Muirhead Clan Society September Newsletter September 9th, 2000

Welcome to the Muirhead Clan Society Newsletter! We’ve made one year this month! In this one year, we have seen a small spark grow to a good size flame, and it still grows larger. To date, we have x paid members, with a grand total of x members. Not bad for a group that started a year ago with just an idea and a dream based on a promise to a Grandfather.

~From the President As most of you know I designated September 9, 1999 as the date of the Resurgence of the Muirhead Clan and set out to gather the Clan Muirhead into a Society. With that the gathering of the Clan Began, setting in motion the beginning of the fulfillment of a promise I made many years ago to my Grandfather who told me that the legacy that he would leave for me when he passed on was not land, nor property, or money but a journey. A journey it has been and I do not mean the vacation kind, for the journey would be as much a mental one as a physical one. Like any journey, it had a starting point yet has no promise of ever coming to a successful end. Therein lies the challenge of all family researchers that set out on a journey of discovery into the past to seek their ancestral beginnings. Grandfather had told me our family name had honorable and respected name. A name that over the many hundreds of years, like the ancestors and their descendants of that name, had become lost in the dust of the ages of time that had long gone yet should never be forgotten. The only legacy I leave to you is the Journey to seek out our forgotten past that they who live today and all those that follow may know the pride and honor of the origin of their name. It is in the discovery and sharing of our past that the most valuable legacy will be passed on . Like blood is to life, a family’s origin and history is to the life of the families to come. Without it the family lives on but lacks the heart and pride of their ancestral heritage all because it stopped being passed on. Family groups, Clans if you will, no longer pass on family records and stories as in the old days. Perhaps that is why the youth of today appear to have little respect for themselves and others. They are lost in a modern world, lacking the conviction, grit, of their ancestors through the examples of the past and once shared and passed from generation to generation. All because the elders thought it no longer mattered or was relevant to the times of today. It was too late for my Grandfather who at the end of his life could not even account for his grandparents’ lives, but I think he could see the great decline in the family unit and knew it was past time to set someone out on a journey to rediscover our heritage and that it just might be the one thing that could inspire me to gather the clan and give back to it a sense of pride that could only be found in the past The purposes of the Muirhead Clan Society are to honor our Scottish heritage and to instill in others and us an interest in the Scottish traditions and culture. To collect and preserve literary, historical and genealogical records relating to the Muirhead Clan and their descendents. On September 9, 2000 it is the first year anniversary of the resurgence of the Muirhead Clan. The year 2000 has and is a year of firsts for our clan and I have been proud to serve as your President. I will continue to gather the Clan and our honorable history and look forward to the challenges of 2001 and, yes, more firsts for the Muirhead Clan Society. For the Clan and Kindred’s Cause, Raymond Lee Morehead (Secretary’s notes: I have uploaded the scans of the letter sent in regards to the wreath and an itinerary list for the events for the Flodden Ceremony, to our egroups site.) ~Updates from the Secretary, Sporran, and Genealogist From the Clan Secretary: Ahhh...So many changes to keep up with. If you have recently visited the website, you might notice a little difference. I added a navigational bar to the left. For those who find the musicdistracting , or just plain obnoxious, (mainly David Grosset’s little Scottie dog, Hamish..*smile*) I will be removing the music until I can find a way of adding it with an option to turn it off. HTML and CGI scripts confuse me...but being a webmistress is an ever learning process. I recently had to clean out my hard drive, and I noticed, to my shock, that I still had folders for the previous versions of the website. You see, when I revamp the website, I put it into a brand new folder. Looking back through the older versions, I was amazed and rather proud on how much I have learned about designing our webpage. In the meantime, look for more changes on our continually growing and ever changing website. ~Sandie From the Clan Treasurer and Keeper of the Sporran FROM THE JULY GAMES 2000 Event $60.00 from raffle ticket sales, $28.00 from sales, $10.00 From the sale of a Celtic knotted thistle print $98.00 Total taken in from July Games 2000 -$35.00 Cost of tent space +$ 63.00 to Clan Account Checks drawn on the Clan Account 2550. 5/5/00 SSHGA For tent space $35.00 2551. 6/9/00 Scottish Sword and Shield For Belt Buckles purchased for resale to members $78.00 2552. 6/27/00 Sparta Pewter For Clan Badges $615.05 2553. 7/11/00 Signs and Graphics For Clan Stickers $60.00 Deposits to the Clan account Total deposits as of 8/25/00 = $1097.80+ Less paid out as of 8/25/00 = $ 788.05- Leaves a total Balance of $ 309.75+ The Muirhead Clan Society has to the date of last deposit 8/25/00 a balance of $309.75 With one outstanding bill of $150.00 for Sample, due at the time of receipt of approved sample. The Balance in the Clan Sporran as of 9/3/00 the date of this report remains at $ 309.75 ~Yours, the Keeper of the Sporran, Yen Chi Morehead Pacific Northwest statistics: We received the numbers from our local Highland Games: Saturday’s ticket sales: 18,000 Sunday’s ticket sales: 10,000 Total ticket sales: 28,000 21 Pipe Bands 172 individual competitors for piping and drumming 230 dance competitors 60 athletic competitors 74 clan tents, making this year the largest contingent of clans to march in the Gathering of the Clans Parade 57 vendors 12 societies The Clan Database is at 4429 individuals..... (most of the ones that have been added haven't made a complete connection to the main line.) It is obvious that most will connect, just need more researching. That is about the only news from this end. ~Susan

~Update on the Clan Tartan Suas Leis a’ Muirhead Bhreacan! --- "Up with the Muirhead tartan!" Just received the Muirhead Tartan sample woven by D.C. Dalgliesh and Sons, Dunsdale Mill, Selkkirk , it is a sight to behold for sure. The colors are the same as the ones shown on our web site of the Muirhead tartan sample sent by Dr. Philip D. Smith JR. PH.D., FSA Scott. The sample was woven in modern size sett, Five and one half inch from yellow to yellow pivot point. It was recommended that we increase the size by half, seven and one half inches from yellow to yellow pivot. This is recommended to be closer to the size that was done in historic times and fell into disuse sometime in the fifties, But is now coming back in popularity. It does not change the tartan except the blocks in the plaid pattern are larger. The William Muirhead tartan measures nine and one half inches from yellow to yellow pivot of the sett. At the time it was woven this would have been fashionable for a man’s but not for a lady’s. From the 1950’s till recently the mills wove the smaller sett tartan because they sold more to woman than to men. I recommend we have it woven at the seven and one half inch sett size as Dr. Smith has suggested to accommodate both the men and women of the clan and be closer to the historic sett size without having to have two different sett size one for men and one for women to keep cost down. I have sent a letter to get a complete listing of prices from the Mill that wove the sample. But we are under no obligation to buy from them only and anyone who wishes to do some Tartan / Kilt window shopping on their own need only a color copy of the Muirhead tartan and the thread count to freelance some prices of their own. I recommend to those of us that want and such form a purchasing cooperative. I think we could get a far better deal. I will head this purchasing cooperative if there is interest and support from the Clan. So please e-mail me and let me know. I personally will be ordering from D.C. Dalgliesh and Sons, Dunsdale Mill, Selkirk based on their reported outstanding Quality, and honorable reputation. As we all do not have state of the art color printers, I will make available a Quality Color print including thread count for $2.50 ea. That includes Print and postage costs. I would be interested in ______yards of the Muirhead Tartan. I would be interested in a finished kilt ______and/or skirt ______. I would like you to send ______copies of the Muirhead Tartan Print at $2.50 ea. I would be interested in : ______numbers of Muirhead Ties ______No. of Sashes ______number of Muirhead Scarves ______No. of Plaids

~From the Membership Member Sandy Muirhead-Gould had a suggestion. She asks about perhaps picking a place that is centrally located to the Membership and having ourselves a Clan reunion. Excellent suggestion and one that bears thought. What do the rest of you think? It has also been suggested by a few members that we put the clan database on the website as to become more accessible to the membership. We are looking into that as we speak. The security of the database is important and we are looking into how to make is a password only page for only members.

~Introductions We would like to welcome the new members of the Clan Society. Dawn Moorehead-Street and husband, Joe Street, from Edmond, Oklahoma; Paul Frederic and wife, Sharon, Morehead Sr. From Mineral Wells, West Virginia; Raymond, and wife Fannie Jean, Fassnacht, from Tacoma, Washington; George and wife, Kathryn, Skinner from Arlington, Texas; Jack and wife, Yvonne, Muirhead from Tuscon, Arizona; Dorothy and husband, Ellic, from Rancho Cordova, California; and Ivan and wife, Irene, Armitage from Minitoa, Manitoba, Canada.

~Clan Calendar Commemorative Event 9 September 2000 Raymond, our Clan President was fortunate enough to be notified in time by the managing editor of the Gathering of the Clans web site of an upcoming event of importance to Clan Muirhead. The Clan Chief and members of the Clan Hunter Association UK was to form a colour party, holding a ceremony of rememberance at the Flodden Monument with the Chief laying a wreath. A service then given by the local minister. Also attending and laying a wreath on behalf of would be the Clan Officer of the Clan Forrester Society. Clan will also attend. A piper would also play "Flowers of the Forest". A event such as this does not come along to often and for the Muirhead Clan the timing was right on. Our President thought this would be a great topper for the year for our Clan but how to participate when we are so far apart with little time or if we would even be welcome to participate for that matter. Raymond then emailed Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterston and of that Ilk, Clan Chief and 30th Laird expressing our support of their commemorative service and why it was also important to the Muirhead Clan, asking if Clan Muirhead could in some way take part in the service to commemorate our fallen Clan members and Chief. Madam Hunter was in agreement and forwarded his email to her Events Coordinator, Stuart Hunter who said that he also was pleased to receive it and carried the Chiefs full authority in giving Raymond not only approval but would be very pleased to lay a token on behalf of the Clan Muirhead and to please contact him to make the needed arrangements to get it to Robert Hunter Clan Officer. The next wee little detail was the commemorative token itself, Raymond then went to work to design and create a wreath that would make the long journey that would be presentable and representative of our Clan, yet not take a fort night to make. The wreath, including our Clan plant, our Clan Badge, on a background of a color copy of the Muirhead Tartan, and inscription [picture of wreath posted to web site]. Robert Hunter Clan Officer will try to take some pictures of the ceremony and our wreath at the Flodden Monument. Our President also sent a gift to the Hunter Clan as a thank you for their cooperation and support in helping us take part in their ceremony. A framed, signed copy of the Celtic knotted thistle picture we had out at the Gathering in July. Mr. Hunter’s email to Raymond confirmed that the wreath and gift sent by Air Mail had made it in time and was received in good condition and that the gifted picture would find a good home at Hunterston Castle with many thanks from Clan Hunter to Clan Muirhead, signing it "Here’s tae us and awe whae are like us" Yours Stuart Hunter. The wreath and postage was paid personally by our President and did not affect the Clan fund do to no prior approval by the Clan to spend Clan funds do to time constraints. Inscription on wreath which said: In Memory of all who gave their lives for King James IV of Scotland on 9 September 1513 at the The eldest sons of the ancient family of Muirhead of Lachope were the hereditary chiefs of the Muirhead clan.

Thus, when John Muirhead of Lachope, with over two hundred of his clansmen, answered the call of his king, James IV, to take the post of honour as the royal bodyguard on the afternoon of 9 September 1513, they sealed their devotion to their king and country with their lives on Branxton Moor.

The ballad, the "Laird of Muirhead", a fragment of an ancient ballad from the collection of William Monro, was saved from oblivion by James Grosset Muirhead, of Bredisholm [1707-1776], and later included by Sir Walter Scott in his "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border'. The ballad, part of the Herd MS Collection, is displayed in the oldest house in Glasgow, the St Nicholas Hospital, which was built in 1471 by Bishop Andrew Muirhead, the First Provands Lordship of Glasgow. The Laird of Muirhead Afore the king in order stude The stout Laird o’ Muirhead Wi’ that same twa-handed muckle sword That Bartram fell’d stark dead. He sware he widna lose his right To field in ilka field; Nor budge him frae his liege’s right Till his last gasp should yield. Twa hundred mair o’ his ain name, Frae tae the Clyde, Sware they would ne,er gang go hame But a’ dee by his syde. And wondrous sell they kept their troth; This sturdy royal band Rush’d doon the brae wi’sic a pith That nane could them withstand. Mony a bloody blow they dealt The like was ne’er seen And hadna’ that braw leader fall’n They ne’er had slain the King." An old Gaelic proverb goes, "Remember the men from whence you came." I would like to update this to," Remember all the men and women from whence you came, for in the remembering they live once again for you and all those that follow". RLM

The Hunter Clan will lay our wreath out on Flodden and if all goes well, pictures will be taken. They have offered to send us some pictures if any are taken, for our archives. In the mean time, the copy of this newsletter will be posted on the website, under the News page with pictures of the wreath for your perusal and any comments. ~WHAT WAS THE BATTLE OF FLODDEN FIELD TO THE MUIRHEAD CLAN On two of our Clans Flags hangs four commemorative streamers that I had made and hung on the flags that we proudly flew at the 2000 Clan gathering at the Seattle Scottish Highland Games on July 29-30, 2000 in Washington State. The first set of two streamers one a blue with white lettering says Enumclaw, WA. Gathering 2000, the second white with blue lettering says First Gathering in 487 years. Both need little explanation and are hung on our St, Andrews or Scottish Saltire Flag. The second set of Streamers both yellows with red lettering hang on the Scottish Royal Standard with Rampant Lion Flag. One of them says Muirhead Royal Guards and the other says FLODDEN 1513, commemorating a dark and fatal day in Muirhead history that I felt was long over due bringing into the light before it was lost forever in times long gone to dust where " The Flowers o’ the Forest are a’ wede away". For Me the Resurgence of the Muirhead Clan was long overdue and I set out to shine the light of honor back on the Muirhead Name, Gathering the Clan once more and fulfill a Family promise made long ago. At the Games and Highland Clan Gathering both flew proudly along side the American and Canadian flags. Yet when ever a visitor noticed the streamers on the St. Andrews and Scottish fags the remarked "FLODDEN? Sir I think you misspelled Culloden ". No I would remark, Flodden is correct, for the Battle of Flodden in 1513. They would always seem to have this puzzled look on their face and I would often think to myself that perhaps they think I am the one with my Scottish history mixed up. For most sacred to Scottish memory are Bannockburn, Culloden, Glencoe, Glenfinnan and Culross but what of the battle of Flodden? Perhaps it is the 233 years between them that makes it so easy to forget Flodden in 1513 and recall so well Culloden in 1746. The Scottish forces under King James the IV took four English Castles before they got to Flodden Edge under Branxton Hill. Then on the afternoon of September 9, 1513 they were defeated, no decimated by the English Army. It is reported that over Ten Thousand men, the cream of Scotland’s manhood, lay dead on the bloody field of Flodden. From a book "Scotland’s Story In Outline" by Geddes McGregor, " …Distraught women haunted the streets of towns, inquiring for news of their men. The desolate sobs and heartrending shrieks of one woman after another as she learned the fate of her brave Sandy or her handsome Tam must have lingered in the ears of thousands for the rest of their lives, leaving a bitterness from which Scotland has never entirely recovered…" With the Muirhead Clan Chief and over 200 of his name gone, the adult male population of the Muirheads was wiped out and there after become obscured in the mist of times better left in the past and on dusty book shelves of dark and musty rooms, Until now. THE BATTLE OF FLODDEN FIELD September 9, 1513 The battle fought upon the plain of Branxton, afterwards called the battle of Flodden Field is where the English forces commanded by the Earl of Surrey decimated King James IV of Scotland’s Feudal Highland and Lowland forces. These Scottish Feudal forces, vassals of their lord were duty bound to follow their lord to war, either alone or with a certain number of men, according to the size of their feudal estate. In the case of the Muirhead Clan at Branxton Moor, The ancient family of the Muirheads of Lachope, who were chiefs of their clan. The Laird of Muirhead Clan Chief, and over 200 of their clansman answered the call of their King. Where at Flodden they occupied the post of honor and of danger as the Royal Guards of Stuart, James IV King of Scotland. For on the afternoon of 9 September 1513 they would seal their loyal devotion to their Monarch with their fatal feat of arms and blood, in a battle that in the end became a massacre. According to an article, "Battle of Flodden Field" from a history of Scotland written by John Hill Burton, Historiograher-Royal for Scotland Vol. III pages 73-79 The English would report over 10,000 Scots dead including the Scots King. Another source, "A Concise History Of Scotland, by Thames and Hudson sited not only the Scots King was killed but so to his son Alexander "…and with them the flower of Scottish chivalry". The Kings entire guard, "…Nine earls, and fourteen lords, the chiefs of many of the great Highland Clans"…, "…Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Bishop of Caithness, the Bishop of the Isles, the Dean of Glasgow and the Provost of , and thousands of Scotland’s best young men all perished on that day and their followers with them." Returning to Jon Hill Burton’s " History Of Scotland" he states in the last sentence," It was said that you could not point to a worshipful family in Scotland that did not own a grave on Brankstone Moor". Copied with permission from the author of "The Henry Muirheid/Muirhead Family of Virginia and Mississippi" By Ray Jerome Muirhead "The Following Scottish ballad confirms in a most convincing way the story of Bertram deShotts and of John Muirhead, Laird of Muirhead who fell at the Battle of Flodden (1513), and two hundred in his own name, while defending King James IV of Scotland against the England. The ballad, quoted by Scott in his "Minstreley of the Scottish Border", is a Fragment of an ancient ballad related to the Battle of Flodden in which King James IV (1488-1513) of Scotland was Slain. The ballad was rescued from oblivion in Portugal by J. Grosset Muirhead, Builder of Bredisholm House in Glasgow, and is now on display at the oldest house in Glasgow, Built in 1471 by Bishop Grosset Muirhead, the First Provands Lordship of Glasgow. THE LAIRD OF MUIRHEAD "Afore the King in order stude The Stout Laird of Muirhead Wi’ that same twa-muckle sword That Bartram Fell’d stark dead. He sware he wadna lose his right To field in ilka field; Nor budge him from his lieg’s right Till hilast grasp should yield. Twa Hundred mair of his ain name, Frae Torwood and the Clyde, Sware they would never gang go home But a’ die by his syde. And wondrous sell they kept their troth; This sturdy royal band Rush’d down the brae w’sie a pith The none could them Withstand. Many a bloody blow they dealt The like was never seen And hadna that braw leader fall’n They ne’er had slain the King." Jane Elliot, who died nearly thee hundred years after Flodden, wrote in her poignant poem, "A Lament For Flodden," At e’en in the gloaming, nae swankies are roaming ‘Bout stacks wi’ the lasses at bogle to play; But ilk ane sits eerie, lamenting her dearie- The Flowers o’ the Forest are a’ wede away. Dool and wae for the order sent our lads to the Border! The English, foe ance, by guile wan the day; The Flowers o’ the Florest, that fought aye the foremost, The prime of our land, lie cauld in the clay. We’ll hear nae mair lilting at our ewe-milking; Women and bairns are heartless and wae; Sighing and moaning on ilka green loaning- The Flowers o’ the Forest are a’ wede away. Sources: The Henry Muirheid/ Muirhead Family of Virginia and Mississippi, by Ray Jerome Muirhead Early European History by Hutton Webster, Ph.D / D.C. Heath and Company 1917 Scott Poetical Works ( Sir Walter Scott) "Marmion" sixth canto, Edited by J. Logie Robertson, M.A. / London Oxford University Press , 1904, printed in Great Britain, O.S.A. Scotland An Intimate Portrait, by Geddes MacGregor, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston 1980 The Morehead Family History by John Motley Morehead III, printed New york 1921 The Battle of Flodden Field 1513, From History Of Scotland by John Hill Burton, Historiographer-Royal for Scotland, pages 73-79. A Concise History of Scotland, by Thames and Hudson

~Check these out Highlandesign was established in March of 2000, but the history of the company goes back much farther than that. Sean Starr, original owner and founder of Highlandesign, has been involved in the graphics industry for 13 years. Kirk MacGregor, co-owner, has worked as a graphic designer for the last 12 years. www.highlandesign.com Owner, Rick Muirhead explained his service: "I'm a web developer by trade, and checked to see if Muirhead.com was available - it was taken by a company that charges for email accounts, so I grabbed Muirhead.net for my own personal email account. I received several messages from other Muirheads wishing to either buy it, or asking if they could have their own POP email address, but I wasn't interested in giving up my email address, and couldn't add any addresses! Recently, I came across a company that outsources email, which I applied to the site I was developing at the time, GoBot.com. A bulb went off in my head that I could do the same with Muirhead.net - I would be letting Muirheads around the world have a personal email account, without giving up my own! www.muirhead.net The John Motley Morehead Foundation www.moreheadfoundation.org ABOUT PRESERVATION: As most of you all know we had the historic 150+ year old Tartan outfit of William Muirhead on display at the July games this year. It was an honor but after it headed back home in the loving care of the Swansons I began to think that were it my family Artifact how does one take care of such a treasure? For that matter how should we take care of any of our family Antiques and treasures? So off to the Internet to see what I could find out. You know the more I look the better I like this box I sit in front of for hours on end. I think one of the best sites I found on this subject is called the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village site, at www.hfmgv.org/histories/cis/pfs.html well worth a spot on your favorites list. Below I have listed a few pages to check out that would be of help to most of us. Do not let the tittles scare you even I could understand them. NEDCC OFFERS HINTS FOR PRESERVING FAMILY COLLECTIONS www.nedcc.org/fmlycol.htm NEDCC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS- ABOUT PRESERVATION www.nedcc.org/faqpres.htm NEDCC THE CARE AND PRESERVATION OF ANTIQUE TEXTILES AND COSTUMES www.hfmgv.org/histories/cis/textile.html NEDCC THE CARE AND PRESERVATION OF WORKS OF ART ON PAPER www.hfmgv.org/histories/cis/paper.html NEDCC THE CARE AND PRESERVATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS www.hfmgv.org/histories/cis/photo.html NEDCC THE CARE AND PRESERVATION OF ARCHIVAL MATERIALS www.hfmgv.org/histories/cis/archival.html I have made some copies of a few of these and will send them off to Mr. And Mrs. Swanson, to aid them in the preservation of that great outfit of William’s. I know I learned a few things. Please check it out, it may even help to preserve all our genealogy work, but sadly it did not teach me how to keep myself from getting older. Well back to the web. Yours aye! Raymond Scottish Names research http://www.spiderweb.com.au/~frasbett/index.html ~Calling all Clans This is a letter to all clans to inform you the VICTORIA SCOTTISH SOCIETY are in the process of raising funds to build a Scottish Cultural Centre in Victoria B.C. One of our fund raising projects is selling these fridge magnets to all the clans who would be interested in purchasing them. The attached photo will give you an idea of how they look as any clan tartan and crest can be produced at a cost of $5.50 in Canadian funds with a special discount for large orders should you wish to sell through you quartermaster. Please contact me at any of the addresses below if you are interested and I will be pleased to give you any other info. You may need. ~Yours Aye, Bill. Johnston, Vice-President Home Address: 4807 Cordova Bay Road Victoria. B.C. V8Y 2J8 Canada. E mail [email protected] or Fax (250) 479-7515

~For Our Amusement Submitted by Member Carol E. Horner for the genealogists of the clan... The Top Twelve Indicators That You've Become A Gene-Aholic 12. Your dream house plans include a genealogy library. 11. You introduce your daughter as your descendant. 10. You've never met any of the people you send e-mail to, even though you're related. 9. You can recite your lineage back 8 generations, but can't remember your nephew's name. 8. Your child learned her pedigree before her ABC's. 7. You have more photographs of dead people than living ones. 6. You take a tape recorder and/or a notebook to a family reunion. 5. You've not only read the latest GEDCOM standard, you understand it! 4. The local genealogy society borrows books from you! 3. The only film you've seen in the last year was the 1880 census index. 2. More than half of your CD collection is made up of marriage records or pedigrees. 1. Your elusive ancestor has been spotted in more different places than Elvis!

~From the Kitchen Here's a recipe for pumpkin-apple butter.

1 3/4 cup solid pack pumpkin (15-16 0z can) 1 cup apple juice 1 cup peeled and grated apple (medium size apple) 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.)

Mix pumpkin, apple juice, apple brown sugar and pumpkin spice in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours; stirring occasionally. Cool thoroughly, transfer to a covered storage container. Store in fridge for up to 2 months! Makes about 3 cups. Hope you like it! Great on scones!!