Photograph Notes: Henderson, a member of the Fordell family, died in 1737. Ed Robinson of West Virginia has kindly supplied me with the following information on his ancestor: "William Henderson was born in 1676 and baptised in Dunfermline Abbey. Having been born out of wedlock, this circumstance may have induced him to move his family to Ireland with a view to improving their economic prospects. In 1735 or 1736, four of his sons - William, John, James and Samuel - migrated from Ulster to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, becoming prominent members of the community in Augusta County where they were known as the �Augusta Boys�. It appears that they were unique in the area because of their literacy*. They were early members of the Old Stone Church, established in 1740 and the oldest presbyterian congregation still existing in the State of Virginia. The youngest son, Samuel, who fought in the French and Indian War, became a well-to-do farmer and land owner. His grandson, John, fought for the cause of Independence as a private in the rebel army at the Battle of King�s Mountain. Some sources state that William Snr. was buried at Fordell Castle, but he is not to be found among the monument inscriptions at the Fordell Chapel in its grounds. This memorial suggests he was buried here, near the family aisle, at St. Bridget�s." *While the Fordells may have been sufficiently well-off to employ private tutors to educate their children, Acts of the Scottish Parliament in 1633 and 1696 required every parish to provide a school and a schoolmaster. The result was the first public education system since ancient times and mass literacy which proved to be of great practical advantage to Scottish and Scotch-Irish emigrants in the 18th century. * * * * * "However humble their condition the peasantry in the southern districts can all read and are generally more or less skilful in writing and arithmetic, and under the disguise of their uncouth appearance...they possess a laudable zeal for knowledge...not generally found among the same class of men in other countries in Europe." -- James Currie, quoted by Sir John Sinclair, Analysis of the Statistical Account, 1826 "The landlady, a kindly, portly dame, considerably turned fifty, was a Scotchwoman, a native of Airdrie, who has long ago married an Englishman in her own country and had now been settled in Dudley for more than thirty years. My northern accent seemed to bespeak her favour; and taking it for granted that I had come into England in quest of employment, but had not yet been successful in procuring any, she began to speak comfort to my dejection, by assuring me that our country-folk in that part of the world were much respected and rose always, if they had but character, into places of trust. (...) Character and scholarship, said the landlady, drawing her inference, were just everything in that neighbourhood. Most of the Scotch people who came that way, however poor, had both: and so, while the Irish always remained drudges and were regarded with great jealousy by the labouring English, the Scotch became overseers and book-keepers, sometimes even partners in lucrative works and were usually well liked and looked up to." -- Hugh Miller, First Impressions of England and its People, 1846

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