History

Most of the background for the novel ‘CLAN’ was born out of family history research into the Elliot Clan. The Borders of Scotland have a particularly colourful and violent history – the so called “Border Reivers” in the 15th - 16th centuries were ‘Clan’ or family based groups who raided with impunity across the borders of England and Scotland, this was not an “English/Scottish” phenomena as Reivers would form alliances or engage in feuds, with families with or against their countrymen.

Reivers are “credited” with inventing cattle rustling as well as developing what later came to be called in the USA “The Protection Racket” – they were practising this some 300 years before Chicago was established. Words such as to be “Bereaved” and “Blackmail” owe their genesis to these times.

Imagine a time when you would live under so-called “Jedart Justice” where a man was hanged first and tried afterwards!

If you are an Elliot (and there are over 70 spellings of that name alone!), or a Robson, Armstrong, Nixon, Kerr or one of the many other “Border” names, researching your family history will probably yield very interesting results.

Many of the Border Clans have their own web-sites, some of them can be accessed via www.elliotclan.com

You are encouraged to research – I can assure you, you will find it fascinating.