Joseph Maitland

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Hi Murphicle
I hope that web address worked. I had a go and couldn't find the file. However if you do a search on People's Names of Co Down that should find it. The website is run by someone called Ros Davies.

Well when I find out more about the Comber connection, I hope to trace back the family to Scotland - some ambition, eh - the Ulster Scots also have a colourful history.

I suppose you already know that it's a Norman name and anglicised from Mautelant to Maitland. Have you visited Thirlestane Castle in the Borders, the country seat of the Earls of Lauderdale? It's very interesting.

When I'm in Newcastle next Friday (6 May) I will write down all the info. for the Maitlands from the Pittington parish records from 1840 and send you what I find.
Regards
Dot
 

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Hi Murphicle
I just checked that website you mentioned. It's very interesting
Regards
Dot

[murphicle]

Hi Dot

Yes, the address worked, but I can't follow it up yet - busy.

Yes, I know about the borders families (mum was convinced we were just a few generations away from Aristos; but when you read their record, it's best to pretend you're NOT a Maitland. they were a treacherous lot!). Clan chief says virtually all Maitlands must descend from the one family.

Thanks for the promise of info: look forward to it.

I'm also interested in the group of Maitland families who emigrated from Ireland to Canada about the same time. Unfortunately, the canadian census doesn't specify county of origin. but I have noticed that many of the same Christian names crop up.

Have a good Bank holiday if we don't contact before then (Scotland? Not sure!)

Murphicle

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Hi Murphicle
I don't suppose the Maitlands were any better or any worse than any other family at the time. But many of them were military leaders, politicians (Maitland of Lethington for instance - secretary to Mary Queen of Scots) and a Maitland even ruled Scotland for a short while, but many were poets, musicians, etc.

Both Richard and I are Geordies and moved to SW Scotland in 1998 - we're semi-retired. Richard is tickled pink that he's come a full circle (although I am the one who instigated the family history research) and has ended up where his forebears originated (perhaps not the exact region). And he's started singing Irish songs - I'm getting a bit sick of hearing "The Mountains of Mourne" and "The Star of County Down"!!

Have a good weekend too!!
Regards
Dot

[murphicle]

Hi Dot

Yes, but what I meant was - who would want to be associated with ANY (or most of) aristo family!

Musicians - this one still is!

Galloway: apparently they settled in Eccles, Penpont, and Auchenbreck.

What makes us laugh in our family is the thought of my grandfather's Ulster ancestors spinning rapidly in their graves when he became an Anglo-Catholic! Also, the fact that any thought that my mother's (paternal) origins were in Ireland would have given her acute indigestion (she objected to my sister going out with an Irish Catholic despite being married to one!!)

Murphicle

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Hi Murphicle
Richard is scraping away at his violin just now - he hasn't played it in years (and never was much good). Now the house resounds to Irish ditties!!

What instrument do you play?

yes I know what you mean about the aristos. They were a pretty foul lot. History fascinates me though and you would be surprised the amount of Scots who know very little about their own history and think their heroes (i.e. Robert the Bruce) were Scottish. And even today all but one of the titled landowners (and many of their "Scottish" names such as Sinclair) are of Norman origin.

Don't know about Eccles and Auchenbreck but Penpont is only 14 miles or so north of here. There could be another Penpont of course as the Scots like doubling up on names just to confuse people.

Yes religion has caused so many problems for people hasn't it. Richard's eldest (half-)brother (born to a different father before his mother married) married a Catholic and although none of Joseph Maitland's ancestors are particularly religious, this union was frowned upon. The Catholic in question is a lovely lady, now in her 70s and an asset to any family but prejudice often raises its ugly head.
Regards
Dot

[murphicle]

Hi Dot

We've a few musicians in the family - but I play organ & piano (& sing). Two of my sons have music degrees, and some of my Maitland Aunts and Uncles were musical (nature or nurture?)

Uncanny that Richard may be living just 14 miles from where his forebears were living 350 years ago! You get all sorts of weird surprises when you're researching family trees: e.g., Ann & I have always felt affection for the Lower Wensleydale area (especially Masham). then we found out - what she hadn't known before - that that's where at least two lines of her ancestors were living up to 150 years ago. Spooky.

We all know that Robert the Bruce was a Hartlepudlian (well, I know he was Norman, but that's just a detail.) It always amuses me to hear the Etonian accents of the Scottish aristocrats!


Murphicle

[murphicle]

Dot

Just checked the map. Eccles is away over in the borders, so the chief seems wrong about that. I find it's Auchenbrack (not breck), and it's 8 miles nw of Penpont. Nithsdale is Maitland country.

Murphicle

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Hi Murphicle
I think a smart move would be for me to join the local family history society here in Nithsdale. They may have all sorts of info. just waiting for me to discover.

I know what you mean about having an affinity for a place (although Wensleydale is a lovely place anyway). Ever since I was a teenager, I felt a sort of affinity for Bohemia - goodness knows why. I haven't established a connection yet although dad's ancestors were Anglo-Saxons and there may be a Bohemian-German connection. I was thrilled to be able to visit Prague after eastern Europe was opened up. But there I go waffling on again.

Incidentally the only one to carry on the Maitland name in Richard's family is his brother's daughter's son - she's an unmarried mother so the big advantage is that her son has her surname. However instead of choosing a traditional family name, she called him Zak which sounds more like a dog sneezing than a name.
Regards
Dot