Contents:
Patricia Sumerau Heather McFarlane John McIntyre Larry Bethune Grant Colvin
Sandra Anderson Karen Jaye Dean Gilchrist and Janet Morrison
Dear Mr. Forshaw,
My g-g-grandfather left this cryptic note in his journal.
" James Nelson, my book, born March 26,1792. My grandfather Unkle James Nelson. My great grandfather was a native of Scotland his name was William B. Miles from Salt Cot in the parish of Kilbrite/own land of mark Ialybarns."
I contacted the library in Glasgow and they suggested that he meant Saltcoates, but had no suggestions for the rest of the statement.
Could you give me any thoughts on his words, since this is our only clue. Also is there a list of passengers for the Thistle. I have enjoyed reading your magazine and the articles on the ship "Thistle" caught my attention because of the Saltcoates passengers.
Thank you for your time,
Patricia Sumerau North Augusta, SC USA
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It is very snowed under right now.
Thanks for your note. I have been working through the birth/marriage/death records of Killean, and have a question I think someone on the ground could clarify.
I have come accorss a MacMath family, at "Muchlock"; and a MacWilliams family, at "Druim". This is consistent, and would seem to mean that these places are different from Druimnamuckloch. Would I be correct here??
Druimnamuckloch is obviously not a hotbed of financial action. I have come across it, in Stewart's "17th C Agric'l Tenancies in Kintyre" from your mag - in 1672, Archibald MacNiell of Druimnamuckloch is names as one of 4 birlawmen of Killean parish.
The list of births, and parents, is interesting from my point of view, because it definitely NOT the custom or habit to put in a nickname like "Red" in the parish register of births. Red Ling as the father of my ggggrandfather is very much an anomaly.
We descendants of Mary MacNiell will probably have a family reunion in the Yukon next summer.
Thanks for your patience,
Heather McFarlane
More....
Your friend's Highlander Health centre sounds great. I thought the area was PERFECT for that sort of thing. I have gone to one in Utah, and the key to the whole thing is hills. We unhealthy can really walk up hills. I know, from experience, that you can lose an unbelievable amound of weight in that pursuit. And the weather is better in Scotland - not too hot.
Another thing: a story telling festival. With people reciting the stories of Old Scotland... This would appeal to the scottish diaspora!!
Heather McFarlane
More......
I must share the following, a great quotation, from G.M.Trevelyan:
"The appeal of history to us all is in the last analysis poetic. But
the poetry of history does not consist of imagination roaming at large, but
of imagination pursuing the fact and fastening upon it.
That which compels the historian to scorn delights and live laborious days,
is the ardor of his own curiosity to know what really happened long ago in
that land of mystery which we call the past."
Heather McFarlane
11/11/99
From me to Heather.........
Hey Heather, Absolutely fine saying. This one too:
"The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or woman."
Willa Cather (1873-1947) US writer and poet. O Pioneers!, Pt. II, Ch. 4.
Bye for now,
Ian
More from Heather:
I mailed you some of my projects that relate to Killean.............so you will get them probably after Xmas.
Heather
23/11/99
I got back to Heather:
Thanks for mailing me your projects. I assume by your e-mail that they couldn't be sent as an e attachment. I really do appreciate you taking time out to do this, and I look forward to receiving them.
What can I do for you?
And Heather said:
Ian, no, they are quite extensive, actually. But, if you ever come across a copy of the 1792 Census of Kintyre, I would be forever your slave!! I am not interested in the beauty of a copy. I merely want the info.
Yours,
and happy holidays,
Heather
26/11/99
Hello Ian,
Just read the November edition, excellent as usual.
I must admit though, I was a bit puzzled at the comments of a couple of your readers saying they didn't understand most of my Campbeltownese.
Didn't I go to all the trouble of putting concise, beautifully crafted, Sassenach translations after each piece of Campbeltownese?
I am totally devastated! It probably means I won't make a fortune selling copies to prospective Kintyre tourists. That's another great idea bound for the brock-dish! (in case anyone doesn't understand the word..... it is a receptacle for table-scraps usually fed to chickens or pigs.)
Gie ma regards tae yer Maw, Ian, she looks in fine fettle.
Regards,
John McIntyre
ps..... Attached is a picture of Port Lincoln.
Howdy, Ian...
Just a quick note to let you know I am still an avid reader of your mag. It sure is great and as close as I get to Kintyre, these days.
I have a question for you, which I am sure you've heard a thousand times.
I've been doing my family history for at least 30 years, since I was
teenager
(family history at
http://hometown.aol.com/beaton1774/bethunehomepage/bethune.html.
Map with my family on it at http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/1786/robeson_maps.html).
I sure have a lot of info but, like many, have never been able to make that all important contact back to the ol' sod. According to ship records and family lore, David Bethune ("Beaton" on the ship's records, only) left for Wilmington North Carolina from Greenock around August 22, 1774. He and his wife Flora Bryde landed in Wilmington on October 17, 1774 on the ship Ulysses. The ship's record said they were from Kintyre.
I've searched and searched, no luck. I have been to Kintyre once in 1995, again, no luck.
A Rev, Ian Bethune corresponded with me and we both felt that we were related through the Bethunes that moved down to Kintyre from Skye; but, neither of us has any real proof.
I visited the old Bethune homestead outside of Campbeltown at Kilellan Farms (I believe) as well as another place they may have been from, Killean, just north of Campbeltown. Nothing there I could find.
I realize church records, etc., are very scarce. Of course, it is very possible I will never find anything. My gut tells me if I had the time, I would come and spend a few weeks reading through all I could in the Campbeltown library, etc., and find some mention. I did spend a couple of days doing just that on my last visit.
I have put off contacting anyone to do any work for me there because I just felt I needed more to go on than what I have and was afraid after a few bucks, I'd just get back an, "I'm sorry, found nothing."
Any ideas? Know anyone I can contact for advice on how to approach looking around Kintyre? Last time I was there, I did stop into Mrs. Martin's bookshop; but she wasn't there. You think the Society has any records that might help me?
Well, enough whining. I know, it's a tough question---I guess that is half the fun (I am getting tired of having so much fun).
By the way, I saw in one of your responses that you will be hitting the big 5-0 next year. Not only do we look somewhat alike (I also have a beard, but I just hit the big 5-0 this past June. I wasn';t looking forward to it, but my wife and daughters threw my a party (which I didn't want) and invited a very strange combo of folks.
The party was a blast and I love being 50 (ok, I loved being 25, more, but, what's the point?). It was an odd lot because, rather than invite all the usual suspects, she invited some of my close friends and then the rest were folks I hadn't seen in years. I would have never put them together, but it was great. A little bit like, "This is Your Life."
Not to name drop, but Jimmy Buffett had told me that he thought the best idea was to go to this little pub he knew in Kenya where you could sit on a bar stool and straddle the Equator; having a drink in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere at one time. I guess he had done it and also knew of a place in Quito, Ecuador where you could do that, as well.
Another friend of mine took it a bit further and thought I should get on a tramp steamer and request that they anchor on the International Dateline so I could jump back and forth at Midnight saying, "I'm 50, I'm not 50; I'm 50, I'm not fifty," all night long.
I did neither. But the party was great, I took a Margarita and sat on my roof watching the sun set, and everything was ok. Now, my biggest problem is finding David's ancestors (and more money for my three daughters' college education).
Sorry for the long email. Sometimes it happens.
Good Hunting,
Larry
From me to Larry.....
Hey Larry,
Thank you very much, my old mate, for a great read. You certainly never need to be sorry for a long e-mail! On my 50th, I intend to be in Campbeltown and sitting on the cliffs overlooking the Gauldrons at Machrihanish bay. With a wee bit of luck the wind will be up and the Atlantic breakers will be rearranging the shoreline. As the waves boil in, I'll have a thought for all my friends across the pond. Bugger, I wish I was 50!! It's likely, of course, that my brother Alex will arrange a 'surprise' for me (I've threatened to 'get' him when it's his turn), and it'll be a doozy.
I can understand your frustration over your family tree. I will, of course, print your mail in the December edition but you could always drop an e-mail to Elizabeth Marrison. She's just a bit good - well, really nice actually - and I'm sure that she'd answer one or two of your questions. I'm only sorry that I don't have the depth of knowledge you need.
Until the next time I have the pleasure of hearing from you, take good care.
You old blokes need to watch your step! :-]].
Ciao for now,
Ian
Dear Sir:
I'm quite interested in the possibility that my ancestor, Alexander Colvin--who was married 19 January 1809 in Christian County, Kentucky to Isabelle Graham, the daughter of John Graham and Flora McGougan of Cumberland County, North Carolina and previously of Scotland--might be descended from Colvins of Kintyre. I would very much appreciate any information about Colvins who emigrated between 1739 and appr. 1800. In addition to Graham and McGougan, other related surnames include Blue, Galbreath, and McKay. The given names of the three children of Alexander and Isabelle were Robert, Catherine, and John.
very best regards,
Grant Colvin
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Hello again Ian
Your holiday in Campbeltown sounds just like our one was at Easter. No stress, no hassle, just relax time. We stayed at Puchechan Lodge Hotel, which was about to be closed for the season. Memories of days gone as family history tells of the Puchechan bull in the 1930s, seemingly an awesome sight. Facing the Atlantic which for me as a northerner brought up facing the North sea is always an awesome sight in comparison. Much more savage.
We visited St Nazaire in similar weather, talked with all our friends and had a number of local people we know come to eat and pass time with us. We walked another beach, facing the Atlantic, and thought of Campbeltown and Southend. As always, when there, the conversation turned to the war years and the important part the old ship played in the history of the town.
We dined with a friend who recalls the night when aged 7 he stood on the headland outside his family home and watched the guns blazing at the arrival of HMS Campbeltown in the estuary. He totally ignored his other telling him tocome in the house. Most of the local population had been evacuated, but his family had refused to move.
Time willing, I will send to you shortly the tale of our visit to HMS Campbeltown in 1989 in St Nazaire.
Keep well, and enjoy the drams.
Sandra
17/11/99
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I loved your site on Campbeltown, Scotland. My great grandfather was caretaker of the cemetery there. The last time I was there (over 20 years ago) they were just about to tear it down.
I have heard that there is an old postcard with his picture on it. Do you know anything about where to locate it?
Thanks--I'll keep tuning in!
Karen
From me to Karen:
Hi Karen,
Thank you for saying kind things about the Mag site, and welcome...........
.......The old postcard of your grandfather sounds very interesting. Perhaps you'll let me know his full name, and I'll ask my brother Alex to check into it for you.........
Ian
And back from Karen;
His full name is James Farmer, married
to Jemima Henderson Farmer. He was the caretaker
of the cemetery and lived in a two story white house on the grounds. He and
Jemima are buried there.
23/11/99
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Hi Ian,
What a great picture of you and your young looking Mom. You must be very proud.
Dean Gilchrist
27/11/99
I certainly am, and what a really nice thing to
say - Ian
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More from my good friend Janet...........
5/11/99
Hey Ian,
It appears that the cold and flu season has begun early. Marie and I have both been sick all week. Ugh! Drip, drip. Sneeze, sneeze. Enough of that. We'll survive!
I'm enjoying the November Mag. My church petition article looks quite respectable. I do hope it has a name or names in it that will help one or more of your readers! It was especially interesting to read about the naming and dedication service for the new lifeboat, since we saw it. I love the picture of you and your mother. You can tell the older generation there is tougher than the younger. It's the same here. Actually, what I'm basing this on is the fact that your mother is in a short-sleeve dress and you have on a jacket. My guess is that you were sitting on one of the benches at the foot of the Campbeltown Cross. It is a great picture! You have your mother's smile.
The reference to Johnnie Blue in the "Smuggling" article in the November Mag brought a smile to my face, as I recall the whole "Blues" episode you and I had a few months back and I told you about the little girl I knew of named Navy Blue. Let's don't start that again!
Thanks for the e-mail pictures of Morrison's and the Wee Free Church sign. We saw the church when there, but didn't get close enough to read the sign and see that a Morrison is the treasurer. I have put Wee Broon's on my list of things to do the next time I'm in Campbeltown.
My Campbeltown mug has gotten a work out this week. I drank hot tea from it as I read the November Mag. Since then I have had chicken broth and other soups in it.
We had a new furnace installed on Tuesday, just before the coldest air of the season came down from the Great Plains. It was 25 degrees F. here this morning and has been very windy for several days. We are now knee deep in leaves.
That's about it from across the pond. Thanks for another interesting Mag! I'm ready for the next one.................
9/11/99
Hey Ian,
Just a note to let you know Alex's letter and pictures arrived in yesterday's mail. The photos are great! What great memories they conjure up!...........
20/11/99
............Getting back to issue No. 46... How impressive it is to see the work of a friend on the printed page! Indeed! I suppose the autograph seekers are beating a path to your door even as we speak. Seriously, though, you did a good job of stating your case. Hopefully, the Society will wish you well as the online Mag continues to evolve. There is a need for both magazines. They should be able to co-exist and complement each other. It's too bad there isn't more material being written for the hard copy magazine. There is a void left by the death of A.I.B. Stewart. Is there anyone out there who can ever fill his shoes?
I suppose Angus MacVicar is beyond writing any articles. (I'm just thinking out loud here.) By being a lifelong resident of Southend and a writer, he has observed so many things that should be written down. The story of his brother's surviving the shipwreck during World War II, as told in his book, "Salt in My Porridge" would make a fascinating article in and of itself. Are you familiar with the story of his brother and several other men surviving in a raft for weeks and ending up all the way across the Atlantic in South America? There are so many stories Mr. MacVicar could relate. I really don't know what his situation is, though...........
Janet
Page 2: Janet and Marie Morrison's 1999 Trip to Scotland - Part One
Page 3: A Hill-Farm Girlhood
Page 4: John and Mary Morrison of Rocky River - The Fifth Part
Page 5: Rambling in Kilkerran with the Colonel
Page 6: The Horse People of Kintyre
Page 7: Kintyre Smugglers - Part 2
Page 8: By Hill and Shore - Part 2