Just jumping right in here:
My great aunt discovered the internet in her retirement, she's actually rather savvy
now.
Aunt Jeep managed to compile the family history. We're Rhea's now (I'm
specifically a Poe), but she had identified the origins of that name as being the name
taken by an escapee from the Isle of Mann. He was exiled there for Treason against the
Crowne. (The story goes that) his name was Campbell, a Scot, and he was at that time the
13th Earl of Argyle, descendant of the first Campbell. Colin of the Black Clan,
territorially located in the foothills of the Caledonian Highlands during the time of the
initial Roman invasion, making them the first Highlanders' encountered by those dirty
Romans ( I jest, I'm sure they were a clean people...) The story goes that Colin was
given the Campbell as a "trophy" of sorts from a guerrilla raid upon a Roman
battle camp; which he led, being the son of the battle chief. (apparently, these boys
ROUTED the Romani, and forced a rethinking of Roman strategy in Caledonia.)
[side note: Aunt Jeep's 'history' also states that the common trophies taken
by the warriors of the Black Clan were EARS and SCALPS, which is one of the reasons for
them being regarded as a very fierce "don't-jack-with'em" Clan.]
I've read that Torquhil is the 13th AND 4th Earl of Argyle... the timing works out in
such a way as to make me believe that it's possible for Torquhil's lineage to have
"taken over" the Earldom after the exile of my ancestor (Rhea #1), his
subsequent escape to the Isle of Erie and adoption of the name Rhea...
Any thoughts? Any evidence to support or contradict this version of events? Aunt Jeep is
not given to flights of fancy and has always (from what I've been given to understand)
been an astute and dedicated student; I can't believe that she'd be that far wrong
about something like this.
When I was a boy, she had made every son of the generation (19 of us) a full kilt and
regalia in the Clan Tartan (though I didn'a know that term waaaay back then)... It is
almost identical to the currently accepted Campbell Tarten, with the exception of an extra
blue line in the current Tartan. (ours' shows a double green bar, double blue bar,
double green bar... it doesn't have the thin blue line in between the double blue
bar...?!?!?...)
Anywho, I do acknowledge Torquhil Ian Campbell as my Chief... but do I have the hereditary
lines behind that? Or am I a different kind of Campbell altogether?
ANY help will most appreciated!
Thank You,
Jason Rhea Poe