An Irishwoman's Diary By Caroline McEldowney According to the
Tennessee census bureau, one in five Tennesseans can trace their
roots directly to the Scots-Irish settlers of the 18th century.
Most of these settlers are of Ulster Protestant/Presbyterian
stock who were forced under British rule to flee their country.
So claims Billy Kennedy, who has researched the topic and
written about it in his book, The Scots-Irish in the Hills of
The Scots-Irish originated in Lowland Scotland and moved to
Ulster throughout the 17th century. At the start things were
good, as Ulster was under the rule of King William III who
granted them civil and religious liberties. The Scots, who were
originally involved in farming, began to establish industries
with the French Huguenots, allies of King William. The two
groups came together and established churches and schools for
their people. William's reign ended in 1702 when he was
succeeded by his sister-in-law, Anne. She passed a series of
acts which were unfavourable to the Scots, p