PH21 1JG Scotland Tel: (local) 01540 662435 (international) 00 441 540 662 435 Fax: (local) 01540 661631 (international) 00 441 540 661 631