Chain Of Destiny

 Chain Of Destiny by Nigel Tranter. is a story focused on King James Stewart IV of Scotland.

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Flodden Field (Source)

The King died in the Battle of Flodden.

Pennsylvania Was The Gateway

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Pennsylvania was the gateway and first resting place and the source of Scotch-Irish adventure and enterprise as they moved west and south. The wave of emigration striking the eastern border of Pennsylvania, in a measure deflected southward through Maryland. Virginia, the Carolinas, reaching and crossing the Savannah river... . 

Scotland's Influence on Civilization

Scotland's Influence on Civilization, By Leroy Jones Halsey:

Old Mortality

Old Mortality, by Sir Walter Scott:

INTRODUCTION TO OLD MORTALITY.

The remarkable person, called by the title of Old Mortality, was we'll known in Scotland about the end of the last century. His real name was Robert Paterson. He was a native, it is said, of the parish of Closeburn, in Dumfries-shire, and probably a mason by profession--at least educated to the use of the chisel. 

Old Mortality chanced to be at the same place, on the usual business of his pilgrimage; for the Castle of

Dunnottar, though lying in the anti-covenanting district of the Mearns, was, with the parish churchyard, celebrated for the oppressions sustained there by the Cameronians in the time of James II.

"Robert Paterson, alias Old Mortality, was the son of Walter  Paterson and Margaret Scott, who occupied the farm of Ilaggisha, in  the parish of Hawick, during nearly the first half of the eighteenth  century. Here Robert was born, in the memorable year 1715."

George McLean (More) Moir At St. Bernard's

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Baptism of Peter Wilson McIntyre Moir was held at St. Bernard's Church, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.  Information in the record of *Peter Wilson Mcintyre Moir from Scotland Church Records and Kirk Session Records:

Name Peter Wilson Mcintyre Moir

Baptism 30 Nov 1900

Event Place (Original) St. Bernard's Church, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Father's Name George Mclean Moir  

Mother's Name Mary Mcintyre

*Note: Peter and I are second cousins twice removed

The End Of The Line

George, Earl of Dunbar and March (Cospatrick), one of the major characters in the historical novel, The End Of The Line, by Nigel Tranter, was the last of his family to hold the title.

As an Earl, George's life was intertwined with the politics, as was his father before him. Important to the story was King James I.

"James First Of Scotland...was born in the year 1394. He was the son of Robert III, the second of the Stewart line. Robert s eldest son David was considerably older than James. He was created Duke of Rothesay, being the first who bore the title of duke in Scotland."  "...[the Duke of Rothesay] was cast into a dungeon and during fifteen days cruelly starved to death. No male heir was now left between Albany [the King's brother] and the crown but his young nephew James." [Source]

Cameron of Lochiel was mentioned:

"There were complaints [about Alexander, Earl of Buchan] coming from many clans and chiefs, including the Lord of the Isles himself, the new Earl of Ross, the Mackintosh, Cameron of Lochiel, Shaw of Tordarroch and others."

View From Stirling Castle

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View from Stirling Castle

"It is at Stirling that the traveler from the South first begins to discern the immensity of the mountain region to which he is directing his way... ." 

"...the region that lies about the Highland Railway affords the most varied as well as the wildest and most magnificent range of scenery. The line really starts from Perth, but the access from Stirling is an appropriate and striking introduction to its wonders, although it may be approached a little more directly from Edinburgh by crossing the Firth of Forth and proceeding through Fifeshire. A detour by Dunfermline and Kinross we found very pleasant... ."

Kilmalie

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This parish which lies partly in Argyle and partly in Inverness...included the districts of Ardgour, Lochiel, Glenluy, Locharkeg, Achadromc, and Glengarry all lying within the ancient lordship of Lochaber.

Morvern, Scotland

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Emigration from Scotland: Emigrants' Correspondence
Year: 1813
Reference: Fassiefern Papers, Acc. 11910/32 
Description: Letter of Norman MacLeod, Minister of Morven, to Ewen Cameron of Fassiefern with details from the parish register of the family of Captain Donald Cameron, now living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Courtesan

The Courtesan by Nigel Tranter....featured the court of King James VI of Scotland and the machinations of his advisor, Master Patrick Gray which were often countered by his fictional daughter, Mary Gray.  Ludovic 'Vicky' Stuart, the second Duke of Lennox, was devoted to Mary and was often her confidante.

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King James came to believe that he was plagued by witches, so there were witch trials across Scotland. 

"In Scotland the belief in Witchcraft was all but universal and was sanctioned by the highest authority. King James VI was an ardent student of Witchcraft which his 'Daemonologie,' in three books, gravely discusses as a science."

The King also loved writing poetry* as well as his thoughts about religion and demons.

*Immortall Gods, sen I with pen and Poets airt

So willingly hes servde you, though my skill be small,

I pray then euerie one of you to help his pairt,

In graunting this my sute, which after follow shall. [Source]

The Marchman

The Marchman by Nigel Tranter, relates the story of John Maxwell, Warden of the West March.

John Maxwell's father, who was the Warden when the story opened, was captured by the English during the Battle of Solway Moss.  John, a participant who escaped, became deputy warden.  He operated as the de facto warden, as the former deputy, Lord Herries, wasn't up to the job.

John Maxwell married Lord Herries' daughter, Agnes, who became close to John when she helped him with his warden duties.  After Agnes' father's death, her husband John was then Lord Herries, there being no sons in the family.

Source - Herries home of John And Agnes

King James V died, shortly after his daughter Mary's birth (Mary Queen of Scots), causing political upheaval in Scotland.  Mary, as the eventual wife of the King of France, lived in that country until she was widowed.

Mary met with some resistance from George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntley as she was touring Scotland after her return, which culminated in the Battle of Corriches.  Lord Herries played an integral part of securing the victory for the Queen.

Also see Historical memoirs.... Herries, John Maxwell, 4th Baron, 1512?-1583.

Historical Families Of Dumfriesshire

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"With the Bruces and Baliols, the Graemes or Grahames, Carliles, and Corries, seem at this date to have been the chief landowners in Dumfriesshire.  The Grahames and Carliles claimed direct descent--the first from King Grime, and the last from Malcolm II of Scotland; and with their kindred, the Kirkpatricks, were on good terms apparently with the Norman immigrants, as their names are frequently found together on inquisitions, or as witnesses to the same deeds."

Researchers Refute The MacGregor Connection

The Norman family of Heris, descended from the Count de Vendome, came to England with the Conqueror, and followed David I to Scotland where Robert de Heris is called Dominus de Nithdale in a charter of 1323.  As Herries of Terregeles they played a prominent part in Scottish history, and finally merged into the Maxwells.

The Backwoods of Canada

The Backwoods of Canada: Being Letters from the Wife of an Emigrant Officer ...,  By Catherine Parr Strickland Traill:

"The only vessel in the river bound for Canada, was a passenger-ship, literally swarming with emigants, chiefly of the lower class of Highlanders."

"When the weather is fine I sit on a bench on the deck, wrapped in my cloak, and sew, or pace the deck with my husband, and talk over plans for the future, which in all probability will never be realized."

"...one of my countrymen [who] just returned from the western district on his way back to England...entreats us by no means to go further up this horrid country as he emphatically styles the Upper Province... .  He had been induced by reading Cattermole's pamphlet on the subject of Emigration to quit a good farm and gathering together what property he possessed to embark for Canada. Encouraged...he purchased a lot of wild land in the western district...".

The Lairds Of Glenlyon

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Archibald Campbell's profile at Wikitree.  His wife, Jean, may be an ancestress of mine, through her husband Duncan Stewart.

Duncan Stewart m. Jean Campbell

Daughter Margaret Stewart m. Alexander Campbell

Daughter Isabel Campbell m. John MacEwen Cameron

Son John Cameron m. Jean Campbell

Son Allan Cameron m. Catherine Cameron

Son Allan Cameron m. Ann McMillan (top of tree below)

 Beatrice Cameron Powers' Ancestors

Robert Bruce, King Of Scotland

Bruce

Robert de Brus entry at Wikitree


The Scottish Nation: Or, The Surnames, Families...:

From a branch of this family came, according to Burke, Robert de Brusi, a descendant of Einar fourth jarl of Orkney, brother of the famous Rollo, (great-great-grandfather of William the Conqueror)... .

 ...de Brusee the ancestor of the Bruses and the first of name who appeared in England.  He accompanied the Conqueror there in 1066, but died soon after.

By wife Agnes...had two sons, William and Adam... .  Adam died in 1098, leaving by Emma, wife, daughter of...Sir William Ramsay, sons namely, Sir Robert... .  His son, Robert de Brus of Cleveland, served as a companion in arms under Prince David, afterwards David the of Scotland... .

Lords Of Misrule

From the Lords Of Misrule, by Nigel Tranter:

"The Scots had ever been a race of genealogists." 

"Behold the High King of Scots, Ard Righ Albannach, Robert, son of Robert, son of Marjorie, daughter of Robert, son of Robert, son of Robert...".  "On and on he went, tracing the Royal descent back through the Bruce generations to David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother of William the Lion and Malcolm the Fourth and so by Malcolm Canmore through seven more generations to Kenneth MacAlpine, who united Picts and Scots...". (Page 391)

Others who appear in Lordsof Misrule are Sir James "2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar" Douglas aka of Dalkeith, husband of Isabella (daughter of King Robert and sister of King Robert* who was crowned with the genealogical line noted above).  Isabella's brother, Alexander "Earl of Buchan", "The Wolf of Badenoch" was also featured at times.  *His name was John, crowned as Robert, even though he had a brother named Robert.

For more genealogical information about the Royal House of Stuart:

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Galloway Under Kings Of Scotland

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Thirteen Tribes

From The Highlanders of Scotland: Their Origin, History and Antiquities. With a ...,  By William Forbes Skene:

Envoy Extraordinary (For King Alexander III)

(Possibly Alexander III's Seal)

Envoy Extraordinary, by Nigel Tranter:

Alexander II of Scotland had just died and his young son Alexander III had been crowned king and was in need of a regent. 

*Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, was the "envoy extraordinary" for Alexander III.  Below is a brief biography of the earl:

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*Wikitree entry lists Cecilia Fraser as the sixth earl's wife; the historical novel, Envoy Extraordinary, and the above source names his wife as Christian Bruce.

Alexander III wed Margaret Plantagenet, daughter of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence.  Alexander was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and all of his children. Daughter Margaret died in childbirth; the child, Margrete, was Alexander's only surviving heir in his lifetime.  King Alexander died suddenly (shortly after he was remarried to Yolande de Dreux), so his granddaughter, the young Margrete (Margaret, Maid of Norway), traveled from her Norwegian home to Scotland.  She was Scotland's first queen regnant, though she died Orkney, after her ship was blown off course, in the arms of the welcoming Bishop. 

King Alexander III left no heirs, which was a problem for Scotland. 

Clan Buchanan And Its Plaid

Buchanan

Towards the middle of the 13th century, Gilbert, seneschal to the Earl of Lennox, 

obtained from him a part of the lands of Buchanan in Stirlingshire, 

and took his name from them. 

Clan Buchanan's entry at Wikipedia here.