I think that most Clan members know that the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, William Boyd, finally sided with Bonnie Price Charles and went with him to Derby England and then all the way back to Scotland and finally to Culloden where he was captured in 1746. On the retreat north the Princes forces meet King George II force at Falkirk - only a few miles from Callender House, which was the home of the Earl and Countess. On the morning of this Battle of Falkirk, the Countess entertained General Hawley, the English General in charge of the Kings forces, and he was distracted from his military duties to such an extent that an aid had to tell him the Battle had begone. Unfortunately the staff at Callender House do not know any more details on this or where in the house the Countess entertained General Hawley. I have always thought it would make a very good movie. The Earl was brought to London and in August 1746 was tried and convicted of treason. And to be executed at Tower Hill by beheading. Under such circumstances, it appears to have been the custom to do the family tree of the people being executed for in the publication Memoirs of the Lives and Families of the Lords Kilmarnock, Cromertie and Balmerino, Together with A Faithful Nattative of the Procesings againft them: and the Genuine Speekes of the Lords Kilmarnock and Cromertie, 1746, both Lord Kilmarnock and Balmerino's family trees are outlined. "The Life and Family of William Boyde, Earl of Kilmanrock and Lord Boyde. The Earl of Kilmarnock takes his Title of Earl of from a Royal Borough of that name, in the Shire of Cunningham: The firft [first] remarkable Man of his Family, and the firft [first] who affumed [assumed] the Sirname of Boyde, is faid [said] by Scotch Genealogifts [Genealogists], to be Robert, Son of Simon, third Son of Allan, Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, in the Year 1111; fo [so] in Right of this Robert, from whom the Earl of Kilmarnock is lineally defcended [descended], this Branch of the Name of Boyde claims to be Chief, and acted in that Capacity, when Chieftainfhip [Chieftainship] was in Repute in that Part of the Country; but for more than a Century and a half, Chiefs in that part of Scotland, neither have nor claim any other Advantage, but that of Precedency." There were no footnotes to indicate who were the sources of this information and whom might have been "the Scotch Genealogists. So it has been a little hard to try and trace these sources to confirm this date of 1111 for the start of Clan Boyd. Last year when I was in Scotland, I did try to search for Stewart Genealogy to see if the date 1111 refers to the birth of Simon or the birth of his son Robert. But I have not been successful to date on that point. While Dr J H Round in 1902 said in a article on the origins of the Stewarts that Simon was not the son of Allan but his wife's second husband. (I will have to find that paper so I can write up another article as I finish sorting my papers from last years trip.) So this article Claims the Boyds started 900 years ago. So when we go to the Games at Las Vegas on 16-17 April could we start the process of developing a third Boyd tartan to add to the ancient and modern tartans the Clan currently has. Perhaps calling it the "Boyd Dress Tartan". This could be one of a number ways that we could celebrate being 900 years old. So ladies (and perhaps a gentleman or two) may wish to get out their sowing boxes or get their children working with the colour printer to begin developing an suitable design that people calling at the Boyd Tent may wish to make suggestions or comments. Lauren, is there a website or some other source that people can view to see what is required to make a new Tartan? Hopefully, by the 2012 AGM, we can make a discussion (what ever that process may be). For your discussion. Mike Boyd Chairman Historical Committee House of Boyd Society