Bobby Murray to perform at Scottish Weekend 2004 in Moultriel
Hailing from Lanarkshire, Scotland, accordion virtuoso Bobby Murray has been performing internationally for more than four decades. Bobby started his musical career as a teenager, entertaining with his band from Aberdeenshire to the Country of Caithness on the north coast of Scotland.

In 1978 while performing in Nova Scotia with his band "The Highland Line," Bobby was enchanted by the beauty and music of Cape Breton. It soon became his home as he continued performing solo throughout the maritime provinces.

Bobby is an award winning composer, arranger and author, with a very long and distinguished list of compositions and accomplishments. In 1997 he began to tour the U.S. where his "one man band" sound has made him a favorite from coast to coast.

History of Medicine
2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. - That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition. Here drink this potion.
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.
1984 A.D. - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. - That antibiotic doesn't work anymore. Here, eat this root.
Provided by the Cloud Family Journal of the Cloud Family Association: 508 Crestwood Dr. Eastland, TX 76448. Thank you.

Richard William Buchanan was born August 30, 1938 at Kearney to Pete and Marion (Ferguson) Buchanan. He married Marilyn Terhune. He was a Navy Seal war veteran. He served as Nebraska Regent for the Clan Buchanan Society and enjoyed the Highland Games. He was a communications technician in California. He also lived in Colorado and served as sheriff of Nederlands, Colorado. He married Anelda Sinks Hazen, on December 27, 1982. He is survived by six children, Kathleen of Fort Collins, Colorado, Robert of Fort Collins, Colorado, Roberta of Oklahoma, Matthew of North Dakota, Wendy of Fort Collins and five grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother Michael Buchanan of Utah and a sister Patti Campbell of Pueblo, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son. His cremains were scattered in Scotland.

Shankland Weekender Set for September
The St. Andrew's Society of Connecticut will hold its 20th annual Scottish Festival on Saturday, October 4, 2003 at the Goshem Fairgrounds on Rte. 63 in Goshen, Connecticut.
Entertainment will be provided by Charlie Zahm, IONA and various other groups. Entertainment will range from traditional to modern music. The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foote will hold an encampment circa 1700s. Competitions will be held in solo bagpiping, highland dancing and invitational athletics for men and women. Children games will also be held. For the kilted man, a bonnie knees competition will be held with sign-up at the festival. Clan representatives from the various Scottish clans will also be present. Scottish Country Dancing, the parent of American square dancing will also be performed. There will be cultured events such as weaving, sheepherding, genealogy and more. Merchant vendors and food vendors will also be present.
The hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Admissioin is $10.00 for adults; $5.00 for ages 6-16 and seniors; under age 6 free. The website is < www.sasct.org >

Blauvelt Descendants to Meet in September
On September 20, 2003 The Association of Blauvelt Descendants will hold its 77th Annual Meeting and Reunion on the campus of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York. The theme, "Putting It All Together," a genealogical event, will help all members and guests in their genealogical searches.
A three hour genealogy seminar will be conducted by Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Education at Gallaudet University. Dr. Jones is a noted genealogist and is certified by the N.G.R. Board for certification of Genealogists.
The Association of Blauvelt Descendants has over 700 members and is one of the oldest Dutch families living in the United States, arriving in 1638.

Laverta Wenonah Hack, of Lapeer, Michigan, died Sunday, May 25, 2003 at 76 years of age. The family would like to thank Dr. Amy Daros, the nurses, aides and social workers of IHS Riverband in Grand Blanc.

One of Post 7's members, Thomas Wm. Biggs, died Monday, May 26, 2003 at St. Joseph Hospital, Savannah, GA due to complications after surgery. Tom joined SAMS Lt. Hugh McKay Post 7's Color/Honor Guard in 2001, was a member of Clan MacMillan, a knight in the Knight's Templar, an avid Civil War re-enactor and enjoyed archelogical digs.
He was a retired Special Forces non-commissioned officer who served two tours in the Vietnam War. He recently served three decades as a Civilian Intelligence Analyst with the 1st Ranger Battalion and was recently deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Do you have info on Raleigh Cown by Jim Wood, articles about A.P. FARLEY? Family Pages 261, 262, 291, 555, 562, 502, 486, 488, 33. Also looking for the church where LILLIE S. LEWIS's funeral was in Huntington, West Virginia; born 1886 in Dalton, Illinois, died 1973 in Huntington, West Virginia where she was buried. Please contact Hal Lewis, 124 Cumberland Ave., Buffalo, NY 14220.

I am looking for info on LILLIE S. LEWIS; born 1886 in Dalton City, Illinois, died 1973 and buried in Huntington, West Virginia; parents were JOHN STEWART and ISABELL, maiden name unknown. Both parents said to have came from Scotland. I would also like info on LESLIE THOMAS LEWIS, born Lewisburg, Marshall County, Tennesse. Looking for his ancestry and do you know what a political cemetary is? Please contact Hal Lewis, 124 Cumberland Ave., Buffalo, NY 14220.

Do you have any info on the COLE family of Raleigh County, West Virginia? I am also looking for info on VIRGINIA JANE SAWYERS of Monroe Co., Virginia. Please contact Hal Lewis, 124 Cumberland Ave., Buffalo, NY 14220.

Early Arthurian Britain classes available online
As everyone of Welsh descent probably knows, the Arthurian legend originated in Welsh tradition. Therefore, I would like to invite those of Welsh descent to join me for a new online history course, Early Arthurian Britain.
The class explores the early Age of King Arthur from the historical point of view, extending from the withdrawal of Roman rule to King Arthur's reputed rise to power. The class also covers many aspects of early Welsh history and how the Arthurian legend developed out of Welsh tradition.
Readers, writers, amateur historians and enthusiasts will enjoy the materials. The course, sponsored by Suite University at <www.suite101.com>, may be taken as a full two-week session with access to discussions, or as a "quick" course in which the materials may be downloaded at anytime with no discussions. Complete information and registration can be found at: http://www.suite101.com/course.cfm/17659/overview/468718 Kathleen Guler kcguler@bardsongpress.com
Provided by: Ninnau Newspaper, 11 Post Terrace, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920-2498.

You are invited to register your genealogical links to the Founding Families of Macklenburg. This registry will honor and perpetuate the memory of the early pioneers who were living in Mecklenburg County before May 31, 1775.
The story about the date, May 31, 1775, forms a unique chapter in the history of Mecklenburg County. Although trouble had been brewing in the American Colonies for some time, tempers reached a boiling point when Britain closed the port of Boston in 1774. A cry went out from the Massachusetts Colony for all other colonies to select delegates to convene a new government, a Continental COngress. In North Carolina, Governor Martin refused to convene the Assembly which would have elected the delegates and, in frustration, community leaders met at New Bern to from a Provincial Congress. The Governor was so infuriated by the unauthorized meetings he dissolved the North Carolina Assembly leaving the colony without official rule.

Mecklenburg's leaders were alarmed at the deteriorating state of affairs and called a countywide meeting. Thomas Polk, as commander of the county militia, instructed the citizens to elect two representatives from each militia district to meet in the Charlotte Town Courthouse on Friday, May 19, 1775. While the delegates were discussing the need for an immediate form of local government, the meeting was interrupted by shouts from the crowd outside. A courier brought news about the Battle of Lexington, a month earlier in Massachusetts, where British troops had fired on American civilians. The crowd was inflamed by the news. If the British had attacked one colony, clearly no colony was now under the protection of the Crown and owed no allegiance to the King.

The defiant resolutions adopted by the convention on May 20 declared Mecklenburgers to be a "free and independent" people. The document became known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, the Mack Dec. However, as tempers cooled, controversy followed. Some in the county were afraid of trying to "go it alone." After much discussion, on May 31, 1775, the Mecklenburg Resolves were adopted. The document contained 20 amendments outlining how the people would elect leaders and maintain law and order until laws could be authorized by Congress. The community raised a "voluntary subscription" to send Capt. James Jack to deliver the documents to North Carolina delegates, Caswell, Hewes and Hooper attending the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Many believe the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the Resolves formed the first official declaration of independence from Britain. Unfortunately a fire later destoyed the Minutes of the May 19-20 Meeting. Even though some suggest that the Meck Dec was a complete fabrication, the Resolves were published in several newspapers in the state, proving that on May 31, 1775, the cities of Mecklenburg County had a defined sense of the value of their community and wree willing to rick their lives and fortunes to secure its future.

If you can prove each generation of your lineage back to an individual who settled in Mecklenburg County before May 31, 1775, you will be eligible for recognization as a member of the Founding Families of Mecklenburg. Write to the address below to receive an application and instructions. When your application is verified, you will receive a specially designed lapel pin that you may wear proudly as well as an attractive certificate suitable for framing.

Please send a long self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to request an application for membership in Founding Families of Mecklenburg, Historic Rural Hill Farm, P.O. Box 1009, Huntersville, NC 28070.

Beatrice Rosamund Ross, the mother of Chief David Ross of Ross and Balnagowan, was born in India in 1907, the daughter of a serving army officer.
She was educated in Gibralter during the First World War (1914-1918), and later at boarding school in England.  Thereafter she gained a Master of Arts degree in Geography at London University and a PhD. in Geology. Subsequently she lectured at the same university before marriage to Chief David's father, a practicing barrister (attorney), in 1929.  Later they traveled with Chief David to Granada, Nyasaland (now Malwai), Palestine, and Gibralter before reaching Scotland, where her husband Charles settled to practice law.  She had two children, David and Anne, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was widowed in 1966. She died in Fort William, Scotland close to her daughter on 27th January, 2003 at the age of 96. She will be greatly missed by her family. (Information sent by David Ross.)

An "honorary" Scot of Italian heritage, John B. Odisio, who passed away recently raised the very first Clan Ross tent in California history. He even won best Clan Tent Display at Santa Rosa. He was 81 when he died on October 23, 2002, and he is greatly missed.

The Rampant Lion Flag - "To Fly or Not to Fly?" is the question
At the Potomac Celtic Festival a couple of years ago, it was explained to me by one of the festival officials that in judging the best Scottish tent, points would be subtracted if you were flying or otherwise displaying a Rampant Lion flag. He went onto explain that the flag belonged to and represented the Queen in Scotland and that it's use by others was unlawful. This cautionary note bothered me because as I looked down the rows of Scottish tents, I saw a sea of these bright red and yellow flags waving in the wind. I proceeded to ask other clan commissioners if they were aware that the flag's use was unauthorized, but most responded that they were not aware of any such prohibition. Matter of fact, one of the Commissioners advised me that the Lyon Court had authorized the use of the flag and that it was widely used by Scottish soccer and rugby fans.

Confused by these conflicting views, I brought the matter up with Malcolm who contacted the Lyon Court seeking its opinion. The Lyon Clerk and Keeper of Records responded with the following opinion.

"...The Queen has given no formal permission for the lion rampant to be flown as a flag. The situation remains that this is a Royal flag and only used by the Sovereign. It can appear within a scheme of declaration where there are many other flags, but strictly speaking, should not be flown with only the saltire. A blind eye is turned to the waving of the flag at such occasions as Jubilees when The Sovereign herself may be presnet, or there is a paricular desire to show loyalty to the Crown. I think it would be illogical for it to be flown by Americans who clearly have no personal loyalty to the Crown, and I would warmly recommend that they continue to use the saltire only...."

Malcolm notes that to be correct, we should follow the Lyon Clerk's advise. But he also recognizes that few people are aware of the Lyon Court's position and that given the wide use of the Rampant Lion flag in America, "the horse has bolted" and it would be inappropriate to impose now a rigid clan policy outlawing use of the Rampant Lion.

Bud Ginn, Clan Sinclair Commissioner for Virginia
Thanks to: Yours Aye; Clan Sinclair Association 89 Sentry Way Merrimack, NH 03054

Boys, not the cow started Chicago fire
Mrs. O'Leary's famous cow has been exonerated of starting the Chicago fire. Some young boys just beginning to smoke were responsible for the blaze which razed the city back in 1871, according to John P. Keefe, a veteran printer and witness to the conflagration.
Keefe declared that he met a man 15 years after the disaster who admitted that he and three others probably started the fire.
" I had always believed the story that the blaze was started when Mrs. O'Leary's cows kicked over the lantern," Keefe explained. "But then I met this man - I don't remember his name - who declared that he and the other boys were hiding in the O'Leary hayloft when the woman came in for the evening milking.
"They remained hidden to escape detection, this man told me, and after Mrs. O'Leary had finished the chores, they brought out their clay pipes and started smoking. This man beleived that it was a spark or a match in that hayloft that started the fire."
[Daily Republican Times-Ottawa-Nov. 23, 1931]
Thank you: The Genie's View; The LaSalle County Genealogy Guild - 115 W. Glover St. Ottawa, IL 61350

Tranter Centre opens in Lennoxlove
A centre in memory of the world-famous historical author Nigel Tranter was opened in Lennoxlove House, Haddington recently.
Housed in a small room on the ground floor, the centre contains his many works and some original manuscripts as well as a photographic display illustrating the various aspects of his life.
Thanks: Clan Hamilton Newspaper

Smithfield Virginia - George E. Hamilton Jr., 87, died Tuesday, March 25, 2003. He was a native of Leonardtown, Maryland and retired as Director of Smithfield Foods. Mr. Hamilton was so respected he even had a ham named after him, the Hamilton EZ Karv Ham, which was first marketed in 1978.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nacy Miller; two sons, George E. Hamilton III and John Miller Hamilton; granddaughter, Kathryn Miller Hamilton; three sisters, Cecelia Plummer, Patricia Collins, and Jane Cecelia Hamilton; two brothers, John E. Hamilton and David W. Hamilton.

Helen "Chickie" Chickering Buck, 92, now of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Jupiter Inlet Colony, Florida died in her sleep Saturday, July 27, 2002 at the Cypress of Hilton Head.
Born July 14, 1910 in Oil City, she was the daughter of James H. and Helen S. Chickering and grew up in the area where the oil industry in America first started.
In 1931, she married her childhood sweetheart LT Champlin F. Buck Jr., newly graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. "Chickie" was an avid volunteer particularly for Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church and the Red Cross Aide Program.
Surviving are a daughter, Carolyn B. Moore; a son, Champin F. Buck III; six grandchildren, Elizabeth M. Burns, Sara M. Nunn, William H Buck, Christopher B. Buck, Rebecca M. Hamlin and Andrew F. Buck; ten great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Kenton Chickering, 96, and Edwin S. Chickering, 90.

Brigadier General Edwin S. Chickering, fondly known as "Chick," died Friday, Feb. 14, 2003, in Little Rock. He was born September 21, 1912, the third of four children of James and Helen Chickering of Oil City, Pennsylvania, where his father was with the Oil Well Supply Company.
He attended the University School in Cleveland, Ohio; and graduated with an engineering degree from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1935. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.
When the United States entered World War II, Chick was appointed Commander of the 357th Fighter Group which he led in combat from England. During the war he was promoted to Colonel. He recieved many other appointments and promotions during his military career, which ended in November of 1967.
Chick is survived by his wife Mary Jim Chickering; his son Jim Chickering and daughter-in-law Robin Chickering; his grandchildren, Allison Christine Chickering and Edwin Shepard Chickering II; his older brother, Kenton Chickering; nephews, Kenton Chickering III, Scott Chickering, Benjamin Hamilton Chickering; a niece, Mrs. Carolyn Moore; many cousins; and a host of admiring friends.

Agency name changed
The name of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is now the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). You may need to take note in your list of addresses and change some website urls. The correct new url is http://www.immigration.gov .
Thanks to the Immigrant Genealogical Society; P.O. Box 7369, Burbank, CA 91510-7369.

Search for Wisconsin people and places
The Wisconsin Historical Society has a collection of clippings from newspaper obituaries and items from county hstories published from 1850-1970. The actual articles are online and are searchable by surname or by locality.
You may browse this sizeable database free at: www.shsw.wisc.edu/wlhba A similar site: www.wisconsinhistory.org/wni
Thanks to the Immigrant Genealogical Society; P.O. Box 7369, Burbank, CA 91510-7369.

Scholarship awarded to Andrew W. Raynes
The 2003 Clan MacFarlane Society, Inc., Scholarship has been awarded to Andrew Wade Raynes, of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Andrew was sponsored by CMS, Inc., member Jeannette Nolte, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, who has known Andrew and his family since he was a pre-schooler.

Andrew has a 3.8 average over his three and a half years at Wissahickon High School, with several AP courses, and has a very strong athletic recored as well. He has held several part-time jobs, including refereeing youth soccer. His honors and involvement in extracurricular activities is more than impressive, especially in view of his mostly A grades, constant athletic participation and job history. He has elected to do far more than the minimum requirements, having challenged himself with both Latin and German and gone as far as AP Calculus in math. Looking at his record, I cannot imagine when the lad has slept over the last 4 years.

Andrew hasn't decided on which college he will attend, and like many hish school seniors, isn't completely certain what his future will look like, but he's planning to major in Business. Jeannette says she thinks he'd do very well in Engineering, too, and from the looks of his transcript, something in Health and Phyical Education isn't out of the question.

Jeannette also notes that Andrew's great-great grandfather was a MacFarlane from Glasgow. I hope this means we can look forward to many years' association with this outstanding young man, as a member of the Society.
Thank you to MacFarlanes' Lantern 21031 Parthenia St., #378 Canoga Park, CA 91304 USA

Useless, but interesting!
ABRACADABRA, a meaningless word once supposed to have a magical efficacy as an antidote against agues and other fevers. Ridiculously minute directions for the proper use of the charm was given in the Praecepta de Medicina of Serenus Sammonicus. The paper on which the word was written had to be folded in the form of a cross, suspended from the neck by a strip of linen so as to rest on the pit of the stomach, worn in this way for nine days, and then, before sunrise, cast behind the wearer into a stream running to the east. The letters of this word were usually arranged to form a triangle in one or other of the following ways:

ABRACADABRA ABRACADABRA
ABRACADABR BRACADABR
ABRACADAB RACADAB
ABRACADA ACADA
ABRACAD CAD
ABRACA A
ABRAC
ABRA
ABR
AB
A
Encylopedia Britannica, 9th ed., 1878, s.v. "Abracadabra."
Special Thanks to The Journal of the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History, P.O. Box 3115, Salt Lake City, UT 84110-3115.

Dr. Frederick C. Shaw, DDS, 79, of Davin Lane, Lenoir, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003, at Frye Regional Medical Center. He was born March 15, 1923, in Iredell County to the late Robert Clyde and Annie Wright Shaw. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Geraldine Efird Shaw; abrother, John Henry Shaw, and a granddaughter. He attended school in Harmony, Phieffer College and graduated from Catawba College in August of 1949 and the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry in June 1953. He was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church; a life member of the Lenoir Optimist Club where he served as president of the club in 1966; a member of the Masonic Lodge #262 A.F. & A.M.; and a member of the Shriners (Oasis Temple) for over 50 years where he served as president and ambassador for three years. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII having served in North Africa and Italy. Survivors included his wife, Frances Smith Shaw; a son, Frederick Efird Shaw; a stepson, David Wendelborg; a daughter, Mrs. Thomas (Martha Rebecca) Mills; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Steve (Evin) Conrad of Aurora; a brother, Robert Warren Shaw; three grandchildren and two step grandchildren.