The following post was originated by Iain Laird, who gave his permission to forward to the Laird list. Hopefully Iain will be joining us both here on the list and in the LFA. His e-mail address is: INSLaird@cs.com --- My family comes from Caithness and originally Western Norway. There is a place called Freswick in Caithness (on 18th Century maps spelt “Fresweek”) which is linked with Fresvik in Sogn, Western Norway. At the head of the Fjord is Lærdal, possibly the origin of the surname in Caithness, as there is a tradition in Norway to take the surname from the place of origin. Our ancestor was a Norwegian Sea Captain but we do not remember exactly when. There used to be a large number of Lairds in the John O’Groats and Duncansby area, and Lairds were also found in Orkney. I am not sure what connection if any there is with the better documented Lairds of Berwick and Peebles starting in the 13th Century. Caithness is Clan Sinclair country, and we are members of the Clan Sinclair Association. The Sinclairs are like many Scots Clans (including Stewarts, Gordons, Chisolms, Colquhons and Frasers) are of Norman origin, descended from Rollo, or Rolf the Ganger, son of Rognvald the Mighty, Earl of More and Romsdal in Western Norway, and whose son became Jarl of Orkney (including Caithness). The Sinclairs first settled at Rosslyn, south of Edinburgh. By marriage Henry Sinclair became Jarl of Orkney, still a Norwegian title on 2nd August 1379. The Lairds of Caithness share a heritage with the Sinclairs and my family is permitted to wear the Sinclair Tartans by the Clan Chief, the Rt Hon Malcolm Sinclair, Earl of Caithness. The Clan’s website is at http://www.mids.org/sinclair I have read about the Laird crest with interest. Coincidentally the Stag’s Head was the badge of Rollo, and the Chevron was part of the crest of the Sparre Family from Sweden (Malise Sparre was a cousin of the 14th century Henry Sinclair). The motto “Spero meliora” appears on the memorial stone of Andrew Ogston, a Minister of Canisbay Kirk (d1650). Canisbay Kirk is the most northerly church on the British Mainland, and was the Lairds’ kirk. The Queen Mother worships there when she is at the nearby Castle of Mey (formerly a Sinclair Castle). The Last House Museum at John O’Groats was once a Laird home. Many Caithness men went to the south of Scotland for work from the 18th Century onwards, including my Great Great Grandfather. The Lairds of Cammel Laird Shipbuilders were from Caithness. There are only a handful now left in Caithness, which is why this connection is often overlooked. Yours aye Iain Laird  

1850 census project for Mississippi. Lawrence County, Mississippi. Household of Victor Leard and S. A., Victor Lard married Sarah Ann Lofton, 14 Dec 1848, Franklin Co., MS. Household of Josiah Leard and Narcissa, Josiah Lard married Narcissa Holloway, 15 Aug 1837, Franklin Co., MS. This is confirmed by William Holloway age 15 residing in their household. Household of John Leard and Marin, Possibly ? John Lard married Maria Fairman, 16 Sept 1839, Franklin Co. MS. And of course, the following information which I believe was originally pointed out by Spencer Laird ?. Newton County, Mississippi. Synthia age 50 in the household of Eli Laird. Robert Lard Jr. married Senthy Marten, 13 July 1815, Clarke County, GA. This would seem to be verified by the fact that Sarah Martin age 87 is residing in the same household and is probably Senthy's mother. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

According to the marriage records listed in the August LFA newsletter we can now add the following information to the 1850 census project for Missouri. Pike County, Missouri. Household of Henry Lard and Lucinda, Henry Lard married Lucinda Fears, 16 Aug 1849, Pike County, Missouri. Household of Lewis Lard and Susan, Lewis W. Lard married Susan Burch, 24 Jan 1844, Pike County, Missouri. Montgomery County, Missouri. Household of Hezkiah A. Lard and Mary, Hezekiah Lard married Mary C. Chitwood 23 April 1835, Ralls Co., Missouri. Household of Lefranye F. Lard and Martha, Lefrania F. Lard married Martha Ellen Swartzer, 13 Oct 1849, Benton Co. Missouri. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

Thank you for all your hard work, Patricia. At 10:46 PM 8/2/1999 -0500, you wrote: >Hello Everyone, > Laird Branches, Vol 1, Number 4 is finally finished. I sent the >file to Robert, and he should have it posted to the LFA web site soon. > >Sincerely, >Patricia Laird Howard > > John A. Maltby Redwood City, CA jamaltby@creative.net

Hello Everyone, Laird Branches, Vol 1, Number 4 is finally finished. I sent the file to Robert, and he should have it posted to the LFA web site soon. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

Hello LFA Members, My brother in law is visiting from North Carolina, so I will not have the LFA Newsletter ready for Robert to post until late Monday night. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

Daphne, Have you done any research on Anny Lard, who married George Garrison in Barren County, Kentucky, 22 Jan 1807? I know this date seems early for them to be the parents of your William Garrison born 2 Oct 1830 in Hart Co., Kentucky, unless of course they had other children before him. But this Garrison family did move to Hart County, Kentucky. George Garrison is said to have died abt 1828/29, which is before your ancestor was born, but the death date is an estimate. The Garrison family groupsheet is posted to Ancestry.com as follows: James Garrison, born 11 March 1745/6 Fredericktown, MD, died 13 Oct 1840, buried Patterson Cemetery, Wilmington, ILL, married between 1773-1774, Hester Ann Roberts, died after 1840, parents William Roberts & Rosannah. Children of James Garrison & Hester Roberts; 1. Rosannah Garrison, born 1774 North Carolina, died 5 Aug 1873, buried Richwood Cemetery, Eldred, Ill, married 1st ---Luper, 2nd Edward Flatt. 2. James Garrison Jr., born abt 1778, NC died 1845 ILL, married Rachel Luper. 3. George Garrison, born 1780-1784 NC, died abt 1828/29, Hart Co., Kentucky, married Anny Lard. 4. Samuel E. Garrison, born 1788, Wilkes County, NC, died 1849, buried Garrison Temple Cemetery, Keenes, Wayne County, Ill, married Martha Conley, 28 Sept 1815, Barren County, Kentucky. 5. Nancy Garrison, born abt 1791, SC, died after 1840, ILL married Alanson Dowdy, 19 May 1806, Warren County, KY. 6. David Garrison, born 19 May 1792, SC died 22 June 1858, Hamilton Co, ILL, married Elizabeth Taylor, 16 Nov 1815, Barren County, KY. 7. Jesse Garrison, born 1793, SC, died after 1860, Scott County, ILL, married Cassandra Doyel, 1820, Hart County, KY. 8. Sarah Sallie Garrison, born 25 Sept 1795, SC, died 3 Sept 1859, Edmonson County, KY, married Richard G. Doyel, 1 April 1817, Warren County, KY. 9. Matthew Garrison, born 9 Sept 1798, SC died 28 Oct 1846, buried Patterson Cemetery, Wilmington, ILL, married 1st Hannah Doyel, Warren County, KY, married 2nd Mary Davidson 1 March 1827, Barren Co, KY. 10. Rachel Garrison, born abt 1789, NC, married Daniel Smith, abt 1808 Warren County, KY. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

Bobbi and all; I've been busy with garden (and weeds). Went to the quilt show in Sisters, Oregon. A must for quilters; lots of history; 3895km on the car (translates to 55 mpg after all was said and done). Have never seen rivers so full of water at this time of year. Hope those dams hold. Haven't heard from Enterprise, IL, about my gggrandparents, but hope to soon. It's hard to find info on folks, without having their names first. I may have to go down there to get the info I need. TTYL. Daphne BobbiLaird@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 7/26/99 10:07:05 PM Central Daylight Time, > PAHoward@concentric.net writes: > > << The Laird list has been very quiet. >> > I've been wondering, I haven't heard from anyone in WEEKS. I thought maybe > I'd accidentally been crossed off the list. Is there life out there? > > Bobbi -- MZ

I am still hoping to find someone who has a connection to our JOHN LAIRD who married Lydia Wright in the 1790s in Washington County, PA. I have found quite a bit of info & material of several others with this name in that county in the same era, but all with different wives, children & families than our John. Little is currently known of him. He apparently died sometime after 1815. Most likely 1830s. He lived with his wife, Lydia Wright, on part of the property in Peters Township her father, Joshua Wright & uncle, James Wright had bought, cleared & settled in the 1760s& 1770s, which she apparently inherited before they married, [James died in 1779/80 and Joshua in 1783, both killed by native americans along the Ohio River]. John Laird is my man of unknown origins and seemingly uneventful life. I really would like to provide him with a few events. Thanks for any assistance or help. Gail Van Wye

Got the message

Yes I received your message. Thank you -----Original Message----- From: Patricia Howard <PAHoward@concentric.net> To: LAIRD-L@rootsweb.com <LAIRD-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, July 26, 1999 10:10 PM Subject: [LAIRD-L] John R. Laird >John, > Please let me know if you got the message posted on the Laird >list. If yes, then your e-mail for the list should be okay. > >Sincerely, >Patricia Laird Howard > > begin 666 John Raye Laird.vcf M0D5'24XZ5D-!4D0-"E9%4E-)3TXZ,BXQ#0I..DQA:7)D.TIO:&X[4F%Y90T* M1DXZ2F]H;B!287EE($QA:7)D#0I414P[2$]-13M63TE#13HH.#$W*2 R-#8M M,#8S,PT*0412.TA/344Z.SLX,S$S(%=H:71N97D@1'(N.T9O<G0@5V]R=&@[ M5&5X87,[-S8Q,#@-"DQ!0D5,.TA/344[14Y#3T1)3D<]455/5$5$+5!224Y4 M04),13HX,S$S(%=H:71N97D@1'(N/3!$/3!!1F]R="!7;W)T:"P@5&5X87,@ M-S8Q,#@-"E523#IH='1P.B\O9FQA<V@N;F5T+WYJ<FQA:7)D#0I%34%)3#M0 M4D5&.TE.5$523D54.FIR;&%I<F1 9FQA<V@N;F5T#0I2158Z,3DY.3 W,C=4 4,C$P,S4V6@T*14Y$.E9#05)$#0H` ` end

subscribe > John R. Laird, > I tried to answer you message via the reply button, but it came > back > as undeliverable. The Laird list has been very quiet. Possibly members > > are on vacation or busy with other activities that take them away from > genealogy. The newsletter will be ready around the 1 August. > > Sincerely, > Patricia Laird Howard

John, Please let me know if you got the message posted on the Laird list. If yes, then your e-mail for the list should be okay. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

John R. Laird, I tried to answer you message via the reply button, but it came back as undeliverable. The Laird list has been very quiet. Possibly members are on vacation or busy with other activities that take them away from genealogy. The newsletter will be ready around the 1 August. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

In a message dated 7/26/99 10:07:05 PM Central Daylight Time, PAHoward@concentric.net writes: << The Laird list has been very quiet. >> I've been wondering, I haven't heard from anyone in WEEKS. I thought maybe I'd accidentally been crossed off the list. Is there life out there? Bobbi

Hi Patricia....Thanks for the web site info....I looked at it briefly....It's exciting!!! Is Rhoda on line??? I would like to email her....if I can. I don't think I have much of anything on the Spanglers....just that they come from Germany. Thanks for getting in touch.....It's fascinating to know that I have cousins that I didn't even know about.....How do you join the LFA??? Loie -----Original Message----- From: Patricia Howard [mailto:PAHoward@concentric.net] Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 1:16 PM To: LAIRD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [LAIRD-L] York County Lairds Loie, Please send me a list of all of the surnames you are searching. James K Laird and Amanda Paup are my great great grandparents through their son William Penn Laird and Ida Covisa Sowers. So we are related through the King, and Lefever family on James K. Laird's mothers side. The Kings were originally Koenig and go back to Germany. The LeFever family is French. Also, we are most likely related on the Spangler side. My grandmother Lottie Belle Kunkle who married Martin Luther Laird was the daughter of Jacob Kunkle and Mary Ellen Spangler. Do you have your Spangler line back to 1150? My aunt Rhoda Laird is still alive. I keep her informed of all my genealogy findings. I am originally from York, but my parents moved to Los Angeles when I was a child. I now live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I hope that you will consider joining the Laird Family Association. You may visit the LFA web site at http://www.qcsi.net/lfa Your cousin, Patricia Laird Howard

Patricia.....Whoa!!! I am impressed....You have really gotten alot farther than I have.....I want to do the Boyds [ Scotland & Ireland ] as well.....and probably the Spanglers [ from Germany ]. Right now I don't know where all my paper work is on the genealogies.....I will have to look for it ASAP. I am working in San Francisco at DOLBY LABORATORIES [ where they make the equipment for the movies, the theaters, for CDs, games, etc and so on ]. I live in Sunnyvale CA and commute every day. I plan to retire back to the York area to be with my kids and grandkids in a few years. I was going to move to Broken Arrow, OK to go to the Kenneth Hagen Bible School [ Rhema ] a while back, but decided to go to the FCF Bible School here in CA instead. Do you go to church any where there??? I used to have some friends that used to live in Broken Arrow and I lost track of them. Steve & Leanna Willis.....This is really cool....I have got to get back to work. As you can tell I am on my computer all day...and when I get home some evenings......I am a CAD Librarian....Here's my meeting call. .Loie -----Original Message----- From: Patricia Howard [mailto:PAHoward@concentric.net] Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 1:16 PM To: LAIRD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [LAIRD-L] York County Lairds Loie, Please send me a list of all of the surnames you are searching. James K Laird and Amanda Paup are my great great grandparents through their son William Penn Laird and Ida Covisa Sowers. So we are related through the King, and Lefever family on James K. Laird's mothers side. The Kings were originally Koenig and go back to Germany. The LeFever family is French. Also, we are most likely related on the Spangler side. My grandmother Lottie Belle Kunkle who married Martin Luther Laird was the daughter of Jacob Kunkle and Mary Ellen Spangler. Do you have your Spangler line back to 1150? My aunt Rhoda Laird is still alive. I keep her informed of all my genealogy findings. I am originally from York, but my parents moved to Los Angeles when I was a child. I now live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I hope that you will consider joining the Laird Family Association. You may visit the LFA web site at http://www.qcsi.net/lfa Your cousin, Patricia Laird Howard

Loie, Please send me a list of all of the surnames you are searching. James K Laird and Amanda Paup are my great great grandparents through their son William Penn Laird and Ida Covisa Sowers. So we are related through the King, and Lefever family on James K. Laird's mothers side. The Kings were originally Koenig and go back to Germany. The LeFever family is French. Also, we are most likely related on the Spangler side. My grandmother Lottie Belle Kunkle who married Martin Luther Laird was the daughter of Jacob Kunkle and Mary Ellen Spangler. Do you have your Spangler line back to 1150? My aunt Rhoda Laird is still alive. I keep her informed of all my genealogy findings. I am originally from York, but my parents moved to Los Angeles when I was a child. I now live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I hope that you will consider joining the Laird Family Association. You may visit the LFA web site at http://www.qcsi.net/lfa Your cousin, Patricia Laird Howard

Yes....they are my great grand-parents.....I have met Rhoda at one of the Laird reunion meetings, when my Mother, Lura Boyd was still with us. My Aunt Beattie and Uncle Glenn Spangler, and my cousin Glorianne Hayes Green was there as well. Rhoda looks alot like my Grandma Sallie Laird Spangler Mann did. I liked the twinkle that she has in her eyes. Is she still living??? I know that she was looking into the Laird line and she gave us what she had found. I have it somewhere in all my papers. In what area do you live??? Mom lived in Shiloh... and I was staying with her after she had her 1st stroke. Please call me LoiE.....Thanks -----Original Message----- From: Patricia Howard [mailto:PAHoward@concentric.net] Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 11:31 AM To: LAIRD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [LAIRD-L] York County Lairds Lois, When you say you are descended from David Laird and Louise, are you speaking about David Laird and Louise Miller, son of James K. Laird and Amanda Paup? Do you happen to know my aunt Rhoda Laird who was married to my uncle Merle? Rhoda lives in East Berlin, PA. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard

Lois, When you say you are descended from David Laird and Louise, are you speaking about David Laird and Louise Miller, son of James K. Laird and Amanda Paup? Do you happen to know my aunt Rhoda Laird who was married to my uncle Merle? Rhoda lives in East Berlin, PA. Sincerely, Patricia Laird Howard