Music from the BORDERS

The above map was taken from an album called O'er the Border by the Scots piper, Gordon Mooney which can be purchased on-line. 

Highlighted in greeen are the towns of interest in the Forsyth family history.  In the notes from this album the following is included under the title of a tune called The Highway to Linton:

     'The Highway to Linton is the old drove road that crosses the Pentlands from West Linton to the 
     Catslackburn and was formerly the main route for cattle droving down from the Highlands
     through the Borders to English markets.  The introduction of the improved 'Linton' breed of
     sheep from the Border uplands into the Highlands of Scotalnd brought to an end the droving
     trades, and also led to the Highland Clearances and their dire social consequences.'

It is thought that Helen Scott was from Catslackburn nearYarrow.  Perhaps she met James Forsyth who was from the West Linton area because this was a well-travelled route between the two areas.

Several other tunes on this album mention Yarrow - The Flower O'Yarrow written about a Mary Scott
and published in 1687 - Willie's Drowned in Yarrow from 1733

Militia Records

'PENICUIK VOLUNTEERS (From Annals of Penicuik - online)

'Since the beginning of the present century, the inhabitants of Penicuik, owing to the proximity of Glencorse garrison, have been very familiar with the sight and sound of arms. Even before that time, however, many parishioners had loyally responded to the call for enrollment in the Midlothian contingent of the Scottish Volunteer Militia, their hearts being stirred up to give willing service in the defence of their native land against threatened French invasion. After the renewal of hostilities between the two countries in 1803 this corps was embodied, and continued so till the 3d of April 1815.

'The next great volunteer military movement which sprang up in the country, and in which Penicuik shared, was in the year 1859. Its occasion was the return of time French Emperor from his victorious Italian campaign, and the general alarm which prevailed lest his next efforts should be directed against Great Britain. These fears were probably groundless, but they l)roitglit forth evidence of the loyalty and bravery of the British people. Within it few weeks 200,000 men were under drill, of whom 40,000 were reported able to take their place in line of battle.

'Two Companies were formed in Penicuik, with a third small sub-division in Roslin, all under the command of Captain Sir James Clerk, Bart. No. 1 Company was in charge of the Commandent with Lieut. E. S. M'Dougal and Ensign Tait as subalterns. No. 2 had for senior officer Captain Cowan of Beeslack, Lieut. Charles J. Wallah, and Ensign George Cowan, while the Roslin Company had two commissioned officers in the persons of Hezekiah J. Merricks and William Merricks. No. 1 Company vas largely composed of farmers, village merchants, and tradesmen, many of whom were constitutionally unfit for hard service, but who yet, on 7th August 1860, went through the fatigues of that famous Queen's Review day in Edinburgh with a spirit and determination not surpassed by any of their younger and more agile brothers in arms.'

[Must check the dates in this article and correct the typos.  However, there was a Midlothian Militia, and although it doesn't seem that James spent any time away from home (birth dates of children), he might appear on a militia list if one has survived.