Black Morrow, also known as Black Murray and Outlaw Murray, is the name given to a late 15th century Scottish outlaw. A popular ballad makes the bandit as living in Ettrick Forest, while a recorded oral tradition, a wood in Kirkcudbrightshire.[1] In the tradition, the outlaw is described as a Romani or Scottish Traveller, Moor, a Saracen or, more commonly, an Irishman or from Ireland.[2][3][4][5] The folklorist David MacRitchie took a strong interest in the ethnicity of the outlaw because of his dark skin, and the story is commonly quoted in modern Afrocentrist literature. Others however (e.g. John Mactaggart) have disputed whether the bandit was dark skinned, or a "Blackimore".
- ^ Child 2003, p. 189, :"A such he seems to turn up again in Galloway where he haunts a forest of Kirkcudbrightshire, called Black Morrow wood, from which he sallies out 'in the neighboring country at night, committing horrible outrages."
- ^ "McClelland, MacClelland, McLelland, MacLelland, McClellan, MacClellan, McLellan, MacLellan, Clelland, Cleland, Lelland, Leland". Archived from the original on 28 May 2004.
- ^ "Descendants of Sir William M'CLELLAN". Archived from the original on 9 April 2016.
- ^ Mackenzie, William. "The History of Galloway, From the Earliest Period to the Present Time". archive.org.
- ^ Crofton 1888, :"Sir George M'Kenzie, who died in 1691, has recorded a tradition that between 1452 and 1460 a company of Saracens or Gypsies from Ireland infested the country of Galloway, in Scotland, and the King promised the barony of Bombie to whomsoever should disperse them and bring in their captain dead or alive. The laird of Bombie's son, a Maclellan, killed the captain, and took his head on a sword to the king. Thereafter Maclellan took for his crest a Moor's head, and for a motto 'Think on'."