Historical Context

To give an idea of how our tree relates to history in general and a flavour of what was happening in the world at the time these people lived, I have gathered some information on events which occured around birth and death dates.

George Nimmo ( born c 1651 - 1695 )

At the earlist date of birth for George, there was a new king in Scotland. On 1st January 1651 Charles II is crowned King of Scots at Scone, before touring those parts of Scotland not under English occupation. In July of 1651 Cromwell lands a force in Fife that defeats the Scots at Inverkeithing. He then moves on to Perth, tempting Charles II to use the gap he has left to advance on England and claim the throne. Charles takes the bait and Cromwell follows. Cromwell died on 3rd September 1658. On 13 November 1666 a dispute between conventiclers and soldiers near Dumfries grows rapidly into a protest march on Edinburgh. The marchers are turned back from the city gates, then caught at Rullion Green, on the edge of the Pentland Hills by General Tam Dalyell and 3,000 government troops. Some of the marchers are killed during the battle, others are hung after being captured. On 29 May 1679 Covenanters under Sir Robert Hamilton take Rutherglen before evading government troops. By 22 June 1679 Covenanters gather at Bothwell, near the River Clyde, throughout June but are unable to agree a common manifesto. Meanwhile the government gathers its forces under the Duke of Monmouth, one of Charles II's many illegitimate offspring. The two sides meet at the Battle of Bothwell Brig (Bridge) and the Covenanters are routed with the loss of 800 killed and twice as many taken prisoner. A Nimmo is known to have taken part and been killed in the battle on the side of the Covenantors. In December 1684 the Scottish government produce an "Abjuration Oath" which all Scots are required to swear on pain of death. Many Scots are killed as a result, especially in the south west. On 13 May 1685 the execution of James Kirk took place near Dumfries for refusing to swear the oath is one of the last of the wave of deaths of the "Killing Time". 5 November 1688: William of Orange lands in south west England with a huge army. He has come at the invitation of representatives of the English nobility and church. His wife Mary is James II/VII's daughter and until the birth of James Francis Edward was the heir to the throne. On 25 December 1688 James II/VII sails to France after a largely bloodless coup by William and Mary. On 27 July 1689 the leader of Jacobite dissent in Scotland is Viscount Dundee who gathers an army of Highlanders and a few Irish at Blair Castle. As General Mackay moves a government army of lowland troops north from Dunkeld the two sides meet at the Battle of Killiecrankie. The outcome is a victory for the Jacobites, but at a high cost including the death of Viscount Dundee, or "Bonnie Dundee" as he is remembered. On 13 February 1692 the Glencoe Massacre takes place to punish the Macdonalds for the failure of their chief to swear allegiance to William. In March 1693 Horse-drawn Hackney cabs come into service on the streets of Glasgow. In 1699 The Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge set out to suppress the Gaelic language. George's first known child Marjorie was born in 1711, four years after the Act of Union in 1707.Some four years later on 6 September 1715, The Earl of Mar leads an uprising for "King James" at Braemar that attracts widespread support in north east Scotland.

George "The younger" born 1st October 1727 (?)

Two years before his birth, The Disarming Act forbids Highlanders from carrying arms in public, a long standing custom. In 1727 George I is succeeded by George II and by the time George was 3 years old, The first systematic emigration begins from highland areas to American colonies, largely in response to rent increases.

Alexander "the Elder" born 1768 (?)

The year before he was born work began on the building of Edinburgh New Town. The year he was born The Encyclopedia Britannica is published for the first time in Edinburgh.In 1769 Fort George near Inverness, built at vast cost to ensure the continued suppression of the Highlands, is completed and in the same year the Steam Engine is Patented by James Watt.

Alexander "the younger" born 1800

The tear before his birth, Serf Labour in Scottish Mines was abolished. By 1801 Scotland's population totals 1,608,000 and the first Gaelic language version of the Bible was published. A year later, the "Charlotte Dundas" becomes the world's first steam-powered tug when it pulls two 70 ton barges on the Forth and Clyde Canal. In 1807, The Sutherland Clearances begin. Over the years to 1821 up to 10,000 people are moved from land in Sutherland to coastal communities to provide labour for fishing and (initially) kelp processing: and to make room for large scale sheep farming

John Nimmo born 1847

John was born the year after the The Potato Famine of 1846. On 5 July of the following year 1847, the last mail coach, now redundant because of the advance of the railways, runs between London and Edinburgh.

Robert Ramsay "The eldest" born 1871

Robert was born in the same year as Stanley finds livingstone in Africa and two years after the Suez Canal opened for the first time. The next year 1872 saw "The Education Act" provide for schooling of all children aged between 5 and 13. Two years later Benjamin Disraeli's began his second Ministry.

Alexander "the younger" died 1885

Alexander "the younger" died in 1885, the same year that the Marquess of Salisbury became British Prime Minister; The Third Reform Act Passed, and with it The Scottish Office is created as part of the Whitehall government, and with it the post of Secretary of State for Scotland.

Robert Ramsay "the younger" born 1901

Robert was born in the year that the Victorian age came to an end with the death of Queen Victoria and the accession of Edward VII on 22nd January 1901.

Robert Ramsay "the youngest" born & died 1924

Robert died the year that Ramsey MacDonald became British Prime Minister.

Donald Brown Nimmo born 1935

Donald was born the year Stanley Baldwin formed a Coalition government.