Here's a Good Story, Whether We're Related or Not: My Version of the Story

It seems that, back in the day, there was a bit of a ruckus about whether or not it was all right for some Cameron folk to just up and move onto someone else's land to live.

The Davidsons didn't think that was a neighborly thing for them to have done and wanted them to move themselves back on home.

Well, the Camerons liked it where they were and didn't want to go back home.

So the Davidsons, who were part of the Chattan Clan group, got together with some MacPhersons and some MacIntoshs to encourage them to hasten on their way but those Camerons weren't hastening anywhere in any great big hurry.

A squabble came up over which family, the Davidsons or the MacPhersons, would get the lead spot in the coming fray. The head Chattan Chief, a MacIntosh, had to decide and chose the Davidsons; the MacPhersons got their knickers in a knot and walked clean out of the fight, which took a good many Davidson lives on that day.

That evening, the MacIntosh Chattan Chief sent his bard to the MacPhersons, singing a very sad and mournful song about people who just turned their backs while their friends and families were getting slaughtered, including the Chief of the Davidsons and seven of his sons.

That song upset the MacPhersons so much that they up and, that very night, hied themselves to the Cameron camp and did some slaughtering of their own; it didn't bring back the dead but at least got them out of hot water with the Chattan, so it was all good.  

Well, not so much for the dead guys, but at least they had been avenged.  

Now the Davidson Chief's family was left with only a daughter who couldn't become Chief, and a little son who was too young - so the Davidsons had no leader (until that boy grew up) and hardly any warrior men left.

Skip ahead about a decade, which is where it gets interesting for me since I was looking up my Grandmother's MacGowan branch when I found this story.  

The fighting between Chattan and Cameron just kept on keeping on until finally the King stepped in and said that's just about enough of THAT.  I reckon he didn't much appreciate the fact that some of his best warriors were picking each other off right and left when he might want to call them to fight HIS fights.  

So he tells them to each pick 30 champions to meet and fight it out once and for all in a trial by combat, right?

And of course they agree and it's all fine and dandy.

Except that one of the Chattan men got so sick that he couldn't fight.  

Well now.

The Camerons flat refused to pick one of their men to sit it out, and the Chattan contingent flat refused to fight short-handed so there they sat.

Finally somebody hollered out to the spectators wanting to know if there was one among them who would fill the empty Chattan place.

One guy jumped over the retaining wall and said he'd do it if he could basically become one of the Chattan group if he survived, and they said sure okay.

Now this guy was a big brawny man, strong as all get-out seeing as he was a smith and fit as a fiddle.  

They do say that he was among the first to draw Cameron blood on that day, and he WAS among the survivors of the Chattan who watched the lonely survivor of the Camerons run away to swim across the Tay to safety (or maybe to hide his face).  

And from that day to this there have been MacGowans among the Chattan.

You see, the name MacGowan comes from Mac s'Ghobhann, just spelled more the way it sounds ... and ghobhann means 'smith' ... so the courage and audacity and confidence of that one man has carried his family on for all of this time.  

I have no idea whether or not my grandmother's MacGowan family stems from that line or not, and it doesn't matter.  

The story makes for a fine telling, and MAYBE there's a connection.

A famous writer told a version of this story long ago, namely one Sir Walter Scott.

More recently, another writer has shared the above story in the long version that has all the background and stuff, one Matthew Dawson who affiliates with the Davidsons in the States.  He presents his story clearly, relatively concisely, and it's a good one that makes sense.

Just to put a clincher on this whole thing, it was while I was looking up another branch of the family, Day by name (on my grandfather's side), that the Davidson Clan (Clan Dhai) connection came up, and the MacPhersons, and the MacGowan name by association, which I recognized and thought hey that's kind of cool. So I looked it up.

And I take it back about that being the clincher.  That's not the clincher.

It was in the lineage of that same grandmother that I found a clan connection with Cameron. 

500 years it took for that peace to be made? 

No, that's not the clincher, either.  

The clincher is ... drum roll please ... before my sister poked me into looking back into our family tree, I started writing the books of They Are My Song and spent literally days on end looking up stuff about the Scottish Wildcat, totally fascinated by it and wanting to include it in my stories. 

As part of that research of course there was reference to the cat that tops the Chattan arms in most if not all of its branches. Didn't think much of it, except for liking the heck out of it, as that part of Scotland wasn't part of my books, at least it wasn't yet then. But I did give Mamm a cat named Catan, a mighty big cat, who is tamed only by Mamm's magic.

To have become so fascinated by the Scottish Wildcat, and to have nodded and smiled at reading: Touch not the cat bot a glove ... I found and loved the cat long before I realized that there might be a remote possibility of a connection, let alone a double connection, however far removed.

THAT, my friend, is (for me) the clincher.  

*laughing*

I spend about half of my time in the Albann of 487/8 AD, writing my books - so I find myself wondering: all this stuff, this story I found, which took place in the 1300s ... is it in my past, or in my future?  

Yeah, I'm strange that way.

Wait until you see my wonderment about the Yew Tree. I think I'd better post that one in my Mystic blog ...

*laughing* Choose What You Want To Find, Look For It, There It Is!!

2021.02.25

I couldn't get into my blogs for a long time, but can at last now access them again.

I have updates for this one, but won't add them right this minute.

*laughing*

I have to admit to having had a little fun with this particular project!  I was looking for Scots connections ... this time ... LOL!  If I wanted to be Irish, or English, I'd look for the Irish, or English roots of the surnames. Only a few are non-negotiable.  Until I can find solid data about the earlier generations, I can choose what I want!  They almost all go back to a Celtic history, anyway, even the Norman or Norse derived names. Okay, not the Pict/Cruithnne ones ... maybe ... hmmm ...  

*laughing*

FOLLOW THE WOMEN!  My Paternal Grandmother:

HELEN MARGARET GIBSON:

LENA GRACE WAGAMAN/SAMUEL ZILORA GIBSON

*  WAGAMAN: one who supervised weights and measures; alternatively derived from the middle high German word 'wagener', one who makes or drives wagons. Associated with the German territory Silesia. Also check Saxony references. These people would have descended from the early Northern Tribes (Celt).

*  SZ Gibson, Eleanor Elizabeth Gibson (John Wm Collins m?, or not), Samuel James and Mary Jane MacGowan Gibson (both b. England), Eleanor MacGowan (b. Scotland)

*  Family name GIBSON, Gaelic Cononach, associated with Scots Clan Buchanan, E Loch Lomond and/or Clan Cameron (Yikes!)

*  Family name MACGOWAN, Pict (CRUITHNNE) Mac s'Ghabhain, Gobhann, meaning 'smith', associated with Scots Clan MacPherson (also Cruithnne, meaning parson)/Chattan Confederation, 1396 - and a VERY COOL STORY THAT IS! - Perth, Invernes, Nithsdale 1100s. Scottish Wildcat featured in arms; Motto: touch not the cat bot a glove - I'll get the original Scots Gaelic for that. Tartan colors: red, blue, green, yellow, black, white

MOTHER - LENA GRACE WAGAMAN:

SARAH DELLA KIRK/MARION HARRISON WAGAMAN

SARAH DELLA KIRK:

NANCY LEE/JOHN KIRK – both born in Scotland – John was a sailor on a merchant ship – in America they established an import business (bananas!) in Kansas City, Missouri

* apparently the Scots family name LEE means 'dweller in the grey castle' or Gaelic 'poet' and is associated with (another one!) Clan MacPherson; KIRK means (SHOCK!) 'church' - imagine that ... being Presbyterian and all ... and is apparently Anglo/Scottish from before the seventh century and probably stemming from a Scandanavian word for church. References to Perth; Presbyterian.

Jessamine County KENTUCKY     JOHN WAGAMAN          

29 March 1802 John Waggamon (*1781-*24 April 1852) m. Barbara Howser, daughter of Abraham Houser (*1782 – 11 September 1859 Big Creek Cemetery 4 miles SW of Bosworth, Missouri)

Jessamine County, Kentucky; Monroe County, Indiana; Barbara to Missouri

Children of John and Barbara:

Abraham

*Solomon

Joshua

David

John

Elizabeth (Betsy)

Nancy

Sarah (Sally)

Suzannah

Catherine

Martha

Lucy Ann

Mary

Alice Ann (Allazan)

Solomon (b. 1807 Jessamine County, Kentucky d. September 1905 aged 98); 1833 Perry Township Monroe County, Indiana; m. Rebecca Beckett 17 April 1835 (she died 15 September 1843); Pike County near town of Louisiana, Missouri

Children of Solomon and Rebecca:

William

John Thomas (Army - died in Civil War)

Solomon moved back to Perry Township and in 1850 m. Sarah Jane Hale (b. 1832 in Tennessee d. October 1911 aged 79)  Both are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery Independence Missouri.  1880 were in Carrollton Carroll County, Missouri; then moved to Independence Jackson County, Missouri; then Kansas City, Missouri

* The family name HALE associates with the Scots Clan Hall; the name comes from Pict/Jute origins before Roman times (BC)

Children of Solomon and Sarah Jane: 

John Nathan (Jonathan)

Mary Jane

Sarah Ann

James Jefferson

Marion Harrison (Harry) (b.25 November 1858 in Missouri d. 15 June 1943 Dodge City, Kansas; 1880 Carrollton, Missouri working in a livery stable) 26 December 1882 Independence, Missouri m. Sarah Della Kirk (b.17 December 1860 Griggsville, Illinois d. 17 August 1940 Spearville, Kansas)  Both buried at Wilburton, Kansas

Children of Harry and Sarah Della:

Harry Lee

*Lena Grace

Lawrence

Jackie Lorene

Franklin

Bessie Marian

Robert Solomon

Della Elizabeth

Rowena

Tina Florence

John Gilbert

Lena Grace (b. 21 February 1883 Independence, Missouri); 15 June 1905 Burlington Coffey County, Kansas m. Samuel Zilora Gibson; Samuel died 6 January 1912

‘Ferries in Kansas’

Burlington, approximately twenty miles by the river above LeRoy, was the location of the next ferry. Lacking opportunity of consulting Coffey county commissioners' journals, we are unable to state when this ferry was inaugurated or by whom. The earliest mention of the enterprise is an item from a Lawrence paper which stated that since the Burlington bridge was carried away by recent floods in the Neosho, the enterprising citizens of that town had gotten together and inaugurated a free ferry service.[69] Another mention of the Burlington ferry appeared in an item in the local paper, the Neosho Valley Enterprise, of November 29, 1859, which stated that "Mr. Gibbs:[70] near the sawmill is engaged in repairing the old ferryboat preparatory for the high-water season." A ferry, apparently, was in operation as late as 1863, Andreas' History of Kansas, page 652, stating that in the spring of that year William Gibson[71] was drowned by the sinking of the ferryboat at that place.

An article first published in the Neosho Valley Register, of Iola, and copied in the Kansas State Journal, of Lawrence, March 19, 1863, doubtless refers to the Burlington ferry. It states that on March 16, 1863, one Pleasant Landers,[72] a resident of Avon township, was returning from a trip to town, when his horses refused to be driven onto the ferryboat. Accordingly they were unhitched and led onto the boat, and the partially loaded wagon drawn on by hand. In addition to the team and wagon, the ferryboat contained Mr. Landers, Misses Sarah Vince[73] and Mary Jane Gibson[74] and Henry Atherly and William Gibson who were operating the boat. The load, apparently, was not evenly distributed, too much weight being on the upper end of the boat. When near the opposite shore and in the swiftest part of the current, the boat dipped beneath the surface and the force of the current carried it under, when all on board were washed off, excepting Gibson and his sister who succeeded in clinging to the railing. The team swam ashore, carrying with them Landers and Atherly. Miss Vince started drifting with the current, but managed to get hold of the railing of the boat which was floating near, and was soon rescued. The ferryboat was still attached to the swing rope, and rode up and down with the current, sometimes one end being three or four feet above the water and the next moment as far below, carrying with it the Gibsons who still clung to the railing. After several such plunges, Gibson lost hold of his sister and was swept away, his sister still clinging to the boat. Later the rope was cut and the boat drifted down the river. When near the pieces of the old bridge, B.F. Ash plunged into the river, carrying with him one end of a rope, and succeeded in reaching the boat. This rope he made fast and the boat was drawn ashore, Miss Gibson being in a nearly insensible condition when rescued. Every effort was made to recover the body of young Gibson. He had been a member of a Kansas volunteer regiment, and had been wounded in the knee by a rebel musket ball during the Battle of Drywood. His lameness probably prevented him from saving himself.

William Gibson, son of Samuel Gibson, is listed in the "Census" of 1860," Coffey county, age 24, and a farmer.

Birth: unknown Death: unknown As per "Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas, Vol. 1. - 1861-1865. Leavenworth, Kansas: Bulletin Co-operative Printing Company, Chicago. 1867', Pvt. Gibson was "Disc. for dis. September 1, 1862; wounded in right knee in action Sept. 1, '61, Drywood, Kan." Inscription: CO F 5TH KAN INF Burial:Mount Hope Cemetery Burlington Coffey County Kansas, USA Created by: DSH Record added: Dec 09, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 81747199

Added by: DSH Cemetery PhotoAdded by: SMG

‘Union Defenders of Kansas 1865’

About the listings - numbers in front of the name is the house visitation

number, the soldiers name, age, place of birth, regiment and company, household

of, if other than his own, special notations (e.g. - "Colonel"). The counties are 

listed in alphabetical order, followed by townships for each county and last

followed by house visitation numbers.          

Coffey County

Avon twp.

 12. PORTER, John              28      IN             9th KS C               Caleb BUTLER

 13. BURR,H.N.                 19      OH             13th KS F              H.A. BURR

 17. McNAUGHTON, James         26      NY             2nd Colorado C         Wm. McNAUGHTON

 19. McKENNY, J.W.             20      MO             9th KS C               John McKENNY

               ,Howell        18      AR             9th KS C               "      

 27. HARRINGTON,S.R.                  27      NY             5th KS K               Levi HEDDEN                 "Capt"

 32. STILLION, Moses           34      OH             15th KS J              Mary A. HOLLAND

 33. GIBSON, John              28      IRE            12th KS F              Sam'l GIBSON

 63. NEWMAN, S.P.              22      IL             15th KS J              James NEWMAN

             ,George T.        18      IL             12th KS F              "      

 66. BALLARD, T.H.             21      IL             2nd KS A               C.W. BALLARD

               , J.D.         19      IL             2nd KS A               "      

 77. BETHARD, J.               28      OH             1st IA?

 80. PRICE, George J.          24      ENG            12th KS F              Geo. PRICE

 88. TAMBLIN,G.H.              20      NY             5th KS L               S.C. JENKINS

 97. KEMBURE, Martin           17      BAD            9th KS H               J.F.A. WINKLEMAN

101. MOSIER, John              27      MO             14th KS J              John W. WOOLSEY

             ,Isaac            20      MO             14th KS J              "      

102. SMITH, Solomon            46      VA             15th KS J

111. WEBBER, G.E., Jr.         26      AR             9th KS H               G.E. WEBBER

Burlington twp

 10. WATROUS, A.C.             28      OH             3rd IA F               N.W. WATROUS

               , John         21      WS             5th KS L               "      

               , I.N.         18      WS              5th KS L               "      

 13. McALLEITN, W.F.           25      PA             9th KS A               J.M. MANSON            "Physician"

 20. HICKOX, Samuel            20      PA             "Blair's Baty"         Wm. H. HICKOX

?22. VINCE, Eugene             17      PA             9th KS C               A.N. VANCE

 26. ARCHER, J.P.              26      IN             6th KS A               F.S. ARCHER

 33. STANLY, J.C.              22      IA             9th KS F               Augustine HOLLAND

     MOFFETT, J.N.             22      IN             9th KS F               "      

 37. MAJORS, Thomas            41      TN             15th KS E

 47. WARD, J.D.                21      IN             9th KS D               Wm. WARD

           , B.B.              22      IN             9th KS D               "      

 51. HEFFERON, John            29      NVS            "Govt. Wagon Master"   Mik'l HEFFRON

 65. RYAN, Solomon             21      NBR            8th KS G               Henry RYAN

 82. WARD, L.W.                17      IA             9th KS C               Hardy WARD

     CROPWHITE, T.P.           22      MO             15th KS W              "      

Children of Lena Grace and Samuel Gibson:

Clifford Jackson

Stanley Zilora

Helen Margaret (b. 20 August 1907 Burlington, Kansas) 7 September 1927 m. Clarence William (CW – Chiff) Branson (b. 26 October 1901 Stafford, Stafford County, Kansas)

Children of Helen and Chiff:

William Clarence

Stanley Clifford

*Robert Samuel

Helen Marilyn

Margaret Phyllis

……….

HELEN MARGARET GIBSON FATHER - SAMUEL ZILORA GIBSON:

*the GIBSON family name (Gaelic Cononoch) seems to be associated with Clan Buchanan, seated East of Loch Lomond and/or Clan Cameron (uh-oh)

ELEANOR ELIZABETH GIBSON/JOHN WILLIAM COLLINS – DIVORCED BEFORE SAMUEL ZILORA’S BIRTH OR NEVER MARRIED PERHAPS

*  The family name COLLINS associates with Aberdeenshire and Argyllshire

ELEANOR ELIZABETH GIBSON:

MARY JANE MACGOWAN/SAMUEL JAMES GIBSON – BOTH BORN IN ENGLAND

MARY JANE MACGOWAN:

ELEANOR MACGOWAN – BORN IN SCOTLAND/ -?-

* the MACGOWAN family name is apparently of PICT origin, comes from either: Owein or Ewen, meaning well-born, noble (from Greek Eugenios), or: gobhann (actually pronounced gowan) meaning smith, as in one who works in metal; associated with the Clan MacPherson, another Pict name, meaning 'parson',and Clan Chattan, Pict again, meaning guess what: cat. 

MACGOWAN, MACPHERSON, AND CHATTAN all include the Scottish Wildcat on their insignia and their motto is : Touch Not the Cat Bot A Glove (in other words, keep your hands off of this cat unless it's gloved) - I thought this was great when I ran across it in research, hence Catan's appearance in my stories; before I knew there might be a connection! The Chattan territory is way North, up Inverness way, but still mainland - and retained forests longer than most; and yes there's evidence of some mighty big cats up in that neck of the woods, 0_0, saber-type back in the day.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

CLARENCE WILLIAM BRANSON: 

MARY JANE MCCORD/SAMUEL LEVI BRANSON

* The MCCORD family name seems to be associated with MacDonald nuf said

MARY JANE MCCORD:

-?- /WILLIAM MCCORD – Civil War Veteran; Salina, Kansas livery after the war

??WM S MCCORD LEE COUNTY IOWA Civil War:  Co I, 30th IA, infantry (grave in Salina, KS)

Father JS MCCORD? 

b. Preblo Co. Ohio 2FEB1816 

m. Martha Sawyer 28FEB1838  b. 15JAN1815 Warren County Ohio

Presbyterian