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The Massacre of the Rosses.

In 1854 it was decided to clear Greenyards in Strathcarron but when the tacksman, Alexander Munro, was questioned by the tenants he said that no writs of eviction would be applied for in his name.

The women heard that there were men coming with writs of eviction so they met the men, searched their pockets, burned the writs and let the men go. The men told the court that they had been attacked by a mob of disorderly people. Two weeks later two or three men arrived claiming to have writs of eviction. They were met by the women who refused to let them past. The men got nervous and one pulled a pistol. A boy in the crowd, seeing the pistol aimed at his mother's head, took out his own rusty pistol. The men left peacefully but told their superiors that they had been met by riots.

On the 31st March constables from Ross and Inverness set out to clear Greenyards. They were again met by the women. Accounts differ as to whether the Riot Act was actually read but the Procurator Taylor gave the order to 'knock them down'. The police attacked the women, kicking them and beating them with ash batons. After the attack the houses were burned and prisoners taken back to Tain jail where they were charged with rioting and disorderly behaviour.

'The Massacre of the Rosses of Strathcarron, Ross-shire, by policemen when serving the tenants in Strathcarron with summonses of removal in March 1854; Also, a warning against the Clearing of the Glens', by Donald Ross (1886)

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