|
1995
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Introduction
Chapter 1 Andrew Buchanan
Chapter 2 Ancestors
Chapter 3 Descendants
Chapter 4 Noel Lee Buchanan
References
Appendices
A. Text from family bible
B. Descendants of Andrew Buchanan
C. Family trees
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this book
is to bring together a number of documents and reminiscences on the life
and family of Dr. Andrew Buchanan, 1807 - 1877, who lived in New Zealand
from 1857 to 1873.
He has been called
"Andrew Buchanan of Chingford" after residences of that name in England
and New Zealand.
This book includes
information on his family, his ancestors and a list of his descendants.
The main sources of information are various publications which are
referenced in the text. Unpublished sources include letters, and a diary
kept by Andrew Buchanan in 1865 and 1873. Handwritten notes from an old
family bible have been reproduced in full.
Acknowledgments are made
to the many individuals, too numerous to name, who willingly assisted
with information and photographs.
CHAPTER ONE
ANDREW BUCHANAN
Andrew Buchanan was born
in Jamaica on 10 December 1907, the son of George Buchanan, a sugar
planter. His mother was Jane Gowie, daughter of a Scottish planter on
the Island of St. Kitts.
With the emancipation of
the slaves in the West Indies many planters left the islands and
returned to England, and the Buchanans were among these. In 1816 they
settled at Sherborne in Dorset, where Andrew was educated.
He was tall and erect,
but of slight build, he stood 6ft. 2in. in his stockings, and stooped a
little in later years. His weight never over eleven stone, his hair
black and inclined to be curly, his features aquiline, grey eyes
overshadowed by strong eyebrows.....according to relatives "a marked
Buchanan face". (Fulton 1922)
After leaving school he
went to Paris to study medicine and surgery.
In 1830 while he was
still in Paris, there was an uprising in Poland, where the Poles were
trying to free themselves from the oppression of more powerful
neighbours - Russia, Prussia and Austria. Andrew Buchanan's sympathies
were with the Poles, and he joined them as an army surgeon, and remained
with them until the uprising was put down by the Russians.
Medical Practice
Andrew Buchanan returned
to London, and later went to Scotland, where he studied and graduated
from St. Andrew's University with a degree in medicine. Back in London
he was made a public vaccinator in 1833, vaccinating more than 1000
people each year, and for the next 25 years he carried a large and
successful practice. He was one of the Governors of St. George's
Hospital. In 1835 he married Emma Harkness, daughter of Dr. John
Harkness. They had a home at Stephney in London and a small farm at
Chingford in Essex where they spent weekends ( Fulton 1922, Scholefield
1940 ).
Andrew Buchanan took a
warm interest in colonial matters, being a frequent speaker at the
Colonial Society, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Fellow
of the Colonial Institute, and a Fellow of the Royal College of
Surgeons.
Children
The dates of birth and
christening of their eight children are as follows. All were born in
Stepney London.
Name, Birthdate,
Christening
Emma, 2 July 1835, 4 September 1835
Agnes, 18 February 1837, 17 March 1837
Edith Mary, 17 November 1838, June/July 1839
Fanny Chaytor, 13 April 1841, 21 April 1841
Janet Curling, 27 March 1843, 21 April 1843
Arthur Vaudrey, 26 January 1846, March 1846
Noel Lee, 6 March 1848, 6 April 1848
Emily Batson, 6 April 1850, May 1850
Travel to New Zealand
Andrew Buchanan travelled
to New Zealand on the Dinapore in 1857 with his wife Emma and eight
children. Among the passengers were British Army officers Humphrey Jones
and Alexander Clerk who married Emma Buchanan and Edith Buchanan,
respectively, soon after their arrival in Auckland. Bishop Selwyn
officiated at the double wedding ceremony on 1 December 1857.
According to Eliza Stack
( 1938 ) who was on the same ship, "the voyage was long and tedious, and
not marked by any striking incidents", taking about four months from 13
April to 5 August 1857.
Clovernook
In Auckland, Andrew
Buchanan bought a property called Clovernook from Mr. John Stokes on 9
October 1857 for £1000. A series of paintings by John Kinder of St.
Mark's church in Remuera show that the house was constructed between
1857 and 1859. According to the title deed, Andrew sold it to Mr.
Charles Stichbury in September 1861. The Buchanan connection with the
house did not end then, however, because Andrew Buchanan's diary shows
that his daughter Emma and her husband Humphrey Jones were living there
in 1865, presumably leasing it on their own account or through the army.
Neal Buchanan visited
Clovernook with his family in 1960.
The house was demolished
in 1962 for construction of a motorway, but remains of the foundations
are still in place. A partial history of the property is given by
Grattan ( 1963 ). Archaeological excavations are described by Wilson and
Turner ( 1993 ). Dominic Wilson has provided useful information and is
continuing to investigate the history of the site.
Move to Otago
Hearing that there was
good land in Otago to be had at a reasonable price Andrew Buchanan went
to Dunedin to investigate. He rode with Campbell Thomson of Rocklands
Station, up through the Strath Taieri and Maniototo. In 1860 he obtained
a property called Patearoa from W H Valpy. Two years later he moved his
family from Auckland to Otago. They arrived by the schooner Clutha,
bringing their horses, and some carpenters and kauri timber to build a
house. When the schooner arrived at Port Chalmers the horses were
lowered over the side, and allowed to swim ashore before being lead up
through the bush to Dunedin. Going up the harbour the Clutha became
stuck on a sand bank opposite what is now Macandrews Bay some of the
timber had to be unloaded before the ship could go on to Dunedin (Fulton
1922).
Chingford
The Buchanan's settled in
the North East Valley suburb of Dunedin, in their new house which was
called Chingford after their old home in England (Fulton 1922). From the
Crown Grant Application Book in the Hocken Library, the Chingford
property was purchased in two sections, on 30 January 1862 and 14 May
1863. The house was built by Mr. R. Coombs who also travelled from
Auckland on the Clutha.
Andrew Buchanan is listed
in the Roll of Electors for Roslyn, 1866, with place of abode as
Chingford, North East Valley. His qualifications as an elector was his
freehold ownership of the two sections and 21 acres of land.
After Dr. Buchanan left
New Zealand in 1873, his daughter Janet and her husband William Baldwin
lived there for a time. The house was later bought by Mr. P. C. Neil, a
well known Dunedin citizen, who made considerable additions. Chingford
was bequethed to the city of Dunedin on Mr. Neill's death in 1936,
allowed to fall into disrepair and was demolished in 1968.. The original
stone coach-house is still there, used as a Community Arts Workshop.
Much of the area is now playing fields with many magnificent trees in
the grounds. Brief descriptions of the house, with photographs, are
given by Hemdry (1976) and McCoy and Blackman (1968). Gary Blackman has
provided much useful information on Chingford.
Chingford, about 1880.
Reproduced with permission of Hocken Library, Dunedin.
Patearoa
Andrew Buchanan bought
the Patearoa sheep station in 1860. This consisted of 30,000 ha. (75,000
acres) from Lammerlaws to Sowburn Point, 25 km (16 miles) south of
Ranfurly in the Maniototo Valley, Central Otago, in a large treeless
area of mountains and wide river valleys. Some details of life there can
be gleaned from the diary of the neighbouring Puketoi Station, 8 km ( 5
miles ) away across the Taieri River. The first apparent reference to
Andrew Buchanan in the diary is on 23 October 1861 when "Mr. Wain came
and went to look out a site for the Doctor's house along with Murison
and McM." The house was not completed until about 1863 according to a
letter dated 1864 (reproduced later in this book).
After moving his family
to Dunedin in 1862, Andrew Buchanan often travelled to his farm at
Patearoa. He did not practice medicine apart from emergency calls. On
two occassions in the Puketoi diary he was called for his professional
services, one being the death of John Black French at Puketoi, when an
inquest had to be held. Another entry of note on March 17 1866 says that
Dr. Buchanan called at Puketoi with Bishop Selwyn who had been preaching
at nearby gold mining camps and sheep stations. Later, Andrew Buchanan's
sons, Arthur and Noel, both spent time at Patearoa and Puketoi. The
Puketoi diary was kept by Noel Buchanan at this time, and references to
Dr. Buchanan and his family members are frequent in the diary from 20
May 1864 until 22 January 1869. Patearoa is now owned by the Beattie
family and the old homestead is still in use. Mrs. Margaret Hudson ( née
Beattie ) of Timaru has provided useful information about Patearoa.
Puketoi homestead
(Beattie 1940)
Puketoi was owned by the
Murison family in Andrew Buchanan's time. It is now owned by Mr.
Geoffrey Crutchley. Part of the old homestead is still standing and is
used for temporary accommodation. The Puketoi diary is in the Hocken
Library Dunedin.
The following letters
from Andrew Buchanan to one of his sisters (probably Elizabeth Sheriff
if the Agnes in the letter is his other sister) gives a good description
of travel to Patearoa.
Chingford, Dunedin, N.Zealand.
26th. March 1864
My dear Sister,
I have the pleasure of receiving your kind letter of 18th Jan. a few
days ago, and I sit down to answer it at once, because I find that in
letter writing, as in other things, delays are dangerous. It is very
long since I have written to you, although I have constantly intended to
do so. I am glad to hear that you and yours are well, but I should have
been better pleased if you had entered more particulars about your
children and grandchildren.
It is principally by
telling trifling incidents about mine that I manage to keep up
correspondence with the few friends and relations I have in England, an
object I have much at heart. The adventurous propensity which took me to
Poland in 1832 [ note: 1830 in Fulton ] and bought me to N.Z. in 1857,
is still strong in me.
Not content with building
a house in Auckland, and then another here, I have just finished a third
on my sheep run, 80 miles up the country, and I am at this moment
undergoing all the discomforts, fatigue and expense of once more moving
the greater part of my family to a new home quite in the wilds - to get
to which I have to travel by a track, and pay £10 a ton cartage for
every stick of timber, every article of furniture, and every morsel of
food. And yet strange as it will perhaps seem to you, I quite enjoy the
going backwards and forwards and the occupation of station life.
My wife and eldest son
are there, and I intend to start in a day or two with my daughter Fanny
and Harry Harkness, my brother in-law who lives with us. I have a very
light American trap with high wheels and wide axles which is difficult
to upset, and well calculated to go over rough ground, and with a pair
of good horses, I do 40 miles a day very pleasantly in fine weather, and
safely in rough. Of course we have to ford rivers and go up and down
rather steep places, but my wagon is furnished with a brake ( an
American contrivance I believe, for I never saw it in England), by
treading on the handle of which I can stop the hind wheels without
moving from my seat, and so can trot down almost any hill, to the
greatest saving of my horses flesh on a journey. Arthur, now 18, is
learning to be a sheep farmer. He is very steady, intelligent, and
active, and takes great interest in his work. I hope that in about two
years he will be able to take charge of the run, and I begin to look
forward to paying a visit to the old country. At present I have a
manager.
My second son, Noel, and
Emily my youngest daughter, will remain at school in Dunedin, where I
think they have a very fair means of education, and where I am sure they
will be well taken care of. We are all perfectly well.
My two eldest daughters
Emma and Edith are in Auckland with their husbands who are with the
troops at the seat of war. They are thoroughly sick of it, but there is
not a present any prospect of peace. I am truly glad that in this middle
island we have few Maoris, and are not in any way affected by the war
except that we shall have to help pay the bill. Emma has no children.
Edith has a girl and boy, who are very engaging.
Janet Mrs. ( Baldwin ),
expects to be confined in August, for which event she is coming to stay
with us a Patearoa Station, Maniatoto, New Zealand where please to
address to me when next you write. I enclose a short note her mother had
from her when she first arrived at their run, which is about 40 miles
from ours. By it you will be able to form some ideas of her doings. I
have every reason to be thankful that I am still surrounded by my
children and that I can see them from time to time.
When she speaks of
swimming the Molyneux, you must understand that they crossed in a boat,
but the horses had to swim.
I beg you to accept my
photograph which was done since the one Aunt Eleanor sent you to look
at, but which has the same unpleasant scowl and screwing up of the eyes,
that a strong light always produces on me. From her letters Agnes seems
quite happy with her new husband, But her marriage was rather a surprise
to us.
I am, my dear sister,
Yours affectionately,
A. Buchanan
Andrew Buchanan retained an active interest in his farming venture for
many years. Among John Robert's papers in the Hocken Library is a letter
from Dr. Buchanan, dated March 1873, the year he returned to England:
I saw Mr. Shennan this morning and asked him if he would do you and me
the favour to value the furniture etc., at Patearoa for us, and he
kindly consented to do so. I also took the opportunity of consulting him
as to the probable value of sheep next November, when I am to give
delivery and I mentioned to him the price you and Mr. Gordon had agreed
on was 9/- each. (I think that was the sum you told me.) But Mr. Shennan
said that as the sheep were merinos, whilst Gordon's were half breeds,
he thinks that merinos would not be worth as much as the others by at
least 6d a head. If you have no objection therefore, I would like to
name 8/- to 8/6 each. I hope to have the opportunity to seeing you on
the matter tomorrow, as I promised to write to Groom about it on
Thursday.
And then in a postscript:
After having written the foregoing, I found in my box at the Post
Office, your note of yesterday's date, in which you suggest that 9/- be
fixed for the price of sheep delivered. in excess or short of 25,000. I
happened just now to see Driver in the street, and asked his opinion. He
said after a little consideration, he thinks 8/- would under the
circumstances be fairer than 9/- bearing in mind the uncertainties of
the future, and that wool is more likely to fall than to rise. As his
views then seem to concur with those of Mr. Shennan, I would propose
that we agree to make 8/- the price to be fixed on.
Political Life
Andrew Buchanan was
nominated to a seat on the Legislative Council (Upper House) by Governor
Gore Brown, and was appointed to it in 1862 (Fulton 1922). The
nomination must have been in 1861 because Sir George Grey replaced Gore
Brown as Governor in October 1861. During Andrew's 12 years in the
Council he was active in improving the conditions of people in mental
hospitals, and in many other aspects of life in the community. He spoke
to the Council on a variety of subjects. Brief references to his
speeches are made by McLintock and Wood (1987) and Jackson (1972).
An interesting account of
life and politics of those times is given in the diaries which he kept
in 1865 whilst living in Wellington and visiting Auckland, and in 1873
en route to England. The originals are in the Hocken Library, Dunedin
and some quotes are given below.
Andrew's duties took him
to Wellington frequently. A sea voyage to Wellington in July 1865 with
his wife Emma is described in the diary. Canterbury passengers boarding
at Lyttleton near Christchurch included Cracroft Wilson, also J.B.A.
Acland from Mt. Peel who shared lodgings with Andrew Buchanan in
Wellington and who is frequently mentioned in the diary. Comparisons
between Otago and Canterbury included the following:
We could not help but be
struck and pleased with the civility of all the people at Lyttleton.
Coming from Otago, where the Scotch uncouthness and rudeness are almost
universal among the lower classes, this was very marked. Your raw Scot,
though no doubt possessed of some sterling qualities, has not the
smallest idea of "the small sweet courtesies of life", and is
consequently to me a very repulsive animal. (22 July)
Lyttelton 1860s
The political scene in
New Zealand was in disarray in the 1860s largely because of the land
wars with Maori tribes, often mentioned in his diary. The Government
changed 10 times in the 17 years that Andrew was in New Zealand. Among
other difficulties, a faction of settlers in the South Island wanted to
secede to avoid the cost of the wars:
An adjourned debate on the separation of the two islands, brought by
Russell of Auckland, was resumed at 12. It was great fun hearing it,
both parties being riles and hard words banded from side to side.All the
Auckland men except Mason, and nearly all the Otago men are banded
together to support it. (9 September)
The frequent references
to "The Governor" in the 1865 diary would be to Sir George Grey, whose
appointment was terminated in 1868 after he connived with the Government
to keep British troops in New Zealand after they had been ordered home
(see Bateman 1986, Belich 1993).
His Diary has many
references to places and political activities of the day, such as:
I dined for the first time at Bellamy's...... The party besides myself
and Acland consisted of Jolly, Stafford, Eyes and one more, Stafford
talked a hurricane all the time, so that no one else had a chance.
Although I am at all times a better listener than a talker, yet this is
too much of a good thing. The dinner consisted of a variety of showy
dishes, some of them having a flavour of having been warmed up, and both
the wines and beer were bad. (30 July)
The Canterbury men who have meals at Bellamy's are Shepherd King's and
seem to think it beneath their notice to enquire wether their dinner
costs £1 or 30/-. I not only cannot afford it, but I think it foolish
and wrong to submit to such excessive charges. (7 August)
Dined at the Club at 6.30 with about 20, among whom was Stafford, who is
certainly less loud, egotistical and pretentious than he used to be. He
sat opposite me, and I was able to take a fair shae in the talk. Vogel
seems [to be] getting fat and stupid. (10 September)
His view of the press is revealed when:
We also looked at the reporter's gallery, as they complain that they
cannot hear well. We directed that the contractor should see some of
them and do the best he can to accommodate them, although the reporting
has hitherto been done so badly, it would be of no great consequence if
the body of them should stop work forthwith. (15 August)
His medical background was apparently useful, when he had to:
...meet Prendergast, who is introducing a bill to regulate the sale of
poisons. He has asked me to confer with Drs. Renwick and Menzies and
advise him on the proper schedule. We consulted some works on medical
jurisprudence, and decided on a list which includes all the active
poisons. Arsenic and strychnine when sold to be put into a bottle and
corked. (14 August)
Lunatic Asylums
Shortly after his arrival
in New Zealand in 1857, Andrew Buchanan was asked to appear before a
committee of the House of Representatives, to give details of his
knowledge and experience as a doctor in the mental hospitals of London
(known then as lunatic asylums). The methods used in two of these were
much more humane than in most places at the time, and he was able to
report on the success of providing useful employment for the patients.
To Andrew Buchanan we owe much; to him we are indebted for the early
introduction of the "humane method" of treatment of the unfortunate
mentally afflicted. He was the one mainly responsible for wiping out in
New Zealand of the abominable system of "madhouses", of grossly wicked
entrustment of our diseased fellow creatures to the tender mercies of
ignorant, brutal and often drunken officials ( Fulton 1922)
Sunnyside Mental Hospital Christchurch 1870s / Canterbury Museum In 1871
the House of Representatives appointed Andrew to act as chairman of a
joint committee to report on the lunatic asylums. The appalling
conditions in some of the asylums are described by Fulton (1922) and
Andrew Buchanan's report which made it clear that most failed to provide
proper accommodation and care for the mentally ill. The report
concluded:
1. That Asylums in the
Colony have not (save in some localities) either proper or sufficient
accommodation for the reception and care of lunatics.
2. That it is expedient that the General Government should take measures
to cause proper provision to be made in those parts of the Colony where
the present provision is insufficient.
3. That a duly qualified Medical Officer from the United Kingdom, having
special knowledge and experience in the treatment of the insane, be
forthwith engaged and appointed, and who shall have the supervision and
control of all the Lunatic Asylums in the Colony.
4. That the question of a General Central Asylum be postponed until the
next Session, by which time information will have been obtained from
Reports of the Inspecting Medical Officer, which will serve to guide the
action of Parliament.
5. That whilst steps should be taken to improve all Asylums of the
Colony, the state of that at Karori, near Wellington, urgently requires
immediate attention and reform.
A. Buchanan, M.D., Chairman
The Government took no action for several years. Fulton (1922) describes
how Andrew Buchanan pursued this matter for several years, including a
"vigorous attack" through the columns of The Otago Daily Times on 27
June 1872, leading to the eventual appointment of an Inspector-General
of Hospitals and Lunatic Asylums.
Church Connections
Andrew Buchanan was a
staunch Anglican. His diary records an active church life during his
stay in Wellington, including his attendance at the laying of the
foundation stone for Wellington Cathedral.
In Dunedin he was a
supporter of the first Bishop designate of Dunedin, Henry Jenner, who
came to New Zealand at the request of Bishop Selwyn. Jenner never took
up his post because of local opposition to his reputation as a high
church ritualist. Andrew Buchanan is mentioned by Pearce (1984) who
describes this saga in great detail.
In 1873. on board the
Nebraska I asked the Captn. if there would be a church service. He said
that whenever was on board, he was in the habit of saying prayers - but
not otherwise, as he himself cannot read well. But he seemed glad when I
volunteered to read, which I afterwards did, and there were some 40
passengers attended. Next Sunday we are to have some hymns. (20 April)
Return to England
Andrew Buchanan left for
England in 1873. A diary was kept in April and may 1873 on the ship
Nebraska travelling from Dunedin to Wellington and Auckland, visiting
Hawaii where he describes island life in some detail. The diary ends
mysteriously on 17 May 1873 with two pages torn out.
Shipboard life was not
exciting. I always turn out a day-break for my bath. Then go to bed and
read till the breakfast bell rings. After breakfast I read or write till
the cloth is laid for lunch (12.30). An hour after, I, Bannatyne,
Williamson, and either Douglas or Fisher sit at whist....I confess I
first had some scruples of conscience in sitting down to cards by
daylight, but there is so much that is disagreeable on shipboard that
the indulgence is excusable as it helps pleasantly to while away the
time. (30 April)
Andrew Buchanan never returned to New Zealand. He died in Sherborne,
England, in 1877. The Otago Daily Times published an obituary on
September 9 1877:
The announcement of the death in London on the 4th inst. of Dr. Buchanan
will be received with deep and heartfelt regret by his many friends
throughout the Colony, as well as the public in whose service he
laboured as a legislator for many years. It may perhaps be some
consolation to his children and many friends to know the high respect
and esteem entertained for him throughout the Colony, as is evidenced by
the fact that although he ceased being a member of the Legislative
Council, that body, out of respect for his memory, adjourned yesterday
afternoon upon receipt of the tidings of his death. At St. Paul's Church
in Dunedin, on 9 September 1877.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop
Nevill spoke of the excellent qualities, genial character, and valuable
assistance given him by Dr. Buchanan who had regularly attended church
though living some distance away. The Dead March in Saul was played and
the hymns were "Christ will Gather in his Own" and "Days and Moments
Quickly Flying".
Andrew Buchanan in later years (Fulton 1922)
CHAPTER TWO
ANCESTORS
The Ancestors of Andrew
Buchanan and Emma Harkness are shown under. This tree shows 17
generations on the Buchanan side, compiled from various sources. On
Andrew Buchanan's side the ancestors back to Alexander Buchanan are from
the old family bible. The earlier ones are from Guthrie Smith (1896) who
gives details back to Sir Walter Buchanan, whose son John Buchanan
married Janet de Lany about 1392 to become the first of the Buchanan's
of Leny. The references quoted have minor inconsistencies regarding
earlier generations.
Old Family Bible
The typed transcript of handwritten text from the front and rear end
papers of an old Buchanan family New Testament (1754 edition) is found
in Appendix A. This describes a line of descent from Alexander Buchanan
of Glenie in Perthshire. He is the Gt. Gt. Gt. Gt. grandfather of Andrew
Buchanan. (Note that "Glenie" in the family bible is more commonly spelt
"Glenny" in other literature )
Several entries in the
family bible refer to burial at churches in Glasgow.
The "New Northwest
Church" in Glasgow is now known as Ramshorn Church, or St. David's
Church. In 1991 it was converted to a drama centre for the University of
Strathclyde, and the extensive burial ground behind the church was
intact. Lair 50 in the west wall can be located, but no relevant
Buchanan gravestones can be identifieddstone slabs, laid flat, have
eroded severely in the last 200 years.
The High Church is now
Glasgow cathedral. George Buchanan was buried in 1773 in the Buchanan
lair, opposite the principal door, beside some of his grandchildren who
had died earlier. This area was completely re-landscaped in 1991 and
some graves were moved, but the cathedral records include no Buchanans
among them.
Strathendrick and its
Inhabitants
The book
Strathendrick
and its Inhabitants from Early Times by J. Guthrie Smith (1896), gives a
very detailed account of Buchanan relationships. In general it is the
same as the family bible and old family tree, but gives much more
detailed information and historical sources, from the 13th. century
until about 1730.
Alexander Buchanan, who
begins the family bible record. had at least two sons - Andrew and
George.
Andrew Buchanan lived at
Gartacharne, Water of Enrick, Stirlingshire. He purchased Gartacharne
from Lord Napier in 1660. (Gartacharne is a small village south of
Dryman at the south-east corner of Loch Lomond, opposite the island of
Clairinch.) Andrew's eldest son, Alexander, inherited these lands from
his father. Dr. Andrew Buchanan was descended from the second son,
George who went to Glasgow and became a wealthy merchant as described
below.
Old Family Tree
Several family members have versions of a Buchanan family tree (55 x 35
cm) showing about 30 generations of Buchanan's. One version ends with
Noel's children, Silvia, George and Phyllis. Another includes seven
offspring of Fanny Buchanan and William Low.
The early part of this
tree appears to have been derived directly from The History of the
Ancient Surname of Buchanan by William Buchanan of Auchmar (1743). The
oldest ancestor in these sources is Anselan O'Cahan or O'Kyan who was
rewarded by Malcolm II in 1016 AD for exploits against the Danes and
others. On the old family tree, there appears to be an error in the
second box of the right hand column where, according to all other
sources, there should be another Andrew Buchanan between Alexander
Buchanan and George Buchanan. Guthrie Smith (1896) refers to the old
family tree and makes some corrections.
William George Buchanan Genealogy
The earliest part of the old family tree differs somewhat from other
sources. A genealogy more recently researched for William George
Buchanan of the Drummikill cadet line (who purchased the island of
Clairinch in Loch Lomond in 1934 and bequeathed it to the Buchanan
Society) shows another version of the earliest ancestors, abbreviated
slightly as follows.
Hided
|
Macbethad
|
Maldoun Macbeth
|
Muredach
|
Absalom Macbed - steward to the Earl of Lennox 1216-1250 - had a charter
to the isle of Clairinch confirmed by King Alexander II in 1231
|
Gilbert - Clerk to the earl of Lennox 1217 - 1274
Malcolm - did homage 1296
- served as a witness to a charter 1305
|
Maurice - served on a jury 1320
|
Maurice - married a daughter of Sir Walter Menteith of Ruskie
|
Walter - married Margaret Cunningham daughter of Laird of Glengarnock
|
John Buchanan - fourth son of Walter Buchanan - married Janet de Lany
( daughter and heiress of John de Lany )
This information was
obtained from Mr. Claude Buchanan of Auckland, who has a full sized
colour copy of the genealogical tree of William George Buchanan. The
Original being held in the British Museum. At the bottom of the list,
John Buchanan (fourth son of Walter Buchanan of That Ilk) was the first
of the Leny line of Buchanans, from whom Dr. Andrew Buchanan was
descended. Both Walter and John, above appear on the ancestor's tree for
Dr. Andrew Buchanan.
Our thanks to
Claude Buchanan, FSA Scot,
Gartincaber, New Zealand for sending in this information. |
