Genealogical assistance

[NorseCelt]

My sister has been tracing our ancestors. She found an Adam Palmer born in 1810. Supposedly his father was also Adam Palmer, from Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. We haven't got a date for his birth. We're trying to find out which clan, if any, our family belongs to.If anyone here can help, I'd appreciate it.If this isn't the correct forum for this question, please let me know where it belongs.Thank you.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Palmer isn't a name that is commonly associated with any Highland clan or Scottish house. If there is a clan connection, it would come through (the Cannongate) Adam Palmer's wife, or the wife of his son. It is also possible that the connection could be much closer, perhaps as close as a grandmother.

[NorseCelt]

The wifes name was Mary Erskine, if I can read my own handwriting. The son married an Irish girl named Mary Ann Rutledge.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Well, the Scottish custom was for non-Scots (or those not affiliated with a clan) to be adopted into their wife's clan. That being the case, and if Erskine is your closest Scottish ancestral connection, then it would be reasonable to consider yourself a member of clan Erskine.

Since a fair amount of time has passed since your ancestor married into clan Erskine, I would suggest that you establish an "official" tie to the clan. The easiest way to to do this is to write to the Chief of Clan Erskine, explain your situation, and asked to be recognized as a member of his clan. Once the chief welcomes you into the clan, you are good to go.

Now there is really no reason to do this, other than simple courtesy. There is nothing to stop you (other than good manners) from wearing any clan badge or clan tartan, including Erskine. But if, as it seems from your original post, you are approaching the subject with respect for Highland tradition, then asking permission of the chief to wear his badge and his tartan would seem to be the right and proper thing to do.

[cck]

My mother's maiden name was Craig and I have reliably traced the family back to my ggg grandfather. In the Irish National Library I found an 1878 book by John O'Hart, "Irish Pedigrees, the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation." In this he follows our family back 1000 years through the Stewarts to Malcom and Duncan. While this is very interesting, I wonder about the reliability. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[NorseCelt]

Well, the Scottish custom was for non-Scots (or those not affiliated with a clan) to be adopted into their wife's clan. That being the case, and if Erskine is your closest Scottish ancestral connection, then it would be reasonable to consider yourself a member of clan Erskine.

Since a fair amount of time has passed since your ancestor married into clan Erskine, I would suggest that you establish an "official" tie to the clan. The easiest way to to do this is to write to the Chief of Clan Erskine, explain your situation, and asked to be recognized as a member of his clan. Once the chief welcomes you into the clan, you are good to go.

Now there is really no reason to do this, other than simple courtesy. There is nothing to stop you (other than good manners) from wearing any clan badge or clan tartan, including Erskine. But if, as it seems from your original post, you are approaching the subject with respect for Highland tradition, then asking permission of the chief to wear his badge and his tartan would seem to be the right and proper thing to do.

Thank you for this information. Once I figure out how to contact the Chief of Clan Erskine, I will do just that.
Thank you again.

[ThistleDown]

I think somebody else asked for the same information just recently. In any case:

The Rt. Honourable the Earl of Mar and Kellie
Chief of Clan Erskine
Hilton Farm
Alloa
Clackmannanshire
SK10 2PS