RELEASE DATE: JULY 2, 2017
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
In a couple of days, people all across the United States will enjoy another Independence Day celebration. During the American Revolution, individuals from a variety of ethnic groups fought to win freedom from British rule. One of the larger groups to participate was the Scots-Irish (sometimes referred to in the U. S. as the Scotch-Irish). Since they left millions of American descendants, many of whom are trying to trace their lineage, numerous genealogists will be interested in David Dobson’s latest work, SCOTS-IRISH LINKS, 1575-1725, PART TEN.
Many family researchers are aware that up to 100,000 Scottish people relocated to the Plantation of Ulster (Northern Ireland), especially in the seventeenth century. Most of the colonists were Lowlanders, but a few, particularly during the late sixteenth century, were Highlanders. Although the majority of the settlers were Presbyterian, a sizable minority was Episcopalian and a few were Catholic.
Always on the “look out” for genealogical information, Dobson has again culled valuable data from primary and secondary resources. For this new compilation, he delved into manuscripts and published works in Scotland, Ireland, England, and the Netherlands. As a result, he identifies another 3,500 persons, including a few individuals of Anglo-Irish or indigenous Irish origin. A substantial number of these people—or their descendants—may have resettled in British colonies in North America prior to the Revolutionary War.
Details gleaned about individuals vary, but most entries supply the name of the man or woman, place of residence, occupation, a date, and the source citation. The entries for Hugh, William, James, and James (Sr.) CRISWELL, for example, state they were tenants in Hollywood Town, County Down, in 1681.
Numerous entries may furnish additional facts, such as name of spouse or parent. For instance, Mary MCDOWELL, “wife of John MCCULLOCH in Ireland, was served heir to her grand-father (sic) Uthred MCDOWELL of Barjarge in Carrick on 25 October 1636.”
Other entries provide fascinating reading in their own right. Such is the case for Coleraine merchant, John LESLEY, who “bound from Holland to Scotland, was captured at sea by a French privateer in 1710.”
Names of the main persons are arranged alphabetically. Dobson includes a useful index to other people mentioned in the text of all entries. Some recurring surnames are AGNEW, BARCLAY, BLACKWOOD, BOYD, CREICHTON/CRIGHTON, CUNNINGHAM, GALBRAITH, HAMILTON, IRVING, MCDONNELL, MAXWELL, MONEYPENNY, MURRAY, READ/REID/REED, WALLACE, and YOUNG.
Anyone who is trying to connect American forebears to their origins in Ireland and in Scotland realizes the difficulties that can be encountered in the search. Needless to say, SCOTS-IRISH LINKS, 1575-1725, PART TEN may furnish helpful clues to finding the answers.
The 156-page book has soft covers, an introduction, a list of references consulted by the author, and an index. To the book’s price of $19.50, buyers should add the cost for postage and handling charges. For U. S. postal mail, the cost is $5.50 for one book and $2.50 for each additional copy; for UPS, the cost is $7.50 for one copy and $2.50 for each additional book. The volume (item order #8121) may be purchased by check, MasterCard, or Visa from Clearfield Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 (for phone orders, call toll free 1-800-296-6687; fax 1-410-752-8492; website www.genealogical.com).