Scotland’s sheep
“The lands surrounding Breconside derived much of their value from sheep husbandry and wool production. The upland pastures above Annandale were ideally suited to grazing, and generations of families relied upon sheep, cattle, and smaller agricultural holdings for their livelihood. Wool from the district moved through regional markets centered around Moffat, which became known throughout southern Scotland as a wool-trading town. Alongside livestock, tenants and estate households cultivated oats and other subsistence crops while managing the challenging conditions of the Southern Uplands.”
Annandale
“These dynasties shaped much of the western Border world during the late medieval and early modern periods. Their towers, estates, and influence stretched across the surrounding countryside, tying together neighboring lands through both cooperation and violent rivalry. The Maxwells rose into one of the dominant noble houses of southwestern Scotland.”
Why Border Families Left Scotland
“For many, the Atlantic crossing appeared to outsiders as the beginning of a journey. But in truth, it represented the continuation of one already generations old. The movement from Scotland into Ulster formed the middle passage between the western marches and the Appalachian frontier — linking the tower houses of Dumfriesshire to the valleys of Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and the American South.”