One thing I realize that I didn't mention. There were two editions of M'Kerlie's book (an original one which spanned several years) and another in about 1905? and unfortunately the page numbers are not the same in both. I'm not sure which version Google Books has scanned in. Of course, when the "Wigtownshire Pages" section was written, there were no Google pages. Crawford. On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 8:08 PM, Mary Richardson <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Barb -- > > In some countries (but not Australia as I > understand it), M'Kerlie's volumes are online via > Google books.  When I searched for > Baryerrock/Baryarroch/Baryerroch in volume 2, I > got one hit on page 220.  It's part of the quite > lengthy section on Barnbarroch, which begins on p. 190: > > "The farms which comprised the Barnbarroch estate > prior to 1873, were Meikle Airies, Barglass, > Barnbarroch Mains, Barlas, Barwhanny, > Barvernochan, Baryerrock, Bing, Claycross, > Drumjargon, Knockan, Knockefferick, Marchfarm, > Slochabbert, and East Slochabbert, High and Low > Barness, and Clutag (South and Little)."

Dear Barb -- In some countries (but not Australia as I understand it), M'Kerlie's volumes are online via Google books. When I searched for Baryerrock/Baryarroch/Baryerroch in volume 2, I got one hit on page 220. It's part of the quite lengthy section on Barnbarroch, which begins on p. 190: "The farms which comprised the Barnbarroch estate prior to 1873, were Meikle Airies, Barglass, Barnbarroch Mains, Barlas, Barwhanny, Barvernochan, Baryerrock, Bing, Claycross, Drumjargon, Knockan, Knockefferick, Marchfarm, Slochabbert, and East Slochabbert, High and Low Barness, and Clutag (South and Little)." p. 186 "PARISH OF KIRKINNER ... The small parish of Longcastle was annexed to Kirkinner about 1650. The name arose from the ancient castle (the ruins of which may yet exist, as they did a few years ago), at the western end of what was the loch of Longcastle, now drained. The ruins of the small church are west, about a mile distant. It was a rectory belonging, apparently, to the King. The glebe land was obtained by Sir Patrick Vaus. In addition to the ruins of the old kirk on the kirk land at Longcastle, the site of another is at Chapel Hill, north of Longcastle. Much confusion has arisen from the loch, now drained, having at different periods been known as Longcastle, Ravenstone, and Dowaltoun. The patronage of the united parish, that is, Longcastle and Kirkinner, was obtained and held by the Vauses of Barnbarroch." p. 187 "LONGCASTLE We have no means of ascertaining whether this barony was included in the charters granted by King Robert Bruce to his nephew, Alexander Bruce, of the lands of Carnesmole (along with Mughrum, now Mochrum) iu the vicinity of Wigton, as learned from Robertson's Index of Charters. The information gathered first commences with the M'Dowalls. We gave the usual statement in our First Edition that the M'Dowalls had possession in 1330, but we now believe that it was at a later period. With so much on record about them, arising from having been in league with the Kings of England, yet nothing can be found to support the statement. We must refer inquirers to the list of lands obtained by them, which we have given under Garthland, parish of Stoneykirk, and also to our account of the M'Dowalls under Kirkmaiden parish. Gilbert M'Dowall, styled of Ravenstone and Freugh, about 1445, is the first found to have been in possession of Longcastle and Ravenstone, which at one time were one and the same property. The descent of Gilbert M'Dowall we cannot trace, but, as will be found in our history of the M'Dowalls, already mentioned, the Garthland and Logan families repudiated the family who held these lands and Freugh, parish of Stoneykirk, stating that their ancestor was a natural son of Garthland's, which natural son was a notorious thief and robber, who lived at the little townland which obtained its name from him. For further particulars, see the history we have given under Kirkmaiden parish. Another statement is that the M'Dowalls built a castle on an island in the loch, but we could trace nothing. In Blaeu's Atlas from Font's survey, it is called the loch of Boirlant. As we have conveyed elsewhere, crannogs, or artificial land residences, existed in the loch, and probably gave rise to the assertion. As we have mentioned in the account of the parish, the old castle stood at the western end of the loch, and was a structure prior to the appearance of the M'Dowalls as owners. Very little is to be learned of their occupation, which must have been of short duration. We will merely add that, according to Sinclair's account, William M'Dowall of Dowalstoun and Freugh, had a son and heir named John, who married his cousin Margaret (Mary ?), sister and heir of John, and daughter of James M'Dowall of Freuch, by Florence, daughter of John M'Dowall of Garthland. No dates are given. The continuation will be found under Freuch, parish of Stoneykirk. From the M'Dowalls, the lands appear to have passed to the Mures of Craichlaw, for we find a tack, dated 9th January, 1496, by Margaret Keith, lady of Craichlaw and Longcastle, relict of John Mure of Craichlaw, of the lands of Cairnfield, Culgarie, and Culbae, to her carnal son, Adam Mure of Craichlaw. Also, the farm of Boreland, Longcastle, was obtained bv John Dunbar of Mochrum, from Margaret Keith, Lady Craichlaw, etc., in November, 1497, and which was purchased from him in 1498. The next owners were the Vauses of Barnbarroch. Their first connection was ecclesiastical. On the 12th January, 1528, a tack was granted by the priory and convent of Whithorn, to ane venerable father in God, Sir David Vaus, co-adjutor and successor of the abbey of Saulseat, of the parsonage and teind sheaves of the kirk of Longcastle for the space of three (or nine) years, the tack duty being £28 Scots. Again, on the 9th March, 1532, there was another tack granted for nineteen years of the parsonage and teinds of the kirk of Longcastle, for payment of £40 Scots yearly to the priory of Whithorn, "sett by the convent thereof to ane honorable man, John Vaus of Barnbarroch." We may state that Sir David Vaus above mentioned would appear to have been an ecclesiastical knight of the Order of St. John, a description of which will be found under Park, parish of Old Luce. The next notice in connection with the lands is that Edward Mure of Carnyfield granted a charter, dated 7th May, 1546, to John Vaus of Barnbarroch of the four merkland of Culgarie, which was confirmed by a charter under the Great Seal of Queen Mary, dated 25th August, 1546. There was subsequently another charter from Queen Mary, dated 6th September, 1548, in favour of Alexander Vans of Barnbarroch and Janet Kennedy, his spouse, of the six merkland of old extent of Longcastle, with the fortalice, loch, and wood within the same. In 1552, the four merkland each of Campford, Arequessan, with the two merkland of Culbey, belonged to Malcolm M'Kie of Craichlaw. In a contract, dated the last day of August, 1552, betwixt Hugh Kennedy of Barwhannie and Malcolm M'Kie of Craichlaw, the said Malcolm acknowledged to have received complete payment for two reversions on the lands of Campford and Arquessan; and whereas the said reversions were fraudulently taken away from him by the hands of Christian (Margaret ?) Dunbar, his spouse, and put into the hands of John Dunbar of Mochrum, so that he could not deliver them up to be destroyed as soon as they could be got, etc. In May, 1553, there was a letter of reversion by Alexander Baillie of Dunragit, with consent of Margaret, his spouse, in favour of Hugh Kennedy of Barquhanny of the four merkland of Arrichasson, disponed by Hugh Kennedy to Alexander Baillie, to be redeemed for seven score pounds. The next notice is dated the 16th June, 1578, in a suspension to Sir Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch, of a charge to make payment on his part of the barons' taxation, granted to have a vote in Parliament for his ten merkland of Longcastle and Culgarie, etc. On the 4th January, 1591-2, Sir Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch, and John, his son, had sasine of the Boreland, etc., of Longcastle, Culgarie, and Arngilshie, etc. In 1598, John Vaus of Longcastle was infeft as male heir. On the 14th December, 1639, (Robert) Vaus of Campford had sasine of the Boreland of Longcastle. Then, on the 4th August, 1642, John M'Dowall of Freuch had sasines of the lands of Dowaltoune. We next find that Sir William Maxwell of Monreith, knight baronet, had sasine, on the 20th December, 1683, of the lands and barony of Longcastle, etc., and again on the 13th September, 1705, with whose descendant the lands remain in possession. The property now consists of the farms Airiehassen, Blairshinnoch, Boreland, Camford, Cairnfield, Culgary, Kirkland, etc. The loch was drained in 1885-6. It was not very deep at any part. Its greatest length was about a mile and a half, and the greatest breadth about three-quarters of a mile. On two sides it had marshy ground and moss. At the south-east end there were four islands (the largest about twenty-three yards across), and nearer the shore on the same side was a group of six smaller islands. All of them were crannogs constructed, more or less, in the usual form found in other lochs in Galloway. The loch marched with the Longcastle and Ravenstone lands." There are numerous other brief mentions of Kirkland and Longcastle. Though I didn't read them in detail, much less copy them into this already lengthy message, they seem largely to repeat what appears beginning on p. 186. If you want to seem them, please contact me privately. Regards, Mary Richardson USA At 01:48 AM 1/14/2011, Barbara Wilson wrote: >Thanks to all those who pointed me in the right direction with Baryerrock. > >Crawford has suggested that someone may have a >copy of McKerlie - if that is the case could I >request a look up of Vol 2 p 345 re >Baryerrock. Would also be interested in any >entry on Kirkland of Longcastle also Kirkinner. > >Barb Wilson

Thanks to all those who pointed me in the right direction with Baryerrock. Crawford has suggested that someone may have a copy of McKerlie - if that is the case could I request a look up of Vol 2 p 345 re Baryerrock. Would also be interested in any entry on Kirkland of Longcastle also Kirkinner. Barb Wilson

For Andrea Walker regarding Smith family at Torhousemuir - I would be interested to know of your connection to this family. Margaret Porter who married David Smith was a sister of Sarah Porter who was my great, great grandmother. I was aware of the deaths of the three Smith children but not of the cause. Regards, Dianne Pells.

Hi, Has anyone done any research on Sir John McTaggart, Bart, of Ardwell? I would like to know more of his history. What I know: John was born in 1789 and died in 13/8/1867. He is buried in Kirkmadrine graveyard. He married Susannah Rymer 1785-1864 and they had three children, Susannah, John Bell and Sarah. Susannah married John Orde Ommaney, John Bell died in 1849 and Sarah married James Church. Sir John's father was John McTaggart 1756-1810 and his mother was Susan Dean. I believe his siblings were Charles, Susan and Sarah. Charles died in 1866, Susan married Thomas Flower Ellis and Sarah married Alexander McLean. Any information would be appreciated. Steve Sydney, AUS.

I have Stevenson family in the Kirkinner area, John Stevenson (Ireland 1768) and Letitia Somerville. Their daughter Mary is my 4x great grandmother. She married Laurence Craney. I haven't done much digging in this family yet. Laurie -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of pmcvetty Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:13 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [WIG LIST] Thomson/McTaggart/Stevenson Hello Listers, thanks to help from Bruce I have discovered that one of the Thomson's married a STEVENSON, and they lived in Wigtown. Anyone on the list with STEVENSON connections? Regards, Patti ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thanks to those who replied regarding the names I am researching. Although nothing fits right now, who knows in the future as I find out more what will tie in. Will keep the records so see what may develop later....thanks very much. Patti

Dear Steve, have a look at this website. http://www.ardwell-church.org.uk/photographs/insideArdwell.php Diana ________________________________ From: Steve McTaggart <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 6:25:51 AM Subject: [WIG LIST] Sir John McTaggart of Ardwell. Hi, Has anyone done any research on Sir John McTaggart, Bart, of Ardwell? I would like to know more of his history. What I know: John was born in 1789 and died in 13/8/1867. He is buried in Kirkmadrine graveyard. He married Susannah Rymer 1785-1864 and they had three children, Susannah, John Bell and Sarah. Susannah married John Orde Ommaney, John Bell died in 1849 and Sarah married James Church. Sir John's father was John McTaggart 1756-1810 and his mother was Susan Dean. I believe his siblings were Charles, Susan and Sarah. Charles died in 1866, Susan married Thomas Flower Ellis and Sarah married Alexander McLean. Any information would be appreciated. Steve Sydney, AUS. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello all, it has been some time since I have actively participated! My forbear was one Samuel Stevenson (1787/88-1887) born Killaid? County Antrim, son of John Stevenson. Samuel's wives were (1) Elisabeth McDonnelley-died 1822 and Elisabeth McNally/McNeillie who was born in Glen Luce 1803 and died 15 Feb. 1890 at Ardwell. Happy Hunting! Bruce On 13-Jan-11, at 10:12 AM, pmcvetty wrote: > Hello Listers, > thanks to help from Bruce I have discovered that one of the > Thomson's married a STEVENSON, and they lived in Wigtown. Anyone on > the list with STEVENSON connections? > Regards, Patti > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message

Dear Wig. list, and listers all, though this letter is not strickly Genealogy business, it should merit some place in the history of our transition from the 1930's to where we are today. The year was 1939, I and two of my brothers were incarcerated in the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Newton Stewart, suffering from Scarlet Fever, in my case, it was worse, because I had Jaundice at the same time. The combination of both made me a very sick little lad and I was detained there for several weeks after my brothers had gone home. The Castor oil and the orange juice, seemed to be the only diet I had, and they had to be administered while I was sitting on the toilet, my system must have had a total aversion to castor oil, for no sooner swallowed, it was out the other end. Visitors were not allowed, owing to the risk of spreading the disesases, so if my mother came to see me, she could only look through the window. It was a distressing time for all, then come the declaration of war, I can still hear the speech, as it was read out on the ward radio. Soon after that I was allowed to go home, my mother come to get me and because I was so thin after loosing most of my body weight, due to the sickness, she had knitted stockings with extra thick wool to hide my thin little legs On the way home she told me of this plague of fleas that emerged in the village, no one seemed to know where they originated, but almost every house was inundated with them. The only deterrant available at that time was DDT, now a banned substance, but we lived with it for several years until the local council decided that the only way to get rid of the vermin, was to burn all bedding and mattresses and any old clothing that might harbour the vermin. All houses had to be evacuated, then fumigated, it was awful. Living with the pests was a nightmare, as soon as one got into bed and was just warmed enough to get to sleep, the onslaught would begin, and soon one would be wriggling like an eel in a wet sack. Robert Burns, our National bard, had them summed up pretty well, in his description of them, on seeing one on a ladies bonnet, at the church. I quote, " Ha! whare are ye gaun, ye crawlin ferlie? Your impudence protects you sairly; I canna say but ye strunt rarely owre gauze and lace, Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely on sic a place. Ye ugly, creepin, blasted wonner, Detested, shunn'd, by saunt an' sinner, How daur ye set your fit apon her, sae fine a lady! Gae somewhere else and seek yer dinner, on some poor body. Unquote. Slappin' and scratching well into the night, trying to ward off the crawlin' craters, eventually giving way, to the sleep of the youth. However, the morning soon uncovered the little round red spots that indicated the number of bites sustained during the night, they were hideous we went to school with our shirt collars standing up, trying to hide the telltale marks, stockings pulled up over our knees to hide the bites on our legs, and the same with our arms. If ever there was a plague to be shunned, this was it, the fleas were totally indisciminate, they attacked all and sundry, and we certainly rejoiced the day when all the old bedding was dragged out and burned, it was a bonfire not to be missed, we laughed and sqealed with delight as heard the crackle and pop of our tormentors as they succumed to the flames. Len

In a message dated 1/13/2011 9:17:38 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Hello Listers, thanks to help from Bruce I have discovered that one of the Thomson's married a STEVENSON, and they lived in Wigtown. Anyone on the list with STEVENSON connections? Regards, Patti I have a Stevenson connection but have never been able to determine the parents of Sarah. Sarah's daughter, Elizabeth MCCRACKAN BELL is my 3X great grandmother. Betsy Venice, FL, USA Descendants of Sarrah STEVENSON 1 Sarrah STEVENSON b: Abt. 1767 in Wigtownshire, Scotland d: Aft. 06 Jun 1841 in Wigtownshire, Scotland .. +George MCCRACKAN b: Unknown d: Bef. 06 Jun 1841 .... 2 Elizabeth MCCRACKAN b: Abt. Jul 1798 in Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland d: 26 Jan 1882 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland ........ +Thomas BELL b: Bet. 1798 - 1800 in Ireland m: 11 Dec 1821 in Whithorn Parish, Wigtownshire, Scotland d: 06 Jun 1870 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland .... 2 James MCCRACKAN b: Abt. 1801 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland d: 07 Dec 1843 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland Burial: Dec 1843 St. Ninian's Old Churchyard, Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland ........ +Agnes DUNSE b: Abt. 1809 in Scotland m: 25 Oct 1824 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland d: 16 Jun 1863 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland Burial: Jun 1863 St. Ninian's Old Churchyard, Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland .... 2 George MCCRACKAN b: 17 Aug 1803 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland d: 01 Oct 1886 in North Buffalo, Armstrong, PA Burial: Oct 1886 Slate Lick Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Slate Lick, Armstrong, PA ........ +Mary ARNOLD b: 01 Feb 1804 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland m: 18 Jul 1826 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland d: 06 Apr 1885 in North Buffalo, Armstrong, PA Burial: Apr 1885 Slate Lick Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Slate Lick, Armstrong, PA .... 2 Sarah MCCRACKAN b: Abt. 1807 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland d: Unknown ........ +Alexander MCINTYRE(MCTIER) b: Abt. 1811 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland m: 11 Nov 1830 in Whithorn, Wigtown, Scotland d: Unknown ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello Listers, thanks to help from Bruce I have discovered that one of the Thomson's married a STEVENSON, and they lived in Wigtown. Anyone on the list with STEVENSON connections? Regards, Patti

My Aunt Jean and my dad David Parker from Elrig were taken to the Newton Stewart hospital with expected Scarlet Fever. Jean was kept in the hospital and my dad was sent home as he didn't have it, but was quarantined in the house. Their mother cycled from Elrig to Newton Stewart to see her daughter. Like Len's mother she could only look at her through the window and then had to cycle back home. Ken Parker

We have a daughter, son-in-law and two small children who normally live in what is one of the now flooded streets in the Brisbane suburb of Sherwood. Like Sam’s daughter, our daughter and her husband did their research and were told that the 1974 floods had not reached their property, but today the water came. We have just checked the river heights graph for the Oxley Creek. A major flood level is listed as being 5.5 meters and it has just exceeded 9.7 meters at the mouth of the creek and is rising. The King tide is expected to cause the flood to peak at around 4 am. It is now after 1am here and we are all having a sleepless night tonight. Fiona and Dave had originally thought that they might be able to stay and protect their home, but after hearing that the water was capable of rising a meter in 5 minutes, they packed up and left at 11pm last night. We were all greatly relieved that they went to stay with friends who live in an area that is not in the flood zone. This morning they went back to their home and managed to move some of their heavier furniture, such as their refrigerator, washing machine and their piano to higher ground. They were absolutely amazed by the number of kind people who rushed to help them as they trundled their piano up the middle of their street to the safety of a friend’s still dry carport. A group of lads pushing a piano up the middle of a suburban street , led by a burly 6’3” redhead, must have been quite a sight to see. When they returned later this afternoon the water was knee deep in the bottom story of their home. Other houses on the opposite side of the street were already almost completely inundated. They took their 5 year old son with them to see the progress of the water, as they know that he has been very worried about what was happening. They felt it was better if he could see the flooding first hand, rather than conjure up something in his imagination that might be even more frightening. He was very quiet for a while as they drove back to their friend’s home, then he asked his mother if they could stop to buy a cooked chicken. As they don’t usually buy pre-cooked chickens, this was a rather unusual request, so he was asked why he needed to have a chicken. His answer surprised everyone, as he said “ We have to buy a chicken because I need a wish bone so that I can make a very special wish tonight”. A few days ago he had rung me to tell me that he would really like to be able to go up to visit Mother Nature so that he could tell her politely that we’ve all had enough rain for now, thank you very much. And so say all of us! Where we live, on a hill-side in the Sunshine Coast hinterland that is an hour and a half’s drive north of Brisbane, we have had only 6 rain-free days since the 1st of December. Our rainfall total for this month has already reached 29 inches and we had around 32 inches of rain in December. This hill is now very soggy! I enjoyed reading all of your recipes for shortbread at Christmas time....I did make some of the non rice flour variety. These days the only recipes we have been swapping with our friends are for how to remove the different varieties of mould from every surface in our houses. Thank you for all of the good wishes. It is comforting to know that other people are grieving with us at this incredibly sad time. As Sam says, “things” can be replaced......It is the people we need to worry about and we sincerely hope that there will be no more lives lost in these floods.

Hi Jenny Ye canny throw yer pieces frae a 20 storey flat. It's called the Jeely Piece song and below is a link to the song on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A7SAPmcwXA Thanks for the memories. Ella Ross ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny Blain" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 9:49 PM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] Bread > All this has me reminded of a song I remember hearing as a child, from > the telly or radio I think. It's about Glasgow (Castlemilk high-rise > estate) based on the call, 'Haw Maw, thraw me doon a jeely-piece!' of > which the chorus was something like: > > Oh you cannae throw a piece oot o a twenty-storey flat > Seven thoosand hungry weans can testify tae that > Be it butter cheese or jeely, though the bread be plain or pan > The odds against it reachin earth are ninety-nine tae wan. > > It a a protest song about high-rise living in Castlemilk or other places! > > Jenny > > > > -- > Dr Jenny Blain > Sheffield Hallam University > [email protected] or [email protected] > 07919 556371 > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thanks for your update Sam. We are hanging in with you. We are also getting a bulletin from ballerina niece living in Sunnybank (Hmmm!) Qld. While you are under water, we have weirdos running around setting fire to the tinder dry bush down our way around Rockingham and more recently south of Mandurah near Lake Clifton (West Australia) destroying peoples' homes (8), farms and stock. ...David ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sam Heron" <[email protected]> To: "Shirley Walsh" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 3:29 PM Subject: [WIG LIST] Wigtownshire area, sq miles > Shirley and Fellow Listers, > Brisbane is recovering too quickly from nine (9) years of drought. Our > local Wivenhoe Dam that was at 17% capacity this time last year is now > almost at the equivalent of 200% full. 100% is seen to be full for normal > purposes; the balance of the same volume again is a reserve allocation of > a storage area as part of a flood prevention measure for occasions such as > now. Excessive rain has caused the dam to be over-filled by in excess of > one million megalitres of water or one million, million litres of water > and because the dam is almost full to its maximum capacity some of the > water must be released immediately in a controlled manner notwithstanding > the flooding that is already happening. Our only blessing is that today's > and tomorrow's high sea tides where the Brisbane River meets the sea are > lesser just now than they will be later in the week so the wall of sea > water that the flood water is meeting is fortunately lesser and therefore > so is the flooding peak level and there! > fore the number of homes that will go under; presently perhaps 40,000. > An example of what our weather is like, we had 150 mm or six inches of > rain on the old scale in just over one hour at our home one day last week > and our back yard quickly flooded and just as quickly went down again not > long after the rain stopped. We have been averaging inches of rain > frequently for a little while now. That is what happened in Toowoomba > earlier this week when it had a flash tsunami-like wave of water metres > high that took many lives and had cars seemingly surfing in it. A > downpour thought to be about 150 mm or 6 inches of rain fell in a very > short space of time, and it fell between established weather gauges, and > therefore got under the guard of the weather bureau personnel and the next > thing that was known was a several metre-high wall of water swept down the > main street of Toowoomba and then down towards Brisbane wiping out towns > and settlements on the way without any real warning. This is how fickle > and powerful Nature can be. > Queensland is in quite a bad way at the moment. It is 1,730,648 km2 or > 668,207 square miles in size and it is now 75% flooding disaster declared > as other major provincial cities and country centres have flooded as well > as Brisbane. It is the equivalent of almost seventeen (17) Scotlands > being flooded. > We are perfectly safe at our place but my daughter and son-in-law who > carefully selected and bought a house that was not affected by our 1974 > Brisbane flood, and that is seen to be our yardstick, have already > evacuated their home yesterday as have many, many tens of thousands of > people. Our 1974 Brisbane flood was seen to be a once in a lifetime > happening but it now seems it wasn't. > We were at the near North Coast (Sunshine Coast) about 100 km or about 65 > miles from Brisbane and we were unable to get back to Brisbane until today > as the roads were cut by flood waters and this story is repeated right > throughout much of the state of Queensland. As soon as we heard the roads > were clear of flooding and open, we packed up and headed home as we had > not expected to get through until tomorrow at the earliest or even perhaps > the weekend depending on whether further predicted rains eventuated. > Everyone here knows many people who have become displaced but they bounce > back very quickly, almost as if in defiance. Houses and offices that flood > can be fixed but the loss of life is hard to take and that is where we are > at just now. To us it isn't really about the floods anymore it is about > the dead and also how many of the missing won't have survived. > I thank everyone for the concern shown, we really are just one big > international family of Jock Tamson's bairns (although in Stranraer we > always said 'weans'). > Sam Heron. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Shirley Walsh" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 5:48 AM > Subject: [WIG LIST] Wigtownshire area, sq miles > > >> >> Sam, hope you are all safe and on high ground. Chin up to all. >> On looking at a map of Wigtownshire it shows it to be about 32 x 29 >> miles, about 480 square miles. >> A map of Queensland, Australia, shows the flooded area at : >> http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=-26.784818281741096~152.96827574171027&lvl=7&dir=0&sty=r&cid=B45BE63DA52D0EDA!196 >> The distance from Brisbane to Hebel may be around 335 miles, about ten >> times that of Wigtownshire. >> I would gladly accept any correction from you. Shirley > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Shirley and Fellow Listers, Brisbane is recovering too quickly from nine (9) years of drought. Our local Wivenhoe Dam that was at 17% capacity this time last year is now almost at the equivalent of 200% full. 100% is seen to be full for normal purposes; the balance of the same volume again is a reserve allocation of a storage area as part of a flood prevention measure for occasions such as now. Excessive rain has caused the dam to be over-filled by in excess of one million megalitres of water or one million, million litres of water and because the dam is almost full to its maximum capacity some of the water must be released immediately in a controlled manner notwithstanding the flooding that is already happening. Our only blessing is that today's and tomorrow's high sea tides where the Brisbane River meets the sea are lesser just now than they will be later in the week so the wall of sea water that the flood water is meeting is fortunately lesser and therefore so is the flooding peak level and therefore the number of homes that will go under; presently perhaps 40,000. An example of what our weather is like, we had 150 mm or six inches of rain on the old scale in just over one hour at our home one day last week and our back yard quickly flooded and just as quickly went down again not long after the rain stopped. We have been averaging inches of rain frequently for a little while now. That is what happened in Toowoomba earlier this week when it had a flash tsunami-like wave of water metres high that took many lives and had cars seemingly surfing in it. A downpour thought to be about 150 mm or 6 inches of rain fell in a very short space of time, and it fell between established weather gauges, and therefore got under the guard of the weather bureau personnel and the next thing that was known was a several metre-high wall of water swept down the main street of Toowoomba and then down towards Brisbane wiping out towns and settlements on the way without any real warning. This is how fickle and powerful Nature can be. Queensland is in quite a bad way at the moment. It is 1,730,648 km2 or 668,207 square miles in size and it is now 75% flooding disaster declared as other major provincial cities and country centres have flooded as well as Brisbane. It is the equivalent of almost seventeen (17) Scotlands being flooded. We are perfectly safe at our place but my daughter and son-in-law who carefully selected and bought a house that was not affected by our 1974 Brisbane flood, and that is seen to be our yardstick, have already evacuated their home yesterday as have many, many tens of thousands of people. Our 1974 Brisbane flood was seen to be a once in a lifetime happening but it now seems it wasn't. We were at the near North Coast (Sunshine Coast) about 100 km or about 65 miles from Brisbane and we were unable to get back to Brisbane until today as the roads were cut by flood waters and this story is repeated right throughout much of the state of Queensland. As soon as we heard the roads were clear of flooding and open, we packed up and headed home as we had not expected to get through until tomorrow at the earliest or even perhaps the weekend depending on whether further predicted rains eventuated. Everyone here knows many people who have become displaced but they bounce back very quickly, almost as if in defiance. Houses and offices that flood can be fixed but the loss of life is hard to take and that is where we are at just now. To us it isn't really about the floods anymore it is about the dead and also how many of the missing won't have survived. I thank everyone for the concern shown, we really are just one big international family of Jock Tamson's bairns (although in Stranraer we always said 'weans'). Sam Heron. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shirley Walsh" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 5:48 AM Subject: [WIG LIST] Wigtownshire area, sq miles > > Sam, hope you are all safe and on high ground. Chin up to all. > On looking at a map of Wigtownshire it shows it to be about 32 x 29 miles, about 480 square miles. > A map of Queensland, Australia, shows the flooded area at : > http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=-26.784818281741096~152.96827574171027&lvl=7&dir=0&sty=r&cid=B45BE63DA52D0EDA!196 > The distance from Brisbane to Hebel may be around 335 miles, about ten times that of Wigtownshire. > I would gladly accept any correction from you. Shirley

Hi Patti, My only THOM(P)SON was Agnes, (my ggg'grandmother), from Kirwaugh, Kirkinner. I don't have her parents or any other family members for her, so I can't connect to yours from Wigtown. I do happen to have the following MI: * Old Kirkyard Wigtown, Birchman No. 392.* Erected by James Stevenson in memory his spouse Barbara Thomson who died on 24th June 1840 aged 45 years Also his son Anthony who died in infancy Also the above James Stevenson who died 9th Septr 1877 aged 85 yrs *West side* John McTaggart who died 1st Feby 1851 aged 33 years This looks like your Barbara THOMSON. If so, you may want to follow their family. If you don't already have the following, it may give you a starting place. The *1841 censu*s from http://www.freecen.org.uk/cgi/search.pl Piece: SCT1841/901 Place: Wigtown -Wigtownshire Enumeration District: 3 Civil Parish: Wigtown Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Wigtown Folio: 3 Page: 7 Address: North Side High Street Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks STEVENSON James M 45 Shoemaker Outside Census County (1841) STEVENSON Alexander M 20 Cabinetmaker Journeyman Wigtownshire STEVENSON James M 14 Tailor Apprentice Wigtownshire Page: 3/8 STEVENSON Jane F 11 Wigtownshire STEVENSON William M 9 Wigtownshire STEVENSON Anthony M 6 Wigtownshire STEVENSON Thomas M 3 Wigtownshire The *1851 census* from http://www.dgcommunity.net/historicalindexes/census.aspx Name: Stevenson , Anthony Address: North Side High Street (901) Parish: Wigtown Relationship: son of James Marital Status: unmarried Occupation: SCHOLAR Age: 15 Born: born Wigtown Wgt Household No: 3/34 Name: Stevenson , James Address: North Side High Street (901) Parish: Wigtown Relationship: head of household Marital Status: widower Occupation: SHOEMAKER Age: 56 Born: born Creetown Kbt Household No: 3/34 Name: Stevenson , Thomas Address: North Side High Street (901) Parish: Wigtown Relationship: son of James Marital Status: Occupation: SCHOLAR Age: 13 Born: born Wigtown Wgt Household No: 3/34 I wonder if the John McTAGGART who appears on the above tombstone was a nephew of Barbara THOMSON. >From the *IGI*, he appears to have been: *Individual search*: JOHN BEDDIE MCTAGGART Christening: 23 AUG 1818 Wigtown, Wigtown, Scotland Father: JAMES MCTAGGART Mother: JANET FARLOW Batch No.: C119012 *Parent search*: Birth/Christening, Wigtown, Scotland, British Isles Father: James Mctaggart, Mother: Janet Farlow Exact Spelling: Off 1. JAMES MCTAGGART - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Christening: 11 MAR 1821 Wigtown, Wigtown, Scotland 2. JOHN BEDDIE MCTAGGART - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Christening: 23 AUG 1818 Wigtown, Wigtown, Scotland 3. WILLIAM MCTAGGART - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Christening: 26 AUG 1832 Wigtown, Wigtown, Scotland 4. ELIZABETH MCTAGGART - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Christening: 24 AUG 1823 Wigtown, Wigtown, Scotland 5. JANET MCTAGGART - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Christening: 29 OCT 1826 Wigtown, Wigtown, Scotland 6. MAY MCTAGGART - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Christening: 13 DEC 1816 Wigtown, Wigtown, Scotland Similar (edited) census results for this family: Piece: SCT1841/901 Place: Wigtown -Wigtownshire Enumeration District: 3 Civil Parish: Wigtown Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Wigtown Folio: 3 Page: 13 Address: Back Road Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks MACTAGGART James M 45 Sawyer Wigtownshire MCTAGGART Janet F 45 Wigtownshire MCTAGGART John M 20 Cabinetmaker Journeyman Wigtownshire MCTAGGART James M 20 Cabinetmaker Apprentice Wigtownshire MCTAGGART Elizabeth F 17 Wigtownshire MCTAGGART Janet F 14 Wigtownshire MCTAGGART Catherine F 11 Wigtownshire MCTAGGART William M 8 Wigtownshire *1851* Name: McTaggart , Catherine Relationship: daughter of James Marital Status: unmarried Occupation: Age: 20 Born: born Wigtown Wgt Name: McTaggart , Elizabeth Relationship: daughter of James Marital Status: unmarried Occupation: TEACHER Age: 26 Born: born Wigtown Wgt Name: McTaggart , James Address: South Side Back Road (901) Parish: Wigtown Relationship: head of household Marital Status: married Occupation: SAWER wood Age: 56 Born: born Wigtown Wgt Household No: 3/68 Name: McTaggart , Janet Relationship: wife of James Marital Status: married Occupation: Age: 56 Born: born Wigtown Wgt Name: McTaggart , William Relationship: son of James Marital Status: unmarried Occupation: WRITER apprentice Age: 17 Born: born Wigtown Wgt The second given name of Beddie has me wondering what was the connection with the BEDDIE family. There doesn't have to be a family relationship, as sometimes close friends, landowners, or prominent citizens were so honored. There was a John BEDDIE in Wigtown at that time who was a writer. I have a connection to the BEDDIEs via marriage to the DICKSONs. Regards, Bruce

I grew up in the northern suburbs of Sydney and the term "back road" was used by most people to describe the long way around or the secondary road. Country rellies use it to describe the road that comes in the back of the town or property. Steve, Sydney AUS.

I am searching for the family of Thomas Russell born abt 1832 and married 1857 in Stoneykirk, Jane McMaster - the family were mostly born in Glen Luce but where was Thomas born and who were his parents ? Maybe there are still some of the Russell family in Wigtownshire.