Alexander's Fiddle

To travel the world, eventually making my way to Lesmahagow, Scotland, the original home of Alexander Watt.

Please send pictures of the journey!

I've been in the geocache at Geocaching Headquarters!

The Story of Fiddler’s Hill and Alexander’s Fiddle;

            Alexander Watt was one of 300 settlers, from 33 families, who came to settle Dalhousie Township (Ontario, Canada) in 1820 as part of a group of settlers known as the Lesmahagow Society, named after their native home near Lanark, Scotland. In July 1820, Alexander and his fellow travelers left Scotland aboard a ship named The Prompt, which arrived in Quebec two months later. They traveled on to Brockville, Ontario and then, on foot, to Perth where they awaited the arrival of other settlers before setting out on the journey to their new homes.

            The settlers traveled in wagons as far as the present site of Lanark Village (Lanark, Ontario that is), where they were surprised and disheartened to find nothing but bush and only a small wagon trail for the rest of their journey. Nailed to a tree overlooking the Clyde River, at this point to which they had traveled for so long, was nailed a simple sign reading “This is Lanark.” From here the group had to hire a guide for the rest of their journey to Dalhousie.

            All the land was rough, with dense forest and massive rock outcroppings. With much difficulty, they eventually made their way either in wagons or by foot as far as the top of a huge hill where they decided to stop for the night. Over the course of their trip the spirits of the settlers had been high; the men had spent long hours planning and reading all of the information on the colony while the women prepared clothes for the coming winter. But at this point, having made their way so laboriously this far only to find a land scarcely usable for agriculture, and seeing the vast expanse of untamed wilderness ahead of them from the top of the hill, they became discouraged.

            To keep the wolves at bay a fire was lit, and to tend the fire through the night young Alexander had to keep himself awake. Lonesome for his wife and children who were to join him later, and trying to keep himself awake, he thought to pick up his fiddle and play a medley of Scottish tunes. Some locals say other settlers joined him and they played away to lift their spirits as they looked at the land stretching out before them, their new home. So encouraged were the fatigued travelers by this simple act, the weary immigrants were determined to press on and face whatever hardships lay ahead. They did press on, and came to another hill the following night where some settled and founded the community of Watson's Corners, Ontario.

            The name of the young fiddler, in his twenties at the time, became a byword and inspiration among the area's settlers, and the hill which had been such a trial to their physical and emotional strength was given the musical name of “Fiddler's Hill,” the name by which it is still known today.

            This TB originated at Fiddler’s Hill, near Watson’s Corners, Ontario, Canada. Its goal is to set out and travel the world as Alex did, and to finally get to his original hometown, Lesmahagow Scotland.