Galloway in Ancient and Modern Times

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1891 Excerpt: ... tion with the conveyance of granite to Liverpool Dcscrip., T, tion of and London. Galloway. When Mr John Maclellan wrote his account of Galloway for 'Blaeu's Atlas Scotise, ' early in the seventeenth century, it would appear that he was not fully acquainted with the names of the ancient families and the history of the district. Those of his name were chiefly located in Eastern Galloway, Kirkcudbrightshire. As we have shown in ' Lands and their Owners in Galloway, ' the origin and Forts. early history of the family name which he bore has hitherto been erroneously placed in a position which research negatives. One of the race features in Galloway, from which more or less is to be learned, are the circular earthworks or forts, with ramparts and ditches. They are on the tops of hills, and are numerous. The largest sized are called duns, the Gaelic for a fort. t--+ 'WThe word moat is also used for a fort, which is distinct from mote, an unfortified mound for courts of justice, of which there are several in Galloway, and stated to be from the Gaelic mod, a council or court of justice. In Wales the forts are or were very numerous, and as those in Galloway are usually called British, it tends to support our statement that the Cymri were for some time in possession of the district, and were found there by the Romans. Similar forts are also to be found in Dumfries, Peebles (over one hundred), Selkirk, and Berwick shires, as well as in other parts, Perthshire and Argyll; but in the latter place they differ in form, &c. Even as far north as Ross-shire they are to T Forts, be found on its borders, but not always on high land, as usually found in Galloway, which latter site is also generally found in Ireland, where the same kind of forts are very numerous in nearly every c...