James Loch
Encyclopedia
James Loch was a Scottish estate commissioner and later a Member of Parliament
.
in 1780. After his father's death in 1788, he lived on the Blair Adam estate with his uncle.
. After his studies, he worked as a lawyer for a short period until he was appointed estate commissioner to the Marquis of Stafford later the Duke of Sutherland
. Although not the instigator he is most known for the Highland Clearances
, the often forcible resettlement of tenant farmers on the coast of Sutherland which he justified in his publication 'Account of the improvements on the estate of the Marquis of Stafford' of 1820.
For much of his life, Loch worked to effect the clearances and "to so mould and control the lives of 'the ignorant and credulous people' that at one time the young among them had to go to his agents for permission to marry". According to Loch's writings, "In a few years the character of the whole of this population will be completely changed... The children of those who are removed from the hills will lose all recollection of the habits and customs of their fathers".
The manner in which the evictions were carried out could be exceedingly harsh, particularly in the valley of Strathnaver
. An eye witness, Angus Mackay, commented that 'It would be a very hard heart but would mourn to see the circumstances of the people... you would have pitied them, tumbling on the ground and greeting, tearing the ground with their hands...'.
James Loch's policies were at times carried out in a reckless manner. The process of eviction often involved setting fire to houses while their occupiers were still inside them. Able-bodied persons had to flee from the flames, often losing most of their possessions to the fire. Elderly and infirm persons sometimes lost their lives. Women and children were not spared the harshness of the evictions. In many cases, women were the ones who resisted the evictions, perhaps in the belief that the courts would protect them.
On one occasion, a factor at the Sutherland
estate, Patrick Sellar, was tried for the unlawful killing of an elderly woman, Margaret Mackay. She apparently suffered burns and died as a result of the eviction. The courts were slow to prosecute him, quick to eliminate witnesses and in the end Patrick Sellar was acquitted.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Early life
Loch was born near EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1780. After his father's death in 1788, he lived on the Blair Adam estate with his uncle.
Estate commissioner
Loch studied law in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. After his studies, he worked as a lawyer for a short period until he was appointed estate commissioner to the Marquis of Stafford later the Duke of Sutherland
Duke of Sutherland
Duke of Sutherland, derived from Sutherland in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom held by the head of the Leveson-Gower family. It was created by William IV in 1833 for George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford...
. Although not the instigator he is most known for the Highland Clearances
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
, the often forcible resettlement of tenant farmers on the coast of Sutherland which he justified in his publication 'Account of the improvements on the estate of the Marquis of Stafford' of 1820.
For much of his life, Loch worked to effect the clearances and "to so mould and control the lives of 'the ignorant and credulous people' that at one time the young among them had to go to his agents for permission to marry". According to Loch's writings, "In a few years the character of the whole of this population will be completely changed... The children of those who are removed from the hills will lose all recollection of the habits and customs of their fathers".
The manner in which the evictions were carried out could be exceedingly harsh, particularly in the valley of Strathnaver
Strathnaver
Strathnaver or Strath Naver is the fertile strath of the River Naver, a famous salmon river that flows from Loch Naver to the north coast of Scotland...
. An eye witness, Angus Mackay, commented that 'It would be a very hard heart but would mourn to see the circumstances of the people... you would have pitied them, tumbling on the ground and greeting, tearing the ground with their hands...'.
James Loch's policies were at times carried out in a reckless manner. The process of eviction often involved setting fire to houses while their occupiers were still inside them. Able-bodied persons had to flee from the flames, often losing most of their possessions to the fire. Elderly and infirm persons sometimes lost their lives. Women and children were not spared the harshness of the evictions. In many cases, women were the ones who resisted the evictions, perhaps in the belief that the courts would protect them.
On one occasion, a factor at the Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
estate, Patrick Sellar, was tried for the unlawful killing of an elderly woman, Margaret Mackay. She apparently suffered burns and died as a result of the eviction. The courts were slow to prosecute him, quick to eliminate witnesses and in the end Patrick Sellar was acquitted.