The Cockburn Relatives Reunion

Cockburn Family Reunion

Edinburgh 2014

L-R - Craig Cockburn, Charmain Cockburn Magnussen, Mal Cockburn,

Bev Cockburn, Elizabeth Dobson Grieve, Mark Cockburn

In July of 2014, members from one family, with many links, came together in Edinburgh with one thing in common; their connection to the Cockburn family name. A few of us (see above photo) met up at the corner of Cockburn Street in Edinburgh, which was so named after several emminent Cockburn's from the City. As you can see, most of us were born with the illustrious surname, which originates in the Borders, however I am the only one in this small band that was not so blessed.  My connection comes through my great great grandmother Anne Cockburn, daughter of Andrew Cockburn and Jane Richardson, who married James Patterson, then through their second youngest child, George Patterson who was married to Alice Common. Afterwards it has been a straight female line for me and therefore my Cockburn blood is well diluted. :D

Meeting up with everyone was a revelation! Especially in hearing of their own family histories linked to the name and how they got to their own parts of the world.  Mal & Bev Cockburn and Charmain (Mal's sister) all come from Australia, with Mark from England, Craig from Edinburgh and myself from Lanarkshire.  After this initial meeting we met up with another member of our group, Bruce Cockburn, for lunch in the Amber Restaurant near the Castle. Much was talked about our various links in the family history as well as other topics such as the DNA that connects the various branches and other branches that the family are closely connected to (Thanks Bruce!). A good time was had by all and afterwards we all paid a visit to Greyfriars kirkyard, to see the bench which we all donated to remember another illustrious ancestor, James Cockburn (1648-1700), who was a noted Gold/Silversmith of his time and a treasurer of the original Bank of Scotland at its inception in 1695.  James is buried within the churchyard, however several decades after his death, re modelling work was done to the church and James's grave, along with a couple of other of Edinburgh's notable citizens were caught between the old wall of the church and the new one and therefore their graves are completely blocked off from view.  We placed the bench just in front of the wall where his grave is likely to be and as a group we all went there to view it.

We all had an enjoyable time there, chatting about our shared heritage and posed for several photos before we all went our separate ways again, which saddened me.  However, this was the culmination of a dream to meet more of my Cockburn relatives, both distant and direct, and hopefully we will all get a meeting at another time, in another place.

L-R - Bruce Cockburn, Elizabeth Dobson Grieve, Mark Cockburn
Craig Cockburn, Charmain Cockburn Magnussen, Mal Cockburn at Greyfriars