This information is from Ancestry.com subscribers databases Northern Michigan, Newspaper Surname Index Last Name First Name Title Newspaper Newspaper Date Fergus John R. Mr. SIN * 9/13/1890 Fergus John R. Mr. SIE * 9/13/1890

This information is from Ancestry.com subscribers databases Philadelphia City Directory, 1890 NAME PROFESSION ADDRESS Fergus David M. machinist h 1521 Cabot Fergus Elizabeth wid William h 110 Haydock Fergus James finisher h 2033 Catharine Fergus William F. lather h 110 Haydock

Over this fourth of July, my uncle, Don, visited from Virginia and related a few family stories I will pass on to you folks. Our line goes as such: My father, Leland Gorden (my uncle, Donald Gorden); their parents, Earl Noah Gorden and Margaret Lea Wilcoxson Gorden; her parents, Isom Cimeon Wilcoxson and Permelia Jane Fergus; Permelia's parents, Francis Fergus and Laura Jane Wilkinson. My uncle Don states this story was told to him by an uncle of his, "Jess" Phillips. It has been common knowledge in our family that Jesse and Frank James used to find refuge in Isom and Permelia's home in nothern Harrison County, MO. (North of Eagleville, Mo.) Isom and Permelia weren't overly well-off there, but were hospitable and generous to a fault. Anyway, Jesse, Frank and others would stay in the loft of the smokehouse that was Isom and Permelia's home. "Jess" told Don about Frank James and a fellow riding up to the Wilcoxson house one day as Permelia was giving Isom a hard time about a bad horse trade he had made. Apparently, Isom was noted for being a bad horse trader, and as this latest one balked at him, Permelia was giving him some well-deserved, wifely type of grief. Frank and his buddy left and soon returned with two good horses - better than Isom and Permelia were accustomed to owning. Frank told Isom in no uncertain terms that he was not to trade these horses - they belonged to "Minnie" (Permelia's nickname)! I don't know if anyone questioned where they rustled up the two good horses. One probably didn't question the James' brothers too much! My brother Michael was given a small pocket knife that our grandma Maggie claimed was given her father, Isom, as a gift from Jesse for allowing them refuge. Who knows, but Mike treasures it. Hope everyone has had a nice Holiday week-end. Thanks for the fun Fergus newsletter, Jim. Take care, Fergus cousins, Lynne Gorden Howard boch@dwx.com care, Fergus cousins, Lynne Gorden Howard = boch@dwx.com=20

The following books are drawn from Beverly Whitaker’s website, from material provided by Don Milliken, from Sandi Gorin’s website, and from various other open sources, including information from Mac's own files. The following information was compiled and provided by Mac McCutchan - Scotch-Irish mailing list and shared here: Rouse, Parke, Jr. The Great Wagon Road. The Dietz Press, 109 East Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, 1992. Kincaid, Robert. The Wilderness Road. Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, 5th edition, 1992; originally published by Bobbs-Merrill Company in 1947. Schneider, Norris F. The National Road. Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio Historical Society, 1975. Ierley, Merritt. Traveling the National Road. Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press, 1990. Dollarhide, William. Map Guide to American Migration Routes. Bountiful, Utah: AGLL, Inc., 1997. Hanna, Charles A., The Scotch-Irish (2 volumes). New York, NY: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1902. Ramsey, Robert W., Carolina Cradle. Chapel Hill, NC, Univ. of North Carolina Press, 1964. Leyburn, James G., The Scotch-Irish: A Social History. Chapel Hill, NC, Univ. of North Carolina Press, 1962. Finley, Lori. The Natchez Trace. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher, 1995. Heisey, John W. American Migration Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana: Heritage House, 1985. Schneider, Norris F. and Clair C. Stebbins. Zane's Trace, the First Road in Ohio. Zanesville, Ohio: Mathes Printing Company, 1973. Southerland, Henry, Jr., and Jerry Elijah Brown. The Federal Road through Georgia, the Creek Nation, and Alabama,1806-1836. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 1989. Waitley, Douglas. Roads of Destiny: the Trails that Shaped a Nation. New York: Robert B. Luce, Inc., 1970. ---------- The following are websites with relevant material on migration routes, trails, and patterns. Many are drawn from the excellent websites of Beverly Whitaker and Sandi Gorin; others have simply been encountered over time. Here we go: Beverly Whitaker’s website: http://members.aol.com/GenTutor/biblio.html#migration – an excellent and inclusive bibliography for genealogy, including an extensive list of roads and trails books, maps, guides and articles, most of which are included below. Beverly Whitaker’s website: http://members.aol.com/RoadTrails/roadtrai.html – short, one-paragraph descriptions of the Boston Post Road, Braddock’s Road, California Trail, Fall Line Road, Great Wagon Road, King’s Highway, Mohawk (Iroquois) Trail, Mormon Trail, Natchez Trace, National Road, Oregon Trail, Pennsylvania Road, Santa Fe Trail, Upper Road, Wilderness Road, and Zane’s Trace. Also includes a bibliography (not provided here). http://www.mcn.org/2/noel/Westmoreland/Westmoreland.htm – Go to "The Migration Trails" and "The Mission Trails" at this website for a good view of early trails in and around Pennsylvania. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~south1/trails-roads1.htm – Super compendium of additional websites, describing the following early roads and migration routes: The Avery Trace - http://www.wwns.com/clay/tourism/avery/avery.html This site describes the Avery Trace, also known as the North Carolina Road, which went from NC through north TN to the Cumberland settlements. There is a good description of it and a link to a nice map of the old road. The Great Warrior Path from East Tennessee to Southwest Virginia: A nice description of this road, which some of the earliest settlers used. http://www.tngenweb.usit.com/warpath.htm Transportation in Early Middle Tennessee: This article mentions a number of the early roads and something about the early settlement of the area. http://www.tngenweb.usit.com/sumner/mdtntran.htm Ohio Migration Routes: This site is a map site of several of the land migration routes through Ohio...the northern ones are a little north for most of our southern migrations, but the southern ones were often used by people going into KY and places south... http://www.infinet.com/~dzimmerm/Gwen/migration.htm Migration Routes from Pennsylvania to Virginia: This site seems to be a collection of messages from a mail list discussing ancestral movements, mainly of Palantine Germans, but also Scots Irish...it discusses both the How and Why their folks moved on. See it at: http://www.indwes.edu/Faculty/bcupp/genes/migrate.htm Old Roads in North Arkansas: This is an article about early roads in north Arkansas, presented by the Lawrence County Historical Society, written by W.E. McLeod. If you have ancestors who traveled this way, check it out at: http://idt.net/~jfultz19/military.htm Map links and links about migration trails, especially regarding those people who went from PA to the south: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~south1/trails1.htm The Cumberland Trace: Super description at: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Tips?read=267 Braddock’s Road, Chisholm Trail, Cumberland Road, Iroquois Trail, Natchez Trace, Santa Fe Trail, Spanish Trail and Venango Trail: Short, concise one-paragraph descriptions at: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Tips?read=268 The Overland Trail http://www.over-land.com/index.html American Migrations Web Site http://members.aol.com/gedsearch/migrate.htm National Historic Trails Interpretive Center http://w3.trib.com/~rlund/NHTIC.html The Northern Great Plains, 1880-1920 http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/ndfahtml/ngphome.html Pioneering in the Upper Midwest, 1820-1910 American Memory Project, LOC http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/umhtml/umhome.html Juliana's Links http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/testurllinks/search.asp (In the Category Search, select 'Miscellaneous' and then "Westward Movement") OREGON/CALIFORNIA TRAIL Oregon-California Trails Association http://calcite.rocky.edu/octa/octahome.htm End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center http://www.teleport.com:80/~eotic/index.html Oregon Trail http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Allabout.html Emigrant Summit Trail (to California) http://www.r5.pswfs.gov/heritage/010.HTM Opening of the California Trail http://www.tahoenet.com/tdhs/tpstephn.html MORMON TRAIL MormonTrail.com: The Pioneer Experience http://www.mormontrail.com/ MormonTrail.net http://www.mormontrail.net/ History of the Mormon Trail http://lserver.aea14.k12.ia.us/SWP/cdavis/MTOP.HOMEP Iowa Mormon Trails http://www.lisco.com/iowamormontr/ SANTA FE TRAIL The Interactive Santa Fe Trail (SFT) Homepage http://raven.cc.ukans.edu/heritage/research/sft/ Fort Union and the Santa Fe Trail http://www.viva.com/nm/ghosts/union.html CHISHOLM TRAIL Chisholm Trail Anniversary Site http://www.unicusnet.com/chisholmtrail130/ Chisholm Trail http://www.southwind.net/ict/wht/wht-07s.html SPANISH TRAIL Old Spanish Trail Association http://www.slv.org/History/ost.htm Westward Migration in U.S. 1775-1860 http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/FreeImages.asp?ImageID=299 Exploration and Settlement Before 1675 http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/FreeImages.asp?ImageID=641 Exploration and Settlement 1675-1800 http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/FreeImages.asp?ImageID=643 Exploration and Settlement 1800-1820 http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/FreeImages.asp?ImageID=644 Exploration and Settlement 1820-1835 http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/FreeImages.asp?ImageID=645 Exploration and Settlement 1835-1850 http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/FreeImages.asp?ImageID=647 Exploration and Settlement 1850-1890 http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/FreeImages.asp?ImageID=648 Map Guide to American Migration Routes by William Dollarhide. Bountiful, Utah: AGLL, Inc., 1997. "16 Reference Cards for Genealogists and Historians: American Trails and Roads." Beverly Whitaker, 4318 N. Baltimore, Kansas City, MO 64116-1654. "Migration Trails Map Featuring Twenty-Four of the Major Trails East of the Mississippi River." The Everton Publishers, Inc., P. O. Box 368, Logan, Utah 84321. "The Trail System of the Southeastern United States in the Early Colonial Period, W. E. Myer, 1923," opposite page 748 in Forty-Second Annual Report of the U.S. Bureau of American Ethnology, to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1924-1925. Maps of Migration Trails in The Handy Book for Genealogists. 8th Edition. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishing, 1991. ARTICLES, American Roads and Trails The VAMONTG-L list included, on January 7, 1999, an article on the Wilderness Road (can be obtained by searching the archives for that list). The SCOTCH-IRISH-L list included, in January-February 1999, an entire thread of messages on the subject of roads and trails. (can be obtained by searching the archives for that list). The March 1998 National Geographic. It has an excellent, illustrated article "America's First Highway," describing the National Road. The April 1999 Historic Traveler Magazine has articles on the National Road and the Natchez Trace. "Colonial Roads of Our Ancestors," by William Dollarhide. "Genealogy Bulletin," American Genealogical Lending Library Newsletter, Number 22, April, May, June, 1994. "Wagon Roads to the Ohio Country, 1787-1820," by William Dollarhide. "Genealogy Bulletin," American Genealogical Lending Library Newsletter, Number 23, July, Aug., Sep., 1994. "Roads to the Old Southwest: Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi Before Canals, Steamboats, or Railroads," by William Dollarhide. "Genealogy Bulletin," American Genealogical Lending Library Newsletter, Number 28, July-Aug 1995. "Buffalo Path Became the Wagon Road," by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Feb 18, 1996. "The Development of Early Emigrant Trails in the United States East of the Mississippi River," by Marcus W. Lewis, published manuscript from lecture delivered in slightly different form before the National Genealogical Society, Washington, D.C., February 6, 1932. "The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road" by Don Farrant, "Heritage Quest," issue #57, pages 59-60. "Migration Trails of the Eastern United States," by Merlin C. and Eva M. Finnell, "The Palatine Immigrant" Vol. VI, No. 2, 1980.

This is a wonderful site listing Ships, Passenger Lists, Ports of Departure, Ports of Arrival, Names of Captains Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild http://istg.rootsweb.com/

Hello list I thought you would enjoy this Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted...We shouldn't. So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid..............

Hello again, This is actually Part II to the information prior to this on Coat of Arms, etc. Would someone be willing to write a statement and/or treatise on the surname FERGUS, and on the clan information? Controversy again! Cynthia SCOTTISH CLANS AND FAMILY NAMES THEIR ARMS, ORIGINS AND TARTANS, by RODDY MARTINE ISBN 1-85158-418-8 Fergusson The first settlement of this clan would appear to have been at Kintyre. Kilkerran, the seat of the Fergusson chiefs in Ayrshire is the modern Gaelic form of the name Campbeltown, and is named after one of the 12 apostles of Ireland who landed at Dalruadhain in the 6th Century. The Fergussons of Kilkerran descend from Fergus, son of Fergus in the time of the reign of Robert the Bruce. Fergus King of Galloway in the reign of David I married a daughter of Henry I of England. The Fergussons of Craigdarroch in Dumfrieshire have a recorded history that dates to a charter from David II in the 14th Century. Other Fergussons lived in Atholl and their chief was Fergusson of Dunfall and this Fergusson can be traced to the 15th Century. ---------- *Usually* the suffix son is added to a name and so the one with the suffixadded is the, BUT in the case of Fergus what I read was that there is NO clan Fergus but there is a clan Ferguson. ----------- The American Heritage Dictionary definition for sept is "a division of a tribe, particularly in medieval Ireland" and lists "clan" as a second definition of sept. On the other hand, the definition of clan in the same dictionary refers to "a traditional social unit of the Scottish Highlands, consisting of a number of families...." etc. What is now known as Clan Ferguson was back in very early times known as Clan Fergusa by the Irish scribes who wrote the earliest Scottish history known to exist. Is Fergus a sept or a clan? If you accept the two American Heritage defintions of sept - it is both. But, I have read a lot of Scottish history, numerous lists and sescriptions of of highland clans, and have never seen a reference to a Clan Fergus. But Clan Ferguson invariably lists the name Fergus as a part of the clan. -------- Hope wrote here can someone tell me how do I know if and > which clan my ancestors belonged to? You belong to a clan, if you have traced your ancestry along a surname line, a surname for which there IS an acknowledged Clan, and in the process you discover either- a. an ancestor of yours with that surname was formally recorded as a Clan member e.g. if that ancestor properly owned a Banner ["arms"], or b. your search for proven ancestry grinds eventually to a halt, in lands that are well documented as the "homeland" of that Clan. Note, only a minority of Scots surnames are Clan names. Most Scots surnames have no Clan connection at all. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ That said, the Clan societies today are friendly folk and if you elect to associate with a Clan, then your surname alone would probably be sufficient for you to be eligible for membership of that Society. ------------ It is within the authority of a Clan Chief to "adopt" incomers who have no biological connection to the Clan membership. It was always thus. If your surname is Murphy or Olejnik or..... and if you prove to be a worthy friend of the Clan and its Chief then you might very well be taken into the Clan. This is NOT a common practice but it can, and does, happen. ----------- FERGUS/FERGUSON The surname was recorded in Galloway where they were seated from ancient times. Some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. The complete history not only includes in full colour the most ancient family name coat of arms but traces the surname origin back to the 11th or 12th century, including any nobility, titles, castles, branches in Europe, settler's around the world and many other recorded events pertaining to the family surname if available. http://www.camelotintl.com/bin/cgi/names?name=fergus&wild=y There are entries for both Fergus and Ferguson (son of Fergus) in George F Black's "Surnames of Scotland" (too long for me to type here with my limited typing skills<g>). Perhaps your local library would have a copy or could get it for you on inter-library loan. ---------

Happy 4th of July - Below are various posts I have saved re:coat of arms, wearing of the tartan, clan badges, crests, etc. I would like someone on this list to take this information, add their own research and perhaps make a condensed statement that we could post to the FERGUS Research Worldwide website - any volunteers? Yes, as you can read here there are different points of view presented and then also a strict format as to using a coat of arms . . . a subject for us to address whether we have our own long-standing opinions and/or our fondness for claiming a FERGUS coat of arms - there are several. Who is willing to jump in - OK to include sentiment here also. Remember I am just presenting information I have received . . . no need to become distressed over this topic . . . but, there is room for discussion, just not heated discussion:) Cynthia The whole essence of the science of heraldry is that coats of arms are hereditary, and that only those who are entitled to them can carry them. While it is true that I could make application to the College of Heralds for a coat of arms, and they would make one up for me, from then on the only people who would be entitled to that coat of arms would be my descendants. For all practical purposes therefore, you can assume that they are right. There is a particular List for those who want to take these things seriously. The various Heralds - and they are well enough documented for me not to have to say anything about them, are charged with agreeing to whether or not someone should have a coat of arms. In Scotland it is a criminal offence to use a coat of arms which you are not entitled to. Ulster King of Arms is the Chief Irish Herald. You have got it sorted out (in theory) if you have a Herald's Certificate. -------- 1878 Burke's Peerage - Sir Edmund Burke compiled the information from data furnished to him by the persons/families listed. I'm not sure if he verified it thru the College of Heralds or not. He should say one way or the other in the introduction. In the narrative, it should give the arms holders genealogy and current family. So all you have to do is to show a direct descent thru first sons to you of the person described as entitle to the arms described in Burke's. If you can show that you are the first son and that all your patrilineal ancestors were first sons, you've got a shot at claiming title to those arms. On the other hand, if you're descended from any but a direct line of first sons, forget it. ---------- The inheritance of those (official) arms is, in England, to all male legitimate issue of the original grantee. Unless the male line dies out and then the arms goes through the last lot of daughters to their male children, if the daughters married armigers of course. All heirs of the Head of the Family are entitled to display the 'arms' with the cadets showing their labels or differencing. When the "Head" dies the heir inherits the 'arms' without the differencing. Females in England do not normally show a label as a mark of difference There being no seniority between daughters in English common law. A daughter displays her fathers 'arms'. In England there is no requirement for differencing. Though in Scotland there is a need as it is part of Lyon's charter to deal with such. The only differences practiced regularly in England these days are for children of the sovereign. Now for the big battalions: First Fox-Davies says (p.490) in his "A Complete Guide to Heraldry": 'The use of these difference marks is optional'. Though he does go on to say that 'it is neither courteous nor proper for a cadet to display the arms of the head of his house; beyond this, the matter is usually left to good taste' Second in a grant of arms from the College of Arms I read: 'to be borne and used for ever hereafter by xxxx and by other issue of yyyy [his father] according to the Laws of Arms'. In other words the same arms were granted both to X and to his brothers. ------- You belong to a clan, if you have traced your ancestry along a surname line, a surname for which there IS an acknowledged Clan, and in the process you discover either- a. an ancestor of yours with that surname was formally recorded as a Clan member e.g. if that ancestor properly owned a Banner ["arms"], or b. your search for proven ancestry grinds eventually to a halt, in lands that are well documented as the "homeland" of that Clan. Note, only a minority of Scots surnames are Clan names. Most Scots surnames have no Clan connection at all. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ That said, the Clan societies today are friendly folk and if you elect to associate with a Clan, then your surname alone would probably be sufficient for you to be eligible for membership of that Society. It is within the authority of a Clan Chief to "adopt" incomers who have no biological connection to the Clan membership. It was always thus. If your surname is Murphy or Olejnik or..... and if you prove to be a worthy friend of the Clan and its Chief then you might very well be taken into the Clan. This is NOT a common practice but it can, and does, happen. -------- LORD LYON OF SCOTLAND. http://www.heraldica.org/ The above sight will answer all your questions about Coats of Arms and the right to bear them. Also who has a right to existing ones. http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/lordlyon.htm This page contains documents and analysis pertaining to the judicial powers of Lord lyon in Scotland, in particular relating to nobility, chiefships of clans, and precedence. http://www.kwtelecom.com/heraldry/scother1.html#S1 This sight is devoted to Scottish Heraldry and will even tell you the cost of getting your own coat of arms. --------- Your possible right to bear Arms of that style [hence Armigerous] could be explored upon application to Lord Lyon. It would be your duty to demonstrate a proven descent from the armigerous guy I invented above. reply: I thought this was the case, but it appears it is not so. You have to show that for a number of generations your family was composed of honorable members - no need to have armigerous ancestors. Scots manners: How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable! :~) ---------- Certainly in the UK there is never such a thing as a "Whatevername" Coat of >Arms. Somebody named "Whatevername" may well have a Coat of Arms, and his descendants will probably base their own Coats of Arms upon it. Just because one has the same name as someone who legitimately has Arms does not entitle one to make any use of those Arms what so ever. ---------- I have been wondering if there are any "generational limits" to one's ability to "claim" clan kinship and rights to wear a tartan. No such limits. The law in Scotland is reasonable, much more so than English law. English law is argued on <precedent> ["we did it wrong before so we are obliged to do it wrong again"]; Scottish law is argued on <principle> ["oh dear, we did it wrong before; never mind there's a good chance we'll get it right this time"] Laws on kinship are in the jurisdiction of Lord Lyon, King at Arms. His court is one comprised of reasonable folk, and kinship if proved in a scholarly way will win out. He rules with authority upon the manners and rules of Scots dress but that is not his principal duty. There is no limit in years or generations; there is no biological switch that abruptly terminates your descendancy from an early clansman. The real arguments arise, if you should act on your grannie having said [for example] that your Hutchison ancestor was spouse of/ or child of an armigerous guy, say a particular MacDonald, Lord of the Isles. You might then want to carry the banner and arms of that man, like a "family crest". This is both illegal and ill- mannered. Your possible right to bear Arms of that style [hence Armigerous] could be explored upon application to Lord Lyon. It would be your duty to demonstrate a proven descent from the armigerous guy I invented above. After the Court accepted your claim [they might reject it!] then you would be sent a design for the banner etc suitably differenced. This is the work of a heraldic draftsman who alters the early design, to account for your own position in the family tree, and also your occupation. A lawyer might have a book in the design of his banner; a physician the usual twisted snakes; a soldier a sword or firearm. ----------- Arms. A coat or arms are the personal property of the owner who have a valid grant from the Lord Lyon at the request of the Crown. They are not clan property. As property they can be disposed off, but they are entailed, and there are the strictest rules. There is a court of the land, the Lord Lyon's court which not only can decide these matters, but impose penalties of misuse. In highland dress it is correct to use the crest of the Chief of the clan, surrounded by a belt and buckle bearing the motto of the clan, as a cap badge. There is no such thing as a family or clan crest. It is the property of the Chief alone and while it is correct to display it in a cap badge, it is not correct to display it on note paper, plate etc. The above comes from "Scots Heraldry" by Innes of Learney, the Late Lord Lyon. You can argue with his son the present one. There is no necessary blood line between a chief and a member of the clan. A clansman us a supporter of the Chief. You can join a clan with the permission of the Chief. I am a member of a clan, and wear their tartan on occasions because on occasions I act as a member of the household of the Chief. Generally highland dress either looks right or it is wrong. It is also very expensive. At a funeral today with a military background there was a bugler and a piper from a Scottish regiment. The Bugler wore trews, the piper a kilt, no 2 dress jacket (cut away to show the sporran.) After the Last Post and Reveille, the piper marched on to the Flowers of the Forest, played Amazing Grace at the grave, and marched off to Highland Cathedral. Of course the piper looked magnificent. Though of course for his full glory he should have been in his dress jacket. This was basically a military occasion. With the increased national pride in Scotland there is much more wearing of the Kilt. People do on occasions wear the kilt with more casual clothes, and there are an increasing number wearing the great Kilt. Regular wearers of the Kilt are often seen as being the great eccentrics. Kilts are however usual dress for weddings, usually hired. Many people choose their football team tartans, and therefore there is a constant supply of ex hire ones of these tartans on the market. That is probably the best way to get one. The Prince Charles is usually known as a Bonnie Prince Charles, or a Bonnie Prince. In Slang all I will say is that a "Prince Charles" is not an item of men's apparel. I will say no more. A BPC is worn with a lace frill at the neck, and is the most striking of Highland dress. What causes the amusement here (in Scotland) are the attempts to give hard and fast rules for something which most people are relaxed about, and a casual view of what is very strictly controlled - Clan badges. The Plant badges are very old, and basically used to rally the clan. Remember most clan battles were small affairs, and people would have known who they were close to in the hand to hand part of the fight. A little thought about how battles were actually fought, and who the enemy were would solve people's problems. As far as having to get permission to buy, if it is for sale then you can buy it. There are some tartans which can only be worn by certain people - often the Royal family, but sometimes the people who work for a particular family. These are simply specially made, and the design is copyright. A good example of a tartan for a family is that often the coats and plus fours of a ghillie or game keeper will be made out of "Estate Tartan" -----------

Happy 4th of July to everyone. Please have a safe day or weekend if you are driving anywhere to see Fireworks or cooking out, enjoy the day. And HAPPY Birthday to those of you who reach another year older.Like our daughter Emily. Shirley and Barney

For those of you who are interested in additional information on how to broaden your genealogy horizon I would suggest this series, kindly provided free-of-charge from Rootsweb, our host. ROOTSWEB'S GUIDE TO TRACING FAMILY TREES, Lesson Three, "Using Technology to Dig Up Roots," is available at: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/lesson3.htm>.

(http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/agesearch.html) The Census Bureau provides an "age search" service to the public: We will search the confidential records from the Federal population censuses of 1910 to 1990 and issue an official transcript of the results (for a congressionally mandated fee). NOTE: Information can be released only to the named person, his/her heirs, or legal representatives. Individuals can use these transcripts, which may contain information on a person's age, sex, race, State or country of birth, and relationship to the householder, as evidence to qualify for social security and other retirement benefits, in making passport applications, to prove relationship in settling estates, in genealogy research, etc., or to satisfy other situations where a birth or other certificate may be needed but is not available. Age Search Fact Sheet FEE REQUIRED: $40 for a search of one census for one person only. Personal checks and money orders accepted. No credit cards. YEARS SEARCHED: 1910 through 1990. ACCESS: Census records with individual names are not on computer. They are on microfilm, arranged according to the address at the time of the census. Most agencies require the earliest census after the date of birth. REQUIRED: A completed BC-600 Application for Search of Census Records, signed by the person for whom the search is to be conducted. This person may authorize the results to be sent to another person/agency by also completing item 3 of the application. Minor children - Information regarding a child who has not yet reached the legal age of 18 may be obtained by written request of either parent or guardian. A guardian must provide a copy of the court order naming them as such. Mentally incompetent persons - Information regarding these persons may be obtained upon the written request of the legal representative, supported by a copy of the court order naming such legal representation. Deceased persons - the application must be signed by (1) a blood relative in the immediate family (parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent), (2) the surviving wife or husband, (3) the administrator or executor of the estate, or (4) a beneficiary by will or insurance. IN ALL CASES INVOLVING DECEASED PERSONS, a copy of the death certificate MUST be provided and the relationship to the deceased MUST be stated on the application. Legal representatives MUST also furnish a copy of the court order naming such legal representatives, and beneficiaries MUST furnish legal evidence of such beneficiary evidence. RESULTS: An official census transcript will list the person's name, relationship to household head, age at the time of the census, and state of birth. Citizenship will be provided if the person was foreign born. Single items of data such as occupation for Black Lung cases can be provided upon request. If a person is not found, a form will be sent with that information. Additional data on the same person (Full Schedule) - The full schedule is the complete one line entry of personal data recorded for that individual ONLY. This will be furnished in addition to the regular transcript. There is an additional charge of $10.00 for each full schedule. They are not available for 1970, 1980, and 1990. TIME INVOLVED: The normal processing time is 3 to 4 weeks. Cases are processed on a first in, first out basis. Passport and other priority cases can be processed in a week or less. To expedite, send by Next-Day Air via the Post Office or private carrier and enclose a pre-paid Express return envelope. Applications can be faxed to you. Details and/or application furnished upon request. Contact Mary Lee Eldridge at mary.lee.eldridge@ccmail.census.gov. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Last Revised: Monday, 08-Feb-99 07:40:24

This information was sent to me by Tee who is the Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland coordinator for GenWeb and the listowner for that same mailing list. I am grateful that our host is Rootsweb. Delete this message if it is of no interest to you. Cynthia > http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/20472.html You may already be aware of this article, but just in case you're not...please read. I don't really see how Yahoo can claim ownership of the webpages but I suppose anything's possible in this crazy world! Tee

A genealogical newsletter recently gave addresses for obtaining passport applications of ancestors and I wrote hoping to receive data on a relative .HOWEVER, according to a form letter from the Natl Archives, this is the situation. Although the Dept of State has issued passports since 1789, prior to 1941, American citizens going abroad were not REQUIRED to have passports except for these periods: August 19, 1861-March 17, 1862 during the Civil War December 15, 1915 - formal termination of WWI in 1921. Since June 21, 1941, it has been unlawful for American citizens to travel abroad without a valid passport.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is offering free downloads of Personal Ancestral File version 4.0. This is a brand new version of one of the most popular genealogy programs in the world. The new version has two major changes from previous versions: 1. Windows program 2. It is free. Personal Ancestral File (PAF)version 4.0 is available to everyone online. PAF version 4.0 requires the following: Windows 95, 98 or NT 486/66 processor or faster with a Pentium processor rec at least 16 megabytes of memory 20 megabytes of hard disk space 256-color display adapter supporting 640x480 screen resolution Personal Ancestral File 4.0 will also be available on CD-ROM for a nominal price in early 2000. The exact price hasn't been announced, to cover the cost of making the CD-ROM disks, handling and postage. Users will be able to purchase the CD-ROM version from the Church's distribution centers worldwide. The Macintosh version of Personal Ancestral File has not changed for some time and it continues to sell for $35.00. This week's announcement did not mention any changes in the Macintosh version. Version 4.0 of Personal Ancestral File for Windows can be downloaded through: http://www.familysearch.org Cynthia

FYI: There are at least 6 copies of the "Fergus Family History" compiled by Morris Freeman Fergus and John Franklin Fergus which have been donated to LDS Library at Salt Lake City. If any of you have spare copies I am sure there are people on this list who would be willing to purchase them. If you, please post to the list if you have a spare one. Cynthia

>From Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com/cwrd/cwrd_index.htm Civil War Research Database Field Search Matches Surname FERGUS 17 Name State Served Enlist Date Enlist Rank Enlist Age Enlist Place Army Samuel E Fergus Illinois 17 April 1861 Priv union James C Fergus Ohio 02 May 1864 Priv 18 union John C Fergus Illinois 17 June 1861 Priv union Robert C Fergus Illinois 13 August 1862 Priv union Samuel E Fergus Illinois 25 July 1861 Sergt union Samuel Fergus United States Colored Troops 16 November 1864 2nd Lieut union Scott Fergus Illinois 09 May 1864 Priv union Eugene F Fergus Pennsylvania 29 February 1864 Priv union Samuel Fergus Pennsylvania 22 August 1862 Corpl union James A Fergus Illinois 24 September 1862 Priv union Name State Served Enlist Date Enlist Rank Enlist Age Enlist Place Army Howard Fergus Pennsylvania 01 July 1863 Priv union Robert C Fergus Illinois 13 August 1862 Priv union George H Fergus New York 20 April 1861 1st Lieut 21 New York City, NY union William D Fergus New Jersey 03 October 1861 Priv union Mathew Fergus New York 27 May 1861 Priv 26 New York City, NY union Warren Fergus Iowa 09 August 1862 Priv 24 union Samuel Fergus Iowa 15 August 1862 Priv 36 union

Some of you might be interested and have the time to browse through Dick Eastman's interesting and informative critiques of various programs related to genealogy, new mailing lists, and a variety of interesting topics relevant to genealogy. I subscribe to this free newsletter through Ancestry.com. Why not browse through a few back issues - most are not time-sensitive - and follow subscription instructions in one of the newsletters. Dick Eastman has listed our FERGUS Research Worldwide website on two separate ocassions. Perhaps some of our mailing list subscribers found us through his newsletter. http://www.ancestry.com/columns/eastman/index.htm Cynthia

"FERGUS The oldest known forms of this name are the Irish Feargus and the Gaelic Fearghas. In ancient Celtic Vergusti signifies either manly choice or supreme choice. A Feargus, late in the fifth century, with his brother Angus, led the Kelts from Ireland to the country since called Scotland. Ten Celtic saints bore the name. The name is still popular in Scotland and is also fairly common in Ireland." The above information was printed on a card given to me by James Fergus of Dundalk, Co Louth, Republic of Ireland when I visited his home for tea in May, 1999. His son, also James, is one of our subscribers who met me at London's Heathrow Airport between my flights from Belfast to Chicago. Cynthia Russell

FERGUS Francis; TYR,NIR>PA,USA; c.1776 Francis FERGUS, b. 8 Sept 1752, Co Tyrone, Ireland probably emigrated from port of Derry to Philadelphia, PA c. 1776; enlisted Revol War from Bucks Co; Married Mary McCORMICK in Cumberland Co 1780; 3 children born at McClures Gap, PA; 1790 moved to Rockbridge Co, VA; 1802 moved to Pulaski Co, VA; 6 more children born; Mary McCORMICK died there 1820. requesting direction to: find Revol War records - searched NARA and found nothing record of marriage in Cumberland Co - found nothing birth records from McClures Gap - not sure where to write? find gravesite of Mary McCORMICK in Pulaski Co, home near Newbern, need to find Presbyterian or other Protestant cemeteries from 1820's Any assistance would be appreciated as I wish to do my own research, but stuck on these points. Cynthia Russell ^.^.^. N E W FERGUS Research Worldwide website http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~fergus00/ ^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^. "Cynthia N. Russell" <crussell@traversecity.com>

Since Rootsweb will not allow attachments I am posting to the FERGUS mailing list that I have a rather nice map of the Orkney Island, with Westray designated. I know that some of the list has ties to Westray. Please e-mail me directly and I would be glad to forward the map as an attachment. Cynthia