Re: Robert Campbell of 1789 Botetourt Co VA; Campbells of Cessnock, Covenanters
-
In reply to:
Re: Robert Campbell of 1789 Botetourt Co VA; Campbells of Cessnock, Covenanters
bob stewart 7/26/06
A few years ago, I was sent a transcription of the data from the will of the 3rd Baron--who had died imprisoned in Dunbarton Castle for his significant part in the 1745 attempt to restore the Stuarts.It named the spouses' surnames (and in some cases full names) of the children of the baron.The wills and other records of the husbands of the daughters, and their children, in Albemarle and Augusta County, VA identified the first names of the spouses.The naming tradition and some family records--of that time--and public records, identified which daughters married whom.
The house of Auchinbreck started out roughly 600 years ago as connected to Argyll, but by the early 1700's was more closely connected to Cawdor.Through the marriages that involved Wallaces, it ended up also connected to the Campbells of Loudon, and there are a couple of connections to Breadalbane.The Campbells liked to keep as much land and resources under Campbell ownership and control as possible and there were a lot of cousins of younger sons marrying first, second and third cousins--and not all of the relatives with the strong blood connections had the surname Campbell, since daughters of course ended up with their husbands' names.The Campbells thus acquired parts of other clans, actually as part of a loose "feudal" hegemony using their daughters and some decent dowries.
However the most land went to the most prominent houses.Auchinbreck was not a major house and at the same time, was prolific.This was an agricultural, largely self-sufficient society well into the 1800's, therefore for members of the family to do well, they had to find land outside of Scotland.Thus Auchinbreck became the largest contributor of Campbell settlers, as a particular house, to Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, for literally 4 generations.
Additionally, Auchinbreck was both a prolific house and had a certain history of wanting to create an individual reputation, which sometimes put it at odds with the major clan houses, or the kings.Between the two, they were among the first plantationers in northern Ireland, and then among early settlers in Pennsylvania and even Maryland, before the descendants of those settlers arrived in Virginia.There were even a few Campbells that were in the Chesapeake area of Virginia rather early--coming with some early Wallaces, and others who had supported the Scottish Stuarts vs. English parliament, at the time when Cromwell and the parliament had the upper hand.
Some of the county histories--based on county records (the civil war of the 1640's etc. didn't confine itself to the isles) for the earliest counties go into the politics of the day that brought certain groups of settlers at certain times.Even the basic land records sometimes specifically say why and under what circumstances the persons obtaining parcels were arriving and taking them up.
I hope this helps answer some of the questions.I'm retrieving some files over the next few days from a cousin and friend and may be able to give some additional more specific data on your particular line.However, unless you know your family was in Kentucky in the early 1800's, don't anticipate a Duke as recent as 8 generations ago. Besides in the 1850's, that line gave up any claim to the title and lands in exhange for some money.They liked it better in the U.S..
Trust me, anyone whose ever tried to seriously garden or farm in Scotland, or had to deal with an over-reaching socialistic government (that goes from local to national) will tell you that it's still better here in most parts of the U.S.I wouldn't recommend most of the coastal large metropolitan areas, though, here.There are too many socialists and greedy international conglomerates extending grasping, sucking tentacles all over in the metro areas too.Besides, if you think your utility and maintenance bills in a modest rambler are high here, just what do you think you'd be paying in an old drafty--and probably moldy--mansion or castle--in a nation where winter lasts 6 months? ;-)
My Hungarian 3rd-great grandfather when his branch of the family was restored to its ancestral castle in Hungary--after about 100 years of differences with the Habsburgs-- took one look at the place, and told the junior branch cousins--thanks but no thanks, I'll just have an office there, and I want that smaller hunting lodge a few miles away to remodel and use as the new family residence.Every generation after that took a smaller, old house or lodge and did the same.No one of the senior branch wanted to actually live in the castle any longer. It became used for community events, and major weddings, etc.. and otherwise remained the problem of the junior branch who had initially thought it was a great idea to jump at jumping up, and that was about it.Even when my grandfather was sent into exile in the U.S. when he bought a house, he bought a small one, just with a lot of land around it, and then added to it and upgraded it.
Cecilia L. Fabos-Becker
More Replies:
-
Re: Robert Campbell of 1789 Botetourt Co VA; Campbells of Cessnock, Covenanters
Duane Marshall 10/26/09