Callander

Well there it is. Pursuit of one line of family ancestry gets me to 1717 in Callander, Land of Dr Finlay's Casebook. Then I find no more online info, and I might have to do some actual work if I want to investigate further.I have no information about what my ancestors did, but there's a slight thrill to find they were concurrent with Rob Roy in the same area, that my ancestors were there before the church*, before the town, or even the road. Sad too; they lived in the time of the Jacobite risings, during which conflict Clan Lachlan sided with James and Charlie, as did the local Duke of Perth, all to loss. The Duke's lands were confiscated by the Crown. Then came the building of the town, but also the clearances, where whole communities were forced off the land to become diaspora. By 1771, their descendants were in Glasgow, by 1788,in Paisley, and onwards to Edinburgh, eventually ending up in the devil's heart, dear old London.

Here is a Victorian representation of a Clan McLachlan warrior. He's quite handsome, so of course it's accurate.


To add to the romance of it all, my ancestor's wife was of the McArthurs, a very ancient clan who claim descent from... Yup, Arthur himself.** Despite their origins they were clearly quite fashion forward as this early example of avante-garde couture demonstrates.



I wonder why this suddenly fascinates me? It's not as though these folk would recognise me, or I them. Doubtless we would all stare at each other in alarm, and perhaps a little envy. I might dream about wild mountains and heather and they might prod my breadmaker and washing machine. It's nice to be able to pinpoint them in time, though, and I'll raise a glass at Halloween.


*The new church in 1733. There had been some kind of Christian settlement there since the 6th century.

** Two schools of thought on the clan's origins:

1. King Malcolm Canmore --- Malcomb --- Dubni mac Mal-colaim ---Arthur Armdhearg --- Arthur Andarian --- MacArthurs of Darleith & Inistrynich (Tirevadich)


2. King Arthur -- Smerevie -- Ferrither -- Duibne Mor -- Arthur Og -- Ferrither -- Duibne "Falt Dhearg" -- Ferrither -- Duibne Dearg -- Duibne Donn -- Diarmid O'Duibne -- Arthur -- Arthur Andarian -- MacArthurs of Darleith & Inistrynich (Tirevadich)