Hello fellow researchers,
It has been several months since I last offered to share some of the more
important research items discovered during my study of the Scotch-Irish. Because
of the amount of time required to copy and mail these items I will only be
able to do this once a year. ( I make my living selling real estate) You will
find three new items listed below as well as the original items listed in my
January post.
Rockbridge County, Virginia Notebook, Compiled from Articles by Dr. George W.
Diehl as published in the News-Gazette, Lexington, Virginia. Additional
charts and notes have been added as well as a surname index. Compiled by A. Maxim
Coppage III, 242 pages.
For a number of years, the late Dr. George W. Diehl contributed historical
and genealogical articles to the News-Gazette, Lexington, Virginia, published by
M.W. Paxton, Jr. The clippings from the paper were sent to Mr. Coppage for
the "Virginia Collection" In many instances information may be found showing
where families originated in Scotland or Ireland, the places lived before
settling in the Rockbridge County, Virginia area and the relationships between
various clans or as Dr. Diehl so aptly named this phase of pioneering, "A
Rockbridge Seed-box."
"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 prefece 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"....Lots of detail on the early members of the church as
well as problems with the Indians and the struggle over land rights during the
westward expansion.
The Scotch-Irish In The Colonies: 1750-1790 A Thesis Presented for the Degree
of Master of Arts by Kathryn R. Aikin, A.B., The Ohio State University, 1933
Contents include Introduction, Early Settlements, Daily Life on the Frontier,
Educational and Religious Activities, Military Pursuits, and Political
Participation and Conclusion. Also a GREAT Bibliography, the most important part of
any thesis.
Listed below are the other books and manuscripts previously offered to the
various surname lists that are predominately Scotch-Irish:
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 Sociey of
Antiquaries of Ireland, Belfast, Davidson & 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 I quote, "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..."
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, in fact almost impossible.
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 1200 genealogical
sketches)
4. Those engaged in the relief of the city
A History of the Siege of Londonderry and Defense of Enniskillen 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.
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, 1929, The Linenhall Press, Belfast, 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.
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.
The 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.
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.
The most popular of the documents offered, this covers the families who
settled in Russell county, Virginia when it was considered the frontier. If
your ancestors came through southwestern Virginia, this document is the
history of your family. 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. Names
like Russell, Walker, Porter, Cowan, Houston, Boone, Montgomery, Fraley,
Thompson, Anderson, Kilgore, and 50 or so other "Scotch-Irish" families make
this an invaluable resource for your family history.
The Reverend 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.
The Stirling Merchant Gild and Life of John Cowane, founder of Cowane's
Hospital in Stirling, by David B. Morris, Town Clerk, Stirling, Jamieson &
Munro, LTD. 1919, 367pages.
This is really two books in one. The first part deals with the Gild. Laws,
history, struggle with Unfreemen and with the Crafts, Administration,
Merchandising, Conditions of entry, etc. and the second part which is about
the life of John Cowane, Dean of the Gild and his contributions to it.
Well there you have it. The best documents I have found. If you are
interested in obtaining any of the above items (I would like to make copies
for free but I can't)
contact me at cscunc(a)aol.com for details.
Regards,
Robert Cowan
525 Harrogate Rd.
Matthews, North Carolina 28105