Hi I haven't read through every message on this subject, so hope I don't repeat... I think both Albion's Seed and Cracker Culture are excellent, each in their own way. As far as the level of education or literacy of our Scots-Irish ancestors, it was probably the same ratio as the English who came over. They were just as class-conscious upon arrival as the English, a result of English dominance in their previous homeland. Those of the higher "classes" or those educated by the priests or their mothers to read the Bible (which I tend to think was the first reason--and in the agrarian societies, the only reason--they were taught to read) were the ones counted on to keep records. I, for one, was faced with having to change my attitude about my own Scots-Irish ancestors. From a cousin, I received a photocopy of a remembrance book that belonged to my ggg grandmother, b. 1805 in what had been Macon AL Terr., now Grove Hill, Clarke Co. , who may have been half Choctaw and the rest probably Irish. She wrote beautifully as well as composing poetry. Other relatives, her husband, siblings, etc., wrote in her remembrance book and seem to have an equal love for words and lovely handwriting. Prior to receipt of this copy, I had thought my relatives were simple illiterate farmers, "crackers" in the worst stereotypical sense. Well, they may have been crackers, but they could write! And I'm proud of them. And I can't honestly say whether they were in the majority or minority in that respect, in the place that they lived. Jan P. S. For those of you planning to purchase Cracker Culture, be ready for a serious read. There's a LOT of references and thorough examination of the culture. [email protected] wrote: > > Coming from a long line of Scottish and Scots-Irish on my father's side, I > have to say that I found much of what David Hackett Fischer said to be right > on the money, and I wasn't offended by it at all. I thought his > characterization of the Scottish and Scots-Irish people of the Carolinas was, > in broad strokes, quite accurate, and certainly explained to me much of what > I grew up taking for granted. It also gave me plenty of basis for > understanding how my husband's New England forebears came at the world from a > very different angle. I didn't find Fischer's views a "put-down" of the > Scots and Scots-Irish at all, though I'm sure the values they held might have > been considered inferior by those from the other folkways discussed who > didn't share them. > > Fischer's scholarship seems to be quite thorough, and while exception can > always be taken, his discussion of the four folkways is, I think, really > enlightening and was a huge undertaking. > > His conclusions about the folkways and values of the people who settled the > Carolinas, in particular, are further substantiated by a book by Grady > McWhiney called CRACKER CULTURE, which is available through several online > booksellers, some of which have reviews posted. The reviews, with some > qualification, further substantiate Fischer's and McWhiney's contentions. I > would recommend you check this book out so you can see that Fischer is not > alone in his understanding of the Scots-Irish/Scottish/Borderer or generally > Celtic cultural influence on the area. > > Barbara > > ==== Southern-Trails Mailing List ==== > Please remember that real people read the messages you post. > Got a problem? Got a gripe? Don't take it to the list! > Send me a message, and I'll try to take care of it: > mailto:[email protected]