Tweeddale Tributaries: August 2007

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Tweeddale Archives (pre-19th Century)

SIR SIMON FRASER

High Sheriff of Tweeddale 1263-66.

During the Scottish Wars of Independence, Sir Simon Fraser, known as "the Patriot," fought first with the Red Comyn, and later with Sir William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Sir Simon is celebrated for having defeated the English in three separate engagements at the Battle of Roslin in 1303, with just 8,000 men under his command. Along with the Clan Fraser, the Red Comyn's Clan Comyn, and the Clan Sinclair are known to have fought at the battle, which took place on 24 February 1303. At the Battle of Methven in 1306, Sir Simon lead troops along with Bruce, and saved the King's life in three separate instances. Simon was allegedly awarded the 3 Crowns which now appear in the Lovat Arms for these three acts of bravery

For more information regarding Sir Simon Fraser visit:

http://www.clanfraser.ca/scotland.htm

SIR GILBERT HAY

Sir Gilbert Hay was personal friend and comrade-in-arms to the 14th century Scottish King Robert the Bruce. In recognition and reward for his many years of faithful service, Sir Gilbert was given the honorary hereditary title of Lord High Constable of Scotland a title which is still in effect today. He was Ambassador to England after Bannockburn in 1314. Sir Gilbert was one of the barons who signed the famous Declaration of Independence at Arbroath in 1320. The Hays were established in the Tweeddale village of Yester since the 12th century, the Marquess of Tweeddale is the patron of the Hay Society to this day.

THE 1st MARQUESS TWEEDDALE

(1626–1697)

This family portrait of the first Marquess of Tweeddale (John Hay) is shown with his wife, Lady Jane Scott and their Children. http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/families/hays_tweeddale.htm http://www.artfund.org/artwork/7396/john-1st-marquess-of-tweeddale-and-his

FIELD MARSHALL TWEEDDALE
(1787 - 1786)

Entering the army at age 17, in 1804, he rose to the rank of Field Marshall and was governor of Madras India. For more information on the Field Marshall see:
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-8762(192610)32%3A1%3C69%3AROTWO1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0

10th MARQUESS TWEEDDALE
(1826 - 1911)

Shown with daughter the Duchess of Wellington

For more information visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Wellesley,_Duchess_of_Wellington
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Sons of Martha Barbour Tweeddale
at her funeral (24 April 1884)

James Franklin Tweeddale/bottom right

.John Ruskin
(1819 - 1900)

Grandson of Catherine Tweeddale (1763-1817/ see Ruskin's Scottish Heritage, University of Illinois Press, 1956). Ruskin is a man whose complex life led him through many stagnant and difficult tributaries. In his later years, his views regarding God seemed to provide a context for his thoughts regarding art and poetry. According to his writings on Vital Beauty, "it is the function of man to glorify God ..... and by his obedience to achieve happiness". Ruskin attended the small Anglican church in Coniston, where he is buried.

http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Life-of-John-Ruskin1.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=S5ILAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA55&lpg=RA1-PA55&dq=catherine+tweeddale+%22john+ruskin%22&source=web&ots=a8z48nvX9q&sig=hSrQR_gP9bHEVBYtxi3zBpLkqbc

Tweeddale Wellsprings

THE CASTLE

No Scottish clan would be complete without a castle. The Tweeddale castle dates back to the late 13th century when a tower was built of indigenous fieldstone by the Fraser family, in their role as sheriffs of Tweeddale. It was a fortification and central to the defense of the Scottish borders from the English. The most famous Neidpath Fraser was Sir Simon Fraser a compatriot of William Wallace, the Scottish freedom fighter. The original Fraser castle was destroyed by the English during the border wars. In the 14th century Hay family of Yester built the current castle directly on top of the original Fraser site. The interior walls of the great hall display the geneological streams of confluence between the Frasers and the Hays of Tweeddale which gave birth to the Tweeddale surname, which is now so common to this area.For more information on Neidpath castle visit: http://www.visittweeddale.com/what_to_do/neidpath_castle.php http://www.phouka.com/travel/castles/neidpath/neidpath.html

THE FRASER CREST

The ancient Scottish surname FRASER, derives from the French word fraises (strawberries). The strawberry flowers form the first and fourth quadrants of the family crest. The first Frasers were Normans, coming to Scotland with William the Conqueror. The earliest Frasers settled in the region of the Tweed River, Tweeddale. Simon Fraser of Neidpath (son of Simon Fraser, Sheriff of Tweeddale) served with King Edward I at the siege of Carlaverock Castle. In 1301 he led a regiment to; defeat three English divisions near Roslin in three successive actions on the same day. In 1303, Sir Simon saved the lives of Sir William Wallace at the battle of Hopprew and of King Robert Bruce at the battle of Methven. He was captured in 1306, taken to London and there hanged, drawn and quartered. The Fraser origins to the Scottish surname of Tweeddale date back to the 12th and 13th century, when surnames first originate. To this day where you find gatherings of the Fraser clan, you find Tweeddales proudly displaying the Fraser tartan of the family heritage.

For more information about the Fraser wellsprings of Tweeddale visit the following: http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-03/fraser01.html http://www.fraserofwesthill.com/bishopfraser.html http://members.aol.com/skyewrites/falkirk2.html

THE HAY CREST

The Hays of Tweeddale have attained higher rank and have figured more conspicuously in the history of Scotland than any other branch of this ancient family. They are descended from Robert, second son of William de Haya, who held the office of royal butler to Malcolm IV. and William the Lion. SIR JOHN DE HAYA, the grandson of Robert, acquired the lands of Locherworth (now Borthwick) in Midlothian by marriage with the heiress of that estate. His son, Sir William de Haya, in the contest for the Scottish Crown in 1292, was one of the nominees of Robert Bruce. His son, Sir Gilbert (see below) made one of those fortunate marriages for which the Hays have become famous. His wife was one of the daughters and co-heiresses of Sir Simon Fraser, as mentioned previously, the gallant patriot, and the friend of William Wallace. By this marriage the Hays obtained the valuable barony of Neidpath, and other lands of Tweeddale, which remained in their possession until the year 1686. According to Burkes Peerage, the Lord John Hay is designated the 1st Lord Hay of Yester in January of 1467. This hereditary title continues through the centuries until 1646 when John Hay (son of James Hay, the 8th Lord of Yester) becomes the 1st Marquis of Tweeddale. The 2nd Marquis of Tweeddale (1645-1713) was Queen Anne's Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament and supported the Act of Union. The convergence of the Fraser and Hay tributaries into the Tweeddale surname is reflected in the architecture of the Tweeddale Family Coat of Arms. For more information on the Hay component of the Tweeddale surname visit: http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/families/hays_tweeddale.htm http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclanhay.htm http://www.nicholasthorne.co.uk/Hay%20Cartwheel.html.

TWEEDDALE COAT OF ARMS

Family research indicates that the name Tweeddale could have derived from a spring called TWEED’s WELL, the source of the Tweed River which flows through southeast Scotland and northern England. Tweeddale is still a common description for the southernmost border region of Scotland (The land of the Tweed River). The assimilation of the geographic place-name into official titles and surnames is very apparent in the designation of the title Marquis of Tweeddale to John Hay in 1646. The Tweeddale Coat of Arms demonstrates, in its crest, Fraser and Hay clan origins which are described under the Hay family crest above. The 1st and 4th quadrants (gules) bear Fraser clan insignia, whereas the 2nd and 3rd gules depict the ermine bars for clan Hay. This is the Tweeddale clan Coat of Arms. The Hay elements are engraved in the stone of Neidpath and the crest is displayed as shown on the Tweeddale Arms Hotel in Yester, Scotland.

For more information visit the following: http://www.stboswells.bordernet.co.uk/walks-by-the-tweed/15.html/www.hunnymonster.org.uk/tweed/

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

The family of James Franklin Tweeddale

Rev. William Tweeddale

Born 1788 in Cumberland, England

Died 24 Nov. 1863 in New Brunswick, Canada)

Married: Jane Atkinson on 7 Oct. 1811 (died 8 Jan 1831)

William Tweeddale was 26 years of age and on the threshold of death when he received Christ as savior while reading a sermon by John Wesley. The Lord brought healing to the young man for his work was not done. He left England and immigrated to New Brunswick in 1819 with his family, having heard of a scarcity of “laborers in the Lord’s harvest” in this region of the world. According to his obituary, Mr. Tweeddale was “the only minister of any denomination holding forth the Word of life in these settlements. He could be found weeping with those who wept and rejoicing with those who rejoiced, giving spiritual instruction to all who came his way. He was a friend to all and a tireless worker comforting those who mourned and leading the sinner to the sinner’s friend.” He continued to preach along the hiways and byways until a week before his death. In his final days he said, “What could I do now if I had not Christ?” In his final hours, he was visited by his long time friend, the Rev. J. R. Lawson, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. After reading the scriptures and prayer, upon leaving him he said, “I will meet you, my dear brother in a better world.” To this the Rev. Tweeddale said, “indeed … a better world, and with that, this man of God departed.”

(note: all quotes are taken from Rev. William Tweeddale’s obituary – The Provincial Wesleyan, December 30, 1863)

______________________l_____________________

Mary Ann - Elizabeth - Charles - Matthew - Edward - James - Mary - Wesley
(11/26/1817 - 4/2/1872)

m. Martha Barbour 5/25/1840

Matthew Tweeddale is described by his Grandson Percy Bramwell Tweeddale as a man who worked with his hands to support his large family. He was a carpenter, a painter, a plumber and a metalsmith. He passsed his trades along to his sons who had a reputation in Frederickton for their honesty and hard work. Matthew was instructed in the things of the Lord by his father, his wife Martha was active with Christian relief work. Together they frequently provided shelter and food and support for the homeless, the widows and the orphans.
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Matthew and Martha Tweeddale had:

12 Children as follows

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1. William (b. 1841)
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2. Elizabeth (b. 1842)
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3. William A. (1844-1928)
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4. Amelia Jane
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5. Edmund Augustus "Gus" (1849-1908) According to reflections offered in an article which appears in a New Brunswick newspaper "The Daily Gleaner" (Jan 3, 1976). Gus was an outdoorsman.
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6. Edmund B. (b. 1851)

7. James Franklin (11/14/1853 - 1913)

(m. Mary Eliz. Brazier Woolsey (b.10/26/1864, d. 12/26/1941)

8. John Fletcher (1855-1948) John received a public school education in Frederickton. He was a farmer and trader, marrying Joan Campbell in 1880. He was a member of the Municipal Council, Perth, New Brunswick and was known as "The Grand Old man of Tobique". For a short time John was Warden of Victoria County. In 1902 Mr. Tweeddale was elected to the New Brunswick Legislature. He became Minister of Agriculture and subsequently the Chairman of the Board of Liquor Commissioners. He was a member of the Anglican church and was a political liberal. (Notes taken from and article printed in The Victorian December 14, 1939)

9. Henry Havelock (b. 1857)

10. Lemuel Allen Wilmot (1860-1937)

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11. Matthew Albert (b. 1863)
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12. Anniel (b. 1865)

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James Franklin Tweeddale
1909 Salvation Army Band, Brooklyn, NY

James Franklin Tweeddale (bottom row/ left) James was born in 1853 in Frederickton, New Brunswick, Canada and migrated to the USA in 1888. He was a painter by trade. He lived a hard life in New York and at times turned to strong drink. He turned to the Salvation Army for refuge where he met a young lady who changed his life. According to his son Percy Tweeddale, he was a quiet and peacable man who loved to sing the great Hymns of the Faith and had a strong voice. A good father whose life was radically transformed by Christ. He had a "soft heart" which he attributed to a Godly mother. His son Percy said that his death left a huge void in the life of his young family. Percy had to step up and assume the headship of this family at a young age.

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James and Mary Elizabeth Tweeddale - husband and wife

James and Mary were married circa 1895. Mary Elizabeth was a worker with the Salvation Army Corps and known for her love of Christ and her passion for the lost. She brought James to a saving knowledge of Christ in the early 1890's. Mary was a widow with 3 children. James had one child by a prior marriage. Together they had two children, Percy Bramwell Tweeddale and Mildred Tweeddale (later Harding). Mary's skills in crocheting were long remembered by her grand daughters.

The 1909 Salvation Army Corps, Brooklyn, NY

Mary Elizabeth is shown in the top row, 2nd from right. Her son Percy Bramwell Tweeddale is shown in the third row (from bottom) 6th from the right. Mildred Tweeddale is on the bottom row right end. In these early years, Percy was known for his prowess in the memory of Bible verses. He won a bible in a scripture memorization contest in 1911.

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James Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Brazier (Woolsey) Tweeddale (widowed by Mr. Woolsey) raised 6 children. These are:

John Woolsey (he had 2 Sons James and Charles - these two boys were raised by James and Mary Tweeddale as their own.
Stacy Woolsey (married Evelyn _____ , daughter Gladys)
Jenny Woolsey Davis, had son Arthur who in turn had a daughter Geraldine. Jenny later married a Mr. Saadi. They had one daughter Harriet (died circa 2000)
Roy Tweeddale: James's son by prior marriage (1888 - 1981) m. May Mercereau (1894 - 1981) no issue.
Mildred Tweeddale (m. Robert Harding - 3 children; Arthur, Donald, Ethel)
Percy Bramwell Tweeddale (26May1899 - 1Apr1985) m. Mabel Reinhard 9Oct1923

Percy Bramwell Tweeddale and Mabel Anna Reinhard Tweeddale husband and wife

Married 9 October 1923 this couple had 5 children. Their legacy is one which manifest a Godly heritage. Percy followed his father's footsteps, by working in a hardware store and doing painting until his early 20's. At this time he decided to apply for a job as a fireman in the New York Fire Department. He ultimately became a fireman and was active through a long and meritorious career rising to the rank of Battalion Chief in Charge of the Brooklyn Hook and Ladder Companies. Mabel Tweeddale grew up in Hicksville, New York. Early in their married life she worked as a seamstress. She was active in the Hicksville Dutch Reformed church. Her love of Christ defined Mabel to all who knew her. These were parents whose children bear witness to the faithfulness of God as described in Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

The Children of Percy and Mable Tweeddale

at the funeral of Mabel Reinhard Tweeddale