THE AGNEWSLETTER VOLUME XV, ISSUE 1—MAY 2008 Editor's Comments: IRISH SODA BREAD .Well, The Agnewsletter's return 2 Eggs 1-1/2 cups Buttermilk is entering into it's second year, 3 1/4 lb. Margarine 4 cups Flour and we have had no criticisms. 4 1 cup Sugar 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda No suggestions on fact or form, and only one genealogy chart. I 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder 1/2 tsp. Salt guess we're doing okay. 1/2 box Raisins Hopefully we're doing a good enough job for all of you out there to send in your renewal Blend eggs and buttermilk. dues for the next year. Soften shortening .with hands, into dry ingredients. I know renewing yearly makes it Add liquids to dry mixture. seem like it comes around to fast; Batter should be moist. but it beats losing your advance dues, should anything go wrong, Add Raisins. like it did in the past. Bake in greased 8" or 9" cake pan or iron skillet, in 350 degree Oven for 35-40 min­ I'm looking forward to hearing utes. from more of you this coming Dip butcher knife in flour and make traditional knife cut on top in form of a cross. year. ****************** * I know there's a family gather­ ing in Georgia every July, but Famous Paintings Stolen !??! have nothing to put in The Agnewsletter. Those of you who A thief planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre would like to After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings, and made it safely attend, contact director David to his van. A. Agnew in Georgia However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas. (706)754-3661 When asked how he could mastermind such a crime an make such an obvious [email protected] error, he replied, "Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings, I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh. (Received by electronic mail) Inside this issue: Editor's Comments 1 Death Notices 34 Clan Gathering 6 Association Officers 35 Dues Structure 36 Membership Application 37 Genealogy Chart 8 V VOLUME XV, ISSUE 1 — MAY 2008 THE AGNEWSLETTER Treasurer's Report Treasurer, Sue Agnew Thome reports a balance of 1,541.96 AS OF January 31, 2008 Deposits $ 200.00 Repaid Slush Fund $ 50.00 Newsletter Expense $ 379.93 Balance — April 30, 2008 $ 1,412.03 Martha, the church gossip and self appointed monitor of the church morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several members did not approve of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain thejr si­ lence. She made a mistake when she accused, George, a new church member, of being an alcoholic af­ ter seeing his old pickup parked in front of the towns only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told George, and several others, that seeing it there, people would know what he was doing. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment then turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny, he said nothing. Later that evening, George, quietly parked his pickup in front of Martha's house, Later he walked home and left it there for a couple days. You had to love George, as the other church members got a good chuckle out of it. AGNEtfS IN ACTION Do you have a loved one serving in our armed forces in combat? Send us their name and address, and who they are a direct relative of... and we'll post it in our Agnews In Action column. All of you of Agnew lineage out there, give these men and women encouragement by sending them cards and letters and cookies and anything you believe will make their day. All active military will receive the Agnewsletter as a membership fee deferred member. Send your names to : Stephanie Agnew Eledge, Editor Agnewsletter, Agnews in Action 2920 Pine St., SE Albany, Oregon 97322-5620 E-Mail: ([email protected]) Page 2 VOLUME XV, ISSUE 1 — MAY 2008 THE AGNEWSLETTER Fellow Agnews, February, 2008 I was very disappointed to learn that an article I sent for inclusion in the last issue of the Agnewsletter was lost due to a computer glitch. The article was about a new technology using DNA testing and genealogical research. Agnew Association DNA testing could help us determine our relationships AND make an impact at the Gathering of the Clans in 2009. Because it will take time and a bit of effort, it is not too soon to consider it. Many other family groups have projects well under way. I believe we would be missing a won­ derful opportunity to learn not only about our American connections, but our Scottish and Irish connections as well. The lost article follows: DNA and Missing Links I have discovered a research project which uses DNA testing in combination with geneal­ ogy to get past brick walls. This program could aid us with research on our Agnew lines. Best of all, it is FREE to participate. A test kit requires swishing one's mouth and provid­ ing a brief pedigree. Both men and women can participate, but it is only through males with the Agnew surname taking a Y-DNA test that it is possible to determine recent an­ cestors. Women can take the mt-DNA test which shows "deep" ancestry (ancient migra­ tions). Please take a look at the site and consider participating or encourage males in your family with the Agnew surname to participate. Overseas relatives can join us simply by paying the postage. http://www.smgf.org For more information on the use of DNA in genealogy you might want check the following links: http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com http://www.rootstelevision.com/ DNA testing and people who have used it http://www.familvtreedna.com/dnal01.html Surname video and Tutorials Please give this some serious consideration. Let's tear down our brick walls and have something significant to offer at the International Gathering of the Clans. Barbara Agnew Miers [email protected] P.S. There is an Agnew surname project at Family Tree DNA which, at present, is very small and costs $189.00 plus shipping for a 37 marker test. It is possible for anyone who has used this service to enter data from that project into the SMGF database. The beauty of the SMGF project is that cost is not a factor in participation. Page 3 Stephanie: Greetings from Sam and Salley Agnew in Tupelo, Mississippi. Thank you for the work you are doing for the Agnewsletter. Many of the Agnew Association members are aware of the portrait Lady Agnew of Lochnaw, painted by John Singer Sargent. The oil on canvas portrait hangs in the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh. When Salley and I were on our honeymoon in Scotland this past September, we made sure that we saw this portrait. While there we discovered that the gift shop at the National Galleries of Scotland carries jewelry inspired by the portrait. The insert with the jewelry states, "This elegant jewelry set with amethyst and turquoise was in­ spired by the pendant worn by society beauty, Gertrude, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. This specially commis­ sioned jewelry is by the designer Paula Bolton who is renowned for her work with many leading museums worldwide." The gift shop carries pendants, earrings, and rings inspired by Lady Agnew. The pendant is al­ most 2 inches in length. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1865-1932) Oil on canvas - 127 101 cm, purchased with the aid of the Cowan Smith Bequest Fund 1925 I can provide a larger photo with high quality if needed. Sam Agnew, Tupelo,Mississippi Page 4 VOLUME XV, ISSUE 1 — MAY 2008 THE AGNEWSLETTER Stephanie, Thank you for publishing the Modified Register for Samuel Andrew Agnew in the February 2008 issue of The Agnewsletter. Listed on page 13 as number 76 is Rutherford Todd Agnew, my grandfather. I have additional information that was not included on the register. Is there a way to upload this additional information to a reg­ ister you have? Thank you, Sam Agnew Tupelo, Mississippi Reply to Sam, and all others: To add any information to the register, just send us what you have, And we will gladly do it Stephanie, Editor of The Agnewsletter. Page 5 The GATHERING 2009 July 25th & 26th; in Edinburgh, Scotland A message from Lord Sempill This is the end of our first year, and I am pleased to report that The Gathering 2009 is ex­ ceeding the targets that we originally set ourselves. It is very heartening to see such a posi­ tive response from the Clans. The initial demand forpassports is also above expectations and indicates that people are coming from all over the world. So ..a very big thank you to the clans associations who pro­ moted The Gathering 2009 through their newsletters. We have also received some very positive media exposure which has helped to raise the profile of The Gathering 2009 in Scotland...so much so that we have been inundated with job applications to work for us. Looking forward we have much to do...so keep spreading the word, and hopefully I'll meet some of you on my travels! Lord Sempill Clan Update We now have an incredible 115 Clans and Family Societies attending the Gathering 2009, with 70 of these having booked clan tents. Clans signing up this month include Clan Carmichael, Clan Hannay, Clan Macintyre and Clan Fergusson amongst many others.