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| July, 2012 |
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President's
Message
Allow me to introduce myself, as your new President. My name is Wendy Hurley and I am now a resident of Arizona for the past four years. I was born in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland and attended a Boarding School (Dollar Academy) in Dollar, Clacknannanshire, Scotland, while my parents were out of the country. I was very privileged to be educated in this prestigious school.
I was honored to be asked to lead the Caledonian Society of Arizona for the next 24 months as your President. I agreed to this if I could help choose the new Team to lead us into a new fun and exciting time. I am proud to introduce them to you: 1st Vice-Pres. Mark Clark, also from Scotland. He will head up our Programs and Membership areas; 2nd Vice-Pres. Jason Temple, our Games Chairman; Treasurer, Alexandra C. Cheek; Secretary, Michael Frazier, Trustees: Mark Pelletier and Andy Walker; Immediate Past President, Jean Latimer. We already have some "key" Chairpersons in place: Don Finch, reporting to Mark Clark on Membership. Teresa Potts & Jesse Lopez, reporting to Wendy, will head up the Hospitality Committee, with assistance from Susan Anderson. Things are already changing, so stay tuned.
Coming up at the July 12th meeting will be a lesson on "How to dress a proper Scotsman"! We have some brave volunteers who will appear in their "boxers" and end up dressed in correct formal attire. Now I know you don't want to miss this important lesson, much less find out WHO the volunteers might be! Aye, you need to join us for the fun.
Wendy Hurley, President
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Scots Who Helped Shape America
When we celebrate Independence Day this July, we Scots can also celebrate the fact that many Scots were very instrumental in shaping the United States of America. Many famous and not so famous Scots have long played an influential role in shaping America’s history—from the Declaration of Independence to the present.
It is now reckoned that even Uncle Sam, who personifies the spirit of America more than any other figure, was actually a butcher whose ancestors came from Greenock in Scotland. Genealogists have delved back in time to trace the family origins of Samuel Wilson (born 1766), the New York slaughterhouse proprietor on whom the patriotic caricature was founded, back to the shores of the River Clyde.
In 1793 Samuel Wilson, already a veteran of the American War of Independence at the early age of 15, set up a meat packing business in Troy, New York with his brother Ebeneezer. He acquired his nickname in 1812 after securing a contract to supply meat to the American War Department. He had the carcasses stamped with the letters U.S. and many soldiers quipped that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam” instead of United States.
Samuel Wilson’s ancestors were reckoned to have emigrated from Clydeside in 1600, settling in Connecticut and New York.
Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, no less than nine can be claimed as directly or indirectly of Scottish origin. Edward Rutledge, the youngest signer, was a son of Dr. John Ruthledge who immigrated from Ulster to South Caroline in 1735. The Rutledges were a small Border clan in Roxburghshire.
George Ross was also of Scottish parentage. His nephew’s wife, Elizabeth (Griscom) Ross, better known as “Betsy Ross,” was maker of the first national flag. Thomas McKean was a great-grandson of William McKean of Argyllshire who moved to Ulster about the middle of the 17th century. He was a member of Congress from Delaware, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and Governor of the state from 1799 to 1808.
James Wilson was born in 1742 near St. Andrews in Fife. James Wilson was one of America’s founding fathers and in 1787 was on of the most influential representatives during the planning and signing of the Constitutional Convention. He was later Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
John Witherspoon, another Scot who helped shape America was born in 1722 in Haddingtonshire, Scotland. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and became a minister. In 1768 he brought his family to America when he took the position of President of Princeton College. In 1776 he was elected to the Continental Congress and was an outspoken advocate of independence. He was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence and later served in Congress for six years.
Although not signers of the Declaration, many Scotts have had a great influence on the history of the United States.
Born in 1757 on the West Indian island of Nevis, Alexander Hamilton, the son of a Scottish merchant, is commended with putting America on a sound economic footing as its first Secretary of the Treasury.
Born in 1819 in Glasgow, Allan Pinkerton, a cooper by trade emigrated in 1842 to Illinois. He turned his hand to crime detection and in 1852 formed the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency. He eventually became head of the American Secret Service.
And of course we have all heard of Andrew Carnegie who was recognized more as a philanthropist than as one of America’s richest industrialists. He was born in 1835 in Dumfermline in Fife. He contributed much of his considerable fortune for building libraries throughout the United States.
All these Scots, plus many more, gave their energy, intelligence and money to help the new nation become the powerful country that it is today.
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Happy Fourth of July
Freedom is never given, it is won.
Where liberty dwells, there is my country. –B. Franklin
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. –Thomas Paine
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed-else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. –Dwight D. Eisenhower
May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country. –Daniel Webster
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2nd Prescott Celtic Music Festival
When: August 18, 2012 10am – 5pm
Where: Watson Lake Park, 3100 Watson Lake Park Rd., Prescott, AZ.
Tickets: Adults $25 (advance) $28 at the gate Students $5, Under 18 free
Advance Ticket Outlets: Celtic Crossings Pub Prescott Gateway Mall 928-443-8454 and Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ. 602-258-0109There will be 2 stages of continuous Celtic music. Other features include vendors, Celtic food and Scottish soda, beer tent, whisky tasting tent, bag piping, tea room, silent auction, raffle.
For more information contact David McNabb-- Mcnabbprescott@aol.com
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July
Celebrations
We are attempting to up-date our Celebration list to add information for new members and remove those from the list that are no longer relevant. If you are a dues-paying member or just a “friend” of the Society and would like your special date recognized in our monthly newsletter, we need to hear from you. Please let us know your correct birthday and anniversary information on our voice mail – 602-431-0095 – or email it to editor@arizonascots.com and it will be included in our Celebration list.
July 3 Britt & Claudia Wallace—Anniversary
July 14 Kathy Beatty—Birthday
July 17 Greg Duprest—Birthday
July 19 Claudia Wallace—Birthday
July 21 Jean Whyman—Birthday
July 24 Richard & Anne Thornton—Anniversary
July 30 Dee McClimans—Birthday
July 31 Mary Carroll--Birthday
BEST WISHES ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY!
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Know the
Clans
"What's in a Name"
By Ron Dempsey, FSA Scot
Paton
Like so many surnames in Scotland, Paton is a patronymic name, meaning it came from a person and not from a location. The original ancestor’s name was Patrick. Just as we do today, names were often shortened, from Patrick we have Pat and to further show endearment it became Paton, sometimes Patton is a pet form of the name for wee Pat or little Pat. From Paton there would have been at least two surnames that evolved, one being Paton and the other Patonson or son of Paton. There were also a few names that derived from Patrick which include, Paton, Patton, Patonson, Pattison from son of Pattie, Patrick and Patrickson. It is feasible that the original Paton may have lines of descendents that used any of these names as a surname. The name was first documented in 1407, while it was in 1513 that it was recorded as a surname. As for clan connections, it has associations with MacLean and MacDonald of the Isles.
Lennox
The Vale of Leven is the origin of this surname. It was known at one time as Levenax and from there it evolved into Lennox. Levenax, or in Gaelic Levenach, translates as a smooth stream, others suggests it means a place of elms. This ancient Celtic earldom lays in parts of Renfrewshire, Dumbartonshire and parts of Stirlingshire. It became the earldom of Lennox after the reign of William the Lion who held the throne from 1165 until 1214.
The family was well established in their earldom and supported Bruce in his efforts to rid the country of Edward of England’s control over Scotland. Malcollm, the fifth earl, signed the Ragman Roll, it was a signature of allegiance to Edward of England in 1296. Most Scottish nobles did sign, but usually under duress. Under James I, (1406-1437) the house of Lennox went through more than one female heir that eventually landed in alliance with the Duke of Albany. James, after his imprisonment in England, had some issues to resolve with the house of Albany and their allies and beheaded a few including the earl of Lennox. The inheritance was in dispute among descendents of the house until John, Lord Darnley, a descendent of the Royal Stewart assumed the title in 1488.
Henry, the fourth son of the fourth Stewart earl married Queen Mary. They related more than once and were first cousins. Mary was the widow of the Dauphin of France and had lived in France since her infancy. She returned to Scotland upon the death of her father, James V, to become monarch. Henry Stuart Darnley was the father of James VI of Scotland who became James I of England thus uniting the two kingdoms. The descent of inheritance for the Lennox earldom was circuitous in that lines died and the title passed back to the crown to be granted to other royal kin. The Clan Badge: Two broadswords crossed diagonally behind a swan’s head. Clan Motto: I’ll Defend.
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Society
Meetings
Regular membership
meetings are held the second Thursday
of each month at 6:45 pm at the Irish Cultural
Center located at 1106 N. Central
Avenue, Phoenix. Come join us, or log
on to www.arizonascots.com, or call 602-431-0095
Caledonian Society Officers
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The
Caledonian Society of Arizona
General Meeting
Minutes
June 14, 2012
The meeting was called to order by outgoing President Jean Latimer at 6:50pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Jean gave a word of thanks to everyone who had contributed to the Society during her time as President.
Jean called each of the new members of the Board up one at a time and introduced them. The new Board consists of: Wendy Hurley, President; Mark Clark, Vice-President; Jason Temple, Games Chair; Alexandra Cheek, Treasurer; Michael Frazier, Secretary; Mark Pelletier and Andy Walker, Trustees. She then presented Wendy with an engraved gavel representing her new authority.
New President, Wendy, expressed her thanks for the honor of leading the Society for the next two years. She urged everyone to become involved as much as they can to further the goals of the Society. The meeting was adjourned and cake and champagne was enjoyed by all.
Michael Frazier, Secretary
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