Greetings from Central Oregon!

[bendmac]

Latha math!

My wife and I live in Bend in Central Oregon, just east of the Cascade Mountains. Four years in USCG out of high school (Presidental Honor Guard in D.C., Engineering School in Yorktown, Va, two years crewing on a 44' motor lifeboat on the Oregon coast); worked in civilian law enforcement until I 'semi retired' in 2014; Master Mason (Bend Lodge #139 AF&AM). Have been trying to learn to play the pipes, but at this point, using just a practice chanter, all I can do is make the cats in the neighborhood yowl! 😆

I never thought much of my Scottish heritage until both my parents passed in the early 2000s. At that point, I became very interested in genealogy...sort of a natural fit for someone in the law enforcement field! (Look for clues, follow the evidence...). Scottish connection is 'Mackay', 'McCullough' and 'McInterfer'...other "half" of the family heritage is Italian ("Vilella").

We've travelled to Scotland twice, most recently for three weeks in 2015. We've tracked our Mackay relatives ('Mackey' has been used since those ancestors arrived in America) and traveled to California, Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina and, most recently, Pennsylvania (got to meet Rocky at USA Kilts and he measured me up for a lovely tweed Argyll jacket in lovat green...GREAT folks!).

My 5th-great grandparents, John Mackey and Ann (Alexander) Mackey arrived in Philadelphia on a ship that sailed from Cobh, Ireland in 1751. They settled in Chester County and later emigrated to North Carolina. Their first-born son, James (my 4th g-gf), was a Lieutenant in the NC militia during the Rev War.

Looking forward to meeting others here and expanding my knowledge!

Cheers!

[cessna152towser]

from the Scottish Borders.

[ASinclair]

Hello!

and

[Tomak]

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

[cck]

from Austin, Texas

[Richrail]

from Reno, NV. My wife and I make a trip to Bend just about every other year or so.

[Tarheel]

Well met new friend. Glad to have another NC fore-father offspring among the Rabble. Those times are past but the sentiments (as with family histories) prevail. Welcome

[Kiltedjohn]

Welcome from a Scotsman living in the English midlands.

[MrLion]

Welcome from Salem, Oregon!