The older, historic fame of Arbroath comes from the famous Abbey, now in ruins. The Abbey was founded in 1178 and was the site of one of the most important events in Scottish history -- possibly world history -- the Declaration of Arbroath . It happened in 1320 after William Wallace (Braveheart) had fought at Sterling bridge and Robert the Bruce was fighting to become king. At Arbroath, the Scots drew up a document that proclaimed their independence; especially, it said that although the people recognized Robert as King, if he oppressed them, or denied them their rights, then they would rise up and depose him. As they said, "it is not for glory, honor or wealth that we fight, but for freedom, and freedom alone, which no true man surrenders but with his life!" Some people have still not given up the divine right of kings, but the Scots idea of freedom above all had a huge impact in Ireland, America and wherever the descendants of the Scots settled around the world.

One Arbroath Scot was Andrew Taylor, my great-grandfather. He was a skilled metal worker who in 1905 left a good business to emigrate to America to find more opportunities for his children. This is his ad in the Arbroath city directory for 1904.

John and Mary, (Andrew's grandfather and grandmother) in Arbroath in 1860. This would be my son's great-great-great-great-grandparents. Nice whiskers, eh?