Did you know that April 6 is Tartan Day? Share your favourite Scottish profiles in this thread!

Question

Did you know that today (April 6) is Tartan Day, to celebrate Scottish heritage and the wearing of tartan?

It's a bit late in the day (not April 6 anymore in Scotland!), but let's share some Scottish profiles here in this thread. Who are your favourite Scots?

Comments

Would we say that descendants of black slaves in the U.S. are not African-American?

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I would say that they are Americans. Acknowledgement of heritage is another thing and to be encouraged and again people should be proud of their history.. but it has alway puzzled me - why do Americans have a need to be something else ...why isn't being American enough?

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Ah, I guess it goes back to the old difference between Brits (no offense) and Americans. Brits think that 200 miles is a long way; Americans think 200 years is a long time. It really wasn’t that long ago that many of us had as long a heritage in Britain (no offense). We Americans didn’t give that up just because of a political division. I think that being allies in two world wars put to rest the idea that we are so different. The great Winston Churchill, he with the American mother, wrote The History of the English Speaking People and saw the common bond. An excellent celebrating our common heritage.

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Well the fun thing is that we are all on here now making discoveries about families.

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Zactly! I should have done this looong ago! Enjoyed the conversation, Norma. Best of luck with your research.

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There is a difference between citizenship and ethnicity. I wouldn't trade my American citizenship for any other. I am proud to be an American, but I am also proud to be part Scottish, part Irish, part English, part Welsh, and part German. I am the sum total of all who have gone before me.

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Well said, Loretta! I think I’ve got your mix? We related?

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Thank you Pip. I often wonder how many distant cousins I've met and never known were cousins. We've discovered 53 surnames among our direct ancestors. Perhaps you'd like to compare lists.

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I can assure you that if you are an American McDonald (MacDonald, McDaniel, McAlister, etc., or other Clan Donald name), you are quite welcome to Clan Donald cultural appropriation. This assurance comes direct from words I have personally heard from Lord MacDonald at our annual Clan Donald USA meetings.

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Clan Macneil allows any descendant to wear the tartan, including all the variant names. I joined the American association through my maternal grandmother, Beatrice Reamer Neal Underwood.  However, the Macneils of Colonsay might be a little more exclusive,  it I’m not even sure they’re a separate clan. (They do claim to be the senior line of the chiefs.) Still, the American association didn’t make that distinction about the branches, Gigha included.

Answer 1

Declaration of Arbroath signed April 6, 1320!

Answer 2

Well, duh!  Scotch Whisky!!  Let's go with Lagavulin ... a nice smooth one.

Answer 3

The things you learn on WikiTree.  This is a new one on me.   My favourite Scots - Easy.   Charles Rennie Mackintosh - http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Mackintosh-103 and all my family.

Answer 4

It has to be Robbie Burns.  And a Speyside whisky for me please, there's a wide choice.

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Burns-2738

Answer 5

I am partial to Alexander MacDonald [MacDonald-1884]

Hands Down

Answer 6

Well I see this and I am a little torn, do I go with this guy:
   James Anderson [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Anderson-34351]
The ggg-grandfather that came over in 1796 to be a fur trader for the Hudson Bay Company?  I mean he is well documented and there is a picture - plus I have met one cousin here that has gone over to the Orkneys and saw his house - still occupied and gathered even more information on he and his family that I am waiting to see entered

OR do I go with his son in law:
   William Sinclair
   https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sinclair-4420

who has been a "brick wall" for so long for myself and another cousin -

It is a toss up for now but I guess I have time to decide before this day rolls around again!

Comments

Navarro, how about going with both to honor them both? I’m split like that, too.

Answer 7

I've had Tartan Day gatherings at my home for 12 years now and hope to do so for many more years to come. One of my favorite Scottish profiles has to be one of my own - Robert Lyne, who was third in a known line of de Lynes who owned the free barony of Lyne in Peeblesshire. His son David owned the estate of Loquhariot near Edinburgh, and one topographical account of Scotland notes that the Lynes are the earliest owners of Loquhariot of whom there is any record. Also, the family was associated with the Anglo-Norman families of Balliol, Morville, and Hay, the latter of whom became Marquisses of Tweeddale.  Robert is Lyne-29.

Other favorite Scottish profiles include the Reformer John Knox, Knox-428, though I think there's much more that could be said in his bio.  I would say William Wallace the patriot, but I haven't been able to identify him yet at WikiTree.  There's a whole boatload of William Wallaces with no dates, and I haven't checked them all.  Surely he must be here somewhere.

Comments

William Wallace 1272-1305; Wallace-182 but his wife and daughter may just be a myth
http://clanwallace.org/cw/wallaces-wife-marion-braidfute-was-invented/

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Thanks!

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I’ll vote for Knox. Whitley, Elizabeth, Plain Mr. Knox (Richmond: John Knox Press, 1960) 220 pages with index. Seen anything newer?

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No, I'm sorry I haven't. In fact, I haven't seen the 1960 book yet.

Answer 8

My 3rd Great Grandfather, John C. Lindsay (1800 - Madderty, Perthshire, Scotland) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lindsay-2283

His son, my 2nd Great Grandfather, Charles Craigie Lindsay (1848 - 1925, b. in Abbotshall, Fife, Kirkcaldy, Scotland / d. in Wakefield, Middlesex, Massachusetts) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lindsay-1384

Answer 9

My favorite Scotsman would be Malcolm McAfee, the last chief  of the McAfee clan, 9th great-grandfather on my mothers side and one of his son in-laws James McDonald.

Answer 10

Happy Tartan Day !!