Journal Volume 22 - Number 1 Spring 2009 Clan Forrester Society. Inc. PRESIDENT’S CORNER President JD Forrester As we come into summer with its 90+ degree temps and high humidity lev- Vice President els, would you like to visit a place that Will Newman feels good to have an extra blanket on the bed at night? A place where a sweat- Secretary er feels good in the morning and eve- Sonia Newman ning. A place where the beauty is magi- Treasurer cal, a place where the mountains call Laura Forrester you home! If you would like to see this place, join us at the Grandfather Moun- Editor tain . Betty Forrester These games take place on July 9-12 Membership Chairman at MacRae Meadow outside of Grand- Ben Forrester father Mountain, in Linville, North Carolina. The scenic area is sur- rounded by mountains, is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and is Merchandise spectacular. There are mountains to climb, wonderful places to shop, Will Newman great restaurants to visit, and the weather is fantastic. The only thing Webmaster more fantastic is the fellowship enjoyed by the Clan Forrester mem- Jeff Forrester bers. We talk and visit, work at the Clan Forrester tent, and go out to eat together. We invite you to enjoy this wonderful area of the coun- Council Members try. Come join us at Grandfather Mountain! Will Foster Jared Foster Slàinte mhòr agad! Jarred Forrester JD Forrester, President

Council Emeritus Jean Forester Volume 22 - Number 1 Spring 2009 UUPCOMINGPCOMING EVENTSEVENTS AANDND MMEMBEREMBER NNEWSEWS

I hope that you and all your family had a wonderful Easter holiday. This has been a very dif- ferent Spring....stormy and cold one day and absolutely beautiful the next day! Clan Forrester is now getting into the game season for 2009. Our Florida representative had a table at the Dunedin games and we have just returned from the Loch Norman Games in Huntersville, NC (near Charlotte). As always it was great to see everyone.

Our membership is still growing. We have close to 200 active members and are actively con- tacting those who need to renew. We value each membership and don’t want to lose anyone !!! Please, if you have forgotten to send in your renewal, do so today. If for some reason you have decided not to renew your membership, please let us know that also. We don’t want to con- tinue to bother you with reminders and we need to keep our membership rolls in good shape! As your Membership Director, I am trying to keep everyone informed of the activities that your Clan Forrester family is taking part in.

Please stay in touch with us. Let us know if there is anything that we can do to improve mem- bership contacts or help you in any other way.

Regards, Ben Forrester Membership Director E-mail: [email protected]

MAY, 2009 Prescott Highland Games May 8-10 Prescott, AZ Kentucky Scottish Weekend Tallahassee Highland Games MEMBERSHIP Carrollton, KY Tallahassee, FL NEWS May 9 May 16-17 WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS! Celtic Festival/Highland Houston Highland Games Membership Director, Ben For- Houston, TX Games rester, reports the following new Winston-Salem, NC Livermore Scottish Games Frederick Celtic Festival Livermore, CA members: Frederick, MD Rio Grande Valley Celtic Fes- Minnesota Scottish Fair/High- tival Jeff & Mary Forrester land Games Albuquerque, NM Farmington, MN May 23-34 Nebraska Savannah Scottish Games Alma Highland Festival/ David Foster Savannah, GA Games Texas May 15-17 Alma, MI Jeffrey and Caroll Foster Gatlinburg Scottish Festival - United Scottish Society High- Kentucky Gatlinburg, TN land Gathering May 16 Costa Mesa, CA Fair Hill Colonial Highland May 28-31 Gathering Glasgow Highland Fair Hill, MD Games - Lukas, KY

(Events Schedule continued on page 5) Page 2 Volume 22 - Number 1 Spring 2009 Corstorphine Old Parish Church - Part II There were many Collegiate churches created in around this SSixteenthixteenth AAnnualnnual time. The term ‘collegiate’ signified a constitution whereby a dean or provost presided over a ‘college’ or ‘chapter’ of priests who usually held RRuralural HHillill ScottishScottish FestivalFestival the adjacent parishes or charges. These clergy lived in their own manses and had their own laid-down duties regarding the carrying out of the & stated daily services. LLochoch NNormanorman HHighlandighland GGamesames After the Reformation the College was dissolved and in 1593 parish wor- ship was transferred from the old church of St Mary to the Collegiate building. In the year 1650-51 the building suffered from the occupation by Cromwell’s troops for almost twelve months and although that was If you’ve ever found yourself wonder- only one of several such incidents in earlier, turbulent times, the deface- ment of the effigies and memorials is likely to have taken place then. ing what the near perfect Highland Although many alterations and additions have taken place over the cen- turies, much of the original medieval building remains. The tower, the Gathering would be like then you south transept or baptistry, the chancel and the sacristy or vestry have would only have to have attended the survived relatively unscathed. The entrance porch was probably added about 1646 and may have been built from some of the remnants of the games at Rural Hill this past April 17th- old parish church of St. Mary, which was demolished at that time. The nave is largely a reconstruction and the north transept which was added 19th. This one, from the standpoint in 1646, was enlarged in 1828, when a massive extension and alteration of weather, fi eld events, Celtic enter- took place by doubling the width of the nave by the area north of the three arches. The demand for seating at that time necessitated the con- tainment, food court and piping and struction of a gallery which transversed from the north to the south part of the central area. The chancel was used as a vestibule and the main door drumming, rates a very defi nite ten. was opened out under the east window. The architect commissioned for this work was William Burn. In 1905 a ‘restoration’ of the building to, as near as possible, its former me- On hand this year, to represent and dieval appearance, took place by re-opening the chancel, removing the gallery and stairways and closing the entrance under the east win- man the Clan Forrester tent, were Ben dow. The architect engaged to be in charge was George Henderson. and Laura Forrester, Will and Sonia (Information taken from Corstorphine Old Parish Church A Short History and Newman, Betty Forrester, Barbara, Guide by S.H. Jackson, Third Edition September 1993) and Will and JoAnna Foster. Follow- ing the games on Saturday evening, and true to tradition, we all gathered for dinner at the widely acclaimed 131 MAIN restaurant and treated ourselves to indescribable culinary delights.

You folks who haven’t availed your- selves of the opportunity to get up with Clan Forrester at one of these Highland gatherings are truly miss- ing out and we urge you to join us at the Grandfather Mountain Games in North Carolina July 9th-12th. We look forward to seeing you there!

Page 3 Volume 22 - Number 1 Spring 2009

PHOTOS FROM LOCH NORMAN HIGHLAND GAMES

Clan Forrester History “To whom much is given, much shall be required”

Offi cially Registered Clan The Lyon King of Arms of Scotland recognized our Clan in the 14th century under Sir Adam Forrester

Current Honorary Chief Sir John Duncan Grimston, 16th Lord Forrester and 7th Earl of Verulam

Historic Churches and Castles Corstorphine Old Church, Chapel at Holy Rood, Castles at Garden, Strathendry, and

Titles and Offi ces Earls, Lords, Barons, Knights, Members of the Scottish Parliament, Ambassadors, Keepers of the Great Seal, Chamberlain, Comptroller, Masters of the Royal Household and Royal Forest, Board Member of Historic Torwood Trust, Lord Chancellors of Century Academy, Grand Admirals of the Order of the Guardian Clans Grand Masters of the Order of Castlecary

Clan Membership Dues are $20 per year, or $50 for 3 years. Join or renew online at http://forresterfamily.org.

Page 4 Volume 22 - Number 1 Spring 2009 EVENTS SCHEDULE CONTINUED... JUNE, 2009 Western Massachusetts Highland Games June 5-6 Greenfield, MA Greater Greenville Scottish Games June 27-28 Greenville, SC Wyoming Celtic Festival June 5-7 Gillette, WY Texas Scottish Festival July 1-8 Arlington, TX Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo June 6 Halifax, Nova Scotia Bonnie Brae Scottish Games July 9-12 Liberty Corners, NJ Grandfather Mt. Highland Games McHenry Highland Festival Linville, NC McHenry, MD July 10-11 Modesto Highland Games Payson Scottish Festival Modesto, CA Payson, UT Scottish Fest/Milwaukee Games July 11 Glendale, WI Halifax Highland Games Stark County Irish/Scottish Festival Halifax, Nova Scotia Canton, OH July 11-12 West Valley Heavy Events Dunsmuir Scottish Highland Games Caldwell, ID Oakland, CA June 6-7 Skagit Valley Highland Games Bellingham Scottish Highland Games Mount Vernon, WA Ferndale, WA July 17-18 June 7 Portland Highland Games Genesee Highland Gathering Gresham, OR Mumford, NY July 18 June 12-13 Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival Utah Scottish Festival Florence, MA Lehi, UT July 18 - August 3 June 12-14 Northeast Scotland Clan Fortnight Kansas City Scottish Highland Games Aberdeen, Scotland Riverside, MO July 21-24 June 13 International Genealogy Festival Clover Scottish Games University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland Clover, NC July 24-25 Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival Edinboro Highland Games Richmond, RI Edinboro, PA June 13-14 July 25-26 Blairsville Scottish Festival The Gathering Blairsville, GA , Scotland June 20 Pacific Northwest Highland Games Campbell Highland Games Enumclaw, WA Campbell, CA July 31 - August 1 Scottish Festival/Black Watch Memorial Detroit Highland Games Ticonderoga, NY Livonia, MI June 19-20 Glengarry Highland Games Illinois St. Andrew Society Highland Games Maxville, ON, Canada Oak Brook, IL Taste of Scotland Check out the Franklin, NC locations of these JULY, 2009 various games. June 27 Perhaps, give one Ohio Scottish Games or two a visit. Wellington, OH Round Hill Highland Games Norwalk, CT Tacoma Highland Games Graham, WA

Page 5 Volume 22 - Number 1 Spring 2009 Genealogy Requests/Information From Webmaster, From Andrew Jampoler: Jeff Forrester “I’m interested in a Royal Navy surgeon of the early 1800’s named James Forrester. He became a ship’s surgeon in 1813, and died While it is cool, windy, and rainy in aboard “Amphitrite” when she ran aground off Boulogne in 1833.” Anyone with information that might be helpful, address your re- many places across the U.S., spring is sponses to the following: fi nally coming! Spring also means that Andrew C.A. Jampoler the season for Highland Games gets Outremer Farm into full swing. We hope you will be 43351 Spinks Ferry Road able to attend some of the Games this Leesburg, VA 20176 USA year. Clan Forrester has just returned From Stephen Finley from the Loch Norman Games (April “My name is Stephen Finely Forrester - my father was Dallas Finely 17-19) near Charlotte, NC. Forrester, his father’s name was Clint Forrester. Six months ago, if I had a son and was telling him about the Forrester heritage, Be sure to check out our spring issue of that would have been what I knew. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to recount one’s Family Tree back to a time before time? I the newsletter. have read of cultures who can do this, because of the importance placed on - JUST KNOWING. Downloading information to come by email as soon as it is ready for publica- My father was born in 1922 and his father died in l926. My grand- mother raised 3 children alone and never talked to them or to us tion. grandchildren about her husband - so there is no history.

After meeting members of the Forrester Clan at the Grandfather Mt. Games I was determined to discover where I came from. Some- thing that day stirred my blood and brought back a sense that I felt almost forty years ago as I walked the streets and explored the Edinborough Castle. Somewhere back there are my roots.

First I went to familytreedna.com and did DNA testng for the For- rester family project. This turned up a few surprises. Not only did I get returns on Forresters, but also on Armstrongs and Rob- sons. Reading “The Steel Bonnets” by George MacDonald Fraser confirmed that all these families lived in close proximity along the Borders. Next using information from a local historian, census re- cords, ancestry.com, family tree maker, and talking to many good people, I have made my way, at least part way, back to Scotland. Get in the Groove with Today, if I had a son he would know with certainty these few CLAN FORRESTER things: Stephen Finley Forrester born 1948; Dallas Finley For- rester born 1922; Alfred Clinton Forrester born 1887; Andrew For- MERCHANDISE! rester born 1828; John Forrester born 1780. This information is confirmed by census records. The following information is not confirmed, but who can say what someone out there knows and Check out all the possibilites is willing to share: George Forrester & Margaret McCord (parents on our Clan Forrester web- of John); William Forrester and ??? (parents of George); Ebenezer site. Remember that PayPal is Forrester & Elizabeth Whitney (parents of William). My search isn’t over yet. There were numerous children born to these people and available for your purchases. I have good solid information to share with anyone searching. Will Newman I once though SCUBA DIVING was the most exciting thing in the world. Heck, making History is!!! Merchandise Chairman

Stephen Finley Forrester E-mail: [email protected] PagePage 6 Volume 22 - Number 1 Spring 2009 Commissioner Reports CLAN FORRESTER IN DUNEDIN AND ZEPHERHILLS, FLORIDA

Greetings from sunny Florida! In March, Clan Forrester was well represented at the Celtic Festival in Zep- herhills, FL as Grace and I, along with our friends, Bob & Abbie MacDonald, conducted a Sunday morning Chapel Service.

In April we had a Clan Forrester tent at the 43rd annual Dunedin Highland Games and Festival in Dunedin, FL. Several of our Clan members came to visit and we were able to personally talk to over 25 people about our Clan and give them membership information and brochures. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed having my parents, O’Neal and Stella Forrester, with us at the Clan Forrester tent this year.

This November we plan to attend the Celtic Festival in Dunedin. There seems to be growing interest in Clan Forrester here in Florida as people see us at some of the games and festivals. Please email me if you know someone in Florida who would be interested in joining us and I will be glad to email them person- ally.

Respectfully submitted, J.W. Forrester, FL Regional Commissioner E-mail: [email protected]

News from Clan Forrester member, Florene Kunder Recently, Florene sent to us some interesting web sites to visit - one pertaining to Torwood and one pertaning to the latest British musical rage “Susan Boyle” who hails from West , Scotland (only 24 miles from Torwood) http://www.susan-boyle.com http://fatdogwalks.wordpress.com/2009/03/09 lurking-at-the-broch-and-castle/ Also, news from Stirling - May 1, 2009 Recently, Ms. Rickie Mclaughlan/Stirling sent an email: “Hi this is Rickie Mclaughlan. I have enjoyed Torwood Castle over the last good few years. I reported to the appropriate body last week that Torwood Castle had been broken into by vandals. Gladly its been sealed back up because I bumped into the local police who were checking on it at the time. Is there anyway you could arrange for me to go inside and see it properly? (Phone # 07528809006 - phone at anytime please.)

Page 7 Corstorphine Spring 2009 Journal

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES JULY 9-12, 2009 Plans are underway for Clan Forrester to once again gather in the mountains of North Carolina at Linville for the Grand- father Mountain Highland Games. Clan members begin arriving on Thursday, July 9 and will be represented at the Torch Ceremony up on McRae Field. The tent will be in full operation on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12. On Saturday eve- ning, as many clan members as possible usually go out for dinner together. We’ll be looking for you!!!!

Corstorphine Journal Newsletter of Clan Forrester Society c/o Betty Forrester, Editor 3070 Ga Hwy 81 SW Loganville, GA 30052 FIRST CLASS MAIL