Introduction

There is a remarkable story about the forced clearance of Gaelic speaking, Catholic Scots from the Outer Hebrides to the Bornish area of (East and West) Williams Township in Middlesex County, Ontario, just outside London in the years 1849-1851.

The pre-eminent Canadian researcher in modern times has been Donald Edwin Read, whose efforts culminated in a 387 page, 1999 publication titled Bornish, Ontario 1849-1999 “From Age to Age…”

Don’s book is long out of print, but he has graciously allowed me to provide excerpts on this website. So over the next few months there will be various additions to this page. All will be downloadable as PDF’s.

Following excerpted chapters from “Age to Age” are other publications related to this topic.

Table of Downloads

From Age to Age…

Other publications……

In 1949 a booklet was published to mark the 100th anniversary of the settlement of Bornish, Ontario by the Hebridean Scots and the shortly thereafter establishment of the St Columba Church. It was titled:

“Centennial Celebration Bornish Church July 31, 1949”

In 1981 the 1949 booklet was reprinted along with some additional information.
and can be downloaded at:

In 1904 Hugh McColl (1837-1910), the Strathroy Postmaster, prepared a booklet for the Gaelic Society of Toronto titled “Some Sketches of The Early Highland Pioneers of the County of Middlesex”. In it McColl describes the Outer Hebridean Scots who settled in East and West Williams Townships. A facsimile edition, including an index , was published in 1979, and can be found here:

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