Hello Family McCubbin,
Another year has gone by and our interest hasn’t waned in our search for the McCubbins. The computer is becoming an increasingly more important tool for research and communication. For the Australian McCubbins alone, Penny McColm & I have exchanged over 400 emails in the past two years.
McCUBBIN ACQUISITIONS
During the time we’ve been assembling this information, we have had a considerable number of people contact us with comment, corrections and additional information. This past year has been a great one for acquisitions such as family papers, memorabilia, letters, photos and a book. Our hours of work are paying off. Not only did we receive a letter, dated 1896, but two major donators have been DAVE McCUBBIN of Kansas & J.L. (JIM) McCUBBIN of Georgia, both descendants of John the Colonist. Dave sent a copy of Howard Griffith’s book. Jim has also sent his considerable research and photos of his trip to Knockdolian Castle, once the seat of the McCubbins in Scotland. Several others have sent their charts, photos and queries. Thank you all.
NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA
Penny McColm, Co-ordinator for Australia writes –
At the best of times genealogical research can be tedious, frustrating & not very rewarding after hours of work. Each breakthrough is considered momentous no matter how small, but occasionally some new information comes to light that can be fantastic. This happened this year when a 42-page hand written letter was found in New Zealand.
The letter, dated January 1896, was written from Liverpool by ALEX McCUBBIN, son of DAVID McCUBBIN, born 2nd November 1819 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland. It spanned some 30 years of family history and opened up an entire generation, which in its self created its own frustrations, but over all, the great excitement ‘The Letter’ generated, was felt around the world!
We are indebted to Dick Rawstron for his wonderful effort at transcribing this tome and making it available to the study.
Of all the 14 children born to ALEXANDER McCUBBIN & Anne (Ann or Ayn) Aitken of Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland, only one is unaccounted for (ANDERSON) Two died (Alexander, b 1818 died in infancy & William, b abt.1822 died 15th May 1847 aged 21). William is buried with his parents in the Old Dailly cemetery.
David, James & Peter, moved to Liverpool. DAVID McCUBBIN became a successful Mariner & Steward with the Cunard Line , JAMES & PETER McCUBBIN were prosperous publicans with properties in Bootle, Liverpool and in Cheshire. All these family members are subject to ongoing & further research.
The vivid descriptions of the ailments and disasters that occurred in these extended families is rich reading indeed. Twins JOHN & ALEXANDER McCUBBIN settled in Australia. John originally went to New Zealand, probably in company with his sisters, MARY, JANE, SARAH WALKER POTTS, and WILHEMINA McCUBBIN
HAMILTON McCUBBIN settled in Hawaii and CLEMENT WILSON McCUBBIN went to the United States. Clement died from yellow fever at the age of 32 shortly after marrying Mary Gross of New Jersey.
Amazingly the entire generation left Scotland never to return, searching the globe for a new beginning. If anyone from this line would like further information contact Penny
There have been new subscribers come forward this year, all descended from already researched & established families who had settled in Australia and New Zealand. Unfortunately for some, we have been unable to source or verify all of their early ancestors either here in Australia or Scotland, but as more and more data becomes available we hope to overcome this. New Zealanders are welcome to contact Penny.
A sincere thanks to BARRY McCUBBIN for his contribution to our source material
SCOTLAND
Our co-ordinator in Ayrshire, LYNNE McCUBBIN, is busy with a new job she started in July. However, she still manages to do some research for the McCubbins. Lynne writes:
“I’m now facing the inevitable of hitting the Glasgow libraries, etc. to access further info. Unfortunately, there are no Glasgow records held in Ayrshire, so will keep you posted. Luckily one of my friends stays in Glasgow so if I’m booking time in the library I can just stay with her. Have dangled the family research carrot her way and she is now very keen to research her own lines!”. This genie disease is truly communicable.
Lynne’s large ‘tree’ reaches out around the world. Many McCubbins are from her lines in Girvan, Ayrshire. To inquire, email Lynne
A query from Sally Walker, descendant of THOMAS McCUBBIN (whose sign over the door of his inn appears in the UK McCubbin heading) asks: “If anyone says their family hails from Brunston ( a derelict castle and probably “Farmtoun” near Dailly) I would love to make contact. There is no record of them owning the castle so these antecedents are likely to be poor ag labs who could not afford burials and headstones and who left no wills.” Sally
ENGLAND
McCUBBINS, McCUBBINES, McCUBBINGS, living in England in 1881 & 1901 have been entered into our database. And, we have linked up some of the living McCUBBINES to their early Scot family.
CANADA & USA
David McCormack, who lives in Alberta, Canada & who is descended from SHAW McKIBBIN & Sarah Chapman of Ireland, has been sleuthing this line. David’s descendants in Scotland lived mainly in the Irvine & Girvan area of Ayrshire. The only lead we had was on Shaw’s son William’s death registration. It indicated that Shaw was born in Ireland, William too. David found a report of the Collection for the Poor, Blaris Parish, County Down on which Shaw McKibbin was reported as donating One Shilling, in 1836. We hope to verify, with further research, that this is ‘our’ Shaw McKibbin. If you are a descendant of the above, or of their descendants, i.e. WILLIAM McCUBBIN & Martha Hay, WILLIAM McCUBBIN & Margaret Galloway, you may have more information for us and/or we can add to yours. Email Lorna at mccubbin@one-name.org
Help is needed with the McCUBBINS of the USA. The tree of John the Colonist is so large (& complicated by so many similar names & conflicting information) that we require descendants to submit their charts, along with documentation. Thanks to Micki Collins, for her conjectures re John the Colonist, and for the McCubbin Crest. Thanks to Nancy Taylor for her additions. And for all those of you who have sent photos of Knockdolian Castle – thank you.
A query from Micki Collins: “I have been researching my family of McCubbins in Missouri for quite some time and have run up against a brick wall concerning the parentage of my gggrandfather, Thomas McCubbin (wife Emily Reese, although she mentions a son James Rupe, in her will)” Any connections? Micki
LINKS
An interesting site to go to is the National Archives for Scotland. In the search box use variations on the McCUBBIN name, McCUBBINE, McCUBBING, McCUBIN. Not only will you find FERGUS McCUBBIN of Knockdolian, but some black sheep of the McCubbin clan.
And here’s a private site re Stoneykirk
NEWS
ROB McCUBBIN, of Australia, has recently had his book, SON OF THE STORM published. The story, an historical novel begins in Penpont, Scotland, 1850, where Rob’s family originated. Key to SON OF THE STORM is the engaging McCUBBIN family. Following is an excerpt of a review:
SON OF THE STORM is an intriguing glimpse into the life of the common man during 19th century Scotland. It also stands as a compelling testimony to the courageous men and women of the time who braved incredible hardships to make better lives for themselves by immigrating to new lands. Mr. McCUBBIN paints a very vivid picture with enough details about the landscape of Scotland and daily life in a small village to make his characters come alive for the reader. He also captures the feel of life aboard a ship on a long, harrowing journey (to Australia.) Sandra Brill, of Romance Reviews
To find out more about Rob’s book e-mail Rob
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
If you were asked, “How do you know the great, great grandfather on your genealogy chart, was the father of your great grandfather?”, would you be able to show how you linked them, through birth, marriage, death registers, censuses, the family bible, a will, or maybe from Aunt Bess? Would you know where you found the information, so that person could continue on with the research?
As one of the most knowledgeable genealogists in America, Helen Leary, says, sharing your genealogy without citing sources is like sending it into the world naked. Unless you tell others where you obtained your material, your work is only opinion and weak opinion at that. The hundreds or thousands of hours you spent putting your family history together won’t be respected unless you show your sources.
Sources establish credibility. That is, if we fail to cite sources, our friends and relatives may be charitably interested, but others will consider our work a waste of time or, at best, a clue. Citing sources is no longer important, it is essential.
When doing genealogy work, you should keep track of each piece of information you collect and also where you found it. Your records should be detailed enough so that any other person in the future could find the same information and possibly expand on it. And more importantly, your records should show the parent – child link.
We have received many family histories with no documentation whatsoever. They sit in a pile waiting to be added and linked to other families in the McCubbin database. It takes time and extra research. So, please, please send your footnotes & end notes with your charts. If you are unsure of a parent-child link, ask us, we may be able to help you.
Check out the following link to learn more about sources & citations: (at the site click on Documenting Your Sources) http://www.genealogy.com/getting_organized.html
QUERIES & HELP
Don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re delighted to help you with your McCUBBINS. Keep those letters, photos, memories, and charts coming, folks. We may have enough for a book/or CD book one day.
All the best,
Lorna McCubbin, Founder, McCubbin Family History Association mccubbin@one-name.org
Penny McColm, Co-Founder & Co-ordinator for Australia Penny McColm
Guild of One Name Studies
Member # 3650