Long-lost Scots from Argentina return to Leith to retrace roots

Published on Friday 9 May 2008 10:28

THEY left Leith on the sailing vessel Symmetry in 1825 with the promise of a new life in South America.

And 183 years after 220 excited souls set off on their mammoth journey, their descendants have finally returned.

Eleven members of the St Andrews Church, founded in Buenos Aires by the Leith settlers, are in the Capital to discover their roots.

Although no longer affiliated with the Church of Scotland, the Argentinean kirk still boasts of its Scottish heritage with a St Andrew's Cross in its coat of arms and thistles in the seal of its church-sponsored school. And the church's links are even more obvious in the names of its members.

One elder, Robert Fraser, whose own ancestors came from Arbroath, said the visit was all about the church trying to "join the dots" of its history.

"We've been connected to our heritage for years, but we realised we had no contact with churches in Scotland.

"We are proud of our heritage, but the important thing is how we can use this today. We're all dealing with the same issues, the question of how we can be relevant. We can all learn from each other."

He said the original settlers were people of various professions including joiners, potters, cooks and gardeners.

The records show that Symmetry, commanded by Captain Samuel Smith, sailed from Leith on Sunday, May 22, 1825, carrying 220 prospective colonists, comprising 45 couples, 42 bachelors, 14 single women and 79 children. After stopping at the Canary Islands, she arrived in Argentina on August 8, 1825.

Mr Fraser said: "At that time there was a lot of looking for new horizons in Scotland.

"One of the very first things they did was set up a school. For many of the people that travelled, education was the way to the people, and eventually to the society and the country.

"It has its roots in the Scottish Enlightenment. Argentina is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, so bringing along Reformed theology was something different."

During the visit this week, Mr Fraser and his colleagues have taken in visits to the Scottish Parliament building, the Scottish Storytelling Centre and the Church of Scotland's head office on George Street, before they made it down to the Leith docks from where their ancestors left.

Rev Rory McLeod of Holy Trinity Church in St Andrews, co-ordinated the visit. He said: "They're a fascinating bunch. They've been very creative and influential in Argentinean society, and a lot of them are still sporting Scottish names. They decided the time had come to reconnect with their mother church. They're exploring all aspects of church and society in Scotland."