Geneology - What's yours?

[gilmore]

... The bride's father was Daniel Bell, who was also a witness to the baptism of their first child. Daniel Bell as a 5 x great grandfather is my earliest confirmed ancestor, he would have been born about 1710 to 1720. I have been unable to prove or disprove whether this is the same Daniel Bell from Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire who fathered a daughter Janet Bell in 1742. If I could confirm this then I could go back a further three generations as that family were farmers and were well documented in local records. ....

Might I suggest Y DNA testing?

If you can locate a male, patrilineal Bell descendant from each of these men, it would be a simple matter to determine it is the same Daniel Bell who is their common ancestor.

It might take a bit of digging, following the paper trail forward instead of backward as we usually do in genealogy, and it would cost a couple of hundred pounds, but the results would show to a high degree of probability if it was the same man.

For how to do this, go to www.familytreedna.com and click on their FAQ. They have the largest database of all the genetic genealogical testing companies.

There is a Bell Surname Project here: http://home.earthlink.net/~bell.ancestries/ If you are tested through a surname project, Family Tree gives you a discount.

[ThistleDown]

We really shouldn't get too wrapped up in legitimising our clan connections. Genealogy is one thing, but trying to connect patronymics to specific clans is quite another. There was a time in the 19C when writers and root-finders, all excited about the new romantic Victorian image of Highland Scotland, went off and rustled names from all over the map.

[gilmore]

We really shouldn't get too wrapped up in legitimising our clan connections. Genealogy is one thing, but trying to connect patronymics to specific clans is quite another. There was a time in the 19C when writers and root-finders, all excited about the new romantic Victorian image of Highland Scotland, went off and rustled names from all over the map.

While it is certainly true that many, perhaps a majority, of individuals' surnames' claims as septs of clans are bogus, some aren't. Genealogical research through clans and more recently clan associations can bear fruit from time to time. Many clan associations have a genealogist who assists members.

[ThistleDown]

While it is certainly true that many, perhaps a majority, of individuals' surnames' claims as septs of clans are bogus, some aren't. Genealogical research through clans and more recently clan associations can bear fruit from time to time. Many clan associations have a genealogist who assists members.

Yes, definitely. That was the subject of my original post in this thread to Chattan Cat. Highlands Council has a staff genealogist who can be a great help to those who think their ancestors may have originated in the Central and Northern Highlands.

[ThistleDown]

Perhaps slightly off-topic, but perhaps of interest. In 1609 the clans of the Central Highlands -- the Clan Chattan -- signed a Bond of Union. At least 8 of those clans have extant chiefs and the rest have representatives today. Next year, the 400th anniversary, they will be signing it anew. Those whose ancestors originated in that region, and those who support the concept of bonds of friendship and common purpose (sound familiar to XMTS members?) might want to visit http://www.electricscotland.com/webc.../chattan3.html for a preview.

[Ancienne Alliance]

David Reid 1661 in Inverness
and
Elisabeth McKinnon 1665 in Inverness

[Master K9]

Holmes-Scottish, English, Irish, Negro, Cherokee

McGrath-Irish

[Kilted Rogue]

here ya go. the names i have been researching are
Chard has stalled at early 1800s my supposed g g grandfather came over via Ireland.he is listed on the same census as a verified member of my family, both men were shipbuilders .
Washburn( have traced back to aprox. 1197)
Barnum/Barnham
Longtin (that one is Quebec)

Does anyone have any info on these names? i can provide more info if needed. the bulk of my family settled in Upstate NY.

[ChattanCat]

We really shouldn't get too wrapped up in legitimising our clan connections. Genealogy is one thing, but trying to connect patronymics to specific clans is quite another. There was a time in the 19C when writers and root-finders, all excited about the new romantic Victorian image of Highland Scotland, went off and rustled names from all over the map.

Whether you investigate your past is your decision. I have and enjoy the history and knowing what,where and when I can trace my past fathers.

[ThistleDown]

For sure, Wallace. What I was trying to say was that genealogy is a science and it can be hugely frustrating for anyone if he mixes that up with sept-attachment. There's a heap of evidence supporting a Cattenach origin in Badenoch, and probably Lochaber, even before they appeared in Dee-side/Don-side in the early 15C (see my post 22 in this thread). That makes your attachment to Clan Chattan a foregone conclusion. But for someone with the name Gow, for example, the lists claim it to also be of Clan Chattan. There was a family named Gow in Badenoch, but the name is simply Gaelic (gobha) for smith and most glens had one of those. How frustrating for a Gow to spend years believing he is a Macpherson, only to successfully trace his ancestry to Argyll or Caithness!