Wednesday, April 3, 2013

HIGHLAND GAMES: FUN AND RESEARCH - Cynthia Hickey

Early Spring in Arizona brings the Highland Games. Having grown up being told by my mother that I'm Scot-Irish, and being told by my father that our family name used to be Muldoon, then changed to Melton during the 1700s. I had lots of questions. Not only did I enjoy the view of men in kilts, I was also curious as to why my family name wasn't called during the Calling of the Clans. So, I did what any historical writer does and headed to the geneaology tent. I explained the facts I knew to a lovely elderly gentlemen. He got very excited and proceeded to tell me that the reason my name wasn't called, is that we never pledged to a clan! Also, not only does my family have a plaid, they have two. One under the name Muldoon, the other under Melton. The gold plaid is Muldoon and the red is Melton. I never could find out exactly why my ancestors changed their name, only that they have been fighters from the beginning and were from the Tweedside District of Scotland. That sure explains alot about my family. Most of the men served in our country's military at one point in their life. My next search involved the Melton coat-of-arms. Here is a photo my father snapped in the Scotland airport during his Army careerThe helpful gentlemen at the booth couldn't help me much with the meaning of my coat-of-arms so I headed to the internet. I couldn't find it anywhere! I was only able to find variations. Throughly into my research now, I decided to find out what the lion and the unicorn meant. The lion (a symbol of England) is a sign of loyalty. The unicorn is a sign for diversity. Loyalty under Diversity. Makes sense since finding out my family never pledged to a clan, yet were loyal to England. My next search was to decipher what exactly was Scot-Irish. Since I married a Hickey, who's ancestors are from County Clark, I figured you had to be eigher Scottish or Irish. Well, turns out Scot-Irish are Scottish criminals sent to repopulate Ireland after the famine. So, there you have it. I come from a long line of criminals! My mother got a chuckle out of that one. I also grew up with family saying Abraham Lincoln is my fifth cousin on my mother's side, but that's research for another day. Research should, and can be fun. Happy researching!

12 comments:

  1. Wow, a family line of criminals. Hmm...don't know what to say about that. LOL I'd be looking into that 'related to Lincoln' if I were you. :)

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  2. Wow! What amazing family history! Hah, you do have criminals in your family history. Some of my distant cousins try to claim that, of course they had to pick Belle Starr and Jesse James, but whatever. We also have a supposed Lincoln link, through his stepmother Nancy Hanks, who knows we might even be very very distant cousins ;)

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  3. Interesting post, Cynthia. My mom always told me I was Scot-Irish, as well as English and Dutch, but I just thought it was because we have ancestors from both Scotland and Ireland. I never considered they might be criminals. :)

    I have discovered through a family genealogy that our "Dutch" is actually German, not Dutch and is Holland.

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  4. Interesting, Cynthia! So now I want to know is it too late for the Muldoons/Meltons to pledge to a clan? Assuming they want to...

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  5. Interesting question, Pam, but considering the Muldoon/Meltons remain loyal to England, I doubt they would. Plus, they're fighters, so I'm sure they want to keep their options open :)

    Australia was also populized by criminals, but I have no claim to fame in that country. I have traced my lineage back to my great-grandmother being Lincoln's cousin, if it's the same lady :)

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  6. Our Irish ancestry includes one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. My cousin has done extensive research that she brings to family reunions for updates. Some of those "still" photos are "lookers." We've got a couple of cahoots ~ at least the only ones who got caught! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  7. I would have to say that 1700's was long ago so don't worry about the criminal issues, I am sure all was redeemed long ago.. interesting post today, thanks for sharing
    Paula O

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  8. LOL! Funny what research will turn up. I do love everything Scottish. Could listen to the Scottish burr for hours.

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  9. Loved the post, Cynthia! I'm Scot-Irish on my dad's side as well, so I guess we're criminals together. :) What's worse, there is a good chance my ancestors came to America on a prison ship. Double whammy! LOL Makes me want to look into what other skeletons might be rattling around in the family closets.

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  10. Fascinating the things that turn up in a geneaology search - I am descended from the fighting MacGregor clan in Scotland & "Blue Jacket" - a captured white man who was made an indian chief because of his bravery, love & devotion to the indians. There used to be an outdoor drama about "Blue Jacket", but I am told now that it is doubtful this is a true story.

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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  11. Good evening, Ms. Hickey,

    Isn't that the honest truth? You never know what your going to find or uncover whislt digging through your ancestral roots! My own family had a fabled Civil War Captain, until a fourth cousin found us and unravelled the mystery! As far as my roots to the UK, I am still putting it altogether!! It's supposedly involves on the British side, the ship Fortune that is the second past the Mayflower -- which is truly interesting because they didn't supply the ship properly for the voyage or the landing here in America! I look forward to one day collecting more data in person rather than only online through genealogical resources!! :) It would be lovely if my Mum and I could actually get story pieces about some of our relatives and not just 'glimmers' of who they were or what they were doing. Maybe someday!

    Ooh, and on being a Scot, I'm second generation from the Highlands which is kinda of wicked!! :) :) I learnt quite a heap about the Scots through the BBC series *Monarch of the Glen*, especially on the level of how 'different' their accents are in the Highlands! Goodness! It was eye opening too, on scenery, food, kilts, traditions, and simply how they converse in everyday life! I nearly strained my ears on some latter episodes in Series 5-7 because I had trouble shifting through their heavy baroque!

    Musefully, Jorie

    inkand-blogaways(at)usa.net

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  12. Thanks for another amazing article. Where else could anyone get this kind of information in such a perfect way of presentation.

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