Flowers of the Forest Magda Margaret Mackay Smith y 09

Flowers of the Forest
Magda Margaret Mackay Smith
Memories
By Jessica Russell, Recording Secretary
At 96 years old, she was the Matriarch of the Council body of Clan Mackay, Scotland
The clouds seemed to cling to the road that morning and obscured the view as we drove higher and higher up the
mountain, shrouding it completely in mystery. We had been driving for a couple of hours, just my grandfather and I, on
what seemed an endless road from the foothills into the Blue Ridge Mountains. As we rounded yet another curve, the
clouds rose above us and we were pulling onto MacRae Meadows. It seemed the most magical of places to me at eight
years old.
Huge tents were placed side by side along the field. There were so many people milling about, preparing their tents,
their goods and food to sell. Everyone was laughing and talking, greeting each other as if they were long-lost friend or
family members. My Grandfather would later comment that they had probably just met, but on the Mountain, everyone is
family. I was in awe. My grandfather seemed to know several people in the tents because as we walked around, he’d stop
from time to time and greet them – call them by name and sit and talk a bit. While he talked, I’d sit on the grass and watch
the events taking place on the field. I was captivated by the dancers, because I too danced but not Scottish dancing. I had
never seen it before and it was brilliant and made me want to join in. Time would pass far too quickly and then we were
walking again and visiting another tent.
At the time, I wondered how my Grandfather knew so many people when I had never seen him attend a Highland
Games. I was puzzled, so I asked – being the precocious child that I was. He told me that some of the people he knew
because of his travels and through business. Others knew him through mutual acquaintances. He said he was there to
honor a friend who had passed earlier that year and thought it was a good time for me to attend my first Games. We spent
the day this way, wandering around from tent to tent. It was amazing and overwhelming all at once for me. But it was
beautiful and serene even with the many people milling about.
We finally had walked almost all the way around the track and my Grandfather walked under the large tent on the upper
hill. There he greeted even more people that he seemed to know and proceeded to talk again. From this vantage point, I
was able to watch the athletes more fully. I had so many questions, but didn’t want to interrupt his conversation so I just
sat enthralled. An older lady must have realized that I had never seen anything like it before because she came over to
talk to me. She explained to me what the athletes were doing in the events and how the games actually came about.
Being a small child, sometimes you forget to ask important questions and to this day, I don’t know the woman’s name. But
she spent a long time with me telling me about the Games Grandfather and the importance that they have to those of
Scottish heritage, as well as about Scotland itself. It instilled in me a sense of kinship with people I had never met…and
longing for a homeland I had never seen.
The day seemed to go on forever, and yet it passed far too quickly now that I recall the memory. It was overwhelming,
exhilarating, and mesmerizing all at once to me as a child. But that’s not completely true because even today when I walk
up that hill onto the Meadow and look up and see the Mountain…all the tents and people, those same feelings flood
through me. It would be eight years later before I’d return to the mountain and since then, I have only missed one or two
Games. For the past twenty years, I have seen the mountain disappear in the clouds, but the field remains clear and sun
shining down upon it. Experienced torrential rains and wind blowing through, and have heard the thunder echo around the
mountain itself as if it were waking and coming to life. Scotsmen and women have even said that it’s the closest thing to
home that they have ever found. And it’s still the most magical place.
NEW MEMBERS, JUNE - AUGUST
John C. McGee
Bob Horne
Shana Locke
Dr. John Garvey
Bruce R. McCaw
Ellen Morgan
Gregory Mackey
David Mackey
Diane Phimister
William LaPorte
Douglas Mackay
Charles Taylor
More than 30 clansmen gathered at the Clan Mackay
tent at the Stone Mountain Games in Georgia in 2009
Central
Central
Central
Northeast
Western
Southeast
Rocky Mtn
Western
Northeast
Central
Mid - Atlantic
Western
RENEWING MEMBERS
Dianne MacKay Family
George W. McKay Family
Northeast
Mid - Atlantic
Page 6
Magda was born on 20 June 1914 in Lerwick
Shetland to John Mackay, from Carloway, Isle of Lewis, and
Catherine Morrison of Lerwick, Shetland.
The family moved to Leith
when she was 10 months
old – but shortly after their
arrival, John’s brother,
Angus, was one of the first
to be gassed in World War
1 and died, and John felt he
had to join up, so his young
family returned to Shetland.
John took up his Post Office
Engineer work again, this
time posted to
Corstorphine, Edinburgh.
The family thrived in Corstorphine and Magda formed
lifelong friends and began her connection with St Ninian’s
Church. She spent long summer holidays in Lerwick every
second year, and later, contact with the Lewis family and
friends, for whom she felt an immediate bond.
She attended Corstorphine Primary School, finishing 2nd
in her class and moved to Boroughmuir High School. She
had a good grounding in commercial subjects at
Torphichen Street Commercial College and worked happily
for 10 years for a Chartered Accountant’s in Rutland Square
– travelling to and from by train – knitting and chatting during
the 8 minute journey, with everyone
dashing back and forth for lunch. She also attended ceilidhs
and the Clan Mackay meetings with her father, as well as
playing tennis and socialising with her Corstorphine base.
Magda was a member of the Clan Mackay Society from at
least 1930 according to the membership card in her papers.
She was active on the social committee before and during
World War 2 and an active member of the Clan Mackay
Council from her return to Edinburgh in 1952
During World War 2, she was part of the St. Andrews
Ambulance Association and undertook regular shifts with the
Tuesday Nighters.
Just before the war, she had met John Smith from Back,
Isle of Lewis, and while he was away for the entire war, they
corresponded and married in September 1945. In 1946, they
moved to Alloa, where John had been an apprentice and was
later employed. Their children Fiona and Sheila were born
during these years, which were very happy, having a home of
their own and a peaceful setting after the bustle and drama
of the war.
They moved to Clydebank in 1950, and Magda enjoyed
the steady contact with the Mackay and MacArthur cousins in
Glasgow. In 1952 John took up a post in Edinburgh and the
family settled in Corstorphine.
Always a very sociable person – Magda was involved with St
Ninian’s, the Clan Mackay, numerous highland associations,
country dancing, the Liberals and, the Women’s Rural.
The family always enjoyed holidays – mostly Crail and
Lewis when the girls were young, and finally Magda made it
back to ‘my land’ – Shetland - several times.
She and John also started to travel abroad – the first trip on a
National Trust Cruise to Norway. This was followed by trips
farther a-field, including Kenya when Fiona was working in a
mission hospital there.
She also travelled with Clan Mackay groups to Sutherland
and in 1994, aged 80, to the Atlanta Georgia Stone Mountain
Games. Her Clan Mackay associations broadened her world
contacts and she maintained correspondence and phone
calls with America, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
There were also many phone conversations with local
Mackays about all and everything. She and Marion Wellwood
very much enjoyed rehashing the meetings and discussing
who would bring the tea and biscuits to the next one.
She was a good friend to many and had interests and
opinions in all things. She lived to a great age with a good
group of neighbours, who kept a watchful eye on her –
reinforced by meetings for over 40 winters of the Lampacre
Ladies.
A good life – thoroughly lived - she died peacefully at
home on 29th July 2010 with her daughters at her side.
Clan Mackay
USA wishes
to pass on
our heartfelt
condolences
to Magda
Mackay's
family.
We know that
Magda will be
sorely missed
by Mackays
all over the
world.
Manu Forti
Above:
Magda’s last outing
in June, 2010 at a
Mackay Council
lunch to present
Honorary
Membership to Eliot
Rudie—historian and
active supporter of
the Strathnaver
Mueum at Farr and
the site of the
Mackay Room.
She is talking to
Helen Mackay and
Sandra Mackay
Upper Left:
Magda at age 25.
Right:
Magda in 2009 at
age 95 having a cup
of tea and some
biscuits.
Page 7
Clan Mackay Highland Games & Festivals Listings
September - November 2010
MM-DD-YYYY
REGION
STATE
11-5-2010
ROCKY
MTNS
AZ
9-4-2010
9-18-2010
10-2-2010
WESTERN
WESTERN
WESTERN
CA
YOUR MACKAY HOST
GAMES
Michael McKay
[email protected] and Norma
Brinkmeyer
Dean and Barbara Mackay
[email protected]
and Ken Bain
[email protected]
and Craig Morgan
831-338-6000
Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games
Rialito Park, 4502 N. First Ave., Tucson, AZ
www.tucsoncelticfestival.org
San Francisco Caledonian Club Games
Alameda County Fairgrounds
4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton CA 94566
www.caledonian.org
CA
Dean and Barbara Mackay
[email protected]
Fresno Scottish Games
Roeding Park
890 W. Belmont
Fresno, CA 93728
www.fresnohighlanddance.com
CA
Dean and Barbara Mackay
[email protected]
and Craig Morgan
831-338-6000
Santa Cruz Scottish Games
San Lorenzo Park, Santa Cruz, CA.
www.santacruzscottishgames.com
Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Festival
and Highland Games
Stanley Park Rodeo & Fairgrounds
Estes Park, CO www.scotfest.com
St. Andrew's Society Scottish Festival
Goshen, Connecticut
www.sasct.org/festival.html
Scotland Connecticut Highland Games
Edward Waldo Homestead
96 Waldo Road, Scotland, CT
www.scotlandgames.org
9-9-2010
ROCKY
MTNS
CO
James White
[email protected]
10-2-2010
NORTH
EAST
CT
Mark Bain
[email protected]
10-10-2010
NORTH
EAST
CT
James Bain [email protected]
and Mark Bain
[email protected]
Stone Mountain Highland Games
Stone Mountain, Georgia
www.smhg.org
10-15-2010
SOUTH
EAST
GA
Douglas and Teresa McCoy
[email protected]
and
John and Belinda Allen
[email protected]
9-11-2010
MIDWEST
IN
Ed Reef FSA Scot,
[email protected]
Columbus Scottish Festival,
Bartholomew County Fair Grounds,
Columbus, IN. www.scottishfestival.org
KS
Leslie Dietrich
[email protected]
and
Elizabeth Smith
[email protected]
McPherson Scottish Festival
Lakeside Park, McPherson, KS
www.macfestival.org
9-25-2010
CENTRAL
YOUR CLAN MACKAY U.S.A. SOCIETY OFFICERS
10-23-2010
SOUTH
EAST
NC
Stephen & Jessica Russell
[email protected]
Gathering of the Clans and Scottish Games
Waxhaw, NC 28173 www.wshg.org
9-4-2010
NORTH
EAST
NY
Douglas MacKay
[email protected]
9-17-2010
CENTRAL
OK
10-2-2010
CENTRAL
TX
11-12-2010
CENTRAL
TX
9-4-2010
10-23-2010
MIDATLANTIC
MIDATLANTIC
VA
VA
Amy Miller
[email protected]
David B. McKay
[email protected]
Marilyn Hays:
[email protected]
MID ATLANTIC
OPEN POSITION
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
Charles E. McKay
[email protected]
MID WEST
Ann McDonough
[email protected]
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Michelle Sandelier
[email protected]
NORTH EAST
Douglas A. MacKay
[email protected]
HONORARY PAST PRESIDENT
David R. McKay
[email protected]
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
James White
[email protected]
Capital District Scottish Games
Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY
www.scotgames.com
Tulsa Scottish Games, Tulsa, OK
www.tulsascottishgames.org
Cowtown Celtic Festival, Rogers Memorial
Center Fort Worth, TX www.cowtownceltic.org
Salado Scottish Clan Gathering & Highland
Games, Central Texas Area Museum
423 S Main St. (P.O. Box 36), Salado, Texas
www.ctam-salado.org
Virginia Scottish Games, Sky Meadows Park,
11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane, VA
(540) 592-3556
www.vascottishgames.org/index.html
Richmond Highland Games & Celtic Festival,
The Meadow Event Park, 13111 Dawn Blvd.
Doswell, VA 23047
www.richmondceltic.com
Page 8
COMMISSIONERS BY REGION / STATE
CENTRAL REGION
ARKANSAS
Elizabeth Smith
[email protected]
OKLAHOMA
Leslie Dietrich
[email protected]
SOUTH DAKOTA
We need Commissioners for
Ron McKay
these states;
[email protected] KANSAS, MISSOURI, IOWA
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
VIRGINIA
David B. McKay
[email protected]
We need Commissioners for
these states
PA, WV, DE, DOC, MD
MID-WEST REGION
NATIONAL TREASURER
Mary Ann McKay
[email protected]
SOUTH EAST
Don McGee
[email protected]
OHIO
INDIANA
Gene & Ann McDonough
Edward E. Reef, FSA Scot
[email protected] [email protected]
RECORDING SECRETARY
Jessica Russell
[email protected]
WESTERN
Dean Mackay
Dean_MacKay@Dell
MICHIGAN
Laura Trombley
[email protected]
2010 AGM
This year the Clan Mackay USA,
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
was held on August 7 at the St.
Andrew's Society of Detroit
Highland Games, Livonia, MI.
Ann McDonough, RVP for our,
MIDWEST region and her
husband Gene, hosted the event.
This year there were no voting
items for the Executive Board.
Discussion centered around the
10 per cent drop in our
membership since last year.
WEBMASTER
Mark Ian Bain
[email protected]
Stephen & Jessica Russell
[email protected]
Leslie Dietrich
[email protected]
Amy Miller
[email protected]
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Mark Ian Bain
[email protected]
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Mackay Banner
OPEN POSITION
If interested, please contact
[email protected]
NC
Katherine L. Gee
[email protected]
EXECUTIVE BOARD
SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR
Cheryl McKay
[email protected]
SOUTH
EAST
MS
CENTRAL
Charles E. McKay
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Melvin E. McKay
[email protected]
10-1-2010
SOUTH
EAST
ELECTED OFFICERS
APPOINTED OFFICERS:
Highland and Islands Games on the Gulf Coast
15321 County Farm Road,
Gulfport, MS 39503
www.highlandsandislands.org/
Scotland County Highland Games
Laurinburg, NC www.schgnc.org
11-13-2010
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS &
CHIEFS OF COMMISSIONERS
The minutes of the meeting can
be found on page 9.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Mark Ian Bain
[email protected]
CONTACT US:
Submit any articles for
‘The Banner’ to :
[email protected]
SEANACHAIDH & GENEALOGIST
Kenneth Bain
[email protected]
Clan Mackay 2nd Quarterly Financial Report
January 1 to June 30, 2010
INCOME
BUDGETED ACTUAL
Dues-Family
8000
3066
Dues-Organization
100
0
Dues- Family Lifetime 900
300
Dues- Lifetime
1000
0
Interest from CD
300
EXPENSES
All Games
Other Expenses
BUDGETED ACTUAL
3260
1968.35
7835
729.08*
TOTAL EXPENSE
FOR YEAR
11095
PROJECTED GAIN
-(LOSS)
-795
2697.33
-400
SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT
Cash In Bank 1/1/2010.. 1377.57
Material Sales................. 248.00
Service Fee….…….……. -60.00
Balance in Bank ……… 1625.99
(3/31/2010)
* Advertising costs shared
50/50 with Clan Mackay
Canada. This covers two
prominent ads in The
Highlander and The Scottish
Banner.
Manu Forti !
We need Commissioners for
these states;
ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY
MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN
NORTHEAST REGION
CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND & MASSACHUSETTS
James Bain
Mark Ian Bain
[email protected]
[email protected]
VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE We need Commissioners
for these states;
Douglas Mackay
MAINE, NEW JERSEY, NY
[email protected]
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
COLORADO
NEVADA
James & Annalee White
Alberta R. Owens
[email protected]
[email protected]
Doug McKay
We need Commissioners
[email protected]
for these states;
Michael McKay
NEW MEXICO, WYOMING,
[email protected]
IDAHO
WESTERN REGION
CALIFORNIA
OREGON
Dean and Barbara Mackay
Morgan Tucker
[email protected]
[email protected]
Russell McKee
WASHINGTON
[email protected]
Doug Staudt
Craig Morgan
[email protected]
831-338-6000
ALASKA
We need Commissioners for Rodney Kay
[email protected]
CALIFORNIA and HAWAII
SOUTHEAST REGION
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
Dr. Donald H. McGee
H. Douglas and Teresa McCoy
[email protected]
[email protected]
James MacKay
[email protected]
John and Belinda Allen
[email protected]
ALABAMA
Katherine L. Gee
[email protected]
Peggy and Tom Crowder
[email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH CAROLINA
Jessica Russell
Lanny McKay
[email protected] [email protected]
We need Commissioners for;
Page 5
LOUISIANA MISSISSIPPI TENNESSEE
Remembrances of Times Past
You listened !
2010 Mackay Society, USA Scholarship Awarded
By Corlann Gee Bush “Corky”, Montana Commissioner
Many thanks to those members who notified
us that they would like to receive their
Banner by email instead of by regular post.
Madelynne Cable was awarded the 2010 scholarship to attend the
Braemer School of Highland Dancing. Congratulations “Maddie” !
It hadn’t seemed real.
We had boarded our Clan MacKay tour bus the day
after the Edinburgh Gathering; we had been on the
road for three days. We had visited Dun Robin, even
looking into the family rooms of the current Laird.
Some had talked to him. We had climbed to the ruined
Castle Varrich and realized the truth of Gavin’s
immortal words, “if you can see Castle Varrich, Castle
Varrich can see you.” I knew intellectually that these
castles, indeed most of the lands we had crossed, had
once been in MacKay hands and were now owned by
the Sutherlands. But the dispossession of MacKays
from our ancient homelands had not seemed real until
I saw the sun dial in Lady Sutherland’s garden in
Tongue.
By subscribing to ‘The Banner’ by email,
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In this email edition we’re trying something
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As you read the various articles online, you
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It is not a very prepossessing sun dial. Its lines are
pitted; the dial is stained by bird droppings; the copper
is weathered and discolored. It has not been washed.
But the armature stands true; it still keeps the time.
And the words “Manu Forti” are etched on its face.
Clearly. Indisputably.
Our online Banner is in full colour and you
can magnify each page up to 400% or more
so you can really get a good view!
If you would like to try getting our Banner by
email for a while (you can always switch
back), just send us an email to;
[email protected].
Thank you very much!
It was the only thing I had seen on the trip that was
MacKay—not a record or a recollection or a ruin.
A thing itself.
Someone, a wife for her laird perhaps, had caused it to
be made and set on this sunny spot. MacKays had
truly been here in this place. The weather-beaten sun
dial had measured out the days of real people, my
ancestors. This place had been ours.
Mark Bain, Interim Banner Editor
2010 Annual General Meeting
Minutes
AGM held at the Detroit Scottish Highland
Games sponsored by the Detroit St.
Andrew's Society. Location: Livonia, MI.
Here was proof.
And it had not been removed. All these years when
many a Sutherland owner could so easily have done
so, no one had ordered it to be broken and carted
away.
I burst into tears. That weather-beaten sun dial was the
touchstone to my heritage. It was there before the
gambling and the dissipation; the Clearances and the
cruelty; the diaspora and the societies. Here it was:
the simple, original reality of Clan.
I hope it stands there still, boldly declaring to whom it
belongs, patiently measuring out the hours until our
return.
Meeting began at 2:00 pm and ended at 2:45
pm, held in the clan tent. There were no
voting elements specified in the agenda,
thus, no legal quorum was called.
Rosslyn Chapel Revealed
backs. The rest is history as they say.
By Mark Bain, Acting President
Recently, the steel canopy covering Rosslyn Chapel for the
last 14 years was removed. The restoration of the Chapel
built in 1446 is progressing nicely and the ugly scaffolding
that hid this architectural masterpiece is now gone.
Once upon a time, the King of France attempted to have all the
Knights Templar rounded up and put on trial for heresy. He was
really angry that these Monks in hair-shirts had more money
than him. France was fighting England (again) and he needed
the money to fund his mercenaries. Some Templars escaped to
Scotland and took their treasure with them.
th
It was Friday the 13 , 1307. The omen was started.
These Warrior Monks were welcomed in Scotland and in 1314,
a certain Robert de Brus used their cavalry expertise in a little
battle called Bannockburn. Just the unfurling of the Templar
Banner that day was enough to send shivers down the English
This is the Chapel that had American Maize carved into its walls
fifty years before Columbus shouted “land-ho” at America.
Oh, yes, and it also contains a plethora of Masonic imagery
which many believe was started by the Templars when they
had to become a secret society to stay healthy.
What day did they take the steel scaffolding down?
Take a wild guess…pick a date in August…
Page 4
Discussions:
- 10% drop in membership since last year
- suggestions to increase potential members
- Have Commissioners plan more informal
social gatherings within each state
- Request the attendance of the Regional
VP at these social gatherings
- Stress the benefits of our newsletter,
“The Banner”, to potential members.
Describe its historical significance and
it’s content as a way for all Mackays
to remain connected.
- Stress the importance of our Clan
Mackay family database and encourage
potential and current members to
submit their family tree for helpful
analysis for all members.
Very few clans offer this service
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Allen McDonough, Esq.
Midwest Regional VP
Clan Mackay, U.S.A.
In attendance: Myself, Liam Neary & spouse
Signed August 19, 2010
Madelynne’s letter to the Scholarship Committee;
August 16, 2010
My name is Madelynne Jeann Cable, I am 12 years old and live in
Shelton, Connecticut. I have been doing Scottish Highland Dancing for
almost 2 years with the Callanish School of Celtic Arts and have
achieved many things. I attended the Braemar Summer School of
Highland Dance and Kilt Making in Troy, New York.
I am a beginning level dancer,
but I have grown from earning
sixth place to second place
and I only need 2 more stamps
to move up to Novice level. I
really enjoyed camp. It was
my first time going to an
overnight camp. I met a lot of
good new friends and
improved my dance technique.
I also enjoyed learning
choreography, which I have
never done before.
I am so joyful for getting this
award from the Clan MacKay
Society Scholarship
Committee. It means so much
to me. I am a blood relative to
a Mackay; my mother’s maiden
name is McKay. Our family is
very involved in our Scottish
heritage and I am proud to be
Scottish. Again, I am so
grateful to receive this
scholarship. I treasure it dearly
and appreciate the fact that
your committee selected me.
Sincerely,
Madelynne Jeann Cable
This year there was only one scholarship recipient.
The Scholarship Committee would like to remind everyone that the
information for the 2011 award is now available on the Mackay Society,
USA webpage, as well as from all Regional VP’s.
Applications for next year will be accepted from now until July 1, 2011.
For more information and to download the application form,
please visit:
www.clanmackayusa.org/forms/Scholarship_Program.htm
or contact;
Cheryl McKay, Scholarship Chair
5461 Poplar Drive
Monroe, MI 48161
734-457-1772
[email protected]
Page 9
Clan member in London finds Mackay Roots
Judge Hugh McKay
(15 Jun 1826 - 28 Apr 1917)
by Michael Munro
by Mel McKay, Membership Chair
I had been for sometime tracing my Scottish “Munro” ancestry, and the
name “Mackay” had long been in the family and had been passed
down several generations. From what I knew at the beginning the
Mckay name had come from my great grandfather John Mckay Munro
(b.1890) who had been a Lieutenant in the Black Watch in WW1.
However I would soon find that the name Mackay had appeared in
several generations of my family line even before John.
Hugh McKay, Sr., born in Scotland, immigrated to the United States in 1850. Shortly after arriving in New York, he moved to
Woodstock, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada. He married Sarah M. Clarke 29 Jan 1827-07 Jul 1899) of New York in 1851. Sarah
had ten children, Angus, William H., Hugh, Mary L., James Elmer, Walter, Elmer E., Ellen, Ida, and Musetta. Hugh was a merchant,
postmaster, and Bailiff.
In 1869, Hugh and Sarah loaded up their family and moved to Fort Scott, Kansas. The railroad was extended west to Fort Scott in
1869, and that may be the reason they stopped there. In Fort Scott, Hugh was a merchant, a coal dealer and a farmer, having two
separate residences listed on the 1870 census, possibly a house in town and also a farm.
Lead was discovered in the spring of 1877 in Cherokee County, in the southeastern corner of Kansas, about fifty miles south of Fort
Scott, and just a couple of miles from the Missouri state line. Hugh McKay quickly moved south to the area.
Two rival mining companies quickly formed town sites, Empire City and Galena. The two towns were built next to each other, only
being divided by Short Creek. Within a matter of weeks, thousands of prospectors had arrived in the area seeking quick fortunes.
Empire City elected officials, with Hugh McKay being elected Judge, a position he would hold for twelve years. He also served as the
Empire City Postmaster.
Since thousands of miners were looking to make a fortune, many merchants arrived to sell goods to them. The miners had to have
something to do when not working, and many saloons, pool halls, and houses of ill repute were built. It has been said that most of
the scum on earth were located in Empire City and Galena in the late 1870’s.
The road that connected the two towns together, across Short Creek, was named Red Hot Street. The crime and killings got so bad
on Red Hot Street, that the Doctors and Undertakers started sleeping during the day so they could work at night. In the first two
weeks after Empire City was formed, Judge Hugh McKay heard nine murder cases.
After retiring as Judge in 1889, Hugh McKay once again became a merchant, as well as being a miner, along with most all of his
sons. At one time, Hugh McKay, Sr., and sons Hugh Jr., and Angus owned the McKay and Sons Crusher and Concentrator
Company. In 1905, the town of Empire City was absorbed into the town of Galena.
For a short period in the mid 1910’s, Hugh McKay lived in Arizona with a daughter.
Using census, birth, marriage and death records mainly from the
Scotland’s People website (ed. www.Scotlandspeople.gov.uk) I traced
my ancestry further back to my 3rd great grandfather Mackay John
Scobie Munro (b.1812) and his parents (my 4th great grandparents)
Alexander Munro and Barbara Mackay whose eight children had all
been born between 1796 and 1812 in the village of Armadale, parish of
Farr, Sutherland – Mackay country.
The 1811 census has survived for Farr Parish and it records two
Alexander Munros in that township. One of them had six males and
three females in his household and was employed in trade. This
matched the number of males that were in my ancestor’s family at the
time. This Alexander Munro was described in 1811 as a boat builder
and innkeeper and the Marquis of Stafford and George Gunn, his
factor, evicted him from Armadale in 1829.
I thought that it might be an idea to contact the Strathnaver Museum to
see if anyone locally, knew of Alexander Munro and Barbara Mackay’s
large family and also the Inn that was mentioned. To my surprise Irene
Ross who works at the museum kindly replied and told me that they
did have some information on the Inn in Armadale. The article
mentioned that it was ran by Alexander Munro and his wife Barbara
Mackay – my ancestors, it also mentioned one of their sons Donald
Munro (b.1802) who I had also previously come across in my research
as the elder brother of my 3rd great grandfather Mackay Munro. Of
note Donald later moved to Australia and his son James was a Prime
Minister there.
The remains of the
Armadale Inn, parish of
Farr, Sutherland,
- Mackay country Online viewers can
click here for a special
newspaper account of
the fight at Armadale
Inn in 1821.
With special thanks to
Michael Munro.
Hugh McKay, Sr. died in 1917 and was buried in Oak Hill cemetery, Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas.
His wife, Sarah M. (Clarke) McKay and nine of his ten children are all buried in the same cemetery.
In June of 2010, My Mother, Etta McKay Mays and I spent a week in Empire City and Galena doing research on Hugh McKay and his
family. For many years, Empire City and Galena were some of the roughest gunslinging towns in the old west. They are both ghost
towns now, even though people still live there. Historic Route 66 runs right through the middle of Galena. Some of the original
buildings still exist. Standing in the middle of Main Street, in a mostly deserted town, with historic buildings on both sides of the street
I could almost picture Judge Hugh McKay walking down Red Hot Street.
The sun glistening on his badge, with rifle in hand, a tall cowboy hat pulled
low over his eyes, spurs clicking and duster flying in the breeze.
Judge Hugh McKay was my Great Great Grandfather.
His son, Hugh McKay was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, and his son,
Virgil Hugh McKay, my Grandfather, was born in Galena, Kansas.
Page 10
The article which Irene Ross sent me told of a fight in 1821 at the Inn
between a group of locals who had been drinking whiskey. Irene also
put me in contact with Margaret Ross, a local with great knowledge of
the area both of whom I am most grateful to as they
went to the trouble of taking some photos of the ruins of the old Inn
and sending them all the way to London to me. A contemporary
account of the fight at the Inn is available in the National Archives for
Scotland but I have not yet seen it.
Ken Bain Helps Member
Dear Sir,
It was such a pleasure talking to you the
other evening. My name is Donna Mae
McKee Howes and I have been a member of
The Mackay Banner for many years.
I live now in Golden, CO. where my husband
Daniel and I have lived since our marriage
and graduation from the Univ. of Wisconsin
June 1949. He a mechanical engineer and I
am an Art teacher, retired. He also was a
Navy Veteran servicing in the South Pacific
in WWII.
He passed away May 2008. We have three
children and now our family numbers 25!
Enclosed is a picture of Dan and Me. 82 - 80 yr.
This letter is written to tell you of my
excitement in a conversation with
Seanachaidh, Ken Bain; who after sending in
my McKee pedigree has informed me he
could trace my family back eleven
generations to Lord Alexander and Lady
Kathyon McKee; he born in 1530!
This was seven generations more than I had!
Who knows with this wonderful service,
maybe in time, we could go back further.
Ken is doing a great service for all of us
interested in the history of our forefathers.
Many thanks to him!
Is there another trip planned to Mackay
Country in the future?
Sincerely,
Donna McKee Howes
(Ed. Note: the letter was sent to Mark Ian Bain,
Acting President of Clan Mackay USA.)
We welcome member’s letters and emails.
Send your letters to :
Mark I. Bain, 8 Watkins Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 ,
or email to [email protected] )
Clan Mackay Genealogy Project
I have visited Scotland several times but have never been as far north
as Mackay country. I hope to go there some day and visit the home of
my ancestors.
Next time you’re at a Clan Mackay tent ask
for our six-generation pedigree chart
Fill it in and who knows what could appear!
Cheers,
Online viewers can click here for direct access
to the chart and instructions.
Michael Munro, London, UK
Page 3
THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES
Grandfather Mountain
By Ken Bain, Seanachaidh, Clan Mackay USA
Third and final series of three articles
as told to Mel McKay. Membership Chair
When starvation
set in, the factors
went thru the
motions of
sending meal for
relief, but made
the people pay 50
shillings per boll
(about 6 bushels)
for food that was
supposed to be
given in charity.
Those who had
no money were
obliged to give up
their remaining
cattle and crops in
exchange for the
meal.
LADY ELIZABETH SUTHERLAND AND
KEN BAIN, CLAN MACKAY USA.
AT TONGUE HOUSE 2009
The evictions and burnings continued. A monument
exists in the area of the onetime village of Rossal in
Farr Parish where Donald MacLeod's statement
appears on a plaque which states that he personally
observed 300 houses in flames in the area in a very
short time span. The conflagration lasted 6 days. He
said, "The cries of the women and children, the
roaring of the terrified cattle, haunted at the same
time by the yelping dogs of the shepherds, amid the
smoke and fire....altogether presented a scene that
completely baffles description. It is required to be
seen to be believed". He said that every method was
used against the crofters except the sword, which he
said would, in his opinion, have been merciful by
saving them from what they would afterwards have to
endure. Many who could not or would not leave the
country were allowed to locate on small allotments of
land on the sea coast, but the boggy nature of the
land and moors and the small size of the allotments
rendered them unfit for any useful purpose. Some
tried fishing or kelping, but this generally was a
failure, and what little money was made was paid
back in rent to the landlord. Many were killed by
falling from the cliffs and rocks, being swept into the
sea and otherwise drowned in an attempt to procure
food.
Even under conditions of great privation where every
attempt was made to get rid of all Gaelic speaking
highlanders, the Mackays were so stubborn that they
By Etta McKay Mays
could not be brought to beg, rob or steal. The people
who remained in Sutherland became a race of
paupers. Where famine occurred on a wide scale in
1836, relief was given in fairly good quantities in all
areas except Sutherland because those responsible
for the charities were told that the landowners were
providing relief, which was completely untrue.
Even when some "Charity" was ordered by the
Duchess of Sutherland, as soon as she left the area,
the people were forced to pay not only their rents, but
for the meal, potatoes, seed oats and barley given
them supposedly in the form of charity. Even money
collected at church doors for the poor was withheld,
the ministers saying that the people could not expect
to get meal and money too.
Nowhere in the North Highlands were such atrocities
practiced as they were in Sutherland, but Sutherland
served as a model for successfully clearing the land
of its original inhabitants to the sea shore or into the
sea, to spots of barren moors and bogs, and to
Canada, Australia and the United States. In his
letters, Donald MacLeod stated that he had
endeavored to show the cruel expulsion of the
people, principally of Mackay origin from their native
hearths. He said few instances are to be found in
modern European history and scarcely any in Britain
of such wholesale extirpation with such revolting
circumstances.
The Clearances continued thru the 19th century,
although after the trial of Patrick Sellar, the wholesale
burnings and terrible violence abated somewhat. The
trial of the crofters on Skye for their resistance to the
evictions there in the late 1800's finally stopped the
unilateral evictions of tenants from their lands. The
forced evictions in Sutherland and especially in the
Mackay stronghold of Strathnaver were undoubtedly
the most terrible of the highland clearances. No one
will ever really know the total cost in human life,
misery and abject poverty. It was one of the blackest
pages of Scottish history.
In the final analysis, those of us who are descendants
of the survivors can thank God for our proud, stalwart
ancestors who left their beloved homes to begin a
new life in a new world. From them came their legacy
of honor, perseverance and quiet courage. Without
them, we would not be who we are today. It has been
said many times that freedom is not free. We who
enjoy it owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to many,
and perhaps foremost among them are the great
Mackay Highlanders whose names we bear today.
Page 2
In the late 1960’s, my Daddy (Virgil Hugh McKay) said for several years that he would like to go to Grandfather Mountain to
the Scottish thing.
My Daddy, Virgil Hugh McKay was born in Galena, KS. His Father, Hugh McKay, Jr., was born in Canada, and his Father,
Hugh McKay, Sr., was born in Scotland in 1826 and migrated to the U.S. and into Canada in 1851. Hugh McKay Senior and
Junior and their families migrated to Kansas in 1869, where both of them would become Sheriffs and the entire families were
miners.
In 1970, I was working full time, and we loaded up in my car because my daddy didn’t have a car in good enough shape to
take us. We went up on Sunday morning, and parked in the trees where the camping is now. We went to the main entrance
gate and got our tickets. We sat on the ground just to the side of the reviewing stand, like everyone else. We didn’t know any
of the few thousand people there. Sometime that morning, an announcement was made over the intercom that anyone with
Mackay ties was invited to meet in the little bleacher section just in front of the entrance gate at an appointed time. My daddy
was the only member of the family to go to the meeting, as the Father was the head of the household, and they were the ones
who conducted the business. When he returned to sit with the family, he said several men were at the meeting and plans were
made to organize the Mackay clan at the Grandfather Mountain Games in July, 1971.
In 1971, we borrowed a pop-up camper and camped for 15 dollars total for as many nights as we wanted to stay. We went up
on Friday, as the games were only on Saturday and Sunday. That was the beginning of new traditions for our family. We
camped for many years to come. We went from a pop up camper to an old school bus which was the envy of everyone on the
mountain, including the boy scouts who were in charge of camping. We were always the first camper parked at the entrance,
and the workers used our school bus camper as their lounge area.
That year, Clan Mackay Society, North America was organized with several of the men as the leaders. We became very close
to several of the different Mackay clan families. Nancy McKay and I feel as close as sisters. Chris, Mel, Sam, III felt they were
in charge of most everything as we camped, and Sam, Jr was in charge of the games on the field, so they had full run to do
pretty much as they pleased. The kids would go out and sit on the field and watch the professionals compete. We joined as
charter members with a family membership, listing Virgil Hugh McKay, wife Thelma McKay, daughter, Etta McKay, and
grandchildren, Chris and Mel McKay.
Up until a certain time, the annual meeting was always held during the Grandfather Mountain games as per the by-laws. The
visitors from Scotland said we had picked the perfect spot for the annual meeting as they felt they were coming back home to
North Carolina. The annual meeting and supper was held in different places, as close to the mountain as possible. Shady
Lawn restaurant, in Newland was the first meeting place. Etta would stay on the mountain and take care of the
kids who could roam as they pleased, as someone was always looking out for the kids who were running around. The
meeting was also held at the Baptist Church in Newland, the Daniel Boone Inn, in Boone, Newland Christian Church. Then
Momma (Thelma McKay) and I (Etta McKay Mays) began cooking the meal for the supper. We provided a greater variety of
food, mostly home grown vegetables, at a more reasonable price, and did not have to be in a rush. We would eat and then
have the annual business meeting.
We felt as though we were going to a family reunion as we got to see people from all over the US who made arrangements to
be there, as the second weekend of July was the place to be if you were a true Mackay. We didn’t have the modern means of
communication as we have today, and we knew we would see the same people as last year, as well as meet
some new Mackay’s every year. Chris was four the first year and Mel was two.
I have met very few of my Mackay family, and this has always given me what I feel are closer ties to my Mackay heritage.
Various clan members would always say that they had been to other games throughout the year, and the other gatherings just
weren’t the same. Grandfather Mountain games are special.
The games must be experienced as an event that is much more than just games on Saturday and Sunday.. The games now
start with the Calling of the Clans on Thursday night, but for many who camp, the event starts up to a week prior.
We all look forward to seeing you in July of 2010 at Grandfather Mountain for the 40th anniversary of Clan Mackay.
Page 11
Page 11
The Mackay Banner
A Publication of the Clan Mackay Society USA, Inc
Issue 3
2010
We’re looking for articles.
For more information please contact [email protected].
Col. Tim McCoy
Rancher, Soldier, Actor, TV Host
by Andrew A. Betts, Member
Col. John Fitzgerald McCoy was born of Irish/Scots in Saginaw,
MI April 10, 1891. His father was police chief there. McCoy
became a major motion picture cowboy star in the 1920’s, 30’s,
40’s and 50’s who earned a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame
and was elected to the Hall of Great Western Performers of the
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (1973) in
Oklahoma City and was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame
(1974).
He left St. Ignatius College in Chicago after seeing a wild west
show there and found work on a Wyoming ranch. He became an
expert horseman and roper, competing in rodeos. He ranched in
Hot Springs County, Wyoming for 30 years. In January 2010 he
was inducted into that County’s Hall of Fame.
He developed extensive knowledge of culture and languages of
Native Americans and became technical advisor to Hollywood
moguls, bringing hundreds of Native Americans to perform in epic
Westerns. The first was The Covered Wagon (1923).
"The Real McCoy"
MACKAY FISHING TRIP IN ALASKA !
The 2011 Alaska Highland Games will be held on June
25th in Eagle River, Alaska.
I am planning a fishing trip down the Kenai River for
salmon and trout on Thursday, June 23rd, and have
seven seats left in the boat. If you are interested,
the preliminary itinerary is;
-
-
June 22 – Arrive Anchorage, drive to Cooper Landing
June 23 – Fish
June 24 – Drive to Eagle River, spend remainder of
day shopping in Anchorage
June 25 – Alaska Highland Games
Participate in the march of the Clans.
Concert in the evening.
June 26 – Depart Anchorage for home.
If interested please contact me at the information
below. Reservations have to be made by November
1st for a June fishing trip. I will coordinate lodging and
local transportation – all I need now is to know how
many would be interested and I will take it from there.
Rodney H. Kay AK Commissioner
P.O. Box 771902
Eagle River, AK 99577-1902
Email: [email protected]
is an idiom used in much of the
English-speaking world to
mean "the real thing" or "the
genuine article",
e.g., "he's the real McCoy".
It is a corruption of the Scots
"The real Mackay", first
recorded in 1856 as:
"A drappie o’ the real Mackay,"
(A drop of the real Mackay),
referring to the whisky created
by Messrs. Mackay, Edinburgh.
MGM signed him to star in a series of Westerns. In all, he made
92 movies including The Law of the Range with Joan Crawford.
(1928)
His movie career was twice interrupted by service in the U.S.
Army—first in World War I where he rose to rank of Brevet (short
term) Brigadier General, at age 28, the youngest ever to date to
reach such rank. He reenlisted for World War II where he rose to
rank of Col in Army Air Corps, serving in Europe and earning
several decorations. He also served in Wyoming between the
wars as Adjutant General and in the Reserves.
In 1935, he left Hollywood to tour with the Ringling Brothers
circus and his own wild west show which folded in Washington
DC with substantial financial loss.
There is a huge model of the Ringling Circus and Col. McCoy’s
Wild West show wagons, animals and characters in the Pioneer
Museum in Linden, WA
He returned to films in 1940 for the Rough Rider series which
ended in 1942 with the death of his partner Buck Jones. Off and
on, he appeared on TV and movies until 1965 (Requiem for a
Gunfighter.)
In 1942, he ran for Republican nomination for U.S. Senate from
Wyoming but lost. During the campaign, he established the first
state-wide radio hookup in Wyoming broadcast history.
McCoy hosted a TV
show in Los Angeles in
1952 called The Tim
McCoy Show for children
in which he provided
authentic history lessons
on the Old West and
showed some of his old
movies. He won an
Emmy for the show but
refused to accept the
award. He was
competing against
“Webster Webfoot” and
declined the award
saying “ I’ll be damned if
I’m going to sit there (at
awards show) and get
beaten by a talking
duck.”
He was first married to Agnes Miller, daughter of a famous British
stage actor. They had 3 children. They were divorced in 1931.
McCoy kept a portion of the Wyoming ranch called “Eagle’s Nest”
which was later sold.
He then married Inga Arvad in 1945 and they had two sons
(Ronald and Terence). She died of cancer 1973. Arvad was a
controversial Danish reporter investigated in early 1940’s for
possibly being a spy. She was photographed beside Adolph Hitler
as his companion at the 1936 Olympics.
Col. Tim McCoy died January 28, 1978 (aged 86) at Ft.
Huachuca, Sierra Vista, AZ. He was then returned to his
birthplace in Saginaw, Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
A DVD is available called Col. Tim McCoy’s The Silent
Language of the Plains (Round Top Records, LLC, Thermopolis,
Wyoming ISBN 978-0979697012 ), as well as other hardback
and paperback books too numerous to list here.
Look for the many web-interactive features in the online
edition of this Banner.
Clan Mackay
Festival Listings
Inside!