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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Dumfriesshire => Topic started by: susan3 on Friday 24 March 06 23:48 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone steer me in the right direction...the internet has me going in circles!
There appears to be three major clans local to the Dumfriesshire area - Bruce, Johnston and Armstrong....one would assume the Lockerbie family would be a sept of one of these; Bruce if they were from the Lochmaben area! BUT when I plug in clan Lockerbie I get info saying the family name is a Sept of Douglas.
One website even said they were a sept of Dughlas which emed to deal with witchcraft...now that can't be right...can it? any historians out there????
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Hello Susan
Most Scots don't tend to look for 'clan' associations especially in the Border areas.
The idea of clans relates much more to the North and West of Scotland and the Inner and Outer Isles.
We talk more of Border 'families'. They can be associated with some of the big land owners in the 1500/1600 's. If you lived under their protection (which meant you had to take up arms when they told you to!!) you did not neccessarily have the same name as the local Lord.
Seeking 'clan' associations is a very American thing and some of the assumptions made are based on fairly insubstantial evidence.
Most early histories were about the landed classes not the real peasants working the land so tracing families is a problematical business. No one ever wrote their stories so history books don't really help but they were superstitious and there were purges of witches in Scottish history.
Russell
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I have info to share about my grandmother who was a Johnstone from Dumfries but having difficulty finding rest of her family.
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Hi Pimms
Welcome to RootsChat from another RootsChatter.
Could i suggest to you that to catch more peoples attention it might be a good idea to start a thread of your own rather than tagging it on to an existing thread. That way everybody sees the SUBJECT line and anyone with a special interest in either the name or the area will be alerted to your quest.
The more problems people post here the better some folks like it! It's great fun helping another searcher find what sometimes seems impossible.
Put up as much detail about your grandmother as you have e.g. place, age , dates husband's name, childrens names, that way folks know if they have a link.
Remember - on here there ain't such a thing as a silly question! ;)
Have you looked at this site for Dumfries area?
http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/dumgal/default.aspx
Their census page is too early for you but there may be other interesting bits relating to the area.
Russell
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Hello from Wales
I don't think clan is very helpful for the Dumfrieshire area.
There are many family names, many of whom are deeply rooted in the area. The history of this area is quite complex.
I'm also researching Johnston but also Calvert, Todd, Bell, Morrine/Morraine, McKie, Malcolmson, Maban and many others.
Johnston and Armstrong were associated with Border warfare as Reivers and Bruce is from De Brus and the Norman settlement.
Folklore linked many people with witchcraft so don't take that too seriously.
Which families are you most interested in and perhaps I can help with suggestions of where to look etc.
If you give all the info you have it'd be helpful.
Gill
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I have a great grandmother who was a Johnstone from Dumfriesshire.
Who were you looking for? My G-Grandgmother, Mary, married William Brown and emmigrated to Australia.- any use? They were farmers in Dryfesdale before migrating in 1859.
Wiggy
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i have johnstones bells and kerrs in my background and most families in dumfriesshire will have a johnstone the best thing is to start a new subject with your relatives name at the top and then put all the details you know underneath i am sure everybody who has any connection will join in csc
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There appears to be three major clans local to the Dumfriesshire area - Bruce, Johnston and Armstrong.
Just three?
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I have a Johnstone too in my family tree who I cannot find out much about except that she married my great grandfather who was an Armstrong and was born in Canonbie c1861.
As others have suggested if you provide more information on what you do know maybe we can help.
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I thought for once I might be able to help someone else by knowing where one of the Johnstones had got to!!! :D
My G-Grandmother Mary's mother was possibly a Wallace - i.e. on her death certificate, her middle name is given as Wallace - father David Johnstone mother Mary (maiden name unknown). ???
Mary J - Born 1824 - Dumfriesshire or nearby. Died Ballarat Victoria Australia 1899.
Married William Brown 1845 Dumfriesshire,
William's parents Robert - 1784 and Janet (Eskdale) Abt 1786 - children William, Dyebella (Isabella?) Thomas. 1841 census. Think Robert may have died young - not there in 1841.
Hope this will help someone maybe.
Wiggy
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Here is some information on Border Families you might enjoy reading.
http://www.borderreivers.co.uk/index.html
http://www.reivers-guide.co.uk/borderreivers.htm
James Kerr.
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Here is some information on Border Families you might enjoy reading.
http://www.borderreivers.co.uk/index.html
http://www.reivers-guide.co.uk/borderreivers.htm
James Kerr.
Can I also suggest reading "The Steel Bonnets" written by George MacDonald Fraser?