James Cockburn - the family Goldsmith

JAMES COCKBURN - THE FAMILY GOLDSMITH

In this blog I am going to write a short story about my 8x great grandfather, James Cockburn born in July 1648 in Edinburgh to John Cockburn, Tailor and his spouse Sara Inglis.  John was the second son of Sir William Cockburn of Langton Estate and his wife Lady Helen Elphinstone, daughter of Alexander the 4th Lord Elphinstone and his wife the Honourable Janet Livingstone.  John's elder brother William inherited the Baronetcy in 1628 upon the death of his father.

John chose a different path when it came to his profession, settling on being a Master Tailor, living in the Canongate area of Edinburgh, which was the hub of business at the time in 17th century Edinburgh.  On 22 February 1644 he married Sara Inglis, daughter of Thomas Inglis and Margaret Dalziel. Of the couple's 8 children, James was the 3rd eldest and eldest of the sons.

For his profession, James chose to be a goldsmith/silversmith and on the 15th July 1661 he was apprenticed at age 13 years to David Boige, a Master Goldsmith based in Edinburgh.  Under David's tutelage, he underwent an 8-year apprenticeship and on the 17th July 1669 he was admitted as a Freeman of Edinburgh, after making (for his essay) a silver bowl with a cover, and a plain gold ring.  This was made in the shop of James Symontoun and the essay masters were Edward Cleghorne and John Cockburne.  However just before this event, he became a Burgess of Edinburgh by right of his late father who passed in 1658 and who also was a tailor, Burgess and Guildbrother.

In 1670, James went on to marry the first of his three wives, marrying Catherine Balconquell in Tranent, East Lothian.  They went on to have 6 children, however it is believed that only two of them survived infancy.  Catherine died around 1677 and one year later, James married Magdalen Scott, and they produced 13 children with a few of them dying in infancy.  Whilst enjoying their married life, James's professional life went on from strength to strength.

In 1686 until 1688 James became the Dean of the Company of Goldsmiths and during this time he made a pair of silver tankards, of which their is only one from this century left in Scotland.  This was purchased from a sale and saved for the nation and is now on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The only surviving tankard made by James Cockburn in 1675
that is on display at the Museum of Scotland

In 1687, James was made a Deputy-Master of the Mint in Edinburgh and in 1695 he deposited around £20,000 Scots in the newly set up Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh.  Having done this, he was made Treasurer of the Bank as well as a Director.  In 1696, James went on to purchase the estate of James Cockburn, first Baronet of Cockburn, who was a distant cousin.  The first Baronet of Cockburn had accrued a lot of debts after lending financial assistance to Archibald Cockburn of Langton.

Despite having amassed a small fortune by 17th century standards, James was about to suffer a setback in his personal life as in 1698, his wife Magdalen died.  She was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard alongside his other children who had passed before.  James set about immersing himself in his work and Directorship of the Bank and in April 1700 he met and married Margaret Bruce, a sister of his apprentice, Robert Bruce, who himself, became a Master Goldsmith.  They were only married a few months when James took ill and died in November 1700 at home in Edinburgh's Canongate area.  He was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard on 6 November 1700 alongside his wife Magdalen and his children.

I have since visited Greyfriars Kirkyard and unfortunately I could not find his last resting place as it is now likely to be unmarked.  I am liaising with other family members of the extended Cockburn family  to raise funds to have a bench placed within the Kirkyard grounds to commemorate James's life and work.  I hope that this will take place some time next year.

I recently found photographs of other works that James was involved in during his career such as the re-engraving of the Strathmore salver, a silver spoon made for a M. Bannin as well as a Monteith.  I also discovered a photograph of a piece of silverwork, known as a silver caster that was made by his once apprentice, Robert Bruce.

 

Strathmore Salver, originally made by Alexander Scott and re-engraved by James Cockburn

 

 

Silver Spoon made by James Cockburn

 

 

A Monteith, made by James Cockburn

 

 

Silver Caster, Made By Robert Bruce, protege of James Cockburn

 

 

Notable Nobles on the Tree

SIR RICHARD MAITLAND

LORD LETHINGTON



Coat of Arms of the Maitland Family

SIR RICHARD MAITLAND (LORD LETHINGTON) was a Scottish lawyer, poet, and collector of Scottish verse, born in 1496. His father, Sir William Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane, fell at the Battle of Flodden Field in Northumberland; his mother was a daughter of George, Lord Seton.

He studied law at the university of St Andrews, and afterwards in Paris. His castle at Lethington was burnt by the English in 1549 and he was, in 1552, one of the commissioners to settle matters with the English about the debateable lands. About 1561 he seems to have lost his sight, but this did not render him incapable of attending to public business, as he was the same year admitted an ordinary lord of session with the title of Lord Lethington, and a member of the privy council; and in 1562 he was appointed keeper of the Great Seal. He resigned this last office in 1567, in favour of John, prior of Coldingham, his second son, but he sat on the bench till he attained his eighty-eighth year. He died on the 10th of March 1586.

His eldest son, by his wife Mary Cranstoun of Crosbie, was William Maitland (q.v.): his second son, John (c. 1 5451 595), was a lord of session, and was made a lord of parliament in 1590, with the title of Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, in which he was succeeded by his son John, also for some time a lord of session, who was created Earl of Lauderdale in 1624.

One of Sir Richard's daughters, Margaret, assisted her father in preparing his collection of old Scots verse.  The poems of Sir Richard Maitland, none of them lengthy, are for the most part satirical, and are principally directed against the social and political abuses of his time. He is chiefly remembered as the industrial collector and preserver of many pieces of Scots poetry. These were copied into two large volumes, one in folio and another in quarto, the former written by himself, and the latter by his daughter. After being in the possession of his descendant the Duke of Lauderdale, these volumes were purchased at the sale of the Duke's library by Samuel Pepys, and have since been preserved in the Pepysian Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge. They lay there unnoticed for many years till Bishop Percy published one of the poems in his Reliques of English Poetry. Several of the pieces were then transcribed by John Pinkerton, who afterwards published them under the title of Ancient Scottish Poems (2 vols., 1786.)  The Scottish Text Society has undertaken an edition of the entire manuscript. Maitland's own poems were reprinted by Sibbald in his Chronicle of Scottish Poetry (1802), and in 1830 by the Maitland Club, named after him, and founded for the purpose of continuing his efforts to preserve the remains of early Scots literature. Sir Richard left in manuscript a history of the family of Seton, and a volume of legal decisions collected by him between the years 1550 and 1565. Both are preserved in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh; the former was published by the Maitland Club, in 1829.

Script of Sir Richard Maitland in his own hand

 

Sir Richard is connected to my tree because his daughter, Helen Maitland married into the Cockburn family from Clerkingtoun East Lothian, making him my 12th Great grandfather and therefore a direct descendent.  To date, I have not come across any photographs/paintings of him that survive but will post one should it come to light. 

Life as a Domestic Servant in Service

DOMESTIC SERVANT

A domestic servant had only two choices depending on their situation at hand.  They had to become a live-in servant or live outside of the home they are servicing; and in most cases, men and women who entered into this type of workforce had no choice but to live within the confines of the home chosen for them.  These men and women who entered into this kind of labour were more than likely very poor and (in some cases lonely); some were young children and teenagers whose parents needed the extra income to make ends meet for the family and had no other choice but to send their young one's off to a workhouse to learn to become a domestic servant.  The youngest a domestic servant started out if they were children was 7 years old; but if you were a young man or woman (teenager mostly) you started at the age of 14.  Depending on what kind of labour you'd be doing as a servant, these young men and women lived within the confines of a workhouse -- which was kind of like a boot camp for domestic servants -- and you were literally taught how to do all the jobs expected of you as a servant of some kind.  Sometimes this schooling took only a year, in other cases two years. 

Most of the men and women who were chosen for a job was chosen for that specific job according to their height, weight, build and stature, and most of all their looks.  The prettier you were, more than likely your job would be to show you off in front of visitors.  A beautiful young woman would be chosen domestic jobs such as serving tea, child care or chambermaid services to the mistresses of the household (whenever the lady of the house wanted to go shopping or travelling she would take the young girl with her as a need for extra hands to carry her bags and purchases).

A handsome young man would be chosen for domestic jobs such as being a footman, servant to the butler, or a man servant to the man of the house (where he was rendered the same chore as the female servant being extra hands for their master whenever he wanted to shop or travel).  Being a beautiful servant also had it's benefits for some.



For all the other men and women who weren't as beautiful or too common looking, they were chosen for much hard working jobs with even lesser benefits than their counterparts who were beautiful.  Their chores included scullery and kitchen chores and cleaning up the rest of the house.  When they did their chores these women and men were not to be seen or heard by the owners of the home; and their daily chores took up most of the day leaving them very little time to eat or take a break;  if they were lucky and their were enough servants in the house to divvy up the chores equally, they would be lucky enough to have three meals a day (although they had to be consumed in very little time) while most households that couldn't afford as many, the servant or servants may have been allotted only two meals a day.  Not much when you need an energy boost in the middle of the day.

The life of a domestic servant was not a glamorous lifestyle or a labour of love.  If you found yourself as a domestic servant in this time period, more than likely it was because it was the only job that insured you a somewhat cleaner place to live (instead of out on the dirty streets or in alley-ways), food to eat every day (instead of searching in someone else's trashcan), and it also (in most cases) insured you a pension when your retirement day came along should you decide to stick with this job for the duration of your life.  The unglamorous choice of labour meant that you would find yourself working long hours, doing lots of back-breaking chores, along with catering to the master and the lady of the house, and your reward was nothing except your pay, which wasn't much during this time.

Numerous members of both our families sought out work as domestic servants, either in the towns they lived in within middle class families, or with a neighbouring farmers family.  Most of the work for a female would have been similiar to what has already been mentioned, and was certainly not glamorous.

Domestic Service in the 1920's







The Occupation of a Market Gardener

MARKET GARDENER



Market gardening is both a very old way to farm and a very new and popular one. The market gardener is someone who has a small area of land. The term small can be used in comparison to most large commercial farms, where acres possessed can be in the tens of thousands. Typically small could mean anywhere from one to a couple of acres to 50 or over. On this land the farmer grows whatever he or she wishes, but instead of growing it for commercial markets, produce is usually sold at places like farmer’s markets, or to small local grocery stores and restaurants. Sometimes the market gardener maintains a sales site on his or her land and sells directly to customers from the farm.

 The farmer and family do much of the work involved in market gardening. Occasionally if a farm is on the larger side, workers might be hired on a temporary basis to harvest fruit or for other tasks. Yet just about every market gardener can attest that they perform hard physical labour to grow fruit and veggies. Part of the appeal of this type of farming to many consumers is that growing methods used are frequently organic, since this not only may reduce work, but also reduces costs. However some profits can be lost due to crop loss that may occur with organic farming, though there are many interventions that may save crops.

Produce being sold at a Farmers Market

I noted in some of my research that quite a few of my Bayne/Bain ancestors were Market Gardeners and labourers on the farms.  This was mainly in the Fife region and the last relative I have recorded in this occupation was my great great grandfather Robert Bayne.

Vegetables grown in a Market Garden

The Occupation of a Water Baillie/Bailiff

WATER BAILLIE/BAILIFF

In Scotland, under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003, a modern water bailiff is appointed by District Salmon Fishery Boards or the Scottish Government, and are responsible for enforcing laws relating to salmon and trout. Although not police officers, they have certain statutory powers of entry, search, seizure and arrest under the Act. It is an offence to obstruct them.

Water bailiffs may enter and remain upon land in the vicinity of any river or of the sea coast at any time for the purpose of preventing a breach of the provisions of the Act, or detecting persons guilty of any breach of those provisions. If they wish to enter land not in the vicinity of the sea or coast, they must obtain a warrant from a sheriff or justice of the peace.

Water bailiffs may also:

•  examine any dam, fixed engine or obstruction, or any lade, and for that purpose enter on any land;
•  stop and search any boat which is used in fishing or any boat which there is reasonable cause to suspect of containing salmon or trout;
•  search and examine nets or other instruments used in fishing or any basket, pocket or other receptacle capable of carrying fish, which there is reasonable cause to suspect of containing salmon or trout illegally taken;
•  seize any fish, instrument or article, boat or vehicle liable to be forfeited in pursuance of this Act.

They may search stationary vehicles if they believe that an offence against any of the provisions of the Act has been committed and that evidence of the commission of the offence is to be found in a vehicle on private land adjoining any water or in a stationary vehicle on a public road adjoining such water or land.  They may "seize and detain" any person found committing an offence against the Act and deliver such person to a constable.

Water bailiffs cannot enforce protection orders made under Section 48 of the Act.

In victorian times, a Water Baillie, would also undertake the opening and closing of the locks on canals, depending where they were based.  My great grandfather, George Patterson was employed as a water baillie on the canals in East Lothian and as well as undertaking most of the aforementioned duties, he also issued out the fishing permits and operated the canal locks.



Occupations linked to the family tree

Mining in Lanarkshire

Coal was the fuel that powered the Industrial Revolution. The reliance on steam engines meant a huge increase in the demand for coal and the men women and children who mined it, particularly so in the mining areas of Scotland. In 1781 the first ironstone works in Lanarkshire started at Wilsontown in Carnwath. Early coal mines were cut into exposed rock faces at the side of rivers, which also applied to shale mines (paraffin).

For centuries, people in Scotland and Britain had made do with charcoal if they needed a cheap and easy to way to acquire fuel. What ‘industry’ that existed before 1700, did use coal but it came from coal mines that were near to the surface and the coal was relatively easy to get to. Two types of mines existed: drift mines and bell pits. Both were small scale coal mines and the coal which came from these type of pits was used locally in homes and local industry.

However, as the country started to industrialise itself, more and more coal was needed to fuel steam engines and furnaces. The development of factories and the improvement of the steam engine further increased demand for coal. As a result coal mines got deeper and deeper and coal mining became more and more dangerous. Coal shafts could go hundreds of feet into the ground. Once a coal seam was found, the miners dug horizontally. However, underground the miners faced very real and great dangers.

The people who worked the Scottish mines, although their wages were relatively high, lived in conditions approximating legal serfdom. If a pit was sold, they became the property of the new owner; children were often bound to the coal master for life at baptism. The masters were obliged in return to keep them all their days, in sickness and old age and to provide a coffin for their burial. This extraordinary set of affairs, was sanctioned by Scots law in 1606. This meant among other things, that miners could not remove themselves from that occupation. Beggars, tramps and those guilty of minor crimes were forced into lifelong bondage in the mines. This law was not changed until 1775 when it was then allowed that all new men entering the mines were allowed to be free, however it was not fully remedied until 1799.

The 1800's saw a massive rise in the amount of coal and iron mines as the industrial revolution swung into full effect. In 1879 there were 314 iron-works with 5149 puddling furnaces and 846 rolling mills in operation in Lanarkshire and in 1881, 392 coal pits and 9 fireclay pits. This labour force was found principally in Irish emigrants who were refugees from the suffering and deprivation caused by the potato famine in Ireland. Places like Blantyre were reputed to be, at this time; "a district of pits, engine houses, smoke and grime", this description no doubt led to the nickname the town endured for many years as "Dirty Auld Blantyre".

Lanarkshire was rich in coal, with numerous early mines scattered over the county. Around 1910 the actual amount of working collieries reached their peak with around 200 in the county. Between the wars mining started to decline and miners had to travel to work, or be re-housed near the pits

Mining was a dangerous occupation not only from injury, but problems caused by damp and breathing in coal dust, the mining Unions having to fight hard to improve working conditions. In the early days women and children were employed underground to haul coal,  but conditions gradually improved  with women and children doing pit head work only.

 

Working Conditions

Although the law relating to miners had been changed for the better at the turn of the century, life was still very harsh for miners & their families in the mid 1800's. Miners were expected to work at least a daily twelve hour shift on weekdays, reduced hours on Saturday, and Sunday being the day of rest. Working in the mines was very dangerous & unhealthy and most miners who survived the physical dangers inherent in the working environment eventually succumbed to mine-related respiratory diseases such as silicosis in later life.

One of the more dangerous risks of mining, was that of the gas referred to as "Firedamp". Firedamp was/is a highly explosive gas found in coal mines, it is easily ignited by flame, friction or electrical energy.

It's principal constituent is Methane or as it is sometimes referred to "Marsh Gas". This gas was found in most of the pits in the Lanarkhire area and often large volumes of it would be broken into during the mine workings, resulting in "blowers". Men employed as "Firemen" under the supervision of a "Firemaster" had the responsibility of checking the pits for the build up of firedamp and other dangerous gases such as "Afterdamp", i.e. Carbon Monoxide, which is poisonous & Carbon Dioxide, which suffocates.

These gases were removed by various means including ventilation forced by furnaces and steam and or by "burning off" in small pockets. The firemen & firemaster would normally carry out their checks prior to the commencement of the day's work.

The miners working down the mines soon realised that the dangerous conditions which prevailed there should be compensated for by an increase in wages. However, when the miners lodged their claim with the pit owners they were rejected. The result of this was that the miners withheld their labour and went on strike. This initial strike was quickly curbed by the mine owners who promptly sacked all those miners refusing to return to work. Not only were these miners sacked but they and their families were evicted from their homes onto the streets. There was some resistance to the action of the mine owners but this resistance was short-lived as the police and "auxiliaries" were brought in to enforce the will of the owners upon the miners and their families, often by extremely forcible means.

Lady Victoria colliery, Newtongrange, Edinburgh

History of William De Veteri Ponte

This great surname seems to derive from several areas in the Normandy area of France called Vieupont from the latin meaning "of the old bridge".   The Scottish Viponts descend from William de Ueupunt or Veteri Ponte circa 1165. The Veteri Pontes held the lands of Carriden, West Lothian, for many generations and in about 1250, Nicholas de Veteri Ponte made a gift of Swanston near Colinton to the Hospital of Soltre.

Sir William de Vipont, 6th Baron, is described as being one of the two worthy knights slain on the Scottish side at Bannockburn. On his death the estates passed into the family of Cockburn by the marriage of his only child Mariota to Sir Alexander Cokburn. The Viponts were among the earliest known landowners in Fife, and the refrain of a song sung by fishermen there runs: "The leal guidman of Aberdour, sits in Sir Alan Vipont's chair." This surname is now almost extinct in Scotland. As the family does not comprise a clan, there is no chief, war-cry, crest, motto or plant badge. There is however a tartan which seems to have been woven for the family of Vipont around 1930 but is rarely used by them.

The Monks of Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, were granted a tithe by William Di Vipont during the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) to dig a tenth of the coal from his Carriden Estate, which was then carried to Holyrood in panniers strapped to the backs of their horses.  Later it was taken to Leith by sailing ship. The tithe was significant as it first recorded the coal-mining or more correctly at the time the digging of coal in Scotland. He also gave Holyrood “Karedyn Church”. In 1291 monks from Dunfermline Abbey were also given the right to dig coal from outcrops around Bo'ness, all on Di Vipont land.

William Di Vipont died in 1314 at the Battle of Bannockburn and fought on the side of Robert Bruce; only one of 3 Earls who died in the battle against the English.  He was survived by the last of the Viponts, his daughter Mariota, who married Sir Alexander Cockburn in 1330.  They settled at Langton Berwickshire.  Alexander is known as the father of all modern Cockburn's branches and much later in 1527,  his descendent bought the lands at Cockburn Law, near Duns, Berwickshire from the Earl of Crawford and started the branch Cockburn of that Ilk who became Lairds of Duns."

TARTAN OF THE VIPONT FAMILY (c1930)

Vipont Tartan (white line - c 1930)

Vipont Tartan (Yellow Line - c 1930)

Origin & Meaning of the Harkins Surname

Harkins Family Crest

The surname Harkins is an anglicised form of the patronymic Irish surname "O hEarcain", which is derived from the word "earc" meaning "red".  Thus the surname would have originally been born by "a descendent of Red".  The name Harkins can also mean a dweller at or near the land that was infested with hares.

Other spelling variations of the name include Harkin, Harkan, O'Harkin, OhEarcain and others.  The name was first found in Inishowen in County Donegal, where members of the family were erenaghs of Clonska, a parish near Malin Head.  They are mentioned as such in Bishop Montgomery's diocesan survey of 1606.  A Daniel O'Harcan died in 1581 as a catholic martyr in Ulster.

The link to my family tree is through my husbands great grandmother Mary Jane Harkins, who was born in Bathgate West Lothian and married to George Archibald, whose surname also appears in this blog.

Mary Jane Archibald, nee Harkins sitting
holding her granddaughter, daughter Mary standing

Origin & Meaning of the Stewart Surname

Scottish Stewart Coat of Arms

This famous clan surname is regarded as the royal name of Scotland. It is however arguably of Olde English pre 7th century origins as it derives from the ancient word "stigweard", the later steward, a compound of "stig" meaning household, and "weard", a guardian. As such it was the status and title used by an officer who controlled the domestic affairs of a royal or noble household. In Scotland after the 12th century it took on a meaning of even greater importance, and described the Steward of Scotland, the highest post in the kingdom, below that of the monarch. The Scottish royal family surname of Stuart or Stewart, the spellings have and continue to vary over the centuries, originated from their holding the hereditary office of High Steward over several centuries from about 1157. In so far that the royal family of Stewart family originally had a surname it was the French "Dapifer", the family of that name having come from Brittany, in Northern France after the conquest of England in 1066. King Robert 11nd, 1371 - 1392, was the first "Steward" to hold the crown of Scotland. The earliest recordings of the surname include Nicholas Staward of Somerset in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, and William le Fiz Stywarde of Berwick in 1296. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Rogere se Stiwerd. This was dated circa 1100, in the "Old English Byname Register". Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

At Present I am uncertain as to whether there is some connection to my paternal Stewart family from Ayrshire and the Royal line, however the documental proof of my mothers family connection is conclusive that there is a family connection through another line.  My Ayrshire Stewarts line ended with my great grandmother Jane Reid Stewart who passed away in 1944, only a few weeks before the death of my grandmother, her daughter, Jean Stewart Dick.  

My great grandmother, Jane Reid Dick nee Stewart

               

ROYAL STUART/STEWART LINE

Through my Cockburn line, my tree is also connected to the Royal Stewart line through the marriage of Lady Elizabeth Stewart to James, Master of Cranstoun.  Their daughter Margaret Elizabeth married Patrick Cockburn, son of Sir Richard Cockburn of Clerkington and his wife Margaret Cockburn.

Lady Elizabeth's Parents were Francis Stewart (1st/last Earl Bothwell) and Lady Margaret Douglas.  Francis's parents were John Stewart (1st Lord Darnley) and Prior of Coldingham and his mother was Lady Jean Hepburn.  The link to the Stewart family becomes complicated at this point as John Stewart was technically born illegitimate however received the royal surname but was not allowed to inherit the crown although allowed to keep the land and title his father bestowed on him and his family.  John's mother was Lady Elizabeth Carmichael, daughter of Sir John Carmichael and Lady Elizabeth Bruce of Airth.  Lady Elizabeth was the mistress of King James V of Scotland and bore him 2 sons, John and his brother Robert.  James went on to make the usual prudent marriage to protect the throne and married Marie de Guise, Princess of France, whose daughter was the infamous Mary Queen of Scots (picture below).

Mary Queen of Scots

 THE STEWART BADGE & TARTAN

Hunting Stewart Tartan

Royal Stewart Tartan

Stewart Dress Tartan

Origin & Meaning of the Clelland Surname

This interesting surname has two possible sources. Firstly, it maybe of Anglo-Saxon origin, and a Scottish locational name from Clelland (formerly called Cleland or Kneland) near Motherwell, Lanarkshire; the first recorded namebearer (see below) was from this source. The placename derives from the Olde English pre 7th century "claeg", clay, with "land", land. During the Middle Ages when migration for the purpose of job-seeking was becoming more common, people often took their former village name as a means of identification, thus resulting in a wide dispersal of the name.

The seal of Andrew Cleland, one of the bailies of Edinburgh (1612), reads "S'Andree Kneland". Secondly, the surname may be of Irish origin, as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Fhaolain", composed of the elements "Mac", son of, "Giolla", servant of, and "Faolan", a personal name representing a diminutive of "faol", wolf, hence "son of the servant of Faolan".

The surname is first recorded in the latter half of the 13th Century and can also be found as Clelland. On August 3rd 1602, Agnes Cleland married John Roger in Edinburgh, Midlothian; and John Cleland married Susanna Smith on March 27th 1750, at Saintfield, Co. Down, Ireland. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a blue shield with a silver hare saliant with a green hunting horn garnished red hanging about the neck, the Crest being a falcon standing on a sinister hand glove proper. The Motto "Non sibi" translates as "Not for himself". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alexander Kneland, which was dated 1275, in the "Records of Scotland", during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, 1249 - 1286.

This surname is connected to my tree through my grandfather's mother Elizabeth Clelland who was born in Hamilton, Scotland and she went on to marry William Dobson, whose photograph appears under the Dobson surname blog.  Together they had around 8 children, with 4 dying in infancy, although 4 survived.  Elizabeth was one of 4 children, with her elder brother William dying before his first birthday.  Surviving family still stay in the area and her sister's family now reside in Canada.

Clan Badge

Clelland Tartan

Clelland Modern Tartan

Origin & Meaning of the Walpole/Walpool Surname

The Irish Walpole Coat of Arms

Recorded as Walpole, Waple, Wapple, Wapol, Waples, Wapples and possibly others, this is an English surname. It is locational from either of two places called Walpole in the East Anglian counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. The place in Suffolk was recorded as Walepola in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, whilst that in Norfolk was recorded as "Walepol" in the register of charters known as the Codex Diplomaticus aevi Saxonici in the year 1050. Walpole in Suffolk means the "pool of the Britons", whilst that in Norfolk probably means a pool surrounded by a wall. The surname first appears in records in the late 12th Century, and other early recordings include William Wagepole in the Curia Regis Rolls of Suffolk in 1206, and Thomas Waghepol in the Assize Court Rolls of the borough of Leicester in 1271. On June 27th 1557 Hillary Wapolle married Joane Garret at St. Peter, Cornhill, London, whilst Joanna Waple married Joannes Fletcher on June 4th 1592 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster.

Sir Robert Walpole (1676 - 1745) was not only the first Earl of Oxford, but he was the first prime minster of Great Britain. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Everard Wagepole. This was dated 1169, in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire, during the reign of King Henry 11nd, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189.

The Walpole Name is linked again by my husband's great grandmother on his mother's side, Margaret Walpole/Walpool (name differs on different certificates).  It is alleged that Margaret was born in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, however it is alleged that her family came from Ireland.  She settled and married George Archibald, whose surname also appears in this blog and together they had 10 children.  They did settle for a period in England near Gateshead and it is likely that there is some family still settled in the area, however most of them returned to their roots in Scotland and in Hamilton.

Origin & Meaning of the Campbell Surname

This ancient Scottish name has its origins in a Gaelic nickname "Caimbeul", meaning "wry (or crooked) mouth", from "dam", bent or crooked, and "beul", mouth. That it was originally a nickname can be seen by a charter of 1447, which records Duncan le Cambeli, the first Lord Campbell, the "le" being the Scottish "lie", meaning "so called", or "known as". A sizeable group of early European surnames were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These were given in the first instance with reference to occupation, or to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, supposed resemblance to an animal's or bird's appearance or disposition, or to habits of dress. Clan tradition has it, that the Campbells were originally known as "Clana Duibhne" or "O'Duine", from one Diarmid O'Duine of Lochow. About 1390, Duncan Campbell witnessed a charter by Duncan, Earl of Levenax, and is believed to be the first namebearer to introduce a "p" into the name, influenced by the erroneous theory that "Cam(p)bell" comes from the Norman-French "de Campobello" i.e., "of the beautiful plain". Campbell is the family name of the hereditary Dukes of Argyll, dating from 1445, and their Coat of Arms is described thus: "Quarterly, first and fourth, gyronny of eight gold and black, the Crest being a boar's head couped gold". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gillespic Cambel, which was dated 1263, in the "Exchequer Rolls of Scotland", during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, 1249 - 1286.

The Irish Campbell (Mac Cathmhaoil or cathmhaoil) means battle chief. An Irish sept in Tyrone or in Donegal it is usually of Scottish galloglass origin. Mac Ailin a branch of the clan Campbell (whose name is from cam béal, crooked mouth). Many Campbells are more recent Scottish immigrants. The has been abbreviated to Camp and even Kemp in Co. Cavan.  This meaning explains a lot with its connections to my family tree as again, my husband's great grandmother on his mother's side was a Mary Anne Campbell who was born in Ireland to Richard Campbell and Catherine McGinnes.

Origins & Meanings of the Corrigan Surname

The Corrigan (O'Corrigan, Carrigan, Corocan, Courigan, Currigan) surname is of Irish descent. Translated Corrigan means "Spear". The name is believed to have originated from Coirdhecan of the Cineal Eoghain. It is also believed to be connected to the Maguire clan. The Corrigan surname was popular in the 17th century in County Fermanagh in Ireland. Today, the name is spread out across most counties in Ireland and some of the United States and Canada.

The Irish sept O Corragain who had their stronghold in County Fermanagh, as a branch of the Maguires is in fact, the origin of those named Corrigan, Carrigan, Courigan, Corgan, and Currigan. The early records of the name in the Annals of the Four Masters, indicate that the name was closely associated with clerics and abbots. The name was established in the Middle Ages, going south into Counties Monaghan, Meath, Roscommon and Offaly. From the name Ballycorrigan near Nenagh in County Tipperary, it also appears that the name was prominent in that county.

The Corrigan Coat of Arms is a chevron between two trefoils slipt, in chief and in base a lizard passant vert. Their motto is: Consilio et Impetu

The link to my family tree of this surname lies in my husband's side of the family, with his great grandmother being Ellen Corrigan.  Ellen's family came to Scotland at the end of the 19th century and in 1908, she married James Grieve, who was also from Ireland.  Together they had five children, one of who was my husband's grandfather William.  William then went on to marry Catherine O'Brien, whose surname already features in this blog.

McGauley/McGaulley Surname meaning & Origin

McGauley (South - related to Ue Neill)

This surname McGAULEY derives either from the Mac Cochlain sept whose territory was the barony of Garrycastle, County Offaly, or from the O'Cochlain sept from County Cork, where their descendants are numerous, usually now preferring the spelling of Coughlan. In the latter part of the sixteenth century, an influx of settlers arrived under the patronage of Elizabeth I of England, and colonized the country beyond the 'Pale', the area around Dublin that was the only part firmly under English control. At the same time , groups of Presbyterian settlers were encouraged to migrate from Scotland to Ulster, thus establishing the distinctively Scottish surnames of Ulster. During the long centuries of English domination, Irish surnames were crudely Anglicized either phonetically or by translation. In the 19th century, political repression and famine combined to force many Irish people to seek other countries in which to live. Large numbers emigrated to the United States, where strong emotional ties to Ireland are still preserved in many families, while others found themselves transported, willingly or otherwise, to Australia, often after having first tried to make a living in England. Irish surnames are now very widely dispersed, and are common in England as well as in Ireland, the United States and Australia. The rise of surnames, according to the accepted theory, was due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 when Old English personal-names were rapidly superseded by the new christian names introduced by the Normans. Of these, only a few were really popular and in the 12th century this scarcity of christian names led to the increasing use of surnames to distinguish the numerous individuals of the same name. Some Normans had hereditary surnames before they came to England, but there is evidence that surnames would have developed in England even had there been no Norman Conquest. The development of the feudal system made it essential that the king should know exactly what service each person owed. Payments to and by the exchequer required that debtors and creditors should be particularized, and it became official that each individual acquired exact identification.

This surname is connected to my tree through my husbands great grandmother Catherine McGaulley. Some of the family in other branches do use the derivative McGauley however other than that, they all share the same genealogy.

Other spelling variations of this surname include MacAulay, MacAwley, MacAuley, MacAullay, MacAulley, MacAwlay, MacCaulay, MacCawley, MacGawley, Magawley, Cauley, Caulay, McCamley and many more.

The surname was first found in the Westmeath Area of Ireland where they held a seat from ancient times. Some of the first settlers from this family name or some of its variants were: James MacCauley settled in Charles Town in 1772 with his wife: Kenneth MacAulay settled in Philidelphia in 1774; Alexander, George, Henry, James, John, William MacAuley all arrived in Philidelphia between 1840 and 1860.

The McGauley's from the family tree did indeed come from County Cavan in Ireland with James McGauley and his wife Bridget Rodgers, who were married in Knockbride, County Cavan. Their first four children were also born in Ireland including my husband's great great grandfather Patrick McGaulley who married Mary Collins.

McGauley (Ulster) connected to the Maguires

Origin & Meaning of the Surname O'Brien

This great and illustrious sept, bearing the titles Earls of Thomond, Viscount Clare and Earls of Inchiquin, take their name from Brian Boru (941 - 1014), High King of Ireland, who was killed at the Battle of Clontarf. A very powerful and outstanding sept in Irish history, the O'Briens divided into several branches and established themselves throughout Munster. The O'Briens of Ara (north Tipperary) had as their chief Mac Ui Bhriain Ara, circa 1300; those of County Limerick gave their name to the barony of Pubblebrien; and another sept was located near Dungarvan, County Waterford. In the Annals of Innisfallen, which deal principally with the southern half of Ireland, the O'Briens appear more often that any other sept. Murrough O'Brien (died 1551) was the first Earl of Thomond, a territory comprising most of County Clare with adjacent parts of Counties Limerick and Tipperary. Charles O'Brien, sixth Viscount Clare (1699 - 1771), became a Marshal of France, and William Smith O'Brien (1803 - 1864), was one of the best known of the Young Irelanders.

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of O'Brien, which was dated circa 1055, in the "Annals of the Four Masters", during the reign of High Kings of Ireland "with opposition", 1022 - 1166. In Irish, the name O`brien means- Surname.. The name O`brien orginated as an Irish name. The name O`brien is most often used as a boy name or male name.

IRISH O'BRIEN CLAN

The O’Briens are one of the Great Dynastic families of Irish history. They take their name from Brian Boru (941-1014), the greatest of the high kings. After successes at Limerick and Cashel, he went on to achieve a decisive victory over the Vikings at the battle of Clontarf (1014), although he lost his life in the process. The O’Brien heartlands were in Thomond (North Munster), and they became earls of Thomond and Inchiquin. They were famed as soldiers, a calling that Murrough O’Brien (1614-1674) practised so enthusiastically that he became known as Murrough of the Burnings. The tartan is comparatively modern, owing its design to an Australian, Edward John O’Brien.

Irish O'Brien Tartan (Photo Courtesy of Clan O'Brien Site)

Origin & Meaning of Patterson Surname

This distinguished surname, with several entries in the "Dictionary of National Biography", and having no less than ten Coats of Arms, is one of the most popular of Scottish surnames, and is a patronymic form of the male given name Pat(t) or Pate, itself a short form of Patrick. Patrick derives ultimately from the Latin "Patricius", patrician, or "son of a noble father", that is, a member of the patrician class, the Roman hereditary aristocracy. Patrick has been chiefly used in Ireland and Scotland, but was widespread in the North of England from the 12th Century, giving rise to a number of surnames including: Patrickson, Pate(s), Paty, Paton, Patten, Patti(n)son and Pat(t)erson. Its popularity in these parts was largely due to St. Patrick, 5th Century Apostle of Ireland. The original territory of the Clan Pheadirean (Patersons) lay on the north side of Lochfyne where they were formerly numerous. Early examples of the surname include: John Patonson (Aberdeen, 1446); Donald Patryson, burgess of Aberdeen (1495); and George Paterson, a monk in the monastery of Culross (1569). Emma Anne Paterson (1848 - 1886), who founded the Women's Protective and Provident League in 1874, was the first woman admitted to the Trade Union Congress in 1875. The Paterson Coat of Arms depicts argent, three pelicans feeding their golden young in nests vert, on a blue chief as many mullets argent. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Patrison, which was dated 1446, witness in the "Episcopal Register of Aberdeen", Scotland, during the reign of King James 11 of Scotland, 1437 - 1460.

PATTERSON CLAN

PATERSON or PATRICKSON simply means 'son of Patrick', and as such has been a favourite Christian name throughout Scotland since pre-Reformation times. Surprisingly, in Ireland it only became popular as a forename after 1600, probably due to its introduction by the Scots settlers in Ulster. As a surname Paterson belongs to no one district, and appears first in old Scottish records in 1446 when William Patrison and John Patonson appear as witnesses in Aberdeen. By the 16th century a dynasty of Patersons were landholders in Fife, and of this line Hew Paterson became a writer in Edinburgh before purchasing the Barony of Bannockburn, near Stirling. His son, also Hugh, became the first Baronet of a line of Jacobite sympathisers who entertained Prince Charlie following the battle of Falkirk in the '45 Rising. Here the Prince met Clementina Walkinshaw, whose mother was the sister of the previous Baronet. She followed him to France in 1751 and bore him a child, Charlotte, 'Countess of Albany', but whether or not they married remains conjecture. William Paterson (1658-1719) was author of the ill-fated Darien Scheme to settle Panama and was originator of the plan for the Bank of England.

Paterson is a Lowland rendering of MacPatrick, a name occurring in bonds of manrent given by the Maclarens of Balquidder to the Campbells of Glenorchy in the 16th century and it is probably for this reason that the MacPatricks and Patersons are claimed as a sept of MacLaren. Likewise, some MacPatricks, Patersons, or Patricks, not related to those of MacLaren stock, are said to have been aliases of Lamonts, descended from Baron MacPatrick, ancestor of the Lamonts of Cowstone. The former claim that Patersons are also a sept of Clan Farquharson will not stand examination and such is now largely discredited.

Another source of Paterson may also have been MacPhedran or MacFetridge (son of Peter or Patrick), and reference is made to a 'Clan Pheadirean' (Patersons) whose home was on the north side of Loch Fyne, but they are said to be a sept of the MacAulays of Ardincaple. The MacFatridges in Nova Scotia are equated to Patersons. Those considering themselves members of the clans MacLaren or Lamont, may wear their tartans and display the relevant crest and motto of the present Chief. Loyalty must be based on available genealogical or geographical evidence but in the absence of any such definite evidence the MacLaren connection is the strongest.     

Patterson Blue Tartan

I am linked to this surname via my grandmother, Alison Isabella Bartley Patterson, who is my mothers' mother.  Alison, or Isa, as she was known was born in Kelso to George Patterson and his wife, Alice Common.  Isa eventually married George Bayne and together they had 2 children, my late uncle George and my late mother Jean.  Isa and George's photo is listed below:

Isa and George Bayne



Origin & Meaning of the Surname Dick

This interesting surname found equally in England and Scotland and occasionally in Ireland, is a medieval pet form of Richard, the second most popular baptismal name in the 11th and 12th Centuries. 'Richard' derives from the Old Germanic personal name 'Ric-hard' made up of the elements "ric", meaning power, and "-hard", brave and strong. Given a build up like this it is not surprising that the name was popular and particularly so with the Norman Invaders of 1066. Although first recorded in England in the 8th century, it was the exploits of Richard, Coeur de Lion, (Richard 1 of England 1189 - 1199) in the crusades of the 12th century which gave it the final seal of approval. It could be said that the popular academic interest of the Medieval Period was the development of nicknames and pet forms, and 'Richard' provided perhaps the greatest number of variants of all. The personal name of 'Dick' was first recorded in the 1220 Curia Rolls of Lancashire, when one Dicke Smith was mentioned and Dik de Hyde, was recorded in the Assize Court Rolls of Cheshire in 1286. Early examples of the surname recording include William Dik in the 1356 rolls of Gloucester, William Dykes in the 1362 pipe rolls of Norfolk, and William Dyckk, rector of Godwick in Norfolk in the year 1420. Amongst the many famous nameholders was Sir Alexander Dick of Edinburgh (1703 - 1785), the eminent physician, and Sir Robert Dick, who died leading his troops at the battle of Sobraon, India, in the Sikh War of 1846. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Dic, which was dated Circa 1250, in the rolls of Colchester, Essex, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as 'The Frenchman' 1216 - 1272.

Dick Name Meaning

Scottish and English: from a short form of Richard. Although found in every part of Britain, the form Dick is especially common in Scotland, and it was from there, in the 17th century, that the surname was taken to northern Ireland.German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname from Middle High German dic(ke) ‘thick’, ‘strong’, ‘stout’, or in the case of the Jewish name from modern German dick ‘fat’ or Yiddish dik.German: topographic name for someone who lived by a thicket or patch of thick undergrowth, from Middle High German dicke, a special use of dic(ke) ‘thick’.North German: from a short form of a Germanic personal name Theodicho, formed with theud ‘people’, ‘race’.

 

 

MY ORIGINS TO THE DICK SURNAME

 

My own family actually originate from County Down, Northern Ireland where my great great grandfather James Dick married Ann McIlwain in 1868.  They came to live in Scotland and had many family here including my great grandfather James junior who was married to Jane Reid Stewart.  Together they had numerous children with their second-to-youngest daughter Jean being my grandmother.

 

Jean Stewart Dobson (Nee Dick)

 

Origin & Meaning of MacPherson Surname

 

Clan MacPherson Badge

This interesting surname is of Scottish origin, and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac an Phearsain", the prefix "mac" denoting son of, plus "pearsan" parson, hence "son of the parson". Early recordings include Bean Makimpersone who witnessed a bond between William of Rose and Duncan Makintosche, captain of Clancattane (1490); payment was made to David Makfassane "for twa gunnis of matel" in 1538, and Donald Makphersone, prior of Strathphillane, appears as witness in 1585, and is recorded in the "Black Book of Taymouth". Edinburgh Church Records list the marriages of Aeneas McPherson to Margaret Scrimgeor on April 19th 1677, and of Alex McPherson to Anna Robertson on March 29th 1683. John McPherson was born in Edinburgh in 1784. He was a merchant who emigrated to North East Canada. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is per fesse gold and blue a lymphad, sails furled, gold oars in action, in the dexter chief a hand fessways couped, grasping a red dagger erect, in the sinister chief a red cross crosslet fitcheee. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alexander Makfersan, which was dated 1447, bailie to the bishop of Aberdeen, during the reign of King James 11 of Scotland, 1437 - 1460.

  

CLAN MACPHERSON

For many centuries, the Macphersons have been a leading clan in the Clan Chattan Confederation along with Clan Mackintosh, Clan Shaw and others. Although the Macphersons have a strong claim to the Chattan lineage, they have been unsuccessful in wresting control of the Clan Chattan from the Mackintosh. Today, the clans cooperate closely in the Clan Chattan Association, where John Mackintosh, chief of Clan Mackintosh, is president and Sir William Macpherson, chief of Clan Macpherson, is vice president of the association along with allied clan chiefs.

 

14th century clan conflicts

In the 14th century that Macphersons were partly responsible for the defeat of Clan Comyn, the enemies of Robert I of Scotland, at Badenoch.

The Battle of Invernahoven was fought in 1370 between the Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation of Clan MacKintosh, Clan Macpherson and Clan Davidson.

 

18th century Jacobite uprisings

At the beginning of the 1745 Jacobite Rising, the Clan Macpherson chief commanded a company of his clan in the services of the British government. However a party of Camerons, commanded by Dr. Cameron, was sent to the house of Macpherson of Cluny, the chief of the Macphersons. They were there to apprehend him, and succeeded. The Macphersons then joined the Jacobites.

The chief of the clan, Ewen MacPherson of Cluny, raised a force of 400 men to aid Charles Edward Stuart.  The Macphersons played an active role at the beginning of the rebellion and even fought at the Clifton Moor Skirmish in 1745.

However Charles was urged to wait for Cluny, who was engaged in operation in Atholl, before the Battle of Culloden. He did not and the men of Macpherson took no part in the famous defeat at Culloden. The regiment was disbanded and Ewan went into hiding. A reward of 1000 pounds was placed on his head, but he was never captured in the nine years he spent in hiding. In 1755 he fled to France. During his time in hiding, his wife, Janet, gave birth to their son. The child was born in a corn kiln, earning him the nickname 'Duncan of the Kiln'.

During his time hiding in and around the clan seat at Laggan, Macpherson had many hiding places made for him. One of these was Cluny's Cage, which featured in "Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson, a heather hut on the slopes of Ben Alder. In another story Cluny was staying at Dalchully House in a bolt hole in the East wing when he was caught outside by Colonel Munro, the very man charged with searching for him. Since the two men had never met, Cluny calmly held the Colonel's horse whilst the soldier went inside the house. It is claimed that he was given a penny for his trouble. Another of the famous hiding places is Cluny's Cave high on the crags of Creag Dhubh between Newtonmore and Laggan. This cave is no longer accessible without expert assistance. Every year in August, clan Macpherson holds a family gathering, during which a ceremonial run to the top of Craig Dubh and back takes place.

 

Castles

• Cluny Castle was the seat of the Chief of Clan Macpherson until the 1930s.
• Ballindalloch Castle has been owned by the Macpherson-Grants since the middle of the 16th century.

Tartans

There are 17 tartans ascribed to Clan Macpherson. The most common are the red, hunting and dress tartans.

 

MacPherson Dress Tartan

MacPherson Tartan (Ancient)

MacPherson Tartan (Modern)