Vol: 2
Issue; 3
Date; June. 2009
THE ARM AND CROWN
Clan MacQuarrie
Teaghlach, It’s summer and the liven is easy as the song
goes. The Western Massachusetts games have been called off due to the economy
they said. So we look now towards August and the games in Maine and then on to
Loon Mt. in Sept. We have some new members since our last newsletter and to them
we all say Ceud Mille Failte(1000,00 welcomes). Renewals are holding steady
which is good and I thank those that have renewed so far. I have been looking at
some of the other clans to see what they are doing for their members. Some just
collect dues, send out a newsletter and have a yearly meeting of the officers,
and a gathering in sections around the country mostly at Highland events. A few
offer scholarships to members and their children, grandchildren, that are taking
Scottish Heritage classes, such as pipes, dance, harp, (not for Whiskey
tasting). And other such courses that maintains and promotes Highland Culture.
One clan’s by-laws include this paragraph for scholarships
Providing financial assistance to students of Scottish
history, culture and art forms, including writers, sculptors, painters, actors
and musicians, for the purpose of pursuing such a course of study or artistic
project.
I have contacted this clan in hopes of getting some info on
how they go about disbursing any funds but they have not returned my email as of
yet.
One other clan has this in their by-laws:
The Objects of the Founders, which still hold good, were to
provide support for the poor of the Clan, who may be, but do not need to be,
members of the Society, and to assist their young in schooling, apprenticeship
and, for those “of promising genius”, at University or otherwise. Pensions,
scholarships and bursaries are still awarded
I have heard back from these folks, but they could not offer much in the way of
help other than good luck .I asked how they set it up. The reply was, “our clan
society was established in 1725 and there have been many solid investments and
bequeaths towards this fund.” Ok, so we are on our own if we decide to do
something like this. I suggest that $5.00 of every dues be set a side for such a
program. But in order for it to work and get off the ground we need a committee
to work together to set up the rules and be a screening group to decide who gets
help. We could not pay the whole cost of a class but we could help out. Please
let me know if you like the idea first then over the next couple of months we
can work out the details with a few of us, write an amendment to the by-laws
send it out and with luck we can start by the fall. If approved I can have a
scholarship jar in the tent at the Games in Sept, Aug if we can get going on
this.
HIGHLAND FACTS
1746 - Highland Dress Proscription Act
Following the Jacobite defeat at Culloden, the last pitched battle on British
soil, Prince Charles fled to South Uist then eventually across to France.
His supporters who remained suffered terribly from ‘Butcher Cumberland’ and his
medieval reprisals. To further punish Scotland, Parliament issued imperious Acts
to destroy the clans, their identities and economic structures.
New laws imposed abolished heritable jurisdictions, claimed estates for the
crown, banned the playing of bagpipes, the wearing of tartans and Highland dress
for all except government troops, and restricted the possession of weapons.
The exact wording of the act was as follows:
"That from and after the First Day of August 1747, no man or boy within that
part of Great Britain called Scotland, other than such as shall be employed as
Officers and Soldiers of His Majesty's Forces, shall on any pretext whatsoever,
wear or put on the clothes, commonly called Highland clothes (that is to say)
the Plaid, Philabeg, or little kilt, Trowes, Shoulder-Belts, or any part
whatever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb; and that no tartan or
party-coloured plaid or stuff shall be used for Great coats or upper coats, and
if any such person shall presume after the first said day of August, to wear or
put on the aforesaid garments or any part of them, every person so offending....
shall be liable to be transported to any of His Majesty's plantations beyond the
seas, there to remain for the space of seven years."
FAMOUS MACQUARRIE’S
Clan Society member Brian MacQuarrie has a new book coming out this month,
Titled “The Ride.”
For the last twenty years, Brian MacQuarrie has been a reporter and editor for
the Boston Globe, where he has covered a wide range of major breaking stories,
including the invasion of Iraq, the September 11, 2001 attacks, and Hurricane
Katrina. He lives in Boston. (The book is listed on the Barnes and Noble web
site.)
MACQUARRIE STORIES
This issue’s stories are taken from the Journal of James Robertson, Sheriff
Substitute from 1841 to 1847, Isle of Mull. The entries all concern Lachlan
MacQuarie of Glenforsa, Captain Scots Greys. He was the only son of
Major-General Lachlan MacQuarie. And died in 1845.
“Wed.14 Dec.1842
S. by E. breeze, and in Evening Gale and rain.
Court day - 4 ordinary cases to avizandum.
In a small debt case a letter was delivered to me from Capt. MacQuarie, bearing
to be H.M.S. I, giving that learned Gentleman’s opinion of the case.(The word
”Learned” is of course intended as irony). At this time J.R. did not know Capt.
MacQuarie as well as he did later and was there for surprised, as he would not
have been later, are that gentleman’s presumption, as a layman, in giving a
supposedly professional opinion in a private letter which he then sent at public
expense, on Her Majesty’s Service, (which he was not entitled to do even though
he was a local lay Magistrate)
Thursday 22 December 1842
W. Breeze. Showers
Wrote letter to L. MacQuarie of Glenforsa, Aros, accepting invitation to spend
Xmas with him.
Saturday 24 December 1842
W, by N. Slight showers of snow
Rode to Glenforsa on a visit to MacQuarie. Met MacQuarie on the road between
Salen and his own house; gave my pony to his servant and returned with him in
his Carriage to Salen. Back to dinner. No company but Mrs. MacQuarie, he and I.
To bed at 2.
Sunday 25 December 1842
W. by N. Stormy and sleety day
Could not go to Church. Called at Knock, but did not go in, Col. Campbell too
ill to see us. Dined alone again.
Monday 26 December 1842
W. by NW. Showers. Sleet
Took Mr. Stewart of Tobermory to Glenforsa in carriage, he and Mr. and Mrs.
Dewar, Salen, dined with us; also little Murdo MacQuarrie a Cousin of McQ who is
deformed. Singing. To bed at half past 12.
Thursday 29 December 1842
W. by N. Dry day
Let me recall a few traits of MacQuarie. He has blunted his intellect by
dissipation; and wine, which turns most men into sots, makes him a madman. He is
restless as a wild beast in a cage; talks incessantly – acts too, gives
imitations, and tell endless and incoherent Military anecdotes and stories all
evidently exaggerated to produce effect. He gets quite unhappy when another
person talks, long, or when he is excluded from the conversation. Like Bully
Bottom he has an insane ambition to mark every part in the drama but his chief
ambition at the present is to shine as a Justice of the Peace.
When I was there he brought certain parties before me in order if possible to
arrange their quarrels, and that he might have the gratification of delivering
his evidence as a Witness in the Cause. After hearing each party make a
statement, I requested MacQuarie, who was the sole witness, to mention what he
knew of the circumstances, upon which he started to his feet, clapped his hands
closely to his sides, and stood at “attention” crying out “Yes, My Lord”. He
then began to give his evidence, which in a short time became an admonition
addressed to both parties, and then a violent tirade against one of them.
On one occasion Mrs. MacQuarie and I got into a quite and harmless discussion of
dome dead scanfal that had been publicly handled in the Courts of Law; when all
of a sudden, and as if by Magic, the Captain converted our quite talk into a
furious dispute – I felt as if a bomb shell had exploded among us, and thought
it prudent to retire from the argument without beat of drum, a conduct which in
matrimonial disputes I have ever found to be discrete.
On Sunday he read the morning and Evening service of the Church of England, I to
my confusion acting as his Clerk and Colleague or C-presbyter, and with
difficulty preventing him from pronouncing the Absolution. He read a sermon in
the Morning, and offered to do the same in Evening, but Mrs MacQuarie and I
objected. All his servants attended on both occasions, though O fear that the
poor highlanders were but little edified. Mrs. MacQuarie is a Presbyterian, and
he and I tried to shew her the errors of her church and convert her to the true
faith, but she answered all our arguments by simply stating as established facts
and undoubted truths the very propositions we had the moment before confuted.
This style of argument is most puzzling of any, for it either makes one lose his
temper, which is a pity in itself, and a sort of triumph to the other side; or
it occasions an awkward feeling that he has not explained himself clearly.
On Monday we drove over the Salen, and in the passage of the Inn met a party of
people from Tobermory returning from the funeral of Mrs. Wilson, the
Watchmaker’s wife. MacQuarie immediately entered into a statement to the
foremost of them to instruct them how and in what manner and in what places
interments should be made. He soon got a numerous audience and among the rest
poor Wilson himself, who pushed into the crowd and with his fat round innocent
face looked up at MacQuarie in great admiration. I whispered to him who Wilson
was upon which he immediately shook him by the hand and kindly condoled with him
upon his “irreparable” loss. He then ordered them some whiskey – and observing
Mr. Stewart the Clergyman in the crowd he insisted on his accompanying us to
Glenforsa. . . MacQuarrie entered into a theological discussion with the
Minister which he introduced very seriously by declaring that the only subject
that disturbed his faith in the Old Testament was the Australian Kangaroo – for,
he said, there was no Kangaroos in the Old World since the Flood, and the
Australian Kangaroo not having emigrated from the Old World to that Country, it
follows as a consequence that it lived from the Creation in Australia, and that
place was not submerged at the time of Noah’s flood, which is contrary to the
Biblical account that represents the waters as covering the whole earth. – “Now
Sir” said he “How do you explain that” – Mr. Stewart entered into a painful and
laborious explanation which it is unnecessary to recapitulate, seeing that I am
not troubled with same doubts that beset the Captain’s mind . . . After I came
home he sends an express through the night with a letter of advice and
suggestions. He has given up drinking spirits, but still takes to much wine –
Pity ‘tis that a young fellow of fair abilities, good dispositions, fine
appearance and most gentlemanly address, should ”put an enemy into his mouth to
steal away his senses” – With all his faults I cannot help liking him – but,
like all men verging on insanity he is uncertain and dangerous in more ways than
one; and I will rather avoid than court his society.”
There will be more entries from Robertson’s journal next time.
RESEARCH NOTES
I know everyone does this but it is just a reminder, when looking for your
MacQuarries be sure to check all spellings. I found one MacQuarrie born in Nova
Scotia about 1864, No trace of him until the 1900 census he was living in
Wisconsin, the census had him as McQuary, 1910 as McQuarrie and his death notice
in 1924 back to MacQuarrie. You never know how our people will show up.. I have
even seen the Q replaced by an “I” on some of the census. So don’t’ pass over
someone just because the name is spelled a little different then what you may be
looking for. double check them all
Family Reunion
Glade McQuarrie has sent me this note, if anyone is out that way stop by and say
hello.
The Reunion for our branch of the McQuarrie Tree will be held on Jun 27, 2009 in
Logan, Utah. The name of the park is Willow Park We will be at area C in that
park. The address is 419 West 700 South. There is a Small zoo, Playgrounds,
swimming pool and other things. Glade descends from Allan McQuarrie who came to
Utah in the mid 1800’s
EVENTS
With the Massachusetts games canceled this year I have decide to go to Vermont
Scottish Festival in Quechee, Vt it will be Aug.22 it is a one day event .So if
you can’t get up to Berwick Me, the week before try and make it to VT. And don’t
forget Loon Mt in Sept. Hope to see you at one.
ILLNESS
Please keep Tom in Prayer as he under goes surgery and chemo this summer.
That’s it for now
Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thàinig thu
"Remember the people from whom you came"