I35382: Corda (ABT 1890

Notes

By his first marriage he left issue, Sumarlidi, Brusi, and Einar, who divided the Orkneys between them.

Sigurd II "Digri" HLODVERSSON (AFN: 8XJL-41)

" inclusive of the Isle of Man. Thorstein the Red, son of Olaf the White, King of Dublin, and Earl Sigurd, subdued Caithness and Sutherland, as far as Ekkielsbakkie, and afterwards Ross and Moray, with more than half of Scotland, over which Thorstein ruled, as recorded in the Landnama-book. About 963, Sigurd, son of Earl Hlodver, and his wife Audna (the daughter of the Irish king Kiarval), became ruler over Ross and Moray, Sutherland and the Dales (of Caithness), which seems also to have included old Strathnavar.

Sigurd married, secondly, the daughter of Malcolm (Malbrigid), called King of Scotland. He was slain at Clontarf near Dublin, in 1014.

By his first marriage he left issue, Sumarlidi, Brusi, and Einar, who divided the Orkneys between them. By his second marriage he had issue, Thorfinn, on whom King Malcolm bestowed the earldom of Caithness.To quote from the introduction, Njal Saga, by Dasent [Saga of BurntNjal, George Webbe Dasent, 1861], "Ireland knew them [the Vikings]Bretland or Wales knew them, England knew them too well, and a great part of Scotland they had made their own. To this day the name of almost every island on the west coast of Scotland is either pure Norse, or Norse distorted, so as to make it possible for Celtic lips to utter it. The groups of Orkneyand Shetland are notoriously Norse; but Lewis and the Uists, and Skyeand Mull are no less Norse, and not only the names of the islands themselves, but those of reefs and rocks, and lakes, and headlands, bear witness to the same relation, and show that, while the original inhabitants were not expelled, but held in bondage as thralls, the Norsemen must have dwelt and dwelt thickly too, as conquerors and lords."The foregoing extract gives a description which investigation corroborates. The blank in the history of Galloway after the termination of the Strathcluyd kingdom is now fully met. The only difficulty is to determine at what date Galloway became separated from Strathcluyd.

Earl (Jarl)Malcolm, who lived near Whithorn in 1014, is the first Norseman specially named. His place of residence is believed to have been Cruggleton Castle, of historic renown in after-times. Eogan the Bald, who fought at Carham,and died in 1018, was the last King of Strathcluyd. We have thus only a difference of four years, and certain it is that Earl Malcolm was in Galloway, and evidently located there as one in possession. In the Burnt Njal we find the following: "They (Norsemen) then sailed north to Berwick (the Solway), and laid up their ship, and fared up into Whithorn in Scotland, and were with Earl Malcolm that year." . .

.Another point certain from close investigation is, that Jarl (Earl) Thorfinn (son of Sigurd II.) ruled over Galloway in 1034, the time mentioned, and continued to do so until his death in 1064 or 1066 [1057]. In 1034 he was twenty-seven years of age. In Scottish history we learn nothing of him, although in possession of a large part of Scotland. During his lifetime he ruled Galloway from Solway to Carrick. The Flateyjar book contains theOrkneyinga Saga complete in successive portions: and in Munch's Historieet Chronican Manniae, Earl Thorfinn is distinctly mentioned.It is also related that the Earl Gille had married a sister of Sigurd II.,and acted as his lieutenant in the Sudreys. He is said to have resided at Koln, either the island of Coll or Colonsay; and when Sigurd fell at Clontarf in 1014, he took Thorfinn, the youngest son, under his protection, while the elder brothers went to the Orkneys, and divided the northern dominions [p.249]amongst them. The two elder brothers died early in life, and Brusi accepted a pension for his claim; therefore, when Thorfinn grew up he found himself possessed of nine earldoms in Scotland, to which he added all Galloway. Munch thinks they were Caithness, Sutherland, Ross, Moray, Buchan, Athol, Lorn, Argyle, and Galloway. To quote from Munch: "The Orkneyinga Saga says so expressly."

Outliving his elder brothers, he (Thorfinn) became the Lord of Orkney and Shetland; Caithness was given to him by his maternal grandfather, and after the death of Malcolm . . . he . . . conquered Sutherland and Ross, and made himself lord of Galloway, in the widest sense of this denomination --viz., from Solway to Carrick--where he resided for long periods,.and whence he made successful inroads, sometimes on Cumberland, sometimes upon Ireland. He possessed, besides the Sudreys and part of Ireland, not less than nine earldoms in Scotland, etc. As Munch further states, all the Hebrides and a large kingdom of Ireland were also his. The Skeld Arnor, who personally visited him, and made a poem in his honour, testifies in it that his kingdom extended from Thurso rocks to Dublin. He also mentions that Thorfinn obtained possession of eleven earldoms in Scotland, all the Sudreyar (Hebrides), and a large territory in Ireland. He further states that Thorfinn sent men into England to foray, and then, having collected a force from the places named, he sailed from England, where he had two pitched battles: as Arnor gives it--"South of Man did these things happen."

This is contemporary evidence. In 1035, when Rognwald arrived from Norway, Thorfinn was much occupied in Scotland, and they made an alliance by which Rognwald was to have his part of Orkney free of contest, under condition of assisting Thorfinn with all the forces he could command. This alliance lasted ten years, and during that time Thorfinn made many incursions into England and Ireland. He generally resided in the south during the summer months, and in Caithness, or rather the Orkney and Shetland Isles, during the winter. They quarrelled, however, and Rognwald was slain in 1045. Thorfinn died about 1064 [?],34 says Munch, or sixty years after King Malcolm . . . so far as the exact dates can be ascertained...

In regard to Thorfinn, it is stated that he "resided long at Caithness in a place called Gaddgedlar, where England and Scotland meet." Munch correctly insists that Gaddgedlar meant Galloway,35 which at the period extended to Annan on one side and Carrick on the other, in its widest sense --or, in other words, the south-western part of Scotland, from Annandale on the Solway to Carrick opposite Kintyre-- and therefore, in the true sense of the word, the boundary towards England. Munch was too careful a writer to confuse such a subject, and gave as his opinion that the sentence was incomplete, having been incorrectly copied from the original MS. This belief has been proved to be correct, as we will hereafter show ....

We have had much assistance from other eminent Norse scholars, but that Gaddgedlar meant Galloway has been confirmed beyond dispute by the late G. Vigfusson, who communicated to us privately the missing passage before his Collection of Sagas was in the press. He found it in a Danish translation, made in A.D. 1615, and preserved in Stockholm, from an ancient Icelandic vellum, which is no longer in existence. The existing printed text of the Orkneyinga Saga was founded on the Flateyensis only. The passage in its purity is, "Sat Porfinner jarl longurn a Katanesi en Rognvaldr i Eyjum. Pat var a einu sumri at Porfinnr jarl herjadi um Sudreyjar ok [p.250]vestan um Skotland. Hann la par sem Gaddgedlar heita, par maetist Skot-land ok England. Hann hafdi giork fra ser lid sudr a England at Strand-hoggi." The rough translation is:

"Earl Thorfinn dwelt for the most part in Caithness, but Rognwald in the Isles. One summer Earl Thorfinn made war in the Hebrides and the west of Scotland. He lay at the place called Gaddgedlar, where Scotland and England meet. He had sent some from himself men to England for a strand-head (coast foray)." We will give Mr. Vigfusson's notes, which he sent to us in regard to the foregoing: (1) "'En Rognwaldr. Hann la,' is taken from the translation--the careless copyist of the Flateyensis having here omitted and transposed a whole important passage. The suggestion of the late Norse historian, P. A. Munch, is thus conclusively proved to be true, both as to the identification of Gaddgedlar-Galloway (the translator spells it Gaardgellar), as also the unsound state of the text. Munch surmised that after 'Katanesi' something, the copula 'ok' or the like, had been dropped out. It now is found that a whole sentence has been omitted or transposed. (2) We have followed the translator, where the text runs thus: 'Gaardgellar der modis Engeland oc, Scotland da haff de han Sendt nogen af sin Krigs folck hen paa Engeland, etc.' The Flateyensis is here all confusion. As we have shown, Thorfinn ruled over a large part of Scotland and a part of Ireland. He also carried his sway to portions of England, and at one time was chief of the Thingmen. He went to Rome, supposed about A.D. 1050, saw the Pope, and obtained absolution for all his sins. His position is thus showh to have been not only that of a warrior, but also of a conqueror."

That Galloway was under his sway is clear. This opinion is fully entertained among the learned in Copenhagen; and as mentioned to us, arising from our investigations, great interest has been evinced in the universities there in regard to Galloway, considering it at one time to have belonged to the sea-kings. It thus appears to us as very strange how the occupation of the districts, in the full sense, by the Norsemen has escaped the notice of those who have entered on Galloway history."

Sigurd married, secondly, the daughter of Malcolm (Malbrigid),called King of Scotland.

""A few years after the beginning of the eleventh century (about 1008), the Orkneyinga Saga tells us, Sigurd, Earl of Orkney, married the daughter of Melkolf (Malcolm) "King of the Scots," and by her had a son, Thorfinn. When the latter was five years old, "the King of Scots gave to Thorfinn, his relation, Katanes [Caithness] and Sutherland, and an earl's title along with it, and gave him men to rule the domain along with him."8

Five years after Thorfinn's birth (in 1014), in the final struggle which took place between the Irish and the Danes, Earl Sigurd went to Dublin as an ally of the latter, and there met his death at the battle of Clontarf. Before embarking for Ireland, Sigurd had sent his young son Thorfinn to the child's grandfather, Malcolm, King of Scotland. Upon the death of the father, Malcolm bestowed Caithness and Sutherland upon Thorfinn, with the title of earl, and gave him men to enable him to establish his authority. Sigurd had three sons by a former wife--Sumarlidi, Brusi, and Einar--among whom the Orkneys were divided. They all died prior to 1029, however; and before King Malcolm's death in 1034, Thorfinn, their half-brother, had succeeded to the earldom of Orkney."

^[S3107]

Notes

Bio: ALEX. MARSHALL PAXTON, b. in Washington, Ky., February 4, 1816, d. in Covington, Ky., February 12, 1851, married in Covington, Ky., October 22, 1840, SALLIE BUSH, b. April 2, 1823, d. June 24, 1854, in Covington, Ky.

My brother was called Marshall or "Mat." From his infancy he stuttered, and the mercantile business was selected for him. After receiving a good English education at Augusta College, and a smattering of Latin, from his cousin, Dr. J. A. McClung (272), he went to Cincinnati as a clerk in the wholesale grocery house of Kilgour, Taylor & Co. Here he remained until his majority, when he, with another clerk, started the wholesale house of Paxton & Keys, on Main street. Keys was a splendid salesman, and Marshall an excellent bookkeeper and correspondent The young men met with favor, and did a large business. After a few years, Lafayette Maltby (652) became a partner, and stationed himself at New Orleans; and branches were established at Rio and Havana.

His marriage was extremely fortunate. Sister Sallie was one of the most amiable young ladies that I ever met. She made my brother's home an Eden of delight. She was a favorite among her husband's relatives. He was supremely blest in his lovely wife and blooming daughter (2164). They were beautiful in their lives, and in death they were not divided. At the age of thirty-five, he died of disease of the kidneys; and a few years later his widow followed him. They are buried at Covington. On the death of my brother, our sister Mary (856) wrote me a long letter, which is now mislaid. Sister Phoebe (188), in a letter dated April 16, 1851, writes: "Sister wrote you immediately on the death of our dear brother, and told you about his last days. It will be gratifying to you to know that Marshall, though delirious, mentioned you three times in the last day of his life. He appeared conscious that you were not near him, and was, I think, very anxious to see you. Brother, I think we will all be short lived. Our parents were so before us, and one of our number being taken, should warn us to prepare for death. God in his mercy grant that this effect may be produced on all of us. I send you a small lock of Marshall's hair." [Now before me.]

(b) I copy a letter from sister Sallie, dated Covington, Ky., May 4, 1851: "DEAR Brother--I send you by mail a likeness of your dear deceased brother. I would have sent it sooner, knowing it would have been a gratification to you to even see his likeness, but I have been entirely unfitted for anything. It is a copy of one I had, and therefore not so good a likeness. When Marshall received your letter desiring him to send you his likeness, he said it was just what he had been thinking of doing, and that he wanted yours. It would give me much satisfaction to have your likeness, and also to receive letters from you. The happiness and prosperity of your family will always be a subject of great interest to me. Lydia is in fine health. She feels more and more, every day, the loss of her dear father. My health is not good, but I have a great desire to live for the sake of my child. There are none who can supply the place of parents. I was much in hopes we would see you this spring. Lydia will write to you soon. I heard from sister Mary (856) and Phoebe (188) a short time ago. They were all well. Love to your wife. Ever your sister, Sallie P. Paxton." My brother lived most of his married life with his father-in-law, Philip Bush, one of the best men I ever knew. In 1870, I called at his house in Covington to see him. He was not at home, but I was told he could be found in the cemetery. All his family, except one daughter, were there, and he desired to be near them. He therefore had had himself appointed superintendent of the grounds, and he busied himself in making green the graves of those he loved. I went to the cemetery to meet him, and to drop a tear on my brother's grave. I found him there with several hands improving the grounds. But Oh, how he was changed! He was now unconcerned about this life. His dear ones and his home were beyond the skies. Instead of the genial, hearty salutation of his early life, he met me with a tear. Not long afterwards he was gathered to his own. While his dear ones lived, he was one of the most cordial and agreeable men I ever met. It was sunshine to the heart to be in his company. His unbounded love for "Marshall," and his perfect confidence in him, were his favorite themes. On the occasion referred to, he spoke of him so feelingly that my own grief was lost in his superior sorrow. When I look back to the dark and cheerless years of my brother's orphanage, I rejoice that he had ten years of married bliss, while surrounded by intelligent Christian friends, who loved and almost adored him.

Inscriptions on their tombs are:

"MARSHALL PAXTON, born February 4, 1819; died February 12, 1851. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death. Rev. 21: 4."

"SALLY PENDLETON, daughter of PHILIP S. and V. BUSH, and wife of A. M. PAXTON, born April 2, 1823; died June 24, 1854. Looking unto Jesus. These all died in faith."

My Southern Family

Corda

ABT 1890 - ____

ID Number: I35382

Sources

SIGURD II "Digri" Hlodversson

ABT 0960 - 1014

ID Number: I83361

Notes

Sources

GUISCARD HARBOTTLE

6 Jan 1485 - 9 Sep 1513

ID Number: I102631

Sources

Ambrose HUNDLEY II

ABT 1704 - ____

ID Number: I67440

Notes

Sources

G. P. MCCOY

ABT 1820 - ____

ID Number: I1992

Sources

MCLEAN

ABT 1790 - ____

ID Number: I44665

Sources

Helen Jean MILLER

Alexander Marshall PAXTON

4 Feb 1816 - 12 Feb 1851

ID Number: I60586

Notes

Sources

IVAR SVERIGE

____ - ABT 0972

ID Number: I88728

Notes

Sources

Dr. James Bankhead THORNTON

ABT 1800 - ____

ID Number: I57269

Notes

Sources

Nancy Ann WALTHALL

ABT 1770 - ABT 1795

ID Number: I92644

Sources