Jefferson letter discovered in Massachusetts attic
Have you thoroughly checked out all the old papers you have in the attic? Perhaps you should. A Belmont, Massachusetts attic was recently inventoried as part of an estate settlement, revealing a two-page letter, dated August 14, 1811, from Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, former cabinet secretary.
"Apparently it was just one of those classic moments where someone went poking into papers that had not been disturbed for fifty years in an attic and discovered Thomas Jefferson," said Kenneth Gloss, who bought the letter recently from members of an estate in Belmont who wished to remain anonymous. Gloss, owner of Boston's Brattle Street Book Shop, said he expects to sell the letter for upwards of $45,000. He said he will sell the letter privately.

The Belmont house once belonged to a lawyer distantly related to Dearborn, a former Jefferson secretary, and at the time of the correspondence was a customs agent for the Port of Boston. In the letter, Jefferson, then two years out of the White House, criticizes Bostonians' lack of appetite for the upcoming War of 1812.

"The powers and preeminences conferred on them are daggers put into the hands of assassins, to be plunged into our own bosoms in the moment the thrust can go home to the heart," Jefferson wrote.
Also among the papers were letters from John Quincy Adams. Those were donated to the Massachusetts Historical Society. "A sensational little find," said William Fowler, the society's director.
Our thanks to WAGS Newsletter, Whittier Area Genealogical Society Newsletter, PO Box 4367, Whittier, CA 90607-4367.

We have the meaning of German names for you!
From The MONTHLY Newsletter of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society of Pekin, Illinois, we have received lots of German names with their American meanings. Here's a for-instance: Koch = Cook, Maurer = Mason, Schwartz = Black, Zimmerman = Carpenter. Apparently the original clipping came from the Pekin Daily Times, but the MONTHLY's editor noted they were indebted to William Komnick of Emden for answering their request that somebody tell them what the German names in Pekin meant.

The Family Tree will have copies in their Promise File if you are interested. And since this is a two-part article, we will attempt to get the first part of the article for you also. Just drop a line to The Family Tree and ask for the "German Names Meanings" and we will send you a copy. And by the way, please include a SASE. Thanks.

Desire pedigree charts regarding HILL BROOKE and WILLIAM BOOTHBY 1657 London. JOHN PEG c1704 ELISABETH WILSON Derby, England. Contact Richard Morrissey, 26209 Chambers, Sun City, CA 92586.

Help with charts to 1066! ANSGARD ELLIS, Somersetshire, England c1570 and JOHN CROSS. ELEANOR MILLER and HENRY CHURCHILL wed. Derbyshire, c1570. Contact Richard Morrissey, 26209 Chambers, Sun City, CA 92586.

Joann Mackinnon is on the mend...
Ozzie Osborne wrote to let us know that his wife Joann Obsorne Mackinnon, Chieftain of the Clan Mackinnon Society, is recovering from a cancerous brain lymphoma. Ozzie said it is a remarkable recovery, she is now on the mend, and has been able to come home. We know that Joann would love to hear from you. If you would like to send her "get well cheer and love," her address is 4012 Tyndale Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32210.

Thursday 11th December saw the launch of the 107th edition of Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. At a champagne reception in central London, over seventy people congregated to celebrate the book's arrival and view the very first copies, hot off the press.

Last published in 1999, editors and technical staff worked for almost two years to complete this updated and expanded edition.

Welcoming the assembled guests, Publishing Advisor, Gordon Prestoungrange, Baron of Prestoungrange thanked everyone involved in the project and out lined company aims for 2004 and beyond. With a series of printed regional volumes, a new book on chivalric orders and substantial additions to Burke's Peerage & Gentry online database, the Burke's team can look forward to a busy though productive time.

Editor-in-Chief, Charles Mosley's keynote speech, likened production of the three-volume reference work to giving birth to triplets: "It was not an easy task to get it (the 107th) ready. The gestation period alone, and the prolonged labour of us, the obstetricians, particularly my old friend and accomplished forceps-wielder Hugh Peskett, shows that."

Charles went on to describe the new arrivals as: "red complexioned, like so many babies, but with an inbuilt fund of information and already house-trained."

Among the guests were Sir Bob Balchin, Registrar of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor; June Perrin, Acting Director of the Society of Genealogists; Mike O'Keefe, Custodian of the Official Royal Image Library; John Whittingdale, MP; Phil Reed, Director of the Cabinet War Rooms and Keith Madeley, Chairman of the Yorkshire Society. Given the size and production cost of the publication, the 107th edition will be the last ever in print with future updates continuing at Burke's online database at www.burkes-peerage.net.  Amazing attention to detail by Charles Mosley and his team ensures that the 107th edition will stand the test of time and be appreciated by all who love British tradition and family history.

Did you know? The 107th edition of Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage cost around œ1,000,000 to produce and took two years to compile.

The publication runs to almost 5,000 pages Each set weighs 10.5 kilos 120,000 living people are featured in the book

The publication contains around 2,500 articles on titled families, 3,200 Knight's articles, 140 on Scottish Chiefs (some 60 of which are either hitherto unpublished or substantially augmented), scores of Scottish feudal barons. And 14 articles covering Irish Chiefs.

Entrants include people linked to historic families, the military, politics, the arts, industry, education and much more.

The oldest family in the book is unquestionably O'Neill (pages 3003 + 3009) dating back to the fifth century AD, the oldest family in western Europe.

Chapman Family holds reunion in Missouri
The Chapman Family Association will hold its Fourth Annual Convention and Reunion May 14-16, 2004 at the Kansas City Missouri Airport Hilton. The convention will consist of a family business meeting, a variety of workshops and research sessions and local tours.

Individuals need not be a member to attend the sessions but registration is required and advance registration is highly recommended.

Further information is available by contacting one of the following: Chapman Family Association Data Central, P.O. Box 1586, Florissant, Missouri 63031; or Gil Alford, CFA Corresponding Secretary at 314-831-8648; or the website www.chapmanfamilies.org.

Ashley County Genealogical Society presents a beginners' workshop
A beginners' workshop for family research will be presented by the Ashley County Genealogical Society on Saturday, February 28, 2004, at the Crossett Public Library Community Room in Crossett, Arkansas.

Registration is from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Sessions will be held 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bring a sack lunch. Drinks and snacks will be served.

Topics will include: Why Do I Do This and How Do I Begin?, Genealogical Websites and Their Use, Genealogy by Mail, Finding Military Records, Soundex Search Methods, How to Take Notes and Saving Them for Future Use, and Ways to Present Your Genealogical Information to Others.

The cost will be $20 before January 15th and $25 thereafter. Cost will cover printing of handout material.
To pre-register send your name, address, city, state and zip, along with your check to ACGS, P.O. Drawer R, Crossett, Arkansas 71635.

For additional information contact William C. Finch, 407 East Third Avenue, Crossett, Arkansas 71635-3014.

International Hunter and Muirhead Clan Gathering will be held at Hunterston Castle
News regarding the Hunter and Muirhead Clan Gathering at Hunterston Castle has been received from Madam Pauline Hunter, Chief of Clan Hunter. The Gathering will be held August 6-8, 2004 and booking is needed in advance. Charges will be per person for the weekend, for children ten and under. Registration will be Friday, August 6th, with the Opening Ceremony to be held that evening. Christine Scouller is the Gathering coordinator and may be contacted by post: Hunterston Castle, West Kilbride, Ayrshire, KA23 9QG; Scotland, United Kingdom. Call 011 44 01294-82.

Festival plans are announced by Slighe nan Gaidheal
Feis Shiatail 2004 (FAYSH he- AT-ul), an internationally recognized celebration of Scottish Gaelic and the arts of Scotland, will be held June 15-20 at Fort Worden Conference Center, Port Townsend, Washington.

Hosted by Slighe nan Gaidheal (SHLEE-ul num GAY-ul), the Seattle's Gaelic language and cultural society, Feis brings participants together with leading tradition bearers in language and arts. Drawing enthusiasts from throughout North America and the United Kingdom, the gathering allows everyone from beginner to native expert to "focus deeply Scottish Gaelic language, music, culture and community," said Kathryn Cole, Feis co-chair.

In addition to language classes at all levels, attendees will be able to participate in seminars covering piping, singing, weaving, harping, fiddling, and step dancing, as well as history and folklore.

"As a Feis participant myself, I treasure the time to spend with my Scottish Gaelic family, welcome newcomers and share their discovery of their heritage," Cole said.

Presenters at the biennial event are a veritable "Who's Who" of the Scottish Gaelic world. They include: Catriona Niclomhair Parsons, associate professor of Celtic studies, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia; Catriona Chaimbeul, editor, Speaking Our Language, a member of the Gaelic Broadcasting committee and former head of Grampian Television's Gaelic news service; Muriel Fisher, founder, Tucson Gaelic Institute and University of Arizona instructor; Catherina Ann MacPhee, award-winning Gaelic singer and recording artist; Rona MacDonald Lightfoot, internationally recognized bagpiper whose family archives include one of the most extensive collections of Gaelic song; Wendy MacIsaac, Cape Breton fiddler and step dancer; Dr. Michael Newton, director, Gaelic studies program, University of Richmond, Virginia; and, Norman Kennedy, weaver and singer, former master weaver at Colonial Williamsburg.

Feis Shiatail is sponsored in part by the Dunvegan Foundation, an organization dedicated to educational, cultural and informational activities in both the United States and Scotland. The Dunvegan Foundation supports such activities as workshops in History, Gaelic and Tartan, provides for musical scholarships in harp, fiddle and bagpipe, and strives to enrich the knowledge of Americans in things Scottish and Scottish-American.

For further information and registration, visit Slighe nan Gaidheal's website at www.slighe.com or phone 206-903-9452.