Support for this thesis, which also applies to the north coast from Thurso to Durness, is the number of people of Orkney origin who can be found in Censuses in many parts: I know of several in Tongue. Donald Massey ----- Original Message ----- > > A small addition to Fraser's note. North Sutherland Studies, a booklet > published by the Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group in 1987, > includes an article on Robert Garden, an Aberdonian Orcadian who established > a string of shops on the north and west coasts of Sutherland in the 1890s, > supplied by a small steamer. This was a natural development from the > floating shops which I also understand took corn to Orkney to be ground. > Garden's baker, Stockan, became a rival, but one can buy Stockan and Garden > oatcakes and biscuits - sadly the Garden is but a trading name and the > family connection is long gone. See www.stockan-and-gardens.co.uk > > I am particularly interested in the second story. I assume it post-dates > the extension of the franchise to crofters in the mid-1880s. Much will > depend on what period we are talking about. > > In the late 19th century, there were two parties in Sutherland: Tories, (to > whom one would add Liberal Unionists), and Home Rule Liberals/Crofter > Radicals. The crofters were well organised and politically motivated. > However, the position could be difficult for "service voters", shepherds, > gamekeepers etc. From newspaper accounts, it appears that both sides > engaged in transporting voters to the polling station. However, the > evidence is thin and hence my interest.