It's your Electric Scotland newsletter meaning
the weekend is nearly here :-)
You can view what's new this week on Electric Scotland at
http://www.electricscotland.com/update.html and you can unsubscribe to
this newsletter by clicking on the link at the foot of this newsletter.
See our Calendar of Scottish Events around the world at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/calendar_help.htm
CONTENTS
-----------------
Electric Scotland News
The Flag in the Wind
The Scottish Nation
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
The Greatness and Decline of the Celts
Raiderland, All about Grey Galloway
Clan Newsletters
Poems and Stories
Scottish Canadian Newspaper
Proceedings of the Scotch-Irish Third Congress at Louisville, Kentucky May
14 to 17, 1891
History of Scotland
Highlanders in Spain
The Crofter in History
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario.
Good Words - Edited by the Rev Norman MacLeod
Andrew Buchanan of Chingford 1807-1877
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND
---------------------------------
Can't believe how fast this past week has gone. Hope you all enjoyed your
4th of July, Canada Day and whatever other holidays were on. I certainly
enjoyed my long weekend which I mainly spent down with Nola and Harold at
Port Crewe and with their neighbours Pat and Al. Lovely weather and we ate
outside on three nights enjoying the sunshine and the views on Lake Erie.
I posted a Canadian Journal entry this week giving a wee summary of some of
the highlights in May and June. You can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.net/canada_76.htm
Not sure if you noticed or not but I changed our menu header to bring in
some new menu items...
Knights Templar, Scots in Australia, Scots in Canada, Scots in France, Scots
in Germany, Scots in New Zealand and Scots in the USA. I also have Scots in
the World where you can find information on Scots in other countries. I also
have removed the old "Family Tree" to a link in the head of our Genealogy
page and replaced it with "Beth's Family Tree" which of course now points to
her new publication.
As I've now completed the Highlanders in Spain book I'll be moving onto the
"Perth on the Tay" book by the weekend. I'd appreciate some feedback on this
book as it's really the first I've posted up with so much "broad Scots"
language. It might be that many of you will find this hard to read and it
was certainly a minor nightmare when it came to ocr'ing it in. Whatever the
feedback I think it's good to have one such book up on the site but
depending on your feedback I might not do other.
I might do another survey to just get your feedback on some matters like
this. I have found in the past that surveys generally give me great input on
what you think of things on the site as I don't actually get many emails
these days telling me what you think of things you find on the site. This
means I'm really just adding things that I feel are significant on some
aspect of Scottish history.
I will also make a start on the Scotch-Irish in America 4th Congress next
week. As you may remember I have volumes for the first 8 congresses and I
fully intend to get all 8 up on the site as I believe they provide a great
resource.
I also intend to make progress on the "Good Words" 1860 volume from this
week onwards. I might add that this is the very first issue of this
publication which went on for many years and below you'll find a note he
added to the final page of the first volume which really outlines what he
hoped to achieve. This was a weekly publication and is bound into yearly
volumes.
On the back burner I am starting to work on the New Statistical Account of
Scotland starting with Volume 12 - Aberdeen. I want to get in a few parishes
before making it available on the site and then I should be able to bring
you at least one Parish each week. Once I get toward the end of this volume
I'll look at purchasing another volume and so on until we get all 15 volumes
up [gulp].
I added some pictures of Elie in the East Neuk of Fife this week to the
index page along with a link to a history of the area at
http://www.electricscotland.com
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do check out
the site for the full versions. You can always find the link in our "What's
New" section at the link at the top of this newsletter and pick up poems and
stories sent into us during the week from Donna, Margo, Stan, John and
others.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
------------------------------------
Mind that The Flag is now in two sections (1) Political and (2) Cultural.
This weeks Flag is compiled by Jim Lynch and he covers a lot of interesting
articles in this issue including the opening of the Scottish Parliament with
a picture of The Queen and Alex Salmond.
He also featured a story of a war memorial to McRae's Regiment in the Battle
of the Somme. I found an article about this on the BBC and I'll include it
here...
Ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of
the Somme have been taking place in France.
BBC Scotland's Cameron Buttle was in a small village where the role played
by a Scottish regiment was remembered.
The regimental colours were carried on the first day of the battle. "That
was an honour and a privilege." Those simple words grimly summed up how
Captain Gary Tait felt about his role in a commemoration service at
Contalmaison to those who fell.
Soaked in sweat from collar to cuff, Capt Tait hadn't moved an inch in the
burning summer sun in this quiet French village. His gloved hands were rock
solid on the battered wooden staff which held the very same regimental
colours the Royal Scots had carried, somewhere in someone's backpack, on the
first day of the Somme.
Behind him fields of wheat barely rippled in the soft breeze. It was across
these fields 90 years ago that 800 men of the Royal Scots advanced towards
the German front line.
Stopped to remember
Over a mile-and-a-half they fought their way through trenches, barbed wire,
grenades and bombs, snipers and machine guns. When they reached Contalmaison
only 40 of them were left.
On Saturday, Contalmaison stopped to remember those men who fell. Everyone
in the village had come out. Young and old gathered opposite the cairn
memorial and stood shoulder to shoulder with the Scots who had travelled to
pay their own tribute.
Wreaths were laid at to remember those who fell in 1916. By the time the
church clock had struck 11, the crowd had spilled onto the one road through
the town. The traffic had no choice but to stop. Any noise from their
engines was stopped after a bang on the bonnet from a local farmer.
Wreath after wreath was laid at the foot of the cairn. A plaque on the
memorial tells the tale of McCrae's battalion. Lt Col Sir George McCrae was
54 years old when he said: "I could not ask you to serve unless I share the
danger at your side." He was speaking to the young men of the east of
Scotland who had answered the call to fight for king and country.
These men included the entire professional team of Hearts FC. Some players
from their Edinburgh rivals Hibs also joined, along with golfers, athletes
and rugby players. They became known as McCrae's battalion. As the piper
played Floo'ers o the Forest in this small French village, French and Scots
alike wept openly.
They wept for these 800 Royal Scots, for the one million men who died over
the four months of the battle of the Somme. One million lives lost, only
eight miles of France gained. But 1 July, 1916, will forever be remembered
as the darkest day in British military history.
Jim reports...
SNP President and Member of the European Parliament, Mr Ian Hudghton,
yesterday [Sunday] laid a commemorative wreath at the memorial to those in
McRae's Battalion who died in the battlefields of the Somme. The memorial
was built in 2004 from Scottish stone, sent to France from Morayshire, and
has bronze plaques which were designed in Edinburgh and engraved in Orkney.
The stone cairn, beside the church in Contalmaison village, stands in
recognition of the 16th Royal Scots regiment, known as McRae's battalion
after its' Colonel Sir George McRae.
The 16th Royal Scots penetrated further than any other regiment on the
opening day of the dreadful carnage which was the battle of the Somme,
reaching as far as Contalmaison, where the cairn now stands. Mr Hudghton
laid a wreath from Europe Minister Linda Fabiani MSP, inscribed 'from the
people of Scotland', in recognition of the enormous sacrifice which all
those who fought in the Somme gave to preserve the freedom we enjoy today.
Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Hudghton said:
"Whilst it was a tremendous honour to pay the respects of the people of
Scotland at the ceremony, it comes with a very heavy burden. All those who
fought for their respective countries at the Somme did so in the name of
preserving democratic values for future generations, and many lost their
lives in the process.
"On the opening morning of the Somme, 20,000 of our forces lost their lives,
with a further 40,000 estimated to have been injured. The stark reality of
what our forebears went through certainly bore heavily on my mind and I know
all those who attended today's ceremony felt the same way.
"In light of the reality of what occurred that morning 91 years ago today it
is all the more incredible that McRae's battalion, the 16 th Royal Scots,
managed to push forward as far as Contalmaison. In their onward march they
lost about three-quarters of their men, many of whom were friends, brothers,
and fellow townsmen. The valour they and their fellow Scots regiments showed
that day should never be forgotten.
"The atmosphere at the wreath-laying ceremony was one of deep solemnity, and
a show of unity from all sides at the sheer futility of war was certainly
present. Whilst those who fought did so unreservedly in the name of
democracy the sheer volume of those killed on all sides reminds us today of
why war should be avoided at all costs.
"My own grandfather and his uncle were fortunate enough to fight in the
Great War and survive but many families faced the loss of those they loved
and knew as friends. I have no doubt that anyone who chooses to pay their
respects at Contalmaison will feel the burden of past generations bearing
down upon them very heavily indeed."
In Peter's cultural section we have some interesting "Dates in History"...
6 July 1436
Marriage at Tours of the Dauphin Louis to Margaret, daughter of James I,
King of Scots.
6 July 1560
Treaty of Edinburgh between England and France agreed that French troops
would be withdrawn from Scotland and that France acknowledged Elizabeth
Tudor as Queen of England.
6 July 1932
Birth in St Andrews of James ‘Tip’ Anderson, legendary golf caddie who
helped American stars Arnold Palmer and Tony Lema to win three Open
Championships between them. He was elected Golf Caddie of the Year in the
United States in 1965.
7 July 1930
Death of Edinburgh-born Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer and creator of
Sherlock Holmes, in Crowborough, Sussex, England.
10 July 1689
Glasgow ships The Pelican and Janet were overwhelmed by three French
frigates of superior power, who were bringing Irish Jacobite reinforcements
to Scotland in support of the Dundee Rising on behalf of the exiled James
VII, King of Scots, and II of England. The Scottish Convention had hired the
two ships in an attempt to stop such reinforcements.
10 July 1946
Jackie Paterson made his first defence of the World Flyweight Championship
title, defeating Liverpool’s Joe Curran on points over 15 rounds at Hampden
Park, Glasgow, in front of a crowd of 45,000.
11 July 1818
The English poet John Keats visited the birth-place of Scotland’s National
Bard, Robert Burns, in Alloway and completed his poem ‘Written in the
Cottage Where Burns was Born’.
11 July 1944
US Staff Sergeant Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion, was in
Glasgow for a ‘meet the troops’ visit. He boxed an exhibition match and
played golf at Douglas Park.
11 July 2006
15,000 visitors flocked to the reopening of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum in Glasgow after a three-year closure for renovations. The £35
million revamp commenced in June 2003, at the time the museum attracted more
than one million visitors annually.
Haven't heard anything from Linda Fabiani for a while so will send her a wee
email seeing if she's going to be doing more reports.
You can read the Flag, listen to the Scots Language, enjoy the Scots Wit and
lots more at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
The Scottish Nation
----------------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
Now onto the H's with Hannay, Hart, Hastings, Hay and Headrick added this
week.
Here is how the Hannay entry starts...
HANNAY, a surname originally Ahannay, and also met with as De Anneth,
belonging to an old family in Galloway, supposed to be of Scandinavian
origin, which is first mentioned about the end of the 13th century, cut
without any lands named as belonging to them at that period. In the Ragman
Roll, amongst those barons who swore fealty to Edward I. In 1296, occurs the
name of Gilbert de Hanyethe. The family early obtained the lands of Sorby or
Sorbie, from which the parish of that name is called, and which they
retained until the latter part of the 17th century. Their arms occur in the
celebrated MS. Volume of emblazonments of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount,
lord lion king at arms. Sorbie-place, the seat of the family from the reign
of James IV., was anciently a tower of some strength, and is now a
picturesque ruin, surrounded with wood, about a mile east of the village of
Sorbie. The lands of Sorbie at present belong to the earl of Galloway.
Various personages of the family of Hannay occur in the public records; – as
John de Hanna, 1424, Robert Hannay of Sorbie, son of Odo Hannay of Sorbie,
1488, Alexander Hannay of Sorbie, 1500, &c. Patrick Hannay sat for Wigtown
in the Scottish parliament in 1581; and another Patrick Hannay in 1637. One
of them married a daughter of Stewart of Garlies, ancestor of the earl of
Galloway, early in the sixteenth century, another of the race was James
Hannay, dean of Edinburgh, in the time of Charles I., the same who, on
reading the liturgy, by appointment of the king, on July 23, 1637, in the
Cathedral church of St. Giles, Edinburgh, was assailed by sticks, stones,
bludgeons, joint-stools – the day of the “Jenny Geddes” riot. Another, Sir
Patrick Hannay, was director of the Chancery in Ireland in the same age.
In 1630, Sir Robert Hannay of Mochrum, descended from the Sorbie family, was
created a baronet of Nova Scotia. He left a daughter, Jane, married to Sir
Robert Reading of Dublin, whose blood flows in the noble houses of Hamilton
and Abercorn.
After the Sorbie estates went to the earl of Galloway in the latter part of
the seventeenth century, there still survived some junior branches holding
lands of less value in Wigtownshire. Of these were Kirkdale, – the pedigree
of which is given below, – and Grennan. Hugh Hannay of Grennan occurs in
1612; and another Hugh in 1631; and John Hannay in Grennan was fined for
nonconformity in 1662. Grennan ultimately devolved, through a co-heiress, on
Dr. Alexander Hannay of Glasgow, whose widow (daughter of James Hannay of
Blairinnie) only sold it in our time. Robert Hannay, Esq., East India
merchant, Maxwell Hannay, and others, are of the doctor’s family.
A male scion of Grennan, sprung from a marriage in Charles the Second’s
reign with one of the M’Cullochs of Myrton, was settled at Knock and
Garrarie in Wigtownshire, before 1700, as kinsmen to the Maxwells of
Monreith. Alexander Hannay, Esq., Banker, Dumfries, and Elliott Hannay,
Esq., War Office, London, descend from the Knock branch. Of this line, too,
Robert Hannay, son of John Hannay of Knock, and born in 1720, married a
daughter of Maxwell of Newlaw, a lady who was fifth in descent from the
great John Maxwell, Lord Herries, of Queen Mary’s time. Descended from this
marriage are, Captain Hannay of Ballylough, Antrim, Ireland; John Hannay,
Esq. of Lincluden, Kirkcudbrightshire; James Lennox Hannay of the English
bar, and many others; also, James Hannay, Esq., appointed in 1860 editor of
the Edinburgh Courant, whose father and grandfather both possessed land in
Galloway, and who, besides the Maxwell descent, has a descent also from the
old M’Dowalls, Irvings, and Browns of Carsluith. Born at Dumfries, February
17, 1827, he was partly educated in England. He entered the royal navy in
1840 as a midshipman, and served for the following five years on the
Mediterranean station. In 1845, he left the service, and settling in London,
devoted himself to literature. At the general election of 1857, he became a
candidate for the representation in parliament of the Dumfries burghs, which
his father had twice contested in other days, but was defeated, – polling
185 votes.
You can read the rest of this entry at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/hannay.htm
You can read the other entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/index.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
---------------------------------------------
Beth has now posted up her 2nd issue which can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
This issue has a single "Index Page" which you can download to see what is
in each of the three sections. Each section is around a 4Mb download and
having downloaded it you can easily print it off should you want to read it
in the comfort of your armchair :-)
A letter from your editor:
Thank you so much for your kind comments regarding BNFT!
Your kind comments are much appreciated. I can tell you now, I was scared
silly before I put up the first issue! This is "new ground" for me...and
quite different from anything before. I'm much relieved and much encouraged
by your thoughtful suggestions and the enthusiasm with which you have
welcomed this publication.
Have I said, "Thank you?" THANK YOU.
My list of things you can do to become a part of all of this doesn't change
much. Please, either change my
existing subscription to your Scottish clan or genealogical society or
historical society newsletter...or start a new one for me. I rely on those
newsletters for the real news of what's happening in our worldwide, but
surprisingly small "family" of those interested in their genealogy - be it
Scottish or anything else - and things of import in the genealogical and
historical world. The more publications I have, the more news I can bring to
you all.
I need you to send me your queries regarding some of your lost ancestors. If
you can keep them to maybe 50 words, that would allow space for lots of
folks to have a free query in these pages.
For those new to genealogy, a query is simply publishing information you
already have on someone in the
hopes that someone else will see it who is working on the same family.
I could write several books on the wonderful connections and priceless
information I have gotten on my own family through queries! I would have
never known the name of my 4-great grandmother (Mary, who married
JOHN Macdonald!). Turns out, she was Mary Allen. I would have never known of
my Snellgrove connection
that makes my family kln to a President of the United States. I can go on
and on and on.
Please put me on your list of folks to whom you send press releases about
things you and your group are doing. I'm delighted to print them here and,
of course, there is no charge.
I'd love to have your photographs of Highland Games or things of interest.
My schedule for the Highland Games season is pretty much in place. I'll be
at Grandfather Mountain and
Flagstaff, Arizona in July. Flagstaff will be a speaking trip. In September,
there's Charleston.
My way-away travel is sponsored by The Caledonian Kitchen and my twin
brother, Jim Walters.
I'll be taking photos of the Parades of Tartan at all of these events so you
can look forward to seeing those
here.
There are exciting things in the future for BNFT. I'm working on a business
plan for a group in Canada who
might be able to bring back a quarterly printed version of BNFT. Please keep
your fingers crossed that this
will come to pass!
Thank you all again for reading this little publication and for continuing
your wonderful friendships.
Love,
Beth
The Greatness and Decline of the Celts
---------------------------------------------------------
By Henri Hubert (1934)
Our thanks to Alan McKenzie for typing this up for us.
Alan has now sent in the final chapter which now completes this publication.
The final chapter is about The Setting of Social Life - I. Space: Fields,
Dwellings, and Distribution of the Population. II. Time and Number. Social
Activities I. Economic Life. The Coins of Gaul. II. Crafts. III. Art. IV.
Literature. V. A Picture of Celtic Life. The Morality of Honour. Conclusion.
The Heritage of the Celts
You can read this final chapter (a .pdf file) at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celts/celt12.pdf
The index page for this book is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celts/
Raiderland, All about Grey Galloway
----------------------------------------------------
by S. R. Crockett (1902)
Our thanks to John Snyder for ocr'ing in this book for us
Added chapters
CHAPTER XXIV
THE GARPEL LYNN
CHAPTER XXV
LOCHINVAR LOCH
CHAPTER XXVI
PURPLE GALLOWAY
CHAPTER XXVII
CLASHDAAN
Here is how the chapter on Purple Galloway starts...
THERE are many purple patches in Galloway. One cannot in autumn get out of
sight of the heather – save, perhaps, in some parts of the green parish of
Borgue. But, towards the north, there is one great purple province which
stretches from within sight of Ailsa and Loch Ryan till it is barred by the
azure waters of Loch Ken.
In Wigtonshire this country of heather is called the Moors. In
Kirkcudbrightshire it is the country of the Lochs, or perhaps' more
generally now – the Raiders' Country. It is a place of flocks and herds,
with here and there a lonely farmhouse set white on the waste. But these are
growing ever rarer, as more and more of the holdings become "led” farms –
that is, farms stocked and held by some absentee, so that the land is
administered for miles and miles only by a stray shepherd or two. Though
there are few made roads, there are many travelled ways into these wilds.
Some with time, provend, and a stout heart may assay the track of the
original Raiders themselves, part of which may be seen from the train. For
here the Portpatrick Railway plunges into a moss-covered granite wilderness
of bog and moor, where there is hardly even a shepherd's hut to the
half-dozen miles, and where the fare passage of a train is an occasion for
commotion among scattered groups of black-faced sheep. Here the surfaceman's
section of railway metals gives him little work, but a good deal of healthy
exercise. The ewes breaking down the fences and straying on the line-side,
or the hill-torrents coming down the granite gullies, foaming white after a
water-spout, and tearing into his embankments, undermining his metals and
sleepers, are the most pressing troubles of his life." [“The Stickit
Minister," p. 39. (T. Fisher Unwin.)]
To the sturdy walker nothing more fruitful in pleasure can be recommended
than the tramp across country out of the Glenkens into the fortress and
fastness of Galloway. Good quarters can usually be obtained at the
shepherd's cottage at the southern end of Loch Dee, where they are well
accustomed to putting up fishers. Those who like the shortest way may
diverge from the New Galloway and Newton-Stewart road at Clatteringshaws.
There they will see the basin of Loch Dee straight before them, and (in a
dryish season) the going is not difficult. The Links of the Cooran and the
Dungeon of Buchan, to the northward, are, of course, no place for any who
are not prepared to rough it in the roughest way, and the state of the upper
waters of the Dee should be ascertained at Clatteringshaws before starting
out on the long cross-country tramp.
As was the case with Sammie Tamson and the hero of “The Raiders" (p. 204) “
you will have the Black Craig of Dee close above you, and as you ascend
towards the crown of the moorland, you will be able to review the whole of
the land backwards, with its lochs and lochans, dints and mosses” – if not
quite to the little white house of Mossdale itself, at least to Cairn Edward
and the Berman which look down upon it.
From the "Great Corry which lies to the west of the Black Craig of Dee,
between the Hill o' the Hope and the Rig o' Craig Gilbert,” you may also be
able to see "the reeking chimneys of the Laggan of Dee, and the Links of the
Black Water itself, shining amid the dull yellows and greys of the grim
mosses through which, very slowly, it makes its way.” But I question much if
even the sharpest eyes will be able to trace the ancient “drove road " which
used to wimple across heather and morass, southward in the direction of the
Water of Cree.
In the wild and lawless times of good two hundred yean ago, smuggling and
cattle-raiding went hand in hand. Smugglers were, of course, not all outlaws
like the hill-raiders and “cairds." They were generally either seafaring men
who looked upon smuggling as a profession, or the sons of respectable shore
folk prepared to do a little “cross-work," half for the guineas and hall for
the adventure. But at any rate raiders and smugglers worked into each
others' hands, and made a combination very difficult to break up in that
wild time and country.
“In the palmy days of the traffic with the Ise of Man, that tight little
island supplied the best French brandy for the drouthy lairds of half
Scotland–also lace for ‘keps” and stomachers of their dames, not to speak of
the Sabbath silks of the farmers good-wife. wherewith she showed that she
had as proper a respect for herself in the house of God as my lad, herself
in her braws.
“Take it how you like. Solway shore was a lively place in those days, and it
was worth something to be in the swim of the traffic. Aye, or even to have a
snug farmhouse perhaps a hidden cellar or two on the main trade-routes to
Glasgow and Edinburgh. Much of the better stuff was run by the ‘Renick
Night-hawks,' gallant lads who looked upon the danger of the business as a
token of high spirit, and considered that the revenue laws of the land were
simply made to be broken–an opinion in which they were upheld generally by
the people of the whole countryside, not even excepting those of the austere
and Covenanting sort".
These smugglers and gypsies had regular routes by which they conveyed their
smuggled stuff to Edinburgh on the east, and to Glasgow or Paisley on the
west. So complete was their system, and so great their daring, that it is
safe to say that there was not a farmer's greybeard between the Lothians and
the Solway filled with spirit that had done obeisance to king or queen, and
not a burgher's wife who wore duty-paid lace on her Sabbath mutch. The royal
gaugers were few and harmless, contenting themselves for the most part with
lingering round public-houses in towns, or bearing a measure-cup and
gauging-stick about the markets – occupations for which they were entirely
suited.
You can read more of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/raiderland/chapter26.htm
You can read the rest of the chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/raiderland/index.htm
Clan Newsletters
-------------------------
Old issues of clan newsletters can be seen at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/
Should your own clan not be on our list you might ask them if they could
provide copies for us to add to the site. I understand some clans see the
newsletter as being the one significant benefit of membership and thus do
not wish to make them publicly available. In this case they might consider
sending us them when they are over a year old?
I might just say that it is obviously a lot of work producing clan
newsletters and for that matter running a clan society. So many people
simply accept all the work that goes on and most do not contribute anything
other than perhaps a membership. It would be good to see more clan members
taking an active interest in their society. What made me say all this was
the Report of the Clan Leslie Society which I detail below. I know that
Barrie Leslie has been suffering ill health for some time but despite that
he has continued to do much work for his clan society and continues to
produce an informative newsletter each quarter.
Added the Jan, Feb, Mar 2007 and Apr, May, Jun 2007 newsletters of the Clan
Leslie Society of Australia and New Zealand which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/leslie/index.htm
REPORT ON THE YEAR 2006
Well, another year has come and gone and we as a Society must look at what
can be done to improve the position of Clan Leslie Society of Australia &
New Zealand. I must point out that Jillian Burcher of Auckland New Zealand
has been very ill during the year and has had to stand down as our New
Zealand representative and has been replaced by Ruth Leslie of Manukau City,
just south of Auckland. See the list of Clan Leslie Representatives on the
back page.
I would ask that all members of CLANZ look at recruiting new members. This
must be done if we are to survive as a Society. Look in your local phone
book at the Leslies, ring and ask for Mr Leslie, say that you are a member
of Clan Leslie Society of Aust & NZ and ask has he done any research into
his family history. If he is not interested, thank him for his time. If he
is interested or wants more information give him our website and offer to
send information, let me know and I will send information to him. It is
quite simple to do and will often result in a new member. The other way is
to attend a local Scottish Gathering with a Clan Tent. I can give you
information on how to do this.
The members that we have, must get involved. It is no use thinking that
someone else will do it, I need help to run the Society and if several
people assist, it will not take much of their time.
We need a person to take over as Convenor of Clan Leslie Society of
Australia & New Zealand as I have been doing it for nine years now.
Another position that needs to be filled is the Administrator for the Clan
Leslie DNA Project. This is a very important project and really needs a
Leslie or a Leslie descendant to stand up and take over the administration
of this project.
Barrie Leslie.
Convenor, Clan Leslie Society
of Australia & New Zealand
Added the Summer 2007 newsletter from the Clan Wallace Society at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/wallace/gleidhidh%20summer2007.pdf
Added the July 2007 newsletter of the Daughters of Scotia Desert Thistle
Lodge at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/thistle/scotianewsletterjuly07.pdf
STOP PRESS: Just as I was completing this issue got an email in saying...
Its Official the Allardice Name has its Chief and Coat of Arms back!! After
150 years.
See
http://www.allerdice.net/Arms/index.htm
Poems and Stories
----------------------------
Donna sent in a wee gardening article about Transplanting at
http://www.electricscotland.com/gardening/gardening2.htm
Donna sent in a frugal story, Town Woman's Harvest at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/frugal/harvest.htm
Donna sent in a story of a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/kids/kingcharles.htm
Scottish Canadian Newspaper
--------------------------------------------
Added another issue of this newspaper...
September 3, 1891 at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/scotscan/issue41.htm
This issue carries an article about Borthwick Castle.
I might note that there are lots of great wee snippets in this newspaper and
in each issue is news from the various areas of Scotland. For example on
Inverness-shire...
The death is announced of Miss Falconer, matron in the Northern Infirmary.
David Wood, timekeeper with Hugh Kennedy & Sons, contractors, has been sent
one month to prison for fraud.
The Lochaber gathering and games are arranged to take place at Fort William
on the 8th September.
At the final competition for the Fraser cup, held at Fort William on the
15th ult, J. MacLean made the highest score.
Miss Sheila Ross one of the Downie bursars from Strath of Appin school, has
obtained her L. L. A. degree.
Mr. W. L. Lumsden, Balmedie, Anerdeen-shire, has taken the great deer forest
of Mamore, Inverness-shire, for the season.
The Rev. Jacob Primmer began a crusade in the north in support of his
anti-popish views, by addressing a meeting on the Castle Hill, Inverness, on
the 9th ult. There was a large attendance.
The Rev. A. C. Macdonald, of the Queen Street Free Church, Inverness, has
been presented with a purse of 100 sovereigns on the occasion of his leaving
for Australia, to benefit his health.
An important bowling tournament, in which 64 players, representative of
clubs in Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Beauly, Inverness, and Paisley participated,
took place at Ballifeary, Inverness, on the 12th ult.
You can see all the issues to date at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/scotscan/index.htm
Proceedings of the Scotch-Irish Third Congress at Louisville, Kentucky May
14 to 17, 1891
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now working on the Third Congress and this week as well as completing the
summary proceedings have added...
I mentioned last week that I'd be posting up the List of Members of the
Society and have indeed managed to get this up which can be seen at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotsirish/congress3-35.htm
Here is how the list starts which will give you an idea of the information
contained in it...
Addy, Matthew, Cincinnati, O. Past Vice-president for Ohio in the
Scotch-Irish Society of America.
Alexander, S. B., Charlotte, N. C. Vice-president for North Carolina in the
Scotch-Irish Society of America.
Allen, William, 256 Robinson Street, Allegheny City, Pa. Born in County
Tyrone, Ireland; retired; member of the Common Council of Pittsburg for
three years.
Affleck, James, Bellville, Ill. Born in Tennessee, of Scotch-Irish
parentage; machinist; Alderman for a number of years.
Alexander, Robert J., 810 Twenty-first Street, San Francisco, Cal. Born at
Denahora, near Marhet Hill, County Armagh, Ireland; parents, John Alexander
and Margaret Alexander, whose maiden name was Margaret McMahon, both
Scotch-Irish by birth; department manager; first Secretary of the California
Scotch-Irish Society.
Adams, D. P., Nashville, Tenn.
Andrews, John, Steubenville, Jefferson County, 0. Born in Ballymena, County
Antrim, Ireland; Scotch-Irish parentage; mother's maiden name, McCaughey;
wholesale merchant.
Allison, R., 94 West Eight Street, Cincinnati, O.
Andrews, James, Columbia, Tenn.
Adair, William, M.D., Canmer, Hart County, Ky. Born at Glasgow, Beaver
County, Ky., December 9, 1815; his father, Alexander, born in Chester, S. C,
son of William, of Chester, S. C, son of William, who was born in Ireland,
1730, and emigrated to America in 1736; his mother was Elizabeth Were;
grandmother on paternal side, Mary Irvine; great-grandmother, Mary Moore;
practicing physician; graduate at Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky.,
in 1836; represented Hart County, Ky., in 1869-70 and 1870-71.
Acheson, Rev. Stuart, A.M., 48 Blocker Street, Toronto, Canada.
Arnold, Robert Russell, Oil City, Pa.
Adams, John, Jr., Moyer, Fayette County, Pa.
Alexander, M. J., Greensburg, Pa.
Agnew, John T., Vice-president Continental Bank, New York City.
Archer, James, place of residence, Brooke County, W. Va.; post-office,
Steubenville, O. Of Scotch-Irish parentage on both sides; farmer and Justice
of the Peace; Vice-president for West Virginia in the Scotch-Irish Society
of America.
Adair, Col. G. W., Atlanta, Ga. Vice-president for Georgia in the
Scotch-Irish Society of America.
Anderson, James A., Knoxville, Tenn. Born at Grassy Valley, Knox County,
Tenn.; mother's maiden name, Armstrong; father's, William Shannon Anderson;
and that of his father, James Anderson, who with his parents and a number of
brothers and sisters moved from near Lexington, Rockbridge County, Va., in
1801, and settled in Knox County, Tenn.; a portion of his ancestors were
from County Down, Ireland, and settled in Virginia about 1726; farmer and
merchant.
Adams, Alexander, 1609 Swatara Street, Harrisburg, Pa. Born at Kilmoyle,
County Antrim, Ireland; son of Alexander Adams and Margaret (Johnston)
Adams.
Alexander, Hugh, 302 and 304 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, Ky. Born at
Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland; merchant.
Adams, Adam Gillespie, Nashville, Tenn. Born near Strabane, County Tyrone,
Ireland, July 12, 1820, at the old homestead, owned by his ancestors for
several generations; his father, David Adams, married Jane Gillespie; both
born in Ireland; were members of the Presbyterian Church; his mother was a
woman of decided piety, and exercised a marked influence over her children,
especially over the subject of this notice; Mr. Adams's first wife, Susan
Porterfield, died two years after marriage, and he afterward married Mary
Jane Strickler, a woman of marked piety, as was her mother, Sarah Eakin
Strickler; Mrs. Adams is still living; also seven of their eight children;
Mr. Adams got his business training in Strabane, and at the age of nineteen
arrived in Nashville, and has continued there since as a wholesale dry goods
and shoe merchant, and is now President of the Equitable Fire Insurance
Company; elder in the Presbyterian Church, and superintendent, of its
Sabbath-schools since 1843; Chairman of the Presbyterian Committee on
Sabbath-schools; President of the Board of Directors of Ward's Presbyterian
Seminary for young Ladies; Chairman of the Committee of Reception and member
of the Board of Directors of the Nashville Centennial Commission; President
and Secretary of various turnpikes; Secretary and Treasurer of the John M.
Hill fund of the First Presbyterian Church; Treasurer of the Nashville Bible
Society since 1854, and Vice-president for Tennessee in the Scotch-Irish
Society of America; the First Presbyterian Church lately established a
mission Church and Sabbath-school in the north-western part of Nashville,
which is called after his name.
Alexander, William Henry, Box 303, Omaha, Neb. Born at Lisbon, New London
County, Conn.; father, Harvey G.' Alexander; grandfather, James Alexander;
great-grandfather, Joseph Alexander; great-great-grandfather, James
Alexander, was one of the founders of Londondery, William Henry coming over
from north of Ireland about 1720; Surveyor of United States Customs, Omaha,
Neb.; taught school in Connecticut for three years; left there when
twenty-two for the West; superintendent agencies Whitney & Holmes Organ
Company eight years, Quincy, Ill.; Alderman two years in Omaha; President
Board of Trustees First Congregational Church, Omaha.
Bonner, Robert, No. 8 West Fifty-sixth Street, New York City. President and
life member of the Scotch-Irish Society of America; born at Londonderry,
Ireland, April 24, 1824; came to the United States in 1839; editor of the
New York Ledger from 1851 until recently. See Appleton's "Cyclopaedia of
American Biography," Vol. I., page 313.
Barr, William Patrick, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill. Born in Wilson
County, Tenn.; his father, Rev. Hugh Barr, moved from Wilson to Sumner
County, Tenn.; from Tennessee to Alabama in 1820, and from there to Illinois
in 1835; his grandfather was Patrick Barr; mother, Katherine Hodge.;
grandfather, Joseph Hodge; all from North Carolina; Mayor of Jacksonville
and Trustee of Illinois Institution for Deaf and Dumb.
And so you can see lots of great information contained in this list.
You can read more of this volume at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotsirish/congress3ndx.htm
History of Scotland
----------------------------
In 9 volumes By Patrick Fraser Tytler (1828)
Have now completed the sixth volume with...
Chapter 5 (Pages 347 - 418)
Mary from 1561 - 1565 Part B (1564)
Proofs and Illustration (Pages 421 - 474)
From Manuscripts chiefly in His Majesty's State Paper Office hitherto
unprinted.
And also started the seventh volume with...
Title, Preface and Contents
Chapter I (Pages 1 to 119)
Mary from 1565 to 1567
Here is the Preface to the seventh volume...
The volume of the History of Scotland now published embraces the eventful
period between the marriage of Mary to Darnley, and the conclusion of the
civil war, in 1572, a portion of our national annals which has been so
deformed by controversy, that there is scarcely a single event in it of any
importance, which has not been questioned, or distorted to suit the peculiar
views of the antagonists or defenders of the Queen of Scots.
Under these circumstances, the Author, without adopting any preconceived
notions, or espousing any favorite theory, has endeavoured to separate the
truth from the tissue of fiction, passion, and prejudice with which it has
been obscured, and to put the reader in possession of a clear and authentic
narrative of the facts. To attain this, he has examined with much care and
labour, the Scottish, Domestic, and Foreign, correspondence, in the State
Paper Office; and the authorities upon which this volume is founded are
derived almost exclusively from the original letters of Elizabeth and Mary,
of Burghley, Randolph, Leicester, Knox, Murray, Morton, and other actors in
those dark and troubled times, which are preserved in that great national
depository. At the same time he has consulted the rich original stores of
the British Museum, and has availed himself of some valuable letters,
preserved at Florence amongst the private archives of the House of Medici,
in possession of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. These, which form part of the
interesting manuscript collections of Prince Labanoff relating to the life
of Mary Queen of Scots, were most liberally and politely communicated to the
Author by that nobleman.
An access to such materials has enabled the Author to add many new facts to
this portion of Scottish history—as well as to throw new light upon the
proper inferences derivable from what had been already established. In proof
of this he may refer to the elucidation of the conspiracy for the murder of
Riccio, and the clear implication of Elizabeth, Cecil, and the leaders of
the protestants, in that deed, to the new details upon the death of Darnley,
to the escape of Mary from Lochleven, one of those rare cases in which truth
is found to assume the brilliant colours of romance, to the assassination of
Murray and Lennox, to the plot of Elizabeth, Mar, and Morton, for having
Mary put secretly to death in Scotland, and to other parts of the volume.
But whilst he ventures to point out this, and to express a hope that in this
and in the succeeding volume, which will terminate his labours, there is a
nearer approach to truth than has yet been made, the Author is desirous of
expressing his high respect for the labours of the eminent men who have
preceded him, whose works, considering the imperfect materials they
possessed are worthy of the highest praise.
Hampstead,
July 23rd, 1840.
As all the chapters are .pdf files I'll just point you at the index page of
this publication where you can read the rest of the chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/historyndx.htm
Highlanders in Spain
------------------------------
By James Grant (1910)
I have now completed this book which I hope you've enjoyed. It took a great
deal of work ocr'ing this in due to all the Scottish speech used in the
book.
Here is how Chapter 64 starts...
Chapter 64 - Lochisla
The bright moon was shedding her lustre over hill and valley, and the
traveller soon saw the mountain Isla gleaming beneath her beams as brightly
as ever he had seen the Ebro or the Douro, and he listened with delight to
the murmur of its falling waters as they poured over the shelving linn at
Corrie-avon,—a fortunate ducking in the pool of which had so suddenly
changed the sentiments of Alice's father towards him.
Now he was on the old familiar road to his home. It was long past midnight.
'Such a joyful surprise they will have!' said he, communing with himself,
'and a merry new year it will be in the glen; but poor old Donald Iverach,
he will look in vain for his fair-haired Evan.'
The road was closely bordered by pine and birch trees. The latter were bare
and leafless, and their stems and branches gleamed like a fairy shrubbery of
silver in the moonlight; but the former, the solemn black pines of
Caledonia, remained in all their rough unfading foliage, and cast around
them a gloomy horror. Steep rocks, where the bright-eyed eagle and the giant
glede looked forth from their eyry, echoing caves, whilom the residence of
wild and wondrous beings, the cairns of long-departed chiefs, rough
obelisks, marking the ground of ancient battles, and covered with mossy
figures grim and terrible, bordered the devious way; but he hailed them all
with delight, for they were the well-known haunts of his childhood, and his
terror of the mysterious beings that were said to guard them had long since
passed away. He set up his old hunting halloo as he galloped along, to hear
if they re-echoed as of old, and in his glee he shouted fearlessly into a
yawning chasm called the Uamhachoralaich, an uncouth name, which means 'the
cavern of the strange spirit.' He hallooed again and again, to hear the
voluminous echo which had so often stricken awe and horror into his heart
when he was a child ; and anon he dashed up the glen, scaring the deer in
the thicket and the eagle on the rock, and causing the colleys on the
distant hills and moors to hearken and howl in alarm.
Now, Lochisla lay before him ! the whole scene burst upon his view at once,
as his horse bounded up from the narrow gorge through which the roadway
wound. The lonely Highland lake lay sleeping at the foot of the dark and
wooded hills, which descended abruptly on all sides towards it. Tall and
spectral on its rock, with one side covered with dark ivy and the other
gleaming gray in the moonlight, the tower overhung the loch. Far beyond rose
Benmore, dim and distant. The declining moon was verging towards his ridgy
back, behind which it would soon disappear. In the tower, or the clachan
beneath it, no light was visible. Every loophole and window was dark.
'They are all abed; and the poor old watch-dog must be dead, or I should
have heard his honest bark before this,' said Ronald aloud, as he rode on
towards the gate in the outer wall of the fortalice.
There seemed a stillness, an utter absence of life around him, which
occasioned dark forebodings of evil, and he felt a strange sadness sinking
on his heart. He longed to hear even the crow of a cock or the bark of a
dog, but no sound could he detect, save the hoofs of his horse ringing on
the frozen pathway which led from the clachan, or onsteading, to the tower.
For a moment he became quite breathless with agitation, and clung to the
mane of his horse.
'God be praised, there is no scutcheon over the gate!' he exclaimed; 'but
they lack somewhat of their usual care in leaving it open at this hour.' The
gate of the barbican, or outer wall, was lying off its hinges on the earth.
Janet's turret was dark. Her light, which she was wont to burn the whole
night, gleamed there no longer, and a deadly terror chilled the heart of
Ronald. He trembled, apprehending he knew not what, and for some minutes
surveyed the court and keep before he dismounted and approached the door.
Everything was mournfully silent and desolate. Part of the barbican wall had
fallen down; the wallflower had sprung up between the stones; the moss and
grass grew upon the cope, in the loopholes, and between the pavement of the
courtyard. The byres and stables were empty, and midnight depredators had
torn away the doors and windows; the once noisy dog-kennel was silent, and
the ancient tower was dark and desolate. The watch-dog's mansion was
untenanted, and his chain lay rusting on the grassy ground.
All was as still as the tomb, and the soul of the soldier died within him.
The flagstaff was yet on the mossy battlement, but the halliard waved wide
on the wind. The old rusty carron gun was yet peeping through its embrasure,
but a tuft of knotted grass hung down from its muzzle.
His heart, which so lately bounded with pleasure, now throbbed with
apprehension and fear, for the silence around him seemed oppressive and
terrible, when contrasted with the bustle he had witnessed in the capital a
few hours before.
He struck with the hilt of his dirk on the door, knocking long and loud and
the building echoed like a huge drum, or some vast tomb. Again and again he
knocked, but there was no answer save the mocking echoes. He attempted to
force an entrance, but the door was locked and bolted fast, and he was
compelled to retire. He looked up to the keystone of the arched doorway, but
the armorial bearings, of which his father was so proud, the antique crown,
and initial letters, 'R. II. R.' (robertus II. rex) were there no longer.
The stone remained, but the ancient sculpture was demolished. He muttered
some incoherent things, for the memory of too past came swelling up in his
breast, and his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. He looked across the
moonlit lake towards the islet where the ruins of the church tower cast a
long deep shadow on the graves of his martial ancestors, and their once
numerous brave and devoted vassals.
It was a time of the deepest mental agony. A century seemed to have elapsed
since the morning. His thoughts were all chaos and confusion, save one,
which was terrible and distinct enough,—that he stood by the threshold of
his father's house, a stranger, a wanderer, and there was no hand to grasp
his, no voice to bid him welcome. After lingering long, he turned
sorrowfully from the tower, to awaken some of the peasantry at the clachan.
On repassing the ruined gate, he saw, what had before escaped his
observation,—a large ticket or board nailed to the grass grown wall of the
barbican. He approached, and by the light of the moon read the following:
Notice.
'Any person or persons found trespassing on the lands of Rosemount Tower,
will be punished with the utmost rigour of the law by the Proprietor,
Zachary Macquabester, Esq., of Rosemount.
'N.B.—Informers will be handsomely rewarded, on applying to Mr. Macquibble,
writer, Spy-gate, Perth.'
The place swam around him.
'Rosemount Tower! The Proprietor, confound him!' exclaimed Ronald, bursting
into fury; 'and is it come to this?'
With a heart sick and sore with disappointment, grief, and mortified pride,
he descended to the little street of thatched cottages named the Clachan.
Here all was silence and desolation too. In some places the roofs had fallen
in, and rafters stuck through the thatch, like ribs through the skin of a
skeleton ; the chimneys had fallen down, and the doors and windows were
gone. The hamlet was in ruins. The household fires had been quenched ; and
as he surveyed the deserted place, he became painfully aware that his
people—those among whom his race had moved as demi-gods—were gone forth, and
that the place of their birth, and which held the bones of their
forefathers, knew them no longer.
The glen, which in his boyhood had maintained two hundred men in what seemed
ease and competence to a people so primitive, was now desert and waste. The
mountains, the wood, and the water were still there, as they had been in the
days of Fingal; but the people had passed away, and Ronald Stuart, to whom
the Gaelic sobriquet—Ronald an deigh nam finn—might now be truly applied,
departed slowly and sadly from Lochisla.
He did not weep,—he was too tough a soldier for that,—and therefore could
not experience the calm feeling of resignation and relief given to an
overcharged bosom by a gush of hot, salt tears; but, with a heart bursting
with fierce feelings and sad remembrances, he departed from the valley just
as the waning moon sank behind the darkening mountains. He rode slowly at
first, but anon he drove his sharp spurs into the flanks of his horse, and
rode towards Inchavon at breakneck speed, as if he would flee from his own
thoughts, and leave his sorrows far behind him. But the first gush of gloom
and disappointment having somewhat subsided, he strove to calm his agitated
spirit, and he derived some consolation in the timely recollection that,
although Lowland innovation might have expatriated the people of Lochisla,
his father might yet be alive. Eager to learn some tidings, he galloped
along with the speed of the wind, outstripping the gathering storm.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/spain/romance64.htm
You can read the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/spain/romancendx.htm
The Crofter in History
------------------------------
By Lord Colin Campbell, son of George, 8th Duke of Argyll (1885)
Completed this book with chapters...
Chapter VI. Origin of the Modern Crofter
Chapter VII. The Policy of Sheep-Walks
Here is how Chapter VI starts...
In the seventeenth century the term "crofter" was unknown. In old tacks and
leases of that period the word "croft" is of common occurrence. In the
Breadalbane papers, for example, there is a "tack" which was given by Sir
John Campbell of Glenurchy to his "weil belouit" servant John M'Conoquhy
V'Gregour, in the year 1530. It purports "to haue set and for malis and
service . . . the four markland of Kincrakin . . . with the croft of
Polgreyich and the croft that Ewin M'Ewin was wount to haue," &c. In England
the word is frequently used in Latin charters of the twelfth century. It is,
in fact, an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "field," and survives in many local
names both in England and Scotland. Dr Walker, as we have seen, refers to
the division of farm land into infield or croft land and outfield.
One of the earliest notices of a crofter class is to be found in Sir John
Sinclair's "General View of the Central Highland." The passage is
remarkable, as proving that at the end of the eighteenth century the
crofters were not only hardly recognised but were at the very bottom of the
social scale in the rural economy of the Central Highlands. Sir John
Sinclair says, "The sub-divisions or real holdings of the present tenant do
not contain on a par more than 5 acres of infield, 4 acres of outfield, 2½
acres of meadow, 10 acres of pasture, 2½ of woody waste with 75 acres of
muir : and of course the holdings of many of the smaller tenants are still
more narrowly circumscribed: yet even these sub-divisions are diminished by
a still lower order of occupiers (if such they may be deemed) under the name
of acre men or crofters. This extraordinary class of cultivators appear to
have been quartered upon the tenants after the farms were split down into
their smallest size: the crofters being a species of sub-tenants on the
farms to which they are respectively attached. Besides one or two 'cow
holdings' and the pasturage of three or four sheep, they have a few acres of
infield land (but no outfield or muir), which the tenant is obliged to
cultivate, and they, in return, perform to him certain services, as the
works of harvest and the cutting of peats: the tenants fetching home the
crofters' share." Here, then, we have a description which, with the
exception of what relates to the reciprocal services, would be applicable to
the modern cottar where he is not an unlicensed squatter; and it is evident
that the crofter of the present time owes his conspicuous, and in many
respects unfortunate, position to the fact that a numerous class of
occupiers who cultivated what would now be considered fair-sized crofts,
have entirely disappeared, as well as the tenants and tacksmen who were
still higher in the scale. The sheep farmer represents none of these
classes. The crofter remains as the solitary survivor, and may be said to be
an example, sufficiently rare, of the survival of the unfittest. It is not
surprising that he has had to struggle for existence against the forces
which were strong enough to remove those above him, and on whom, to use Sir
John Sinclair's term, he was "quartered." The only wonder is that in so many
cases he should have survived the loss of his mainstay and support.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/crofters6.htm
The index page of the book can be found at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/croftersndx.htm
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks to Nola Crewe for typing these up for us.
We got four bios in this week...
Charteris, Charles George
Charteris, Frances W.
Henderson, Donald
McRitchie, James
Here is the biography of...
JAMES McRITCHIE, [p.119] a leading man of Harwich, belongs to one of the old
established families of the Dominion. It was in 1832, before a railroad
crossed this great country, and antedating the accession to the English
throne of Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria, by five years, that his
grandparents, Charles and Mary McRitchie, came with their children from the
Scottish Highlands to Canada, and were among the early pioneers of the
County of Leeds. There they reared their numerous family and ended their
days. Their children were: James, Charles, George, Alexander, Maria,
Elizabeth, Eliza and Margaret, all deceased, all these sons dying in the
County of Kent; Annie, who is the wife fo James Maitland, and still a
resident of the County of Leeds; and William, who lives in Hanover, County
of Huron. Of this family, Alexander McRitchie, the father of James, became a
well-known, substantial and much esteemed citizen. He was born in
Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1819. For some years he was engaged as section
boss, at Thamesville, on the Grand Trunk railroad, but in 1859 he moved to
Bothwell, where he bought a farm on which he lived until 1866. Selling that
property, he bought another, in Harwich township, and another on the lake,
where his son Alexander lived until 1901. At this home Alexander McRitchie
died, in November, 1901. He married Annie Bushel, who was born in County
Antrim, Ireland, in 1824, and who still survives him, residing at Blenheim,
County of Kent. The nine children born to Alexander and Annie McRitchie were
as follows: James, born February 28th, 1854, in the County of Leeds,
Ontaqrio, is mentioned below. Alexander, born in 1856, at Thamesville,
married Maude Bell, of Howard who died in 1895, leaving two children, Victor
B. and Clair, the latter deceased; Alexander McRitchie was principal of the
Caledonia high school, and occupied the same position for two years in
Ridgetown. Annie C., born in 1858, at Bothwell, married Dr. D.K. Stenton, of
the County of Lambton, and they have two children, Edna G. and Bonnie A.
David H., born in 18660, at Bothwell, is now a merchant at Rodney; he
married Pauline Leibner, of Morpeth, and they have children, Herbert, Carl
and D. Douglas. Dr. Thomas L., born in 1862, at Bothwell, now resides at
McKay’s Corners; he was educated at the Western University at Lonond, in
medicine, and also took a classical course; he married Lena Montgomery of
Chatham, and they have one daughter, Gladys. Maria, born in 1864, at
Bothwell, married William Steen, of Botany, Howard township, and they have
two children, Elda and David K. Agnes, born in 1866, in Harwich, married
Isaac Montgomery, and they reside on Concession 8, in Dover township. Josie,
born in 1869, for six years one of County Kent’s successful teachers, is now
the wife of Albert Fletcher, of Blenheim. Albert E., born in 1873, in
Harwich, married Emma Spence, of Howard, and they reside on the old
homestead; they have one daughter, Freda.
James McRitchie, the eldest of his father’s family, grew to manhood on the
home farm and received his education in the schools of Bothwell. He became a
practical farmer and managed his father’s home farm for several years prior
to his marriage, in addition cultivating a farm of his own, which he had
purchased in 1879 The latter was known as the John Watson homestead. This
has continued to be his home, and here he has made many valuable
improvements, in the way of erecting excellent buildings, fencing and
draining, as well as the judicious planting of fruit and shade trees. Mr.
McRitchie has one of the most comfortable homes of Harwich township.
On January 18th, 1881, Mr. NcRitchie married Minnie L. Reeder, who was born
in 1861, on the Ridge road, in Howard, a daughter of John Reeder, a most
respected old settler who now resides at Florence, at the age of eighty-four
years. Children as follows have been born to this union: born at the present
home in 1882, who still lives there; James Lorne, born in 1884; Alfred E.;
Florence Grace; M. Myrtle; David Stanley and John L. Lyle.
In religious belief the father of Mr.cRitchie was a Presbyterian, and his
mother was a Methodist. To the latter church he has attached himself, and
for many years has been active in its work. As class leader, stewart and
assistant superintendent, he has been diligent and useful. Politically, like
his father, he has always been identified with the Conservative party, and
is regarded as one of the wise men in its local councils. Fratnernally he
belongs to the order of Foresters, No. 927, of Morpeth. Mr. McRitchie is
justly esteemed in his locality as an honourable, upright, conscientious
Christian gentleman, and one of the loyal and representative citizens.
The other bios can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/kent/index.htm
Good Words - 1860 Edition
---------------------------------------
Edited by Rev. Norman MacLeod
As I'm now going to be adding articles from this book on an ongoing basis I
thought it might be interesting to post up the Editor's Note which was added
to the 792nd page of the book as it explains what his view was when starting
this first issue...
I cannot allow Good Words to close the first year of its existence without
addressing a few Editorial words to its numerous Readers.
When I accepted the Editorship of this Magazine, my principal motive was the
desire to provide a Periodical for all the week, whose articles should be
wholly original, and which should not only be written in a Christian spirit,
or merely blend "the religious" with "the secular," but should also yoke
them together without compromise. As I have said in a former Number, it was
my earnest wish that our pages should, as far as possible, reflect the
every-day life of a good man, with its times of religious thought and
devotional feeling, naturally passing into others of healthy recreation,
busy work, intellectual study, poetic joy, or even sunny laughter! The tens
of thousands who buy the Magazine confirm me in the opinion, that I have not
misinterpreted the wishes or the wants of the great mass of our Christian
community. There are now, I hope, few who will sympathize with the old
Scotchwoman who remarked to her son whom she found reading a "religious"
book on a week-day, "O Sandy, Sandy! are ye no' frichtened to read sic a
guid buik as that, and this no' the Sabbath-day?"
It is my resolution to carry out my original purpose more energetically than
ever. The faithful exhibition of Evangelical truth shall go hand-in-hand
with every department of a healthy literature.
I am glad to be able to add, that the prospects of the Magazine are as
bright as could be wished. In addition to our old and much valued staff of
contributors, to whom our success is greatly owing, and to whom I return
hearty thanks, we have been able to add others, whose names will be familiar
to all our Readers.
END.
Added another story from this publication "Doctor Chalmers at Elberfeld" and
here is how it starts...
Elberfeld, to most people, is suggestive of Turkey-red; and, no doubt,
Turkey-red has everything to do with it. It was a notable place, however,
before that excellent dye spread its reputation; and is likely to remain so
whether the dye holds or not. For the beauty of its neighbourhood and its
picturesque contrasts alone, it is worth halting at longer than between two
trains. It lies in a charming valley of the Berg; and, fifty years ago,
before the factory time, could boast one of the brightest and clearest of
streams in the merry little Wupper. Pleasant heights, shaded with masses of
wood, cluster round it. Away beyond them, the river winds between the
heights, and below the woods, and laving the greenest meadows. Tempting
openings stretch up into the hills; and there are gloomy, grotesque-looking
ravines, with curious caves scooped in their sides— caves with real legends,
not of the Rhine stamp, but akin to those that linger by the heather braes
of Scotland, of Christian men in hiding, and sore peril of life, and of
grand hymns they made, that echo through all Germany to this day. Moreover,
about the beginning of the century many eyes were turned hopefully to the
quiet church, where the elder Krummacher declared the gospel with a fresh,
faithful simplicity, that startled the careless Christian world; and many
hearts were praying that the light God had kindled there might not be put
out; and strangers came into the vale to hear the famous preacher, and carry
with them the joy of his good tidings. And ever since, through the changes
of its population and character, the vale has maintained its faith, and is
among the foremost places on the Continent for the spread and power of the
kingdom of God.
It was in Elberfeld that the first German missionary society was formed, and
that good old Hermann Peltzer, at threescore and six, set himself hopefully
to learn English, that he might publish translations of the tidings from
English missionaries. And at the next turn of the river there is Barmen,
with its mission-houses and seminary, and famous mission-paper, and
forty-one missionaries—the greatest missionary organisation of Germany; and
from which, at present, two daring men are going out into the more hidden
heart of Africa, to teach the newly discovered populations there. But,
undeniably, the leading interest is Turkey-red; and the little Wupper, that
threw out its merry invitation to all the world, has been taken somewhat
roughly at its word, and comes, coppery and hot and odorous, out of the
dyeing-vats, and can no longer hear its own voice for the roar of the great
factories along its banks. The town is like a hasty-grown boy, that shows
awkwardly in lately proper but now ill-fitting clothes. A few handsome
streets cleave long rows of narrow passages, through which the current of
business persists in flowing. Odd little lanes wind over the hills and
through the hollows, and cross and recross into an extraordinary network,
where the stranger is left as in a labyrinth till some kindly opening
reveals an escape. He emerges with a confused cricking of shuttles in his
ear, and a very distinct sense of small children and a dense population. The
houses, with their wooden framework, running in fantastic pattern over the
whitewash, are bewildering enough; doubly so, one somehow feels, when
weavers are plying their calling in every room; but they look comfortable,
and the little fry are healthy and active, and there is a good-tempered,
quiet civility everywhere, that is not often met in our narrow lanes at
home. Elberfeld, in fact, is now a wealthy, bustling manufacturing city,
that has multiplied its population often since 1800; and Turkey-red has been
at the bottom of all this, and also of that state of things which required
the vigorous interposition of the author of '' Civic Economy of Large
Towns."
The rest of this article can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/goodwords2.htm
The book index page is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/index.htm
Andrew Buchanan of Chingford 1807-1877
------------------------------------------------------------
by Andrew Buchanan and Neal Harkness Buchanan and kindly sent in by Claude
Buchannan.
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.
You can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nz/buchanan_andrew.htm
And that's all for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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