Here big fella I've just found your channel tonight, an may I just say it's had me in tears, your way of story telling is absolutely fantastic! Educational an funny as fook, "yer da's a dick, well your ma's a fud" had me rolling about! Thankyou for making our wonderful history a pleasure to hear again.
I’ve always joked that one of the reasons Neil Armstrong was first on the moon was to see if there were any sheep worth steeling. I’m glad to see that I might not be alone in thinking that. My Grandfather (Armstrong) married an Elliot, another border reaving family, needless to say old family rivalries persisted, my poor grandfather never got a days piece, poor man.
There was a story of a priest who arrived to town. He screams "are there no Christians here?" He probably was expecting everyone to shower him with praise for his priesthood. The only response he got was "Nah, only Armstrongs and Elliots." The two clans were inseparable.
Great to see Reiver history getting some attention. My relatives (Nixons) were allies of the Armstrongs and many suffered the same fate as them once James came to the throne. I was always reminded as a kid that despite being ethnically cleansed that the descendants of those two Reiver families were able to have a chat whilst one was on the moon and the other in Oval office 🤣
As an American Armstrong, whose ancestors made stops in Canada and Ulster, I will not rest until I can visit Gilnockie Tower and pay my respects by raising a glass to all of my reiver ancestors! Invictus Maneo!
I'm scotch irish from America. I love your channel and the history of Scotland and my people and how we went to Ulster and then to where we are in America now. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Virginia
Another grand story Bruce, well done yersel. Note: The Reiver rode a small sturdy pony known as a hobbler, which was noted for its ability to cover great distances over difficult ground at high speed. As mentioned on another pin, the horses the Reivers rode (called the Galloway Nag or The Galloway or The Hobbler or The Nag) is now extinct.
Kinmont Willie & Sandy are my Great Grandfathers!!!! Ancestors (after settling in Ulster) moved to Canada - my Grandmother was an Armstrong/Barr & married a Horner - quite proud of their roots!
There is something quite right about a totally untraditional, cheery chap with dreadlocks teaching me, [not a spring chicken], about Scottish history... as my own traditional, Scottish school education wholly omitted to teach me about my country's history! Very informative, enjoyable - and have to concentrate to catch those more obscure / subtle witticisms. Keep up the good work Bruce! Thanks, Steven.
Thank you for passing on your knowledge. I am an Armstrong and a Waddell. I love hearing about my people. It sure explains a whole lot about me. My husband has always called me stubborn..I call it my Scottish determination and that determination literally saved my life.
Ahhhh the Reivers. My folk. My mother an Ettrick and Upper Lauderdale Scott, my Dad a Liddlesdale Henderson, brought up in Reiver country myself. Hearing of their escapades brings a wee tear to my eye.
As a descendant of the Southern Uplanders/Borderers, of whom, some were given a free luxury one-way trip to Ulster... And also as a descendant of their wonderful neighbours who received them warmly. I have very much enjoyed your pieces on them, and your explosive humour.
I am loving these videos about the borderlands. I am from Cumbria and I find it interesting that I have to watch a Scottish history channel to find out about my home land! My Dad's family are connected to the Scott's who were supposed to be policing the border but did their fair share of rieving. I also went to school with a lot of Armstrongs, Bells and Nixons which are all rieving families back in the day.
I really enjoyed that man from the US Shane Armstrong very informative and a great historian and extremely enthusiastic thank you for the content and a look back at my ancestors
Just found your channel, as a Scot I'm ashamed to know so little about the history of our country. But I'm learning a lot from you. Your enthusiasm is palpable and delivery infectious. Cheers!
To Neil Armstrong outstanding! My third grade teacher was related to Buzz Aldrin, she was always showing movies to us about astronauts. I remember showed a short film showing Neil Armstrong going to a town in Scotland and getting a metal if some kind. Growing up in New Mexico there is always astronauts and aliens of course, but the state motto is the truth “land of entrapment come on vacation leave on probation.” Anyway, the “not so much as a Ferrero Rocher” line made me choke on my Toblerone.
That's a cracking handheld tracking shot at the start of the video. Another fascinating story told with humour, knowledge, enthusiasm, and craft. This incident would make a great film.
Bruce, your channel is my very favorite. I believe that you deserve a prime time show on a major network. Your ability to mix humour with factual story telling is so entertaining. Thanks for the wonderful story!
I thought about mentioning that to me he was the most important one, but I thought our American cousins would have no idea what I was talking about. To be fair at our age few of the young folks would either😄
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Great (old) minds think alike Bruce! ;-) You're probably right about the younger generation... I was lucky enough to be there that day with a bunch of mates from uni (Scots & English). Never felt an atmosphere like it!
@@asonofharoldgodwin Sometimes... but we've won/ retained the Calcutta Cup three times on the last 4 years (though we did get thumped in 2017). And 1990 followed our Grand Slam in 1984 - also won at Murrayfield - only this time against the French (I was there too).
This is my favourite channel, you do such a fantastic job connecting the people who watch to the stories of the people and places of Scotland 🏴. Have a great sunny day my man ! Stay safe out their.
My Armstrong ancestor served as a American Revolutionary War soldier. He was born in Pennsylvania, 1756. One of his sons ventured to the Oregon territory 1842. Where many of his decedents remain to this day.
What's his name my line if from joeseph to abraham to adam up to george eventually potenentialy kinemont up to alexander sandy that's a broken area tho eventually we get up to supposed siward fairbairn armstrong who I beleive is son to osbeorn bulax who was son of earl siward did some math and some ai to do the math but our y dna halogroup is that of a man found in moray covesea caves that dna goes back to 890 bc when siward earl was in northumbria about 1000 year later in 1000 ad I've been trying to delve into it pretty heavy it seems for the most part that earl siward down to his supposed grandson our supposed progenitor can't be truthfully traced up or down but would love to find there dna so we can either say yes or no
If I had Teachers like you when I went to Highschool, I might have actually stayed and graduated.....;) I love your "story telling", although it's taken me quite a few videos to be to interpret what you're saying.....LOL Keep doing what you're doing, we need more people like you in this world.
Thanks Bruce for another great video. I hope someday to visit Scotland and book a tour. Most of my paternal ancestors hail from the borders among them Irvines, Armstrongs, Johnstone, Thomson. Having immigrated to the Americas (Ulster Scots} in the early-mid 18th century we seem to have many blind spots looking back at a history that wasn’t always or often accurately handed down to us. Your videos are quite helpful in presenting the important back stories of all things Scotland, Many of us who never grew up with or heard the stories handed down as lore, long for connection to those ancestors and their descendants. While we know all men and women have complicated personalities and backgrounds, still it is helpful to paint a more accurate picture of them and, ultimately, ourselves. One reiver named “Black Christie” Ervine (Irvine) intrigues me. Thanks again!
Love your storytelling and videos. I have learned a lot.. I am an American and a descendent of Armstrong Ulster scots. My paternal great grandfather Armstrong came to America from Ireland in 1830 and settled in Maryland USA. I Enjoy your videos although I do turn on the closed captioning once in a while.
My grandfather was an orphan and we're centuries removed from the old countries. Thanks for bringing some of the history back. Great job on the videos.
👏👏👏 Loved this tale! Thank you! Many of my Scottish ancestors were in Ulster Ireland for only a generation before coming to America. I prefer Ulster Scots because they obviously didn’t intermarry much with the Irish, according to my family’s dna and I don’t think they lost their Scottish identity and culture. My early ancestors referred to themselves as Scottish even after being in America a few generations.
Have to say Bruce your history videos are so interesting they are addictive. I thought I knew a bit about our history but man how wrong was I. You make the storys so interesting so much so that you blow Neil Oliver out the water 6 days a week and twice on sunday.. Thank you so much and please keep the comming.
There are Armstrongs, Eliots, etc., all over East Tennessee. I’m proud of my Ulster Scots/Borderer heritage and I really appreciate and enjoy your videos. George MacDonald Fraser would be proud of you.
Love the example of a marriage counsellor to explain the Truce Day goings-on. Of course it makes me wonder who or what would be that mediator or arbiter between rivers. Anyway, thanks again for a fine yarn - and I'm still stewing until I can cross the pond again!
I'm from the English side of the Solway with family ties across the border so there's a good amount of Reiver names in my family tree and it turns out I'm related to this lad. I love these videos about this area, it's fascinating from Roman times onwards through the Kingdom of Strathclyde and the Norwegians coming from Ireland, in a lot of times throughout history it was an exception to general rules for other parts of the island.
I worked on a live action role playing game called " Iron City " based on the town in the movie " Alita Battle Angel " . One of the pretences of the towns inhabitants was that we were not above stealing and when the game players came in to play the game we would lie to them a bit , maybe steal some of their prizes etc . One of the other things that we were supposed to do was to come up with a character name . Mine was Kinmont Willie Armstrong :)
Another grand story Bruce. I've been reviewing some of your earlier videos and your story telling gets better and better over time. Love to have you revisit some of those earlier ones with your new skills. You'd no have kids on noisy trikes on your videos now would ya! 😆 Great way to awake on a Saturday morn thanks. 😊
Very interesting history the scottish borders has. My own great granny was a Tweedie from south Lanarkshire I see there apart of the border clans history too.
Which stretched from Glasgow to Lancashire. Where they spoke a form of welsh called Cumbric ! Makes me cringe when crossing the border now and the Gailic road signs which was never spoken down here !!! Wee Krankie again !!!
As always a great video. My grandmother is a Maxwell Canonbie. So it was nice to see the smalll village mentioned. I am looking up that side of the family and willl look into this more closely. Thanks.
I’ve only just found your channel and you sir, are so bloody interesting to listen to. 👍 I believe I am descended from the Little family, who were aligned with the Armstrong people. I also have Cowan from Dumfries. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to delve into any info I can unearth on these ancestors soon. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
Very interesting. I have distant Armstong, and Johnstone Scottish ancestors. Johnstone's were also border reivers from the research I have found. From what I have read and researched, border reivers were not the people to be messed with lol. I read how they were pretty vicious and didn't run from any fight along the border, both the Scottish and English border rievers.
I'm learning my history via Bruce Connolly. It's jist marvelous. I'm an ex Piper of the Scots Guards and retired in Thailand. I just love to address my coffee each morning to The Bruce. The links are sent to the parish.
@@ScotlandHistoryTours you know what impresses me. You can and most times tell these complex stories all in 1 takeish , that shows your the business. Thanks for doing YT
Can I just say that I am a member of the scott clan and relative of Walter Scott. My grandfather used to tell me all the stories of our clan when I was a wee boy. If there are any other members of my clan on here it would be lovely to get in touch with you or that of the kerr haha after all, we're family 😁
i am a Turnbull from Dumfries, and my family were notorious reiver's but they did what they did in harsh times, and at times the borders were virtually lawless, they were all at it, on both sides! and it seems the border families would switch allegiance to whoever it suited, to benefit that clan! am a Scot and a proud one! i love all this history, and its reall! KEEP IT UP BRUCE! I SAVED THE KING!!
@@ScotlandHistoryTours I’ve just found your channel Bruce! I absolutely love it. Growing up a geeky historian, I’ve just been deep diving your videos on Scottish history. Especially topics I had no idea about! This content is brilliant, you deserve your own show. I look forward to supporting your channel, and continuing to watch such great informative content!
Although I’m a Lanarkshire lad, I served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB). I wasn’t to up to date with this period of Scottish history but, I was amazed how proud the borders lads were of their Reivers history.
Curious to know how you feel above the dissolution of the Scottish regiment's. I myself found it heartbreaking and I could see that it wasn't merely a cost cutting excercise.
@@clairemcfadyen1036 as a soldier it was inevitable. Recruitment has been poor for decades and it had to change. If you want me to be honest it’s not changed enough holding onto to the antecedent names has caused more issues for the Royal Regiment of Scotland. We have no identity, people are still holding onto the RHF, BW, XXV, etc, it’s holding the regiment back. Through time lots of Units have came and went, the names we have called them have changed. My worry is the move to a Corps of Infantry, where we would lose all Scottish identity.
@@christopherbonnar9047 I’m sure you’ll look forward to a day when there’s a Scottish army that serves only Scotland and not subservient to a foreign monarch in England or maybe your Scottish blood has been so watered down that your allegiance to the Crown trumps your patriotic duty to the country of your birth and that of your ancestors.🏴🏴🏴
Having just watched your video about Scottish and American attitudes to heritage, I can't resist telling you I have Border Reiver ancestors. Also I'm a Cornishman so take from that what you will.
@@danran100 Is that your opinion? The history I have read has them as associates of the Armstrong, Elliott and Crozier clans. We're they free-lancers or something?
@@colnixon8989 Do you think so ? You do know that there was two cultures in Scotland ? Highland: Kilts, swords, bagpipes, the Gaelic language Lowland: breeks, swords, bagpipes, the Scots/Lallans (which is a language).
Dunwoodies were one such family who were part of the Ulster plantations - My great great grandpa moved his family back to Scotland in the 1860s. Bridgeton in Glasgow, and from there his son moved with his Moffat wife to Barrhead in the 1880’s
Thanks Bruce! Have just found your channel and spent the afternoon entertained and educated. You are a great storyteller. I had my Y DNA checked and I am a direct descendant of the Graham reivers. (They had an unusual Arab link so easy to identify). My exact Y DNA matches are a mixture of Grahams, Armstrongs, Elliots, Bells, Irvines and other border names. And my daughter married a Wade! Maternal side are Irish plantation Johnsons, another bad lot, inherited a Jamaican plantation. So we have been hiding in Australia for 3 generations....
who knows, my mothers ancestors may have worked for him. they were people of northern France who were renown at redistributing cattle and were invited to Scotland around 1295 to work there. they would settle in Dawyck by 1434. some have ancestors who were great kings, im proud to have premier cattle thieves as mine
True. We've definitely gone far and wide. I know a few Armstrongs. But there were a bunch of us that moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Not related to any of them.
In Bolton Lancashire (different Bolton than mentioned in the video, his castle, Bolton Castle still exists in Wensleydale North Yorkshire today) 100 or so miles away from the modern day Scottish Border, where there is a fortified Manor house, Turton Tower, that was built fortified to due to fears of Border reivers, showing how far down they were willing to travel.
Buy me coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/ScottishBruce
Here big fella I've just found your channel tonight, an may I just say it's had me in tears, your way of story telling is absolutely fantastic! Educational an funny as fook, "yer da's a dick, well your ma's a fud" had me rolling about! Thankyou for making our wonderful history a pleasure to hear again.
Why let the truth get in the way of a good story. 🏴
@@crackedoutclown he's great isn't he. Been watching for a while. Edutainment. 🏴💚💛❤️
Rewatching this on the 13th of April. Now I'm in the mood for some reiving tonight. 😁👌
I’ve always joked that one of the reasons Neil Armstrong was first on the moon was to see if there were any sheep worth steeling. I’m glad to see that I might not be alone in thinking that. My Grandfather (Armstrong) married an Elliot, another border reaving family, needless to say old family rivalries persisted, my poor grandfather never got a days piece, poor man.
😁
My Grandfather's sister married an Elliot.
There was a story of a priest who arrived to town. He screams "are there no Christians here?" He probably was expecting everyone to shower him with praise for his priesthood. The only response he got was "Nah, only Armstrongs and Elliots." The two clans were inseparable.
And he was greeted on return by a Nixon!
@@benjaminarmstrong7047 I'm a Northumbrian born Forster my first Mrs was Northumbrian born Elliott who had Scots blood.
I’m an American Armstrong and fascinated by the history. I would love to visit some day!
Excellent storytelling lad. Cheers from Orlando FL USA
John Armstrong
Your enthusiasm about Scotland is very infectious
...and there's no cure😜
Great to see Reiver history getting some attention. My relatives (Nixons) were allies of the Armstrongs and many suffered the same fate as them once James came to the throne. I was always reminded as a kid that despite being ethnically cleansed that the descendants of those two Reiver families were able to have a chat whilst one was on the moon and the other in Oval office 🤣
You're speaking of my direct ancestors 11th & 13th great-grandfathers. I am an Armstrong. I appreciate the video.
Thank you,
Leslie Armstrong
As an American Armstrong, whose ancestors made stops in Canada and Ulster, I will not rest until I can visit Gilnockie Tower and pay my respects by raising a glass to all of my reiver ancestors! Invictus Maneo!
id like to visit too!
Invictus maneo ......John Armstrong here my fellow cousin 🏴
You're a long way from home bro lol
@@MicrowavePing yes I am, but I'll make it back soon! I'm just afraid I won't want to leave! Lol
My granny was an Armstrong.
I'm scotch irish from America. I love your channel and the history of Scotland and my people and how we went to Ulster and then to where we are in America now. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Virginia
Brilliant. Oh! My name is John Armstrong. Great to have a History.
Another grand story Bruce, well done yersel.
Note: The Reiver rode a small sturdy pony known as a hobbler, which was noted for its ability to cover great distances over difficult ground at high speed.
As mentioned on another pin, the horses the Reivers rode (called the Galloway Nag or The Galloway or The Hobbler or The Nag) is now extinct.
Kinmont Willie & Sandy are my Great Grandfathers!!!! Ancestors (after settling in Ulster) moved to Canada - my Grandmother was an Armstrong/Barr & married a Horner - quite proud of their roots!
My grandfather was descended from both the Armstrongs and the Carlisle’s!
There is something quite right about a totally untraditional, cheery chap with dreadlocks teaching me, [not a spring chicken], about Scottish history...
as my own traditional, Scottish school education wholly omitted to teach me about my country's history!
Very informative, enjoyable - and have to concentrate to catch those more obscure / subtle witticisms. Keep up the good work Bruce! Thanks, Steven.
As a Geordie I have always been fascinated with the reivers, thanks for undertaking this video, keep up the great work.
My favorite new ritual Bruce is to sit on my porch on weekend mornings, drink coffee, and let you tell me a story of Scottish history.
That nearly made me greet😥
Thank you for passing on your knowledge. I am an Armstrong and a Waddell. I love hearing about my people. It sure explains a whole lot about me. My husband has always called me stubborn..I call it my Scottish determination and that determination literally saved my life.
I am Elliott from the same area as the Armstrongs and the great allied reiver families!!
Ahhhh the Reivers. My folk. My mother an Ettrick and Upper Lauderdale Scott, my Dad a Liddlesdale Henderson, brought up in Reiver country myself. Hearing of their escapades brings a wee tear to my eye.
As a descendant of the Southern Uplanders/Borderers, of whom, some were given a free luxury one-way trip to Ulster... And also as a descendant of their wonderful neighbours who received them warmly. I have very much enjoyed your pieces on them, and your explosive humour.
Richard Scott the current chief of his clan, is the great grandson of Walter Scott. Great story and fun to connect the dots.
I am loving these videos about the borderlands. I am from Cumbria and I find it interesting that I have to watch a Scottish history channel to find out about my home land! My Dad's family are connected to the Scott's who were supposed to be policing the border but did their fair share of rieving. I also went to school with a lot of Armstrongs, Bells and Nixons which are all rieving families back in the day.
I really enjoyed that man from the US Shane Armstrong very informative and a great historian and extremely enthusiastic thank you for the content and a look back at my ancestors
Thank you! What a cool story! I am an Armstrong in the US.
Glad you enjoyed it!
“ Yer DA’s a Dick, yer Maw’s a Fud “ 😂 pure howlin, just sub’d this morning loving your channel chief, aw the best 🙌
Just found your channel, as a Scot I'm ashamed to know so little about the history of our country. But I'm learning a lot from you. Your enthusiasm is palpable and delivery infectious. Cheers!
Welcome aboard!
To Neil Armstrong outstanding! My third grade teacher was related to Buzz Aldrin, she was always showing movies to us about astronauts. I remember showed a short film showing Neil Armstrong going to a town in Scotland and getting a metal if some kind. Growing up in New Mexico there is always astronauts and aliens of course, but the state motto is the truth “land of entrapment come on vacation leave on probation.” Anyway, the “not so much as a Ferrero Rocher” line made me choke on my Toblerone.
The town would be Langholm
That's a cracking handheld tracking shot at the start of the video. Another fascinating story told with humour, knowledge, enthusiasm, and craft. This incident would make a great film.
It would right enough
Noble ancestor here from kentucky! Thanks for the video
Bruce, your channel is my very favorite. I believe that you deserve a prime time show on a major network. Your ability to mix humour with factual story telling is so entertaining. Thanks for the wonderful story!
Ah, you're too kind
An American Armstrong descendant here, hailing from Oklahoma.
Another great story Bruce!
It was another Armstrong that helped crush English ambitions in 1990...
I thought about mentioning that to me he was the most important one, but I thought our American cousins would have no idea what I was talking about. To be fair at our age few of the young folks would either😄
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Great (old) minds think alike Bruce! ;-)
You're probably right about the younger generation... I was lucky enough to be there that day with a bunch of mates from uni (Scots & English). Never felt an atmosphere like it!
that few and far between you have to make the most of them 🤣
@@asonofharoldgodwin Sometimes... but we've won/ retained the Calcutta Cup three times on the last 4 years (though we did get thumped in 2017).
And 1990 followed our Grand Slam in 1984 - also won at Murrayfield - only this time against the French (I was there too).
This is my favourite channel, you do such a fantastic job connecting the people who watch to the stories of the people and places of Scotland 🏴. Have a great sunny day my man ! Stay safe out their.
I've got ma factor 50 oan
I do like your definitions of a heinous crime. Another great vide-o.
😜
My Armstrong ancestor served as a American Revolutionary War soldier. He was born in Pennsylvania, 1756. One of his sons ventured
to the Oregon territory 1842. Where many of his decedents remain to this day.
What's his name my line if from joeseph to abraham to adam up to george eventually potenentialy kinemont up to alexander sandy that's a broken area tho eventually we get up to supposed siward fairbairn armstrong who I beleive is son to osbeorn bulax who was son of earl siward did some math and some ai to do the math but our y dna halogroup is that of a man found in moray covesea caves that dna goes back to 890 bc when siward earl was in northumbria about 1000 year later in 1000 ad I've been trying to delve into it pretty heavy it seems for the most part that earl siward down to his supposed grandson our supposed progenitor can't be truthfully traced up or down but would love to find there dna so we can either say yes or no
If I had Teachers like you when I went to Highschool, I might have actually stayed and graduated.....;) I love your "story telling", although it's taken me quite a few videos to be to interpret what you're saying.....LOL Keep doing what you're doing, we need more people like you in this world.
😂 Use the subtitles
Keep doing what you're doing and you'll understand the Scottish accent. Scottish is just a bunch of English people speaking funny and having a laugh.
@@snuscaboose1942 aye were all paid actors
We are NOT English.
Thanks Bruce for another great video. I hope someday to visit Scotland and book a tour. Most of my paternal ancestors hail from the borders among them Irvines, Armstrongs, Johnstone, Thomson. Having immigrated to the Americas (Ulster Scots} in the early-mid 18th century we seem to have many blind spots looking back at a history that wasn’t always or often accurately handed down to us. Your videos are quite helpful in presenting the important back stories of all things Scotland, Many of us who never grew up with or heard the stories handed down as lore, long for connection to those ancestors and their descendants. While we know all men and women have complicated personalities and backgrounds, still it is helpful to paint a more accurate picture of them and, ultimately, ourselves. One reiver named “Black Christie” Ervine (Irvine) intrigues me. Thanks again!
Love your story telling!
Marriage counselling analogy was priceless 😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣
😜
Love your storytelling and videos. I have learned a lot.. I am an American and a descendent of Armstrong Ulster scots. My paternal great grandfather Armstrong came to America from Ireland in 1830 and settled in Maryland USA. I Enjoy your videos although I do turn on the closed captioning once in a while.
Aye some folks across the water struggle with their listening. I don't hold it against them though. It's good for them to have self improvement goals😜
Found this channel a couple of days ago.
What a great find!
Great thanks!
Welcome!
Another great video. Some of those Armstrongs are in my area. Most of them decent enough people!
Folk are folk
My grandfather was an orphan and we're centuries removed from the old countries. Thanks for bringing some of the history back. Great job on the videos.
Bravo.
Thank you John
👏👏👏 Loved this tale! Thank you! Many of my Scottish ancestors were in Ulster Ireland for only a generation before coming to America. I prefer Ulster Scots because they obviously didn’t intermarry much with the Irish, according to my family’s dna and I don’t think they lost their Scottish identity and culture. My early ancestors referred to themselves as Scottish even after being in America a few generations.
Have to say Bruce your history videos are so interesting they are addictive. I thought I knew a bit about our history but man how wrong was I. You make the storys so interesting so much so that you blow Neil Oliver out the water 6 days a week and twice on sunday.. Thank you so much and please keep the comming.
Now Sunday's the Lords day. We can't have working then...🙄 is it double time?
Ayi! Ye tell 'em mate. Inspiring history.
There are Armstrongs, Eliots, etc., all over East Tennessee. I’m proud of my Ulster Scots/Borderer heritage and I really appreciate and enjoy your videos. George MacDonald Fraser would be proud of you.
Love the example of a marriage counsellor to explain the Truce Day goings-on. Of course it makes me wonder who or what would be that mediator or arbiter between rivers. Anyway, thanks again for a fine yarn - and I'm still stewing until I can cross the pond again!
😂 Aye the stew will be cooked one day and think how much you'll enjoy it
I'm from the English side of the Solway with family ties across the border so there's a good amount of Reiver names in my family tree and it turns out I'm related to this lad. I love these videos about this area, it's fascinating from Roman times onwards through the Kingdom of Strathclyde and the Norwegians coming from Ireland, in a lot of times throughout history it was an exception to general rules for other parts of the island.
Another awsome vid Brrrrruuuuuccce! If you've got time check out Hermitage and the Ballad of Wee Jock Ellott, please.
Time? Time! TIME !!!!🥵
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Yyyyyep. Ne're eneugh!
I worked on a live action role playing game called " Iron City " based on the town in the movie " Alita Battle Angel " . One of the pretences of the towns inhabitants was that we were not above stealing and when the game players came in to play the game we would lie to them a bit , maybe steal some of their prizes etc . One of the other things that we were supposed to do was to come up with a character name . Mine was Kinmont Willie Armstrong :)
Brilliant
Great and inspiring. My people come from Oxnam and I've always wondered if they might have done a bit of reiving, would explain a lot.
They sound dodgy to me🤣
Another grand story Bruce. I've been reviewing some of your earlier videos and your story telling gets better and better over time. Love to have you revisit some of those earlier ones with your new skills. You'd no have kids on noisy trikes on your videos now would ya! 😆
Great way to awake on a Saturday morn thanks. 😊
🤣Aye noise bleed is still a problem and as we move back to normality more so. Those kids are still there. They're just adults noo 😜
There is something about the architecture of Scottish tower houses that really appeals to me
Bonny
Im an Elliott - from Austalia, Dads side is from Scotland and Ireland and mums is Scottish and Russian.
If the world wasn't coming to an end and I had plenty of money I would book a tour of Scotland with you and Joolz in London. Oh well I can dream!
😂
In 1966 the Gemini 8 spacecraft went into orbit with Neil Armstrong & Dave Scott on board .
another gid video cheers
I'd like to hear some tales from Ayrshire that's my neck of the woods
ua-cam.com/video/0M1WrHDE1BI/v-deo.html
Very interesting history the scottish borders has. My own great granny was a Tweedie from south Lanarkshire I see there apart of the border clans history too.
You're a great man, Bruce!
I try
Hi Bruce. Thank you for your work. Do you have any videos on the Welsh Kingdom of Strathclyde?
😂😂😂 As I read this I am having egg sandwiches and tea from a flask on a break from filming just such a video
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Surely my Nixons will get a shout out now!
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Hooray! :)
Which stretched from Glasgow to Lancashire. Where they spoke a form of welsh called Cumbric ! Makes me cringe when crossing the border now and the Gailic road signs which was never spoken down here !!! Wee Krankie again !!!
As always a great video. My grandmother is a Maxwell Canonbie. So it was nice to see the smalll village mentioned. I am looking up that side of the family and willl look into this more closely. Thanks.
Thank you for making this video!
Sincerely,
-The Scottish diaspora
Class video bruce!
Much appreciated!
I’ve only just found your channel and you sir, are so bloody interesting to listen to. 👍 I believe I am descended from the Little family, who were aligned with the Armstrong people. I also have Cowan from Dumfries. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to delve into any info I can unearth on these ancestors soon. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
'Dicks and Fuds, were in the air!'... that just made ma day big man! 😂
Another awesome story 👌
Very interesting. I have distant Armstong, and Johnstone Scottish ancestors. Johnstone's were also border reivers from the research I have found. From what I have read and researched, border reivers were not the people to be messed with lol. I read how they were pretty vicious and didn't run from any fight along the border, both the Scottish and English border rievers.
I'm learning my history via Bruce Connolly. It's jist marvelous. I'm an ex Piper of the Scots Guards and retired in Thailand. I just love to address my coffee each morning to The Bruce. The links are sent to the parish.
😂😂
Really enjoyed this. I hope in the future you do more on the Reivers.
Excellent 👍
I don't know why UA-cam isn't pushing this channel more, unbelievable quality
I thank you
@@ScotlandHistoryTours you know what impresses me. You can and most times tell these complex stories all in 1 takeish , that shows your the business. Thanks for doing YT
@@ScotlandHistoryTours can you do some more videos on Irish in Scotland if possible. Murphys or Kelly's if there's anything lol
Can I just say that I am a member of the scott clan and relative of Walter Scott. My grandfather used to tell me all the stories of our clan when I was a wee boy. If there are any other members of my clan on here it would be lovely to get in touch with you or that of the kerr haha after all, we're family 😁
I’m a Scott from America so isn’t it true that the Kerrs were our enemies?
@@craigthescott5074 yes, they were for a long time until they married into the scott clan.
Love these history tours.
Your videos should definitely be on mainstream television,If not U.K. at least Scottish .
Great video! Would love to see you do more vids on the Reivers. Especially if the Turnbulls get a mention, haha.
Aye, everybody wants their story😎
As always a great honour see one of your videos.
I appreciate that
You need to be teaching kids our history in schools, I wish I was taught much more about Scottish history than I was.
Aye, until the exams come 😂
Looking forward to the forward the next. Nice to see you when south of the border to the big smoke of Carlisle.
I nearly didnae get oot 😜
You should of just eat a crap load of custard creams from McVities. Then everybody would’ve thought you’re from Carlisle. Lol 😂
i am a Turnbull from Dumfries, and my family were notorious reiver's but they did what they did in harsh times, and at times the borders were virtually lawless, they were all at it, on both sides! and it seems the border families would switch allegiance to whoever it suited, to benefit that clan! am a Scot and a proud one! i love all this history, and its reall! KEEP IT UP BRUCE! I SAVED THE KING!!
What a great video, well presented, Thanks!
OMG... My family is from Border Reivers!
1:47 that sheep baaaahh was perfectly timed!😂
😂
@@ScotlandHistoryTours I’ve just found your channel Bruce! I absolutely love it. Growing up a geeky historian, I’ve just been deep diving your videos on Scottish history. Especially topics I had no idea about! This content is brilliant, you deserve your own show. I look forward to supporting your channel, and continuing to watch such great informative content!
Although I’m a Lanarkshire lad, I served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB). I wasn’t to up to date with this period of Scottish history but, I was amazed how proud the borders lads were of their Reivers history.
Curious to know how you feel above the dissolution of the Scottish regiment's. I myself found it heartbreaking and I could see that it wasn't merely a cost cutting excercise.
@@clairemcfadyen1036 as a soldier it was inevitable. Recruitment has been poor for decades and it had to change. If you want me to be honest it’s not changed enough holding onto to the antecedent names has caused more issues for the Royal Regiment of Scotland. We have no identity, people are still holding onto the RHF, BW, XXV, etc, it’s holding the regiment back. Through time lots of Units have came and went, the names we have called them have changed. My worry is the move to a Corps of Infantry, where we would lose all Scottish identity.
@@christopherbonnar9047 I’m sure you’ll look forward to a day when there’s a Scottish army that serves only Scotland and not subservient to a foreign monarch in England or maybe your Scottish blood has been so watered down that your allegiance to the Crown trumps your patriotic duty to the country of your birth and that of your ancestors.🏴🏴🏴
Having just watched your video about Scottish and American attitudes to heritage, I can't resist telling you I have Border Reiver ancestors. Also I'm a Cornishman so take from that what you will.
One is whom one is😁
English member of Clan Nixon clocking in. Great channel, this.
Colnixon, The Nixon's were never a Clan.
@@danran100 Is that your opinion? The history I have read has them as associates of the Armstrong, Elliott and Crozier clans. We're they free-lancers or something?
@@colnixon8989 Armstrongs, Elliots, etc, were not Clans, they did not wear Kilts or speak Gaelic, they weren't even near the Highland line.
@@danran100 The "closely inter-related families" aspect of Clan ship is more important than whether they spoke gaelic, or what they were wearing.
@@colnixon8989 Do you think so ?
You do know that there was two cultures in Scotland ? Highland: Kilts, swords, bagpipes, the Gaelic language
Lowland: breeks, swords, bagpipes, the Scots/Lallans (which is a language).
Dunwoodies were one such family who were part of the Ulster plantations - My great great grandpa moved his family back to Scotland in the 1860s. Bridgeton in Glasgow, and from there his son moved with his Moffat wife to Barrhead in the 1880’s
Thanks Bruce! Have just found your channel and spent the afternoon entertained and educated. You are a great storyteller.
I had my Y DNA checked and I am a direct descendant of the Graham reivers. (They had an unusual Arab link so easy to identify). My exact Y DNA matches are a mixture of Grahams, Armstrongs, Elliots, Bells, Irvines and other border names. And my daughter married a Wade!
Maternal side are Irish plantation Johnsons, another bad lot, inherited a Jamaican plantation.
So we have been hiding in Australia for 3 generations....
Nobody'll find you there
😎@@ScotlandHistoryTours
who knows, my mothers ancestors may have worked for him. they were people of northern France who were renown at redistributing cattle and were invited to Scotland around 1295 to work there. they would settle in Dawyck by 1434. some have ancestors who were great kings, im proud to have premier cattle thieves as mine
Another Lowlands Legend! Thanks!
No problem!
I feel the mere presence of Bruce in Carlisle makes him a modern day reiver. "Coming down here, teaching our history",
😂
I love my family history, Armstrongs are so far flung now I went to school with an Armstrong I had norelation to.
True. We've definitely gone far and wide. I know a few Armstrongs. But there were a bunch of us that moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Not related to any of them.
Now that is a very cool story!
Wow!
2:53 the first image that came to my mind was him as Doctor Doofenshmirtz screaming "damn you Kinmont Willie!" after being outwitted every time.
I don't know why...
The good Dr was inspirational
Well told, Bruce. I knew you would make a good job of it. The 'Ballad of Kinmont Willie' tells a more dramatic story but yours is more accurate.
Northumberland has more fortified houses and castle's than any other County in England, sums it up really.
In Bolton Lancashire (different Bolton than mentioned in the video, his castle, Bolton Castle still exists in Wensleydale North Yorkshire today) 100 or so miles away from the modern day Scottish Border, where there is a fortified Manor house, Turton Tower, that was built fortified to due to fears of Border reivers, showing how far down they were willing to travel.
Bruce would love you to do a story on the Moffats would love to hear more about my clan before and after we lost our chief
You are wearing a Stuart hat. Thank you. You are now an honorary Royal Stuart.