In Lubbock, Texas each year there is a "gathering" and there were games, booths, music, etc. We do not live in Lubbock but we went one year. There was some sort of machine, I believe, that printed out a large page for us. I will copy it now for you. The world would be a much lesser place without the tremendous fighting spirit of the Scottish Highland clans. From the desolate, sea-swept Hebridean Islands and the croft-scattered western coast, this surname has emerged as one of the great families whose tradition is romanticized by the skirl of the bagpipes, the brandished sword, the colour- ful kilt and the highland games. Historical researchers, using some of the oldest manuscripts, including clan genealogies, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Raoman (?) Rolls, the Inquisitio, the Black Book of the Exchequer, parish cartularies, baptismal records, tax records and many other manuscripts found the name Patterson in Rossshirre where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Spelling variations of the name Patterson caused much confusion in research. These changes occurred for a variety of reasons. From time to time the surname was spelt Patterson, Paterson, Pattersen, Patteson, Pattison, Patison, and these chantes in spelling occurred, sometimes even between father and son. It was not uncommon for a clansman to be born with one spelling, marry with another, and yet another to appear on his headstone. Sometimes a different spelling indicated a religious or clan loyalty to a branch or a chieftain. The Dalriadan race of the Hebrides was anciently descended from the early Irish KIings, specifically King Colla da Crioch, who was banished from Ireland in 327 A.D. along with 350 clan chiefs. Even now, there are Scottish highland clans who still call themselves "Children of Colla". Calriadan King Fergus Mor MacEarca defeated the Picts, their neighbours to the east, in 498 A. D. Kenneth MacAlpine, first King of Scotland, or Alba or Caledonia as it was known, was half Dalriadan, half Pict. The Highland Clans were a different breed. In early history many battles were fought withthe Scottish King in Edinburgh. Bonnie Prince Charlie finally rallied their support forhis claim to the throne which culminated at Culloden in 1745. TO BE CONTINUED