McCaw's name and it origine (limited copy rights )

   This interesting and unusual name is a curtailed form of the Scots Gaelic Maccaw, itself a semi Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic prefix "Mac" means "son of", plus the personal name Adhamh i.e. Adam, from the Hebrew meaning "red earth". It first appears as a personal name in Scotland circa 1189, when Adam, sub-prior of Melrose, became abbot of Cuspar - Duncan Adam who flourished circa 1316, had four sons, and it is believed that all Scottish bearers of the name (with it's numerous variants) descend from them. In 1506, one, Gillenow M'Kaw had a grant of the lands of North Garrochach, and an Alexander Caw, writer in Edinburgh, appears on record in 1679. Christian Caw, noted in "The Guildry of Edinburgh", had a pension paid to him in 1741, and Sir James Lewis Caw, (born 1864), was Director of the National Galeries of Scotland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Donald McCawe, tenant of Drumboy, which was dated 1481, in the "The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland", during the reign of King James 111 of Scotland, 1460 - 1488. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research www.surnamedb.com 1980 - 2011

Surname Scroll

Enjoy this name printed onto our colourful scroll, printed in Olde English script. An ideal gift. View Details.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Caw#ixzz1CgUhus5S

McCaws of Bute 1590

It contains the following:    

1 70 Bute in the Olden Then. 

Barrone was in 1419 the property of John Stewart the 

Sheriff, being held on a ward tenure from the Steward of 

Scotland. In the middle of the fifteenth century part of it 

Was held by the king's ranger, John Scott, in payment of his 

Official duties. At the end of the century James IV. Granted 

The whole lands to David Lyndesay and his wife Eufame 

Stewart. 

In the redistribution of lands in 1506, Barrone was divided 

Between Gilcrist Makwerich of Achamor, Gilcrist Mak- 

Werich (or Macmorich of Beallelon), Archibald Stewart, and 

Gilcrist Makconochy. Before 1554 the larger portion of 

These lands had been disponed to Sheriff James Stewart 

Garrach, or The Garachtys, comprising North Garochty (now 

Plan) and South Garochty, has been tenanted from time imme- 

Morial by the family of Makkaw. Three tenants of the name 

Received charters in 1506 — Gilnew in North Garochty, and 

Gilpatrick and John in South Garochty. 

Sheriff Sir James Stewart obtained South Garrachty from 

John M'Caw by disposition dated 28th December 1590. In 

1699 Bannatyne of Lubas sold the Sheriff a part of Garrachty 

And Glencalum. 

Arch. M'Caw sold his half of North Garrachty to the Earl 

In 1737. 

Arch. M'Caw sold Glencalum to the Earl in 1707. 

From a clare constat executed by the Marquess in 1796, it 

Appears that Daniel, son of James, son of Daniel, son of Gil- 

New, was then portioner of the west part of South Gar- 

Rachty, holding in feu-farm off the Marquess for the yearly 

Payment of — 

1. 25 shillings Scots at Whitsunday and Martinmas ; 

2. I boll 3 firlots of oats, and 

The Barons of Bute. 1 7 1 

3. 2 bolls bear between Christmas and Candlemas. 

4. One-fifth, one-twentieth, and one-thirtieth part of a 

Lardner mart at each Martinmas in name of feu- 

Duty, deducting three-ninths on account of marts 

And oats from feu -duty; heirs-male doubling feu- 

Duty on entry. 

By a settlement in 1845, James M*Kay (the last of the 

Mackays), portioner, disponed the lands of South Garrachty to 

John M'Kechnie, eldest son of the deceased James M'Kechanie, 

Merchant in Rothesay, and Mary M'Kay, and to his heirs ; 

Failing whom, to the heirs of James M*Kechanie, on condition 

That they took the name of M*Kay. On i6th April 1875 the 

Rev. John M*Kechnie entered into possession, and on his 

Decease in 1877, his widow, Mrs Mackay, succeeded to the 

Property. 

In 1828, the Marquess's property extended to 103 acres 2 

Roods 18 falls. 

In 1828, James M'Kay's property extended to 70 acres 2 

Roods. 

McCaws of Garrachty

                             McCaws of Garrachty

                           

According to family tradition McCaws come from the Isle of Bute and belong to the clan of the Stewarts of Bute.

Tradition is substantiated by a report on 'The M'Caws of Garrachty' written by Adam Dick MacBeth in 1908, now in the Genealogical Collection of the NY Public Library (ARD). MacBeth writes that the lands of Garrachty, occupying the southwestern extremities of the Isle of Bute, belonged to the M'Caws for four centuries and possibly longer.

Throughout the ages, the Isle of Bute had been divided into 99 land holdings. Two of the landholdings known as North Garrachty and South Garrochty belonged throughout the centuries to M'Caws. The M'Caws were often called 'Barons of Bute' even though they were only occasionally entitled to the honorific, as Barons had to own 70+ hectares of land. Boundaries of North and South Garrachty are shown on Wilson's 'Guide to Rothsay and the Island of Bute' (1848) and mention is made in 'Bute in Olden Times' and John Blain's 'History of Bute'.

I understand the name McCaw translates from the Gaelic as 'Servant of the Saints' or as the 'Saint's man', and has reference to Adamnan (@ 624-704 AD) who was the ninth Abbot of the Monastery of Iona, who, in about 690 AD wrote 'The Life of Saint Columba' one of the earliest writings of the early Celtic Christian Church. The name probably alludes to the ancient ruins of a 6th Century monastery standing on a hill in the midst of Garrachty midway between North and South Garrachty. The ruin is now known as Saint Blaine's Chapel. Adamnan is said to have visited this holy place when Bute was still part of the Kingdom of Dalriada.

The M'Caw holdings of North and South Garrachty are very well documented. In 1506 a charter, or instrument of sasine infefting Alexander Stewart of Kerequhonlich (Kelwhinlech in 1908) recites the grants contained in the King's (James IV) charter, and the words referring to the lands of Garrachty (Gaelic for rough field house) are as follows: "Gillenow M'Caw, terras de le North Garrochach; Gilpatrick M'Caw alteram dididiatem terrarum de South Garrochachi, Johanni M'Cawm alteram dimidiatem dictarum."

Gillenow M'Caw was granted the land of North Garrachtie (also known as North Garrochty, Garrachtymor, and - as of 1908- called 'the plan' (flat place). There is no descent copied for this holding.

Gilpatrick and John M'Caw were each granted half the lands of South Garrachty, which in the reign of Alexander III, were valued at 50 shillings a year. The descent for the two portions of South Garrachties (also known as Yonder Garrachy or Garrochach, or Garoch) was listed as follows:

The M'Caws of the Southernmost portion of South Garrochtie:
1506: Gilpatrick M'Caw (or John)
1568: Gilchrist M'Caw
1603: Alexander M'Caw
????: Patrick M'Caw
1642: Alexander M'Caw
1649: John M'Caw
1677: Patrick M'Caw

The M'Caws of the Northwestrn (70 acre) portion of South Garrachtie:
1506: John (or Gilpatrick) M'Caw
1568: Gilnew M'Caw
1602: John M'Caw (son of Alexander)
1647: John M'Caw (emigrated to Ireland)
1686: Gilnew M'Caw (son of John. Married Jean Stewart, dau of James Stewart of Lagizean)
????: Daniel M'Caw (son of Gilnew)
1745: James M'Caw (son of Daniel)
1796: Daniel M'Caw (son of James)
1845: James M'Caw (son of Daniel. Married Elizabeth Barbour. Had a sister, Ephemia M'Caw)

James M'Caw, who was also known as James McKay (pronounced McKye) died in 1858. His wife, Elzabeth Barbour died in 1875. In 1890 South Garrochty, including St. Blaine's Chapel on the hill, was purchased by a Sir William McEwan, a prominent brain surgeon from Glascow, for use as his country residence and as a model farm. More recently (1980s) it has been owned by an English Judge : J. Irving Smith, The Garrochty, Kingarth, Isle of Bute, Scotland PA20 9LX (Telephone 070083-667).

As the Isle of Bute is a tiny place, it's 99 land holdings now owned almost exclusively by the current Marquis of Bute, there has long been a tradition of younger sons leaving the Island to seek their fortunes. holdings passed from elder son to elder son. Younger sons made their way to Glascow or Belfast or farther. Large numbers of men from Bute made passage from the nearby Scottish port of Largs to Belfast during the 18th and 19th Centuries. The records in Belfast are spotty. There is, however, an account of a William and a James McCaw arrested for their role in the McKee murders in March 1799 an event arising from the Rebellion of the United Irishmen in 1798 (a protestant-led, middle -class revolt patterned upon the recent French Revolution). William was executed and James was sent as a prisoner to Australia.

One of the rewards Sharon & I get from our blog

I was asked by a Bruce Baker if i could find my aunts address, for his mother as they were friends years ago,and she wanted to be reunited with her. So I have enclosed a copy if  e mails.

Bruce, i am trying to find an answer for you,I have found out there is a carer looking after my Aunt Eleanor called Betty Rau and she is on ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,    if you would like to e mail her. and i am Eleanor's nephew. I don't know any more than that, sorry i can't be more help.Stewart McCaw ( UK

 

The reunion

 

Well, today and it's marvelous weather included the first visit between Lois (nee Meadowcroft) Baker and "Aunt" Eleanor in as long as anyone could remember! However, they can remember the "good old days" and going on the train together to school. Eleanor made a point of the fact that she boarded the train before my mother and thusly "saved her a seat."

It turned out that while my mother attended Friends Select School in Philadelphia from the first grade on, Eleanor began her time there in 7th grade (probably age 13). The overall repartee was better than expected and nearly as good as could be hoped for........even though they have 'ONLY' known each other for just shy of 80 years!

Eleanor said she was born in 1918, as was my mother, but my mother disputed (in a friendly way) Eleanor's claim to that statement (as a friendly aside), likely due to wanting to be older instead of younger than Eleanor (Lois' birthday is December 30th).

They spoke of their parents, travel and a good bit more until my mother decided she needed to leave and save more for later, as Eleanor wouldn't eat while my mother was there. The visit lasted under an hour. Good banter, laughs, brief stories and Eleanor's unique brand of humor shone through. (Frankly, I may have enjoyed the visit more than my Mom!) It was a pleasure to meet Eleanor's caregiver Irene, as well.

Both friends seemed to me to elevate each others faculties above what must be boringly common in their typical day-to-day existences, so a return visit will be made as soon as possible and with my wife along to meet Eleanor for the first time. As one would expect, there is little resemblance now to the pictures of both ladies at my parents wedding in 1945, but the delight at the reconnection today was clearly evident......

I wish to thank you all for the help in this reuniting. I feel it was a success and well worth repeating as long as they are both willing and able.

Best regards,

Bruce

 

My Reply

Bruce, Thank you for your e mail, i was please we could be of assistance to you. and it sounds like the reunion went well. and will flourish once more. I am sure i am able to speak for Sharon and Hilda, we are all very pleased with the out come of your family interests. We were also all pleased to be part of it. kind regards stewart

---

 

 

Has it been almost a month since I last posted?  Genealogy work has been crazy!!!  Hardly have time to read my magazines:  Internet Genealogy, Family Chronicle, and Family Tree.  Doing my own family history, both adoptive and birth families, and working to help others.  Plus, http://www.familysearch.org/ has put up so many more records in the last month, it is keeping those of us working in Historical Records very busy. 
Articles in Internet Genealogy have been put on the back burner until Feb/March issue, so the editor says, but meantime Stewart's book, Galloping to Space is doing well in Great Britain and online at places such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  I'm sorry I don't have any more exciting news for you.  I've met a lot of new family and gotten in touch with others via phone or internet.  Also was able to find more ancestors for my adoptive family and made them very happy to know their roots, as I am finding out mine.  Theirs are English and mine are Irish and Scottish. 

As Christmas is a time for family, I wish all of you to be in touch with your families, past and present, and happy hunting in the new year.

BBC Pre interview from Grimsby library

Famine, royals and Canadian link - all in my family history

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Grimsby Telegraph

Follow

A MAN whose ancestors include four generations of Scottish royalty has recorded his family history in a book of memoirs.
Stewart McCaw, 63, who grew up in Cleethorpes but now lives in Brigg, published a letter from his great-great-great-grandfather Duncan MaCaw to try to trace distant relatives during the summer of last year.
Originally from Ballintoy, Duncan had written a letter to his daughter in Canada in 1857. Stewart hoped that in printing the correspondence, it might generate some replies – which it did.
Through ancestry websites, Stewart traced a cousin in Canada and the pair later decided to create an online blog with stories of their family history.
Now, Stewart – who has also lived in North Somercotes and Grainthorpe and had numerous jobs around Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Immingham and Keelby – has compiled the family tales and produced a book entitled Galloping To Space – a detailed history of the McCaw ancestry, which is due to hit the shelves in coming days.
Stewart said: "It gave me a lot of pleasure reading short stories about my ancestors in the original tree my father gave me, about when they first set foot on Canadian soil and how some of them fought to keep their roots and traditions."
His discoveries cover the potato famines in both Scotland and Ireland, evidence of ancestors crossing the Atlantic on a passenger ship, links to four generations of Scottish royalty and even the king responsible for the English version of the Bible.
He has also been able to prove his ancestors were landowners at the time of Alfred the Great and the Domesday Book.
Stewart said: "The stories gave me the inspiration to give up my time and make it possible so we can all share these stories and be proud of our ancestry.
"If it had not been for them we would not be sitting here sharing these true stories about something we are all part of."
The book, called Galloping To Space, will soon be available to buy at Amazon, Waterstones and Priceminister, and also at local book stores and in the eBook format.
See your Grimsby Telegraph for extracts from Stewart's book and details about a forthcoming book signing.

0

0

• Digg
• Reddit
• Delicious
• StumbleUpon

Galloping TO Space memoir

Galloping to Space

This is not my autobiography, .it is a memoir of my life, and my direct descendants, and their is a family history in it in chapter 12. With regard to the Blog site, and this way Sharon and I derived at the outcome of my book.

I sent my story to the local news paper, so I could get some publicity, for my book, as I would like to sell it, but I am in the unfortunate positions where they do not let you proof read there work. So to clarify any misunderstanding the book is about me, and my life only.

If you want ancestry go on there site, but the way  Sharon and I wrote this blog was intended to compile information, and save you having to do all the hard work, and  to save you looking through everything, and we have done our best to do that for you,and or Blog