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Hello,Perhaps you will know the answer to a question that my family has debated through the years. We understand Ó Beolláin is the Irish Gaelic form of O'Bolan and O'Boland (Boland) but is it also the same family as O'Beolan? I have found several references that say O'Beolan and O'Beolain or O'Beollain are all the same family as eventual style of the name, Boland. My line (we understand) is from the group in Sligo. If O'Beollain and O'Beolan are part of the same family.....do we (Sligo Bolands) have any connection to the Great Clan Ross (such as 15th cousins or such)? Kevin R. Boland CIV GG14 Defense Intelligence Agency EUCOM J2 Intelligence Engagement Friday, June 15, 2012 09:32 COMMENT: Hi Kevin: Your conclusions are very probably correct. Writers of historical records had no standard rules for spelling. Even the census takers in more recent times would often translate what they thought they heard onto their forms. Best wishes, Doug Hello Doug! I wanted to write a quick thank you, and let you know that I've been referring to your resource page (at http://www.ross-ter.com/Genealogy/genealogy.html) in putting together some class materials for a genealogy/family history lesson for my middle school social studies class. Thank you so much for your help! I also thought I'd pass along a site one of my 8th graders found that I thought might make a great addition to your page. It's a genealogy research guide that I found very accessible. if you're interested, it's at http://www.peoplefinders.com/article-people-search-genealogy-resources.aspx. If you add it to the site, I'd love to show the kids! We're encouraging them to participate and find their own voices. All the best, Mary Ward Pine Mountain Central School District Chicago, IL, USA Wednesday, August 3, 2011 4:15 PM Comment: Dear Mary: It is always a pleasure to hear from some people who have found my collections useful. I hope that you will thank those responsible for the contribution from your class of 8th graders. You will find the new resource (peoplefinders) listed at http://www.ross-ter.com/Genealogy/genealogy.html. My own DNA test results are probably too deep for them at this stage, and even I have to reread sections of my report at http://www.ross-ter.com/Genealogy/FamilyTreeDNA.html to make a little sense from the jargon. Still, there are other aspects to the study of genealogy which contribute to one's enjoyment; there are plenty of examples in the family section of my personal website. Cheers, Doug Hi there Douglas and greetings from Toronto Your clan website was kind enough to support my last book about Highland regiments in the French and Indian War: Sons of the Mountains. Please find attached a book info sheet on the latest book entitled “A Bard of Wolfe’s Army “ which captures the personal stories and anecdotes of a young Highland grenadier who fought in Wolfe’s Army, many of which have never appeared before in print. I will let the attached infosheet (PDF file) speak for itself. Links to both my Canadian publisher and Amazon are found below. The hardback edition is a limited signed collector’s edition: Robin Brass: http://www.rbstudiobooks.com/page45/page45.html. Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/army/s?ie=UTF8&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3AArmy&page=1. Hopefully you can find room in your newsletter or on your website for the PDF file or feel free to use the provided links. Slainte bha! Ian Macpherson McCulloch Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Officer (1993-1996) The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada Monday, October 18, 2010 Comment: Thank you for sharing the information about your most recent book with us, Ian. This is indeed a valuable addition to Canadian history. The anecdotes by Sergeant James Thompson of the Fraser's Highlanders during the Seven Years' War and his view of life in Quebec afterwards will be enjoyed by many of our members. I also took a look at my friend Alastair McIntyre's involvement in the preservation of your work (and that of others) on his website at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/mcculloch/. Some of these stories have never before appeared in print. My Grandfather, now deceased, had a Ross as his mother. He dictated a family tree which includes General Robert Ross of the Napoleonic Wars (presumably this one: http://www.themanwhocapturedwashington.com/) at the top of it. Further above that is a note about Balnagowan Castle. 
I am at the very early stages of working on this document, but alarm
bells are ringing because General Robert Ross was Irish. Do you happen
to know whether he was related to Clan Ross?best wishes Nicolas Hodges Monday, November 09, 2009 5:22 PM Subject: General Robert Ross Comments: If our Clan Ross receives an interesting topic, secretaries and your webmaster often give it their attention and provide a followup reply to the person seeking some information.
Ian Mackay Ross, past National Secretary, made some excellent suggestions as follows:- - - We would be pleased to put his query into our newsletter and on our website to see if any knowledgeable member would like to provide an answer. - - - Clan Ross - USA has a genealogist (still Fran Bumann, I believe) and he could try to contact her through the Clan Ross - USA website. - - -When I was secretary, I likely would have gotten out my various history books and combed the internet to see if I could have found out more about General Ross to at least provide some sort of historical answer.
Our Second Vice-President, Donald Fraser Ross of Nova Scotia, sent an email based upon the following link: http://spiritofhalloween.blogspot.com/2009/07/old-burying-ground.html. His message contained a further link referring to the monument to Major General Robert Ross (and other sources) at http://www.carrentalzone.com/major-general-robert-ross.html.
Working in my "spare time" as webmaster, I located a further outline of the history of the general at http://www.myedgemere.com/local_history/mg_ross.htm, which had additional links at the bottom. I have come across some information on the Irish-Scots or Ulster Scots which may have some bearing on the answer to the other question about the origins of Major General Ross, viz. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Scots_people.
Reply (March 30, 2010): Thanks very much for your information and for your new email. I have done quite a lot of research and it seems that the relation to General Robert Ross is apocryphal. Best wishes, Nicholas.
Happy Hogmanay to you and your family and all the best for 2009. I found some video I took of our first Empire Sandy event. You can see it at: http://www.scottishstudies.com/940empiresandy1992-hires.html Best wishes, David David Hunter President, Scottish Studies Foundation Wednesday, December 31, 2008. 3:06PM Comment: Each September, the Scottish Studies Foundation sponsors an annual Tall Ship Cruise which commemorates the voyage of pioneer ship "Hector" which arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773. I thanked David for sharing this historic video with us. See our photographs in Events for the year 2000 to share our experience aboard the Empire Sandy.
As some of you requested here is an update of the first commemorative historical walking tour to acknowledge that Isabella Ross was the first woman landowner 150 years ago in British Columbia during this Anniversary Celebration of BC's 150 years as a Canadian Province. The Oak Bay archivist who was present pointed out that the municipality of Oak Bay also recognizes her as the first woman landowner in Oak Bay. The date September 21 was chosen as it was the anniversary of Isabella's son Alexander Ross' death in 1876 and he was the first Ross to be buried in Ross Bay Cemetery that bears his family name. We retraced his steps to Pemberton farm on his last day on earth and told the story of the events of the day. We noted the location of all the unmarked Ross graves and family members and discussed the possibility of having them marked. We also stopped at Alexander's father, Charles Ross' Memorial Chair, to remember that he had died 32 years earlier after he had finished supervising the building of Fort Victoria. Six Ross descendants were present and had never known the locations of their grandparent's and great grandparent's graves. One did not realize that he was descended from the Alexander and Mary Ann Ross family through their daughter Flora Victoria Ross Ottaway. One young family learned that they were descended from John Walter Ross, the fourth son of Alexander and Mary Ann. Those three Ross descendants had never met the others. We all knew some contact information for more descendants which will enable us to share our information. We also learned more about the amazing ministry of the Bishop Cridge and his wife Mary to three generations of the Ross family. He was Isabella's family minister, Mary Ann Ross' guardian and the Godfather to our grandmother until he died when she was 8. He ministered almost all the family's spiritual needs as well as marriages, baptisms and funerals. We also discussed the support and advocacy of family friends, James and Amelia Douglas, JD Pemberton and the McNeills among others. We were able to identify the location of the Isabella Ross family home and see it in the background of an archival picture of Mary Letitia Pearse's memorial stone. She was the first person buried in Ross Bay Cemetery in 1872. The tour was well attended by 18 people and 14 sent regrets. I have offered to do a repeat tour at another time. I also conducted a tour for two of my university classes on Thursday of the same week. They are pre-service teachers who will teach the history of BC as part of the BC social studies curriculum in various BC schools. It will probably become a regular part of the courses I teach at the university. It was a very productive first tour. Regards, Fern Perkins Teacher Educator University of Victoria
Reply:Dear Fern:
I thank you for sending this update on the Ross descendants. I have sent a copy to my wife, Dr. Patricia Ross, who is the National Newsletter Editor for the Clan Ross Association of Canada. There will undoubtedly be a brief summary for our membership in her next newsletter, and I am including this reference to your email in our "Guestbook". You may recall that our association held our 2002 AGM in Victoria, and my wife and I were able to visit the cemetery, the chair and the bay with some friends. An earlier bus tour was too hasty for any appreciation of details. You will be able to visit my report of the event with photos at http://www.greatclanross.org/victoria.html. Details about the Clan Ross project may interest others in your group; just check the menu of our website for projects across Canada . . . including the Ross Chair project report. 
Greetings from NZ, trust you are enjoying some Summer weather. We are into Winter, but although our Mountain has got a good covering of snow we are having very mild temps so far.
Clan Ross 2008 was held at a very small Historic town called Ross in the South Island several weeks ago. We stayed on with a cousin and his wife and spent a further 18 days having a good look around the West Coast of the South Island. The weather was absolutely perfect, we were so lucky.
Reply: Greetings from your Canadian cousins, Felicity.Enjoy your Summer.
It certainly appears that you had a happy group at the Historic Empire Hotel in Ross on Saturday 17th May, 2008. Congratulations, and thank you for the photo. Our Clan Ross Association of Canada will likely be contacting you soon about joint representation at the Gathering of Clans in Edinburgh next year. Meanwhile, you may check results of our efforts under July of 2009 at http://www.GreatClanRoss.org/cra~can5a3.html . We look forward to hearing from you again. Bonjour, Invitation pour le 400e annversaire de Québec. Un membre, Sylvain Ross jouera de la cornemuse. Suzanne Delorme Clan Ross Québec May 17, 2008 Subject: 400th Anniversary of the City of Québec with an attached invitation from the 78th Fraser Highlanders to persons, whose ancestors were among the founders, to join in the celebration on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 10:30 AM. In addition, Sylvain Ross, a member of Clan Ross Québec will be playing the bagpipes during the ceremony. Reply: Merci, Suzanne:
Nous remercions également nos secrétaires Ian Ross et Barbara Fletcher d'expédier votre notification.
[NOTE: We thank Suzanne for sending a report of the Ceremony of Homage to the Ancestors, which we subsequently posted at the website of the Clan Ross Association of Canada.]
I am a grade five student at Hampton Elementary School in NB. I am doing a project about our musical heritage, and I chose to do mine on the influence of Scotish Music, which is my absolute favorite music. I have chosen to make a music video to The Rankin Family's Fare Thee Well, featuring pictures of Scotland.
The reason I am writing is to ask your permission to use your beautiful pictures of Scotland in my music video. I would be happy to credit you in my project, and I hope you will allow me to use your pictures. Kind Regards, Ainsley Shupe Hampton, New Brunswick PS - my first name is Scotish! Sunday, February 24, 2008 5:26 PM Subject: Scotland Reply:Aye, Ainsley,
You have a terrific Scottish first name! Grade Five was one of my favourite grades to teach [Don't forget to spell "Scottish" with two "t's"] . . . and New Brunswick was a great place to visit in 1992. My wife and I will be driving to Iona on Cape Breton Island next July 11-13 for the Clan Ross Gathering this year.
You have asked so politely for permission to use the pictures that I shall not hesitate to say YES! You probably know how to find the pictures on the Clan Ross - Canada website, but there are more which I have posted on my wife's Travel Section on our Ross-ter website. Just click here on http://www.ross-ter.com/Travel/UK/uk.html and select our 2007 Tour of the Highlands and Islands, for example. Hampton, New Brunswick, is the birth place of John Humphrey, one of the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration of Arbroath was prepared in Scotland as a formal Declaration of Independence, and an early declaration of rights and freedoms, on April 6th, 1320. Additional Comments: What a great project! It is a fun way to learn about communication and technology in an elementary school. Every stage will be a learning situation, I am sure.
I just wanted to point out that Scotland did not adopt the Gregorian Calendar in 1600. That didn't happen until 1752 at the same time as England. However, the adoption of Jan 1 as the begging of the New Year in 1600 is correct.
[http://www.greatclanross.org/htext6time.html] Happy to discuss.... Colin McNab Australia Wednesday, October 10, 2007 9:12 PM Email: Col Reply:Dear Colin,
Neither the English Julian calendar nor the Scots Gregorian or "New Style" calendar in use (of which there were many versions) had accurately taken into account the length of the year, and differences between Britain and other countries in Europe still persisted. From several sources, I must maintain that trade between France and Scotland had a greater influence upon the adoption of a "Gregorian" system by Scotland in 1600 (than anything England did). I would agree that further corrections occurred to the calendar, which became more uniform in England, Ireland and the British colonies after 1752. The two-step adjustment by Scotland was less disruptive by comparison.
Most Western European countries changed the start of the year to 1 January before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. For example Scotland changed the start of the Scottish New Year to 1 January in 1600 (this means that 1599 was a short year). England, Ireland and the British colonies changed the start of the year to 1 January in 1752, (so 1751 was a short year with only 282 days). Later that year (in September) the Gregorian calendar was introduced throughout Britain and the British colonies. Thank goodness! I've read too many picayune dissertations on the subject to change the intent of my original chronological table. Still, I appreciated your input and our subsequent discussion.
I did not think of genealogy until 1998 when I retired from my teaching. Being so fond of Scotland I soon wanted to know if I had some roots there. My search ended up in Orkney where I found evidence of my connection to the Old-Norse Earls there. Further research proved I was descended from a son of Rognvald Eysteinsson Earl of More in Norway. One of them was Rolf (or Hrolfur in Icelandic) who was known as Rolf the Ganger, Rolf Wend-a-Foot, Rolf the Viking and Rollo of Norway. Two of Rolf's wifes are known, but sure he had some more (or maybe mistresses) before he went down to France. The O'Beolan line is said to have origin in County Mayo & Sligo, Ireland, with connection to the Royal House of Tara. All Icelanders today are descended the same way as I am from O'Beolan. I have not fully viewed your Scotland trip, but some of it reminds me and Gigja of our Bus Tours from Inverness to the west coast from Skye and so far north as to Durness.
Best regards, Kristjan Helgi Sveinsson Blomsturvellir IS-601 Akureyri Iceland Sunday, August 27, 2007 8:03 PM Reply:Dear Kristjan,
I apologize for condensing our email communications here. I'd like to work on an article for the Clan Ross Features Page entitled The O'Beolan & Viking Connection with full credit for your contributions. I am certain that the article would be of interest to our membership even though very few are directly descended from Fearchar Mac-an-t'Sagairt, the first of the O'Beolan Earls of Ross. Initially, I plan to expand a section related to the connections of the Vikings with the County and the name of Ross, in which our interest was rekindled by tour of Scotland in May of this year. Please keep in touch!
I am writing to you on behalf of my mother Debra Ross. My Father's (Robert David Ross, son of Rodger Ross) 60th birthday is fast approaching and she was wondering if it would be possible to have a family tree compiled as a gift for him. If it is, what information would you need, how long would this take, and what is the cost?
If you could give me any additional details it would be much appreciated.
Yours Truly, Melissa Belliveau (nee Ross) Kitchen Kitchen Simeson McFarlane 86 Simcoe St. S. Box 428 Oshawa, On L1H 7L5 Monday, August 27, 2007 4:37 PM Reply:Dear Melissa,
Your best approach may be to find someone in your family who has some skill with calligraphy. Clan Ross has no-one in the business of creating family trees. There are some general forms which may be obtained over the internet if you search with Google.
Otherwise, you are referred to our page on genealogical resources at http://www.ross-ter.com/Genealogy/genealogy.html. I'm sorry that we cannot be of further assistance. P.S. We met your father at the 77th Annual Ross Reunion on August 6, and I'll record your address with the Ross-ter, and I'll send you the records for Branch G descended from Alexander Ross and Margaret Noble.
I'm really pleased to welcome you to my upcoming exhibition in October. The exhibit runs from Oct. 5-15, with the opening reception (wine and cheese) on Saturday, October 7, from 1-4 pm, at Gallery 888 in Toronto. This solo show of my paintings of Scotland is entitled Seasons of Stillness and Light. Please click on http://jeanneisley.comfallshows2006.htm for all the details, directions, times, etc.
I'm really looking forward to seeing you and hope you can make it there. If you have any questions drop me a line. I'd be only to pleased to hear from you. Jeanne Isley, Artist, B.F.A., B.Ed. Toronto, ON Saturday, September 9, 2006 7:47 PM Reply:Pat and I thank you for your follow-up invitation to attend your reception at your solo exhibit of your paintings of Scotland. We were particularly captured by your skill with the light in your paintings during our visit to your tent at the Fergus Highland Games on August 12 this year and, of course, both of us send our best wishes as you renew your spiritual revival at your permanent studio in Kinlochleven, Argyll, next year. It was indeed a pleasure to meet David Hunter, President of the Scottish Studies Foundation, at your display tent in Fergus. The Clan Ross-Canada tent was located beside the Clan Hunter tent (linked by the marriage of our 2nd Vice-President), and we were pleased to see David again during the afternoon. I would also note that the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games is unique in its class of Patrons of the Scottish Studies Foundation. Both the Festival and the Foundation have long-standing reputations for a friendly atmosphere in support of "All Things Scottish". I'm sure that we'll meet again (at your exhibit and reception) if possible.
This is in regards to the following paragraph on your website at http://www.greatclanross.org/htext5.html.
"Earl Hugh, the great-grandson of Fearchar Mac an t'Sagairt, was killed in 1333 at the battle of Halidon Hill near Berwick along with many of the leading barons of Scotland. It is said that Earl Hugh wore the shirt of St. Duthac, which would render him invulnerable to the enemy. The English general, William Douglas, removed the shirt from the Earl's body and returned it to the sanctuary of St. Duthac at Tain." Perhaps you can help with these questions... 1. I am unable to identify a "William Douglas" who served as an English general at Halidon. Can you provide the source for this? 2. At Fearn Abbey in Tain (about 5-miles from Duthac) there are armorial bearings of Douglas co-mingled with Ross. Can you shed some light on the Douglas connection to the Earls of Ross and Fearn Abbey? See attached for recent pictures. Melvyn Douglass, FSA Scot Genealogist - Clan Douglas Society of North America http://www.scottishcouncil.com Houston, TX Wednesday, July 12, 2006 11:56 AM Reply: According to John Prebble (The Lion in the North, 1971, pp 119 - 122) and other authors, there were plenty of Douglases around during the years preceding the Battle of Halidon Hill. Sir James Douglas died with several knights in a crusade against the Spanish Moors of Granada. His younger brother, Archibald Douglas, was elected Regent of Scotland when Balliol left to seek support from Edward III of England. It is easy to see a connection between Regent Archibald Douglas and Earl Hugh of Ross (who commanded the reserve division of the Scottish army against the right wing of the English army) during the Battle of Halidon Hill (Holy Hill). Twenty-one year old General William Douglas (no relation) led the army of King Edward III against the Scots. My information came from at least a couple of the references listed with the chapter, but I note that a more detailed summary may be found in the 3rd edition of The Great Clan Ross (p 55) by Dr. John Robert Ross. [I found a different reference which incorrectly stated that Balliol returned the shirt of St Duthac/Duthus to the sanctuary in Tain. That was definitely not in his character. It was more likely that he was in hiding near Berwick.] I gave a cursory glance through my copy of A. C. Fox-Davies' A Complete Guide to Heraldry, 1993 edition, and found a reference to the symbolic heart found in the crest of the family of Douglas. There were no pictures or sketches for me to make comparisons with your photographs. Just the statement: "The family of Douglas affords an instance of a crown ensigning a human heart". To be sure, there were other statements and descriptions, but none that I could use to interpret your photos. Follow-up Response I assume that you have used the "Google" search engine and have discovered that there is a "Douglas funeral aisle" in Fearn Abbey. I wish you luck in using the same proceedure to discover further connections (i.e. marriages with descendants of the Earls of Ross).
I am not certain if anyone at this site can be of assistance but . . . I am doing family genealogy and found that my gr-gr-grandfather, Thomas Robertson, was a gamekeeper on Balnagown estate in 1855. He married a young lady who was a "houseservant" there as well. Does anyone know where I may find any additional information. Perhaps the estate kept records?
Thank you so much, Cheryl Adams Slaugh Monday, June 12, 2006 11:24 AM Reply: At the outset, I must state that our association does not provide the services of a genealogist. However, Clan Ross - Canada provides a very good Genealogy Kit for anyone starting a search into their ancestry. It is on our page of Links and Features at our website. In your case, I would suggest that you use the 1851 Census to search the Parish of Kilmuir Easter in the County of Ross where Balnagowan Castle is located. If you are a member of Clan Ross, you may post data and enquiries at our Family History Corner as well. I hope that this helps you.
I am a former member of the United States branch of Clan Ross. Have been away from computer access for some time. Can't seem to locate Clan Ross U.S. Do you know what might have become of them? If so would you please advise how I can contact them?
Thank you very much, - Christie Clark ( my mother was born a Ross) March 21, 2006 9:57 Reply:I suspect that the URL was changed shortly after the Texas AGM. If you use our website address http://www.GreatClanRoss.org, you may visit our page of links (page 7 in the menu). Our link to all of the Clan Ross websites is at the very top. Best Regards.
By way of introduction, I'm a past Commanding Officer of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and the former Deputy Director of History & Heritage for the Canadian Armed Forces. My CV and other books can be found at the Electric Scotland site here: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/mcculloch/index.htm.
I have just completed a two volume book that should be of interest to some or all of your clan membership who trace their ancestry back to the first Highland soldiers that traveled to North America. Entitled Sons of the Mountains: A History of the Highland Regiments in North America during the French & Indian War 1756-67, it will be published next Spring, the 250th Anniversary of the arrival of the Black Watch in North America. I invite you to use the attached press announcement (which contains all the details) in your clan newsletter or on your website. Please feel free also to use the website link provided above which features three sneak previews of the new book including the INTRODUCTION. Slainte & Creag Dhub! - Ian Macpherson McCulloch Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Officer (1993-96) The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada Virginia Beach, VA, USA Monday, December 12, 2005 Reply: I am most impressed by the scope of your efforts. Many of our Clan Ross Association of Canada have responded directly to http://www.savethescottishregiments.co.uk/, when the very existence of our brave Highland regiments came under attack earlier in 2005. We welcome your invitation to check your CV, examine your other titles of articles/books and obtain a sneak preview of both volumes at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/mcculloch/index.htm, and that we may watch for further details about pre-ordering from the publishers at http://www.catskill.net/purple/order.htm. It is most appropriate that your volumes are timed to be co-published in the spring of 2006 . . . during the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Black Watch regiment in North America. I wish you every success. Personally, I was honoured (as a descendant in the House of Glengyle) to make connections in January and February of 1999 with Dr. Richard McGregor and Malcolm McGregor, who confirmed some data from the War Office Records at the UK National Archives. One tale involved the rescue by Peter McGregor (1763-1827) of Prince William, the younger brother of the Prince Regent/Prince of Wales in the Battle of Maida of 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. His father, Duncan McGregor (1732-1790), as a sergeant under Colonel Stirling and Lord Cornwallis during the American War of Independence on May 10, 1777, had a most interesting adventure which was recorded in Stewart's History of the Highland Regiments. Both the father and son were in the 42nd Highland Regiment. "Nemo Me Impune Lacesset." Some day I must revisit the Black Watch Museum in Perth, Scotland. I shall forward copies of your email to members of our executive tomorrow. In the meantime, I have posted a brief reply to your basic email message at our CRA-Canada "guestbook". [On March 8 of 2006, I revisited the Electric Scotland website of my friend, Alastair McIntryre, who has immigrated to Ontario. It was truly worth the effort, and I would recommend your book to anyone whose ancestors were members of the three Highland Regiments - the 77th Foot (Montgomery's Highlanders), the 78th Foot (Fraser's Highlanders), and the famous Black Watch (the 42nd RHR) - during the French & Indian War, 1756-1767.]
My wife and I had a trip this year to Scotland and we visisted Easter Ross. We drove past Balnagown Castle and took some shots which I thought you might be interested to post on your web site. There is also a shot of the Tain church and graveyard which has a number of Rosses buried in it. My interest in the Ross family is that my grandmother was a Ross. Her father was Lt. Col. J.W. Ross, O.B.E., R.E. of Inverness and served who with the Cameron Highlanders during the Boer War. Her brother was Col. Donald Ross, O.B.E. who served in the Indian Army and was ADC to Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy of India. I grew up in British Columbia but I now reside in Hong Kong.
Kind Regards, - Ross Fothergill Hong Kong Tuesday, October 11, 2005 Reply: Thank you for the photographs. I generally update some of the sections at the website towards the end of the year, and it might be appropriate to add a few photos (with credits) to our section for Balnagowan Castle at http://www.greatclanross.org/balnagowan.html .
I found your name on the Electric Scotland website. I am in the very early stages of researching a medal which my Grandfather received for Bravery in the 1930's. He was living in Dumbarton at the time....it is a long shot, but could you refer me to anyone or another website where I could gain some direction in my search? The medal was awarded by Princess Louise.
Kind regards, - Andrea Roberts New Zealand Monday, 12 Sep 2005 12:30:43 +1200 Reply:If there is a Canadian connection, the place to start may be at http://wwwcalgaryhighlanders.com/argyll.htm. Otherwise, I would suggest that you use the Google search engine and enter words such as "Princess Louise Medal For Bravery 1930's". Good luck in your search.
I found your email address on the Clan Ross Association of Canada web sight. My last name is Andrew, and I was wondering if you know of some source I may find a historical account of my family's name? I know you can find a lot of history on Ross, and other clans, but have never found anything that tells about clan septs. All I have found is the most basic origins of the name, nothing about the history, or the relationship with Ross. Would you be able to help be, or let me know about someone who could?
Thank you, - Travis Andrew Saturday, September 10, 2005 2:02 AM Reply: Many records suggest that the Scottish Highland origin of the Andrew surname lies in the origins of Clan Ross in Wester Ross and known as Clann Aindreas or Clan Andrias . . . the children of Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. Variations of the name include Andrews, MacAndrews, Anderson, Gillanders (gille + Aindreas = servant of Andrew), and other similar names. One must be careful about making assumptions with family names, since Anderson is a common name in Scandinavian countries which have no Scottish connection. The Gillanders have never been numerous, but their family history is both ancient and honourable; chroniclers from the 13th to the 15th centuries refer to the Gillanders as "Rosses". Visit http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/ander2.html for further information on the topic or enter the words "Andrew Sept Clan Ross" into a search engine such as Google.
I looked at your website on the Killdonan Cemetery, Winnipeg. An aunt of my wife is buried there, and probably other relatives as well. Attached are copies of some old photos. The originals were very weak. Is the Church and Cemetery still there? Would it be possible to obtain a contemporary photo of the stone in the picture as well as the grave site and
the Church, and learn who is buried there now? The person in question is Sarah Alice Smith, born at Carleton Place Ont, June 6th, 1886, died at Winnipeg, Oct 29th 1919.
[Winnipeg.doc attached] Larry Winter Roeder, Jr. Monday, July 25, 2005 10:31 AM Reply:Larry, I wish that I could help you but, as the webmaster living in Toronto, I cannot be of much assistance. From our most recent Clan Ross - Canada executive report, I understand that the Kildonan Church is in a state of disrepair and may have to be be demolished. My best suggestion is for you to contact the President of the Clan Ross Association of Canada, Denis Fletcher, who lives in Winnipeg and who was involved with the restoration project. He has had contacts with George Fraser, the Head of the Kildonan Cemetery Committee. Clan Ross - Canada was only involved with the restoration of Ross headstones. I cannot recall seeing any Smith headstones when I was there last year. It is my understanding that the Kildonan Cemetery Committee had restored many headstones, but ran out of funds when the Ross section was reached. Thus the headstone for your wife's aunt may be among the restored ones.
Subject: Clan Ross
I just read your article regarding Clan Ross and found it very interesting and I hope helpful. I am, of course, trying to work through the genealogy of my family with some difficulty. I seem to be stuck in the late 1700`s in the US mid-west or perhaps Canada. Anyway reading your article has motivated me to continue. There is not much historical information such as yours available here about clan names. Thanks again. Gary Ross Friday, July 15, 2005 1:12 PM Reply:Sometimes it takes awhile before I respond to an email. I have written many articles about Clan Ross, particularly about its general history. I also know about some of the difficulties involved with tracking ancestors and distant cousins. I guess that I was lucky to some extent . . . in that all of the surviving branches dating back to my grandfather's grandfather had elderly, living descendants with family charts and photographs. Still, there were a few blanks due to moves around North America after the first immigration from Scotland in 1842. I wish you well in your searches. [Since my "Ross-ter" email address was used in this instance, it would help immensely if I knew which specific article about Clan Ross motivated Gary to continue his quest. Your guess is as good as mine.]
I was wondering if you could tell me how one could be in contact with Stuart Anderson and Grant Frazer. Do you they have their own webpage or email address? Who do you contact in regards to booking them for their next tour? Can you also tell me if there is a Clan name of Palmer in Scotland? Thank you very much, it would be greatly appreciated.
- Scott G Wazney Winnipeg, MB Tuesday, April 19, 2005 11:31 AM Reply: We received a request from Bill Gillis of Winnipeg, your hometown, to advertise the event with accordionist Stuart Anderson and singer Grant Frazer. Your best bet would be to phone Bill Gillis about his method of contacting them. Clan Ross - Canada does not keep any records of events beyond those which have been posted in either the Guestbook OR the Events Page at our website. As an alternative, you might use a search engine such as www.google.ca to locate other contacts. . . . I did not locate the name "Palmer" in any of my reference books for Scottish Clans and Septs. You may wish to use the "Google" search engine to discover whether there may be a Palmer Family Association somewhere. Some Lowland Scottish families have even invented their own personal plaids in recent years. Good Luck!
We would like to have you promote the Scotland Sings concert. Thanks
Grant Frazer and Stuart Anderson are returning to Winnipeg for another Show. This year they will have a new partner in the person of singer Sandra Anderson (no relation to Stuart). Local Talent includes Wes Sheppard. There is a new location this year for Scotland Sings - Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, 525 Wardlaw at Nassau - just one block off Osborne. 475-6011 Wednesday, 13 April, 2005, at 7:30 PM Tickets: $12.00 Contact Bill Gillis 475-3463 You may leave a message if no one takes the call. Or EMAIL: crescentconcert@yahoo.ca Crescent Fort Rouge, Winnipeg, MB Thursday, March 3, 2005 at 11:30 PM Reply: Your concert has been added to the events page of the Clan Ross Canada website.
Would it be possible to add the Clan Duncan Society based here in Scotland to your Links Page?
Kind Regards John A. Duncan of Sketraw February 27, 2005 at 4:51 AM Reply: The Clan Ross - Canada website is a non-profit site devoted primarily to Clan Ross, related Canadian items and things of general interest to our membership. If it is any consolation, we note that neither Clan Duncan nor Clan Ross is listed at the Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada (CASSOC) website. It might be best if you search for a website which purports to represent all Scottish clans in the UK. As a further observation, we noted that our website has respectfully rejected many of the links which are provided on your page of links. Best wishes to your new website in any case.
I am writing on behalf of the webmaster of the Heraldry Society of Scotland. The HSS webmaster is now working on an additional page to the Society's website, which will attempt to list and link to a very large number of Scottish clan websites, sept and recognised family names sites.
All of these names are being contacted with a view to including a reciprocal link on the Heraldry Society of Scotland's new web page. With this in mind I would ask you if you would be willing to include a link to the Heraldry Society of Scotland on your website, in return we will be happy to include a link on our new Clan names page to your website. Yours aye, Barry Harden, Baron of Cowdenknowes. Cowdenknowes, Lothian, Scotland baron.ofcowdenknowes@ntlworld.com October 30, 2004 at 5:22 PM Reply: Your offer is respectfully declined. However, CRA-Canada has no objection to a link on your new Clan names page if that is your wish. Thank you.
The Canadian Massed Pipe and Drums marched down Dunfermline High street and played a medley of Scottish tunes outside the Andrew Carnegie Statue in Pittencrieff park. I try to video archive most events around Dunfermline, and the bands visit has been captured on video. I would like to give the band a copy of the event on DVD, have you a contact point or a web site address for the band, this I would appreciate greatly. Many Thanks, Arthur Davies Dunfermline, West Fife, Scotland webmaster@dunfermlinecity.info August 8, 2004 at 6:24 PM Reply: The OMLPB Website is listed with other bands at "All Things Scottish" on our Page of Links at the CRA-Canada Website. Thanks also for acknowledging receipt of the information.
My name is Darin Nieuwendorp, and a friend of mine is looking into getting the Ross coat of arms, all we are getting currently is a family crest, the image will be attached, anyways if it's at all possible, would you be able to email me a picture of the Ross coat of arms?
Thanks, Darin Nieuwendorp May 17, 2004 at 5:32 PM Ross Coats of Arms are the personal property of each individual Chief of Clan Ross. You may find pictures of several of these in Clan Ross histories at your public library. On January 15, 2000, Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods in London, was instructed by the Scottish heraldic court to remove the personal Heraldic Achievement or "Arms" owned by David Ross of Ross and Balnagowan from the recently installed wrought iron gates at the entrance to Balnagowan Castle. On the other hand, members of Clan Ross have the permission of the Chief to wear the belted Ross Badge, signifying that they accept David Ross of Ross and Balnagowan as their chief.
Hello, I'm a member of Clan Ross Association and I'm trying to locate the book: The Great Clan Ross by Dr. John Robert Ross. Do you have any suggestions of where I might find this book? Is it still in print? Thanks for your help.
Sincerely, Beth Lebret April 4, 2004 at 10:24 PM Reply: The current National President of the Clan Ross Association of Canada, Incorporated, is the son of the late Dr. John Robert Ross. I am sending a copy of this email to him, and he will undoubtedly be in touch with you.
Do they still have the gathering of the Ross Clan? If so can you email details, dates etc.
Thanks, another Douglas M Ross Vernon, B.C. March 14, 2004 at 11:45 PM Reply sent: re. membership, AGMs and events noted at the website.
I am looking for more biographical info on our Clan Chief, David of Ross.
My Father is the South Eastern Commissioner for Clan Ross USA, and has tasked me with building out the content on our Web site,http://www.clanrosssoutheast.com and thus far I haven't found much. Any leads? Please let me know. Also, what copywrite terms should I use for content I scrape from GreatClanRoss.org? Let me know about this as well. Cheers, aye! Anthony J. Ross November 3, 2003 at 7:27 PM November 4, 2003 at 4:57 PM Replies: I have written a brief history of the Clan Chief at http://www.GreatClanRoss.org/htext7.html. My main source was Dr John Robert Ross, who wrote the definitive history of Clan Ross, The Great Clan Ross. Your email reminded me to update the section for the Clan Chief to include information about the death of his mother earlier this year. Recent challenges in the Lord Lyon's Court and the decision by Burke's Peerage (2003) have already been included. Some of the material also comes from our Association Newsletter, but occasionally I find articles at Scottish websites as well. I have no objection if you wish to use my particular phrasing or composition in the article about Chief David. The correct form for including a reference copyrighted by CRA-Canada or myself could take any one of several forms. I have used many references for background material, but I recognize that I do not have the right to copy the entire body of an individual's work as if it were my own. Copyright exists to deter plagiarism, and I try to give credit where it is due. You should not run into any problems, since your website is for a non-profit organization. Provide a link if you wish.
I am the current president of "Descendants of Ft. Nisqually Employees Assn". While doing a google.com search for some of our ancestors, I entered Charles George Ross' name and your
website page came up. Charles is listed midway down one of our charts. I have been looking for pages to link to the names to help identify those who had been with the fort. There are many Ross descendants in and around the area and some in our group. We store our histories at the DuPont Museum near where we hold our meetings in the DuPont, Washington, city hall. Our next meeting will be this Sunday so I will bring a copy of the page up there. There are also many other Ross', not from the same line who also worked at the fort, so know I need to make sure I give this info to the right families. I descended not from the Ross family, but from William Kittson who was one of the first men in charge of the 1833 site of Ft. Nisqually (there were 3 sites to this fort). The 2nd site was 1843 and near the first site in DuPont, WA. The third site is a replica mostly, but was used some for a short while. It was built in 1933 at Point Defiance in Tacoma, Washington. I will be sure that the Ross' and others interested in his history are directed to your pages. Thank you for your good work and links.
Roxanne Woodruff. Portland, Oregon, USA October 7, 2003 at 9:39 PM Reply: Thanks for your message. It is a pleasure to hear from groups who have benefited from our CRA-Canada website.
I was wondering if you have the music for "The Earl of Ross's March" and whether it was associated with the Clan. If not does your clan have a march or tune associated with it.
My mother is Dorothy Ross of Montrose and her father was Alexander Ross. I started bagpiping 2 years ago and have looked several times for Ross Clan display but I have not really notice anything around Ottawa. Thanks, Michael Ross Long Ottawa, Ontario Monday, August 4, 2003 at 1:45 PM CLICK HERE for The Earl of Ross's March. Personally, I do not play the bagpipes, but I have sufficient knowledge of music to make a slight correction on the grace notes in a couple of bars. By the way, The current Chief of Clan Ross is not particularly fond of the march. I'm surprised that you haven't noticed the Ross tartan worn by the Ottawa Police Pipe Band. I'm still waiting for someone to send me a photo of the group performing on Parliament Hill or at one of the Highland Festivals in eastern Ontario.
I am writing on behalf of Ken MacDonald from Houston Kiltmakers in Paisley, Scotland. After perusing your clan Ross website it occurred to me that it would be of immense value to our website visitors.
Houston Traditional Kiltmakers are a family run business with over 90 years experience in highlandwear. All of their products are made in Scotland by local craftsmen and women and are of the finest quality. Houston Traditional Kiltmakers have been updating their website for the last few years, and would like to establish reciprocal links with the clan Ross website. As Ross is one of our most searched for names it would be beneficial to our vistors to be directed to your site so they can find out further information on their family history. Similarly, your website visitors may may appreciate the chance to see all of the Ross range and to purchase a piece of their family heritage. Kind Regards, Frances Spencer, Customer Relations Manager shop@kiltmakers.com Paisley, Scotland Wednesday, July 30, 2003 at 6:29 AM Reply: Clan Ross is a non-profit organization. One of the first policies for the website was to restrict the pages in a manner which reflected the newsletter. Thus, neither the newsletter nor the website promote any companies through advertisement. The Clan Ross Canada website is already listed at every major website which promotes information about clans and septs. The national executive is pleased to maintain this arrangement.
I am a zoologist at the University of Aberdeen studying the feasibility of reintroducing the Eurasian lynx to Scotland. Part of my research is looking at the history of the lynx in Scotland, and given that the skeletal evidence is not plentiful (Scotland's geology doesn't lend itself well to the preservation of bones) I am turning to other means to explore the evidence for lynx existence in Scotland. A skull found in a cave system in the Northern Highlands in the early twentieth century was for a long time reckoned to be around 5000 years old. It was concluded that, as this was the most recent evidence there was in Britain, lynx had become extinct around then. However, the skull was carbon dated recently and yielded a date from the 3rd century AD. This of course sits nicely in the Pictish period. So while browsing websites relating to Picts, looking for depictions of lynx on standing stones, I discovered the following reference on your site. It is said that giant Sabre Tooth cats were still alive in the far north of Scotland in the first century A.D.
I would be interested to know where you learned this from. While it is extremely unlikely that sabre-tooths were roaming northern Scotland then, it could be a possible reference to lynx. The Eurasian lynx, while not a threat to human safety, is twice the size of the Canadian lynx, and feeds on deer, not hares; thus it can be seen as the European equivalent of the cougar. I hope to hear from you soon, David Hetherington. Department of Zoology University of Aberdeen Tillydrone Avenue Aberdeen AB24 2TZ Scotland Tuesday, June 3, 2003 at 12:39 PM Reply: I guess that you came across this statement when you visited the footnotes for the section on "At The Dawn of Scottish History" (at the top). Thanks to your inquiry, I have traced my references to Robert Gunn and his series about Scottish Origins. I note that he has backed away from the legendary existence of the felid line of Machairodontinae in Caithness. Still, his comments about "large cats in remote areas" leaves an opening to the possibility that descendants of the Nimravinae might have been around in spite of the lack of fossil evidence.
As the Webmistress for the Sarnia Highland Games. I was trying to get a picture of Bob Findlay and the Caledonians and I came across your site. I was wondering if I could use your picture (Bob Findlay and the Caledonians and Chris Hadfield). I would put the appropriate info below and I would also put your website link on our links page.
Looking forward to hearing from you, Vera Lynn. Sarnia, Ontario January 3, 2003 at 1:44 PM Reply: Be our guest! I just finished with updating The Sarnia Highland Games and have used your picture. Thank you again . Here are the two pages with your links on them: the Music Schedule and also the Page of Links. Again thank you very kindly, VL. Wednesday, January 8, 2003 at 1:36 PM
I am one of those decendents of the Ross orphans that were sent to Canada and married into french families. I see that there is a Ross Clan Association of Quebec for those Rosses' that have become french speaking in Canada. My ancesters settled in the Rimouski area and later into Montreal, Eastern townships and then into Northern Ontario at the turn of the twentieth century. I am puzzled as to why your site makes no mention of this Association which might be of some assistance in searching for relatives that did settle into Quebec.
Reina Ross-Christensen Victoria, BC. Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at 3:11 PM The president of Clan Ross Québec has become a member of the Clan Ross Association of Canada, Incorporated, which is the only society that represents all of Canada. It is true that Clan Ross Québec has not established a Provincial Commissioner and, for this reason, there is no listing on the Page for the CRA-Canada Executive. On the other hand, Ontario Commissioner Wendy Ross and Suzanne Delormé of Granby, Quebec, have co-hosted the Clan Ross tent at the Montréal Games at Pierrefonds (West Island) for a few years. There are actually two links to Clan Ross Québec at the CRA-Canada website. Go to our Page of Links ... and select "All Things Scottish". If you scroll down you will locate two links to our Québec friends. [If you search the website of Clan Ross Québec, you may notice that they have no similar link to our national association. Maybe it's the language barrier?] Le président de Clan Ross Québec est devenu membre de l'Association de Ross de Clan de Canada, Incorporé, qui est la seule société qui représente tout Canada. C'est vrai ce Clan Ross Québec n'a pas établi un Commissaire Provincial et, pour cette raison, il n'y a pas la liste sur la Page pour le Cadre de CRA-CANADA. D'autre part, Wendy Ross (le Commissaire Provincial d'Ontario) et Suzanne Delormé de Granby, le Québec, avoir co-accueilli la tente de Clan Ross aux Jeux de Montréal à Pierrefonds (l'Ile d'ouest) pour quelques années. Il y a en fait deux liens au Clan Ross Québec au site web de CRA-CANADA. Aller à notre Page de Liens... et choisit « Toutes Choses écossaises ». Si vous défilez en bas vous localiserez deux liens à nos amis de Québec. [Si vous cherchez le site web de Clan Ross Québec, vous pouvez remarquer qu'ils n'a pas de lien similaire à notre association nationale. Peut-être c'est la barrière de langue ?]
I am the great-granddaughter of Thomas Ross. My father, Robert William Murray, is the grandson of Thomas Ross.
My father, who is now 84, is putting the finishing touches on his family history and asked me to do a little research on his behalf with regard to his grandfather's role in establishing the Toronto Police Pipe Band. He has pictures and I believe some information of great-grandpa from those early years. In my garage I have some music from earlier times in the band and some pictures. I also have the Bible presented to him on the occasion of his 100th birthday from his yokefellows in Parkdale, on December 25, 1960. My son, Stephen, who is a pipe player, is in possesion of Grandpa's parlour pipes. Grandpa's pipes are in the possesion of his grandson, Dr. Paul Waldorf, of Oakville, Ontario. I am not sure, but he may be willing to discuss handing them over to you if you had a suitable museum-type safe haven for them. Great-Grandpa was a wonderful church-going man who died at the age of 103. As a matter of interest, his son (my grandfather), Alexander John Murray, was Inspector of Detectives in Toronto during the twenties or thirties and his son, Donald Murray, was a sergeant with the Toronto Police perhaps twenty-five years ago before he retired. (I could be slightly off on these dates. I'm 55 and my memory is going!) If you are at all interested in this stuff, by all means give me a hoot. Thank you, Lynne Ward Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, August 29, 2002 at 6:22 PM I have forwarded your email to the TPPB contact, PC Ian K. MacDonald.
I'm trying to reach Jacquie Troy regarding a permission to reprint an article. Could you
help me with an e-mail-address? I read Jacquie's article, "Timing and Feel - what is that", on
the Where to Stick It Website. A search on google resulted in a page at the P&D magazine, which stated Jacquie Troy, Toronto. That's why I thought she might be in the Toronto Police Pipe Band. Can you help?
Best Regards, Thue Kjelstrøm Holbaek Pipe Band Copenhagen, Denmark Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 10:45 AM I had some luck, Thue! Jacquie used to drum with the TPPB, but I found her telephone number in the Toronto Telephone Book. I gave her your email address, and she will have contacted you already. [Thanks for letting me know that all went well!] The Internet certainly is miraculous.
Interesting site! My grandmother was a Ross, and as such I will wear the Ross colours when I wed next year. Thanks for the info!
Alan Moore amoore@coastnet.com Victoria, BC CA - Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at 23:29:05 (PDT)   SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT "Success Nourishes Hope" |
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