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Ancestry Days – Scots’ Charitable Society
April 22, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Ancestry Day – The Scots Charitable Association and Early New England Scots
Saturday, April 21, 2023: 2:00pm
$4 Members
$5 Nonmembers
Advanced Registration Required
As part of Destination Salem’s Ancestry Days, learn about Scottish heritage and the Scots’ Charitable Association. As the oldest charitable society in the Western Hemisphere, it was founded in 1657 in Massachusetts to provide aid to Scots transported to the colonies by the British in the 1650s.
Early New England history is dominated by the central role of the English in settlement and politics. Less well known is the role of the early Scottish immigrants, such as Wenham’s own Robert Macklaflin, and the critical role played by the Scottish prisoners indentured to New England following their capture at the Battles of Dunbar and Worcester in 1650 and 1651.
Robert Macklaflin was once such Scotsman. He was brought to the colonies as a prisoner of war and assigned to work in the Saugus Iron Works. When his indenture was concluded, he married a woman from Ipswich and settled in Wenham.
Bill Budde will present a brief overview of the Scots’ Charitable Society of Boston and the critical role played by early Scots in New England history.
Today, the Scots’ Charitable Society helps people of Scottish heritage by providing relief to Scottish-American individuals and families in need, and by granting undergraduate scholarships to members of the Scottish-American community. They are Scots helping Scots.
- Inclement Weather Policy: in the event of current or forecasted inclement weather, the Wenham Museum may need to close its galleries and gift shop. All weather-related closings will be posted on the museum’s website and Facebook page at Facebook.com/WenhamMuseum.
- Doors Open: The doors for the program will open approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the program. In consideration to all participants, please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the program time. The museum reserves the right to re-sell tickets if participants arrive 10 minutes or later after the program begins.
Questions? Please contact Visitor Services at info@wenhammuseum.org or by phone at (978) 468-2377, ext. 113.