‘My dream was to come to Caithness’: Wick street sign marks historic Patagonia connection
An Argentinian woman fulfilled a long-held dream by travelling to Caithness – and was among the first to see a new street sign marking the county’s historic links with the Patagonia region.
Monica Bain was on her first trip to Europe and she met up with her niece Silvana Bain, who moved to Scotland a year ago and lives in Ballater.
Both were present on Wednesday as a street sign was revealed at a Wick housing development to be known as Patagonia Place. The site is between Doocot View and Hillhead Farm, and the sign will be installed permanently at a later date.
Also attending were others with links to Patagonian pioneers from Caithness who emigrated to South America to work on sheep farms. Patagonia includes parts of Argentina and Chile and is known for its unforgiving landscape.
Monica and Silvana said they were being well looked after by Ian Leith, author of Caithness to Patagonia: Distant Lands and Close Relatives, and his friend and fellow researcher Donald MacDonald. Ian and Donald have made three visits to Patagonia and they plan to go back early next year.
Monica is the granddaughter of William Bain, from Mavesy, Lybster, and Elizabeth Sinclair, who was originally from the Halkirk area before her family moved to work at Nottingham Mains. William was one of the first to emigrate from Caithness to Patagonia, around 1891.
Monica (73) was pleasantly surprised by the unveiling of the street sign. “I didn’t expect something like this,” she said.
“My dream was to come to where my grandparents came from. I’ve only managed it now, and I want to do it more.
“I grew up with my grandmother because she lived at home with us. She used to tell us lots of stories about Caithness.
“I am really enjoying it and Ian and Donald have made it wonderful for us. They have taken us everywhere. I got to know them because they were three times over there.”
Silvana (36) said: “As soon as I knew I was moving to Scotland, I was looking forward to this moment. Ian and Donald have been so welcoming to us.”
Ian said: “It’s really good that we’ve got two grandchildren from different Caithness/Patagonian families here. We’ve got Monica from the Bain family and John from the McKinnon family.”
John McKinnon’s grandfather, also John McKinnon, went to Patagonia to work for Wick-born John Hamilton.
John Hamilton – or “Juan”, as he became known – established himself as one of Argentina’s most successful sheep farmers after emigrating in the 1870s.
He was the catalyst for a number of other Caithness men, and women, making the journey to the other side of the world. Martina Hamilton, a great-great-granddaughter of John Hamilton, visited Caithness in May this year.
A reunion for Patagonian descendants and relatives was held later on Wednesday at Newton Hill Croft.