According to the Reverend William Bethune, 8 large
transports sailed from Skye to America between the years 1771 and 1790,
carrying away about 2000 souls. The exodus on a large scale was at first
confined to the district of Bracadale, when 128 left beteween 1771 and
1774, 200 in 1788 and an equal number left for America 2 years later. Prior
to 1774, only one person had emigrated from Raasay. When rents were nearly
tripled in 1811, a number of the old tackmen emigrated rather than pay
rents which they thought were imposible. Among them were the Macleods of
Drynoch, and Talisker.
Source: "A History of Skye", by Alexander Nicholson page 204.
This page will contain links to our American Cousins who are descendants of these brave and hardy Skyemen who left the Isle of Skye during this time period.
The
Malcolm Gillis Family of Richmond North Carolina
http://www.c-zone.net/english/gillis.htm