Greetings fellow researchers,
For many years I have shared my genealogical research with the folks on
the COWAN, WIGTON-WALKER, and SCOTCH-IRISH rootsweb lists. The trail
leads from Sterling, in Scotland, to Londonderry-Donegal in Ulster, to
Pennsylvania, the valley of Virginia, east Tennessee and points west. If your
ancestors followed a similar path then some of these documents might be of
interest. I have searched for rare, out of print source materials as both a
hobby and an obsession and have offered to make copies for people from time to
time. Because of a busy schedule I will only be able to do so once a
year. I have added two new items since last time and they are described with the
others below beginning with the most recent history first:
Castle's Woods: Frontier Virginia Settlement, 1769-1799, a thesis
presented to the Faculty of the Department of History, East Tennessee
State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
Master of Arts, by James W. Hagy, 1966, 150 pages.
This covers the families who settled in Russell and Scott
counties, Virginia when it was considered the frontier. Contains
information on specific families as well as the farmers, speculators, artisans, and
preachers who resided there. Lots on the Indian battles that were a daily
feature of life on the frontier.
Tthe Tinkling Spring: Headwater of Freedom, A Study of the Church
and Her People, 1732-1952, by Howard McKnight Wilson, 1954, Fisherville,
Virginia, 542 pages.
The BEST source of information on the Scotch-Irish of
Augusta/Rockbridge Counties in Virginia. Includes the Baptismal Records of
the Rev. Craig. In-depth study of the early families of the Shenandoah
Valley.
Rockbridge County, Virginia Notebook, Compiled from articles by Dr.
George W. Diehl as published in the News-Gazette, Lexington, Virginia.
Compiled by A. Maxim Coppage, McDowell Publications, 1982, 242 pages.
"In many instances information may be found showing where
families originated in Scotland or Ireland, the places lived before settling
in Rockbridge County, Virginia area and relationships between the various clans
or as Mr. Diehl so aptly named this phase of pioneering, "A ROCKBRIDGE
SEED-BOX"
This document is almost 100% pure family history and genealogy.
The Rev. Samuel Houston, V.D.M., by George West Diehl, 1970, McClure
Publishing Co. 125 pages
History of the early Virginia Presbyterians through the life of the
Rev. Samuel Houston, kin to Sam Houston of Texas fame.
A Tribute to the Principles, Virtues, Habits and Public Usefulness of
the Irish and Scotch Early Settlers of Pennsylvania, Chambersburg, Pa. Printed
by M. Kiefer & Co. 1856, 171 pages.
From the preface the following: "The writer of the
Tribute contained in this work, had long desired to see from the Historical
publications in Pennsylvania, a vindication of the character and principles of the
Irish and Scotch early settlers of this great state and their descendants
against reproach, as well as aspersion, cast upon them in some modern
publications having pretensions to Historical accuracy...
The Scotch-Irish in the Colonies: 1750-1790: A Thesis Presented
for the Degree of Master of Arts, by Kathryn R. Aiken, A.B., The Ohio State
University, 1933, 91 pages
Chapters include: By way of Introduction, Early
Settlements, Daily Life on the Frontier, Educational and Religious Activities, Military
Pursuits, Political Participation and Conclusion. Like Hagy's Castle
Woods thesis it has a wonderful bibliography, the most important part of any
research document.
The Laggan and its Presbyterianism and In the Days of the Laggan
Presbytery, 1905, 1908, by the Rev. Alexander Lecky, B.A., member of the Royal
Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Belfast, Davidson and McCormack, 54 Kings St.
211 pages
On our recent trip to Donegal we met J.B. Shannon, age 90,
who assisted in the 1975 reprinting of this book. He is the last living
person who had anything to do with these books and he says they are still the
BEST source for Ulster Presbyterian research. From Lecky the
following: "The lists of names of former generations of Lagganeers, and their
places
of abode, that are given in the Appendixes, and which NEVER before appeared in
print, whilst they may of necessity prove dull reading to those who have no
acquaintance with the locality, will not, I hope, be altogether uninteresting
to those who bear the same name, or live in the same places....
A History of the Siege of Londonderry and Defense of Enniskellen in 1688
and 1689, with Historical Poetry and Biographical notes, by the Rev. John
Graham, M.A. Rector of Magilligan in the Diocese of Derry. Includes the
Battles of the Boyne, Athlone, and Aughrim and the siege and Capitulation of
Limmerick by Lord McCaulay, Toronto, 1869
The historical poems are family genealogies about those
who were at Derry and where they came from. Along with "Fighters of Derry"
these two sources contain more actual genealogical information than any others
I have seen.
Fighters of Derry, Their Deeds and Descendants, being a Chronicle of
Events in Ireland during the Revolutionary period, 1688-1691, by William Young,
Eyre and Spottiswoode, London, 350 pages.
One of the most difficult sources to locate. (WorldCat
Inter-Library lists seven known copies) Months worth of reading and packed
with great genealogy. Contains the following biographical sketches:
1. The leaders of the County Associations who, with
their levies, took part in the preliminary operations and contributed much of
the man power for the Defence.
2. The Apprentice Boys and those responsible for shutting the
gates on the 8th Dec. 1688.
3. The actual Defenders during the 105 day siege ((over 12000
genealogical sketches)
4. Those engaged in the relief of the city.
Three Hundred Years in Innishowen, Being More Particularly an Account of
the Family of Young of Culdaff with Short Accounts of Many Other Families
Connected with Them, by Amy Young, The Linenhall Press, Belfast, 1929, 311 pages
Some of the names included are Young, Hart, Harvey, Cary,
Vaughan, McLaughlin, Skipton, Richardson, Knox, Ussher, Smith, Nesbitt,
Chichester, Ball, Lawrence, Crofton, Boyd, Stuart and many others.
The Laggan and its People, by S.M. Campbell, privately printed.
Ms. Campbell lived on the next farm over from my friend
James Fleming in St. Johnston, Donegal. A look at the history of the Laggan
(Presbyterian Derry/Donegal) through the eyes of a local historian.
Draws on local lore, Abercorn papers, records from PRONI.
Well there you have it. The best documents I have found during my
ten years of research. If you are interested in obtaining any of the above
items please contact me privately for details. I do charge to recover
copying and postage costs which is permissible under rootsweb policy.
Regards,
Robert Cowan
525 Harrogate Rd.
Matthews, North Carolina 28105