Kiln House

Robertsons

Transposing the outlines indicated by the original 1822 Map of the Clans and 1834 Highland Clans Map in the Kiln House Collection onto present day satellite imagery produces some interesting insights. For example in the case of the Robertsons, although they are also shown as being intermixed with other families in Athole (now written as Atholl), the area specifically marked as their country, numbered 23, is quite an inhospitable one, extending from the fringes of Rannoch Moor across The Black Wood of Rannoch and then into the rocky terrain surrounding Loch Errochty. It is understandable that timber was the most valuable commodity for its Clan Chiefs. However, even without the reprisals after Culloden, or Rannoch Barracks looming over the local population; and despite the efforts of James Small to improve matters; this bleak landscape and the poor living it offered its ordinary folk must have be reason enough to consider emigrating.

The white outline corresponds to the Robertsons Clan Lands as shown on these Maps, whilst following boundaries implied by the geography. Zoom and drag the image to view it in more detail, or use the controls appearing at its top left to help with this.