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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Angus (Forfarshire) => Topic started by: weemanswife on Monday 20 September 10 18:44 BST (UK)
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Hi,
Can anyone give me the history of the Meffan Institute in Forfar. e.g. How it got its name.
I have Meffan's in my Family Tree.
Regards,
Weemanswife
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Weeman's wife; I've often wondered that also. My paternal grandmother was Margaret Meffan, 1876-1958 Dundee region. I have my Meffans going back to my 5th great grandfather, David Meffan b c1735 at Inverkeillor.
Any of that sound like your lot?
John Gourlay
Melbourne, Australia
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Sorry WW. I should have looked up your details before I sent. We are already correspondents and 5th cousins, once removed. Long time since we talked.
This posting may bring some more Meffans out of the woodwork. Not many of us on the genealogy scene.
regards
John
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Not related but saw your request.
From Wikipedia
"The Meffan Museum is in the heart of the town. It was built by a daughter of the Provost Meffan as a bequest in 1898. It is home of the Forfar story. "
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There is also this:
Patrick Meffan
Patrick Meffan was born in Kinnettles. His father, William Meffan, was a notary and had business premises in West High Street in Forfar. He was Provost of Forfar between 1817 and 1819 and again between 1823 and 1825. Patrick’s mother was Jane Low. He had a brother and four sisters. The family home was on New Road in Forfar, possibly Bellfield House (or Ravenswood as it is now known).
Patrick also became a legal document writer and was Provost of Forfar for the periods 1833-1835, 1842-44 and 1848-1850.
He gifted the font to Kinnettles Parish church in January of 1863, which is inscribed "The gift of Patrick Meffan to his native Parish Kinnettles 1st January 1863." He died on 11 August of that same year. He was outlived only by his sister Jane, who bequeathed a trust of about £6000 to build a museum and library "to promote the moral and intellectual improvement" of the community of Forfar.
www.kinnettles.org.uk/kist_chapter5.cfm
Monica :)
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Nice one Monica! So not a daughter but a sister who left the bequest which built the museum.
Somebody better tell Wikipedia. ;) ;D
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I thought that too Fifer...and then I re-read that link! I think William, father to Patrick and 'daughter' Jane, was also Provost between 1817 and 1819 and again between 1823 and 1825. So Wikepedia correct, just too many Provosts in the family ;D
Monica
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Well done, Monica and Fifer, now we know.
I don't have anyone in my Meffans that was employed anywhere near the lofty heights of a provost.
John Gourlay
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Hi
Thank you Fifer & Monica as John says not related but helps satisfy the curiousity.
Weemanswife
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My Grandfather was John Meffan. HOw would I go about helping to trace his family tree.
Thx
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Have a look at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=24468.0
The first thing is to try and collect as much information as you can about your parents and grandparents. Names, dates and places of birth, marriage and death. You can download worksheets to fill in that will show you where the gaps are. Something like the four-generation family tree chart available at http://obituarieshelp.org/free_printable_blank_family_tree.html for example, but other formats are available and you my prefer one of these.
Once you have written down what you know or can find out from your family, you are ready to start looking for certificates. All Scottish birth, marriage and death certificates, and most other information necessary to build your tree, are available at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk for a small fee. However you cannot view online a birth less than 100 years ago, a marriage less than 75 years ago, or a death less than 50 years ago; you have to order these, or find someone who can go in person to the Scotland's People Centre and transcribe the information for you.