EVENTS It Seems Like Summer Only Began, but Now Children Are Him for a First Class Newsletter
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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SCOTTISH ST. ANDREW SOCIETY OF GREATER ST. LOUIS SUMMER 2016 HELLO SSAS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ... Chris Fulton, President EVENTS It seems like summer only began, but now children are him for a first class newsletter. He has certainly set the heading back to school and by the time this issue is re- bar high with this informative and entertaining Thistle 9/23–24 leased, we will have celebrated Labor Day signifying the Times. We also wish David Hoffmann a fond farewell end of summer. I hope everyone did something adven- with heartfelt thanks as our Treasurer. David has donated St. Louis Scottish Games turous, new and exciting. Let us know about it; we’d love a laptop and set up a simple and manageable accounting & Cultural Festival to put in the Thistle Times. system for us. Please extend your congratulations and Friday, Sept. 23: thanks to him as well. 3 pm - 10:30 pm This is the end of my first year as your president. We Saturday, Sept. 24: have managed to carry on our annual traditions with the The last issue, I was saddened to report the loss of two of 8:30 am - 6 pm St. Andrew Celebration, and who can forget that fabu- our dearest, longest serving members: Alex Mackey and lous evening at the Burns Dinner. We look forward to Jean Cobain. You know the old saying: “sad news comes continue to provide these events while hoping to add in threes”… Unfortunately, I am saddened to report that some new things to entice younger folks and families. we lost Dr. Tom Forrester. I mentioned it before, we are We’ll keep you posted. not just a group of friends sharing our common inter- ests and heritage in Scotland. We are a family. We share September is the beginning of our membership year and a common emotional and soulful bloodline that is as we invite you all to renew your memberships and at- strong as any blood, evident at the Memorial Service and tend the Annual General Membership (AGM) Meeting. Gathering for the Forrester Family. So many of you were Spirit of St. Louis Airport The AGM is when we provide a year in review and you there to support the family, grieve with them, but most West Drive elect your new Board Members. This year, the AGM will importantly, celebrate the life of Tom Forrester. Chesterfield, MO be Sept 20th and held again at C. J. Muggs in Webster stlouis-scottishgames.com Groves on 101 W Lockwood Ave. Dinner is at 5:30 pm; One final item – don’t forget the St. Louis Scottish Games the meeting will start at 6:30 pm. We will present the and Cultural Festival, celebrating their 14th year. You slate of board candidates and hold the election after the can find the details elsewhere in this issue. Come on out 10/13, 11/10 business meeting. and immerse yourselves in the Scottish Experience. St. Andrew Society Social (Every 2nd Thursday As the Society grows, we go through a number of chang- We are your Board and open to your comments and of the month) es and this year will be no exception. Dr. Steve Nich- questions and suggestions. I look forward to serving you 6:30 –9:30 PM ols, the Thistle Times Editor has decided to enjoy his for another year. Thank you for your continued support. retirement and resigned his role. Please be sure to thank ~Chris Fulton The Scottish Arms 10 S. Sarah St. SIGNING OFF St Louis, MO 63108 Steve Nichols, Editor This issue of Thistle Times will be the my last to edit. contributed by members on their travels to Scotland. 11/19 More than six years ago, as a new board member, I vol- These personalized writings provide an enriching, intimate St. Andrew Celebration unteered to edit the Thistle Times, then in the hands of point of view of what Scotland means to that individual. Saturday, doors open 6pm an unreliable “outsider”. Having been a laboratory direc- tor, I was comfortable with editing policies and proce- Articles do not have to be lengthy. A few hundred words The Theater Room at dures written by the laboratory’s supervisors and tech- is typically adequate, and pictures greatly enhance any the Willows at Brooking Park nologists. Little did I know that I would write most of topic. I’m sure you all have special interests such as Scot- the articles and items for our newsletter. Being “editor” tish history, music, crafts, cooking, etc., etc. on which presented me the opportunity to learn more about Scot- you spend your leisure time and could share with fellow 1/21/17 tish history, lore, and travel, as well as the celebrations of members. Pictures of your travels to the homeland are Robert Burns Dinner our own St. Andrew Society. most welcome. 45th Anniversary Program But some of the best articles, at least in my opinion, I encourage all of you to send articles to the new editor, St. Louis Frontenac Hilton were those contributed by other members. Early on in Chris Brennan, who has volunteered to take on this duty Lindbergh Blvd. & I-64 my tenure Herb McLain wrote a four-part history of the on an interim basis until another Saturday, cocktail hour immigration and settling in Missouri of his Clan McLain. editor is found or steps forward. begins 5:30 pm Surely other long-time members should want to share So for now “Adieu”, but I hope their family history of immigration to the New World to see you at our celebrations and coming to St. Louis. There have been a few articles and meetings. The Scottish St. Andrew Society of Greater St. Louis | 314.374.6382 | stlstandrews.org TRIAL BY COMBAT TRIAL BY COMBAT (CON’T.) EXCERPT FROM Steve Nichols, Editor SOME WEBSITES FOR Steve Nichols, Editor THE FAIR MAID OF PERTH Trial by combat was primarily embedded GENEALOGY RESEARCHERS to select 30 men to fight. When Clan Chattan was dis- elapsed and the charge was again sounded. After more by Sir Walter Scott in the customs and laws of Germanic peo- covered to have only 29 men (was the absent 30th man a carnage Clan Chattan had ten men still standing along ple to settle a dispute between two parties A-Z index of research guides deserter or ill?), they refused to fight and the opponents with its stand-in Henry Smith/Wynd, while Clan Cam- The trumpets of the King in the absence of witnesses or a confession on the National Records of refused to even the numbers. At the last moment Hen- eron had only one alive. Whether or not he was wound- sounded a charge, the by one party. The winner of the combat was Scotland’s website: ry Smith (also referred to as Henry Wynd) was recruit- ed, it is said he fled the field, jumping into the Tay to bagpipes blew up their proclaimed right. The various regional tribes ed. Some accounts described Smith/Wynd as a bandy live another day. screaming and maddening A wide range of historical records (and eventually the Holy Roman Empire) are worthy of examination for legged man of short stature, while others described him notes, and the combatants, prescribed their own particulars concerning tracing your Scottish ancestors. as large and stout. All accounts agreed he was a fierce The Chattans claimed their victory, gained at such a starting forward in regular the choice of weapons and the rules of com- Passenger lists, military records, fighter. He was promised half a French crown of gold loss of life. order, and increasing their that of Sir Walter Scott, the opposition was Clan Kay or court records, employment bat. The practice was introduced into the common law and to be “maintained for life” if he fought pace, till they came to a (Quhele). However, in a privately printed “Clan Battle records, poor relief documents, of the Kingdom of England likely following the Norman and survived. smart run, met together in at Perth” Alexander MacKintosh Shaw—the Shaws are land records, taxation records, conquest in 1066 and became know in the British Isles as the centre of the ground, part of the Chattan Confederation—identified their op- railway records, convict wager of battle. As the medieval period came to a close, transportation lists (never judge) - The North Inch is bounded by the Tay Riv- as a furious land torrent ponents as Clan Cameron. Some historians identify Clan the practice began to wane across Europe. The last trial the list goes on and on. er on the north side of Perth. The area was encounters an advancing tide. Kay with Clan Cameron, whose feud with the Chattans by combat sanctioned by the authority of the English prone to flooding, and some accounts sug- would last 30 years. Yet another historical interpretation The National Records of Scotland monarch is thought to have occurred during the reign gest at the time of the battle this was an is- Blood flowed fast, and the suggests the battle was an internal dispute between two (NRS) website (nrsscotland.gov. of Queen Elizabeth I. On Sept. 7, 1583 Conor and Teig land or at least partially surrounded by wa- groans of those who fell of the clans within the Chattan Confederation. The basis uk/research/guides)contains accused each other of treason in a dynastic dispute and an excellent A-Z index of ter. These days it is a parkland. King Robert began to mingle with the of the internecine feuding (with Clan Davidson?) was clashed in the inner courtyard of Dublin Castle.