Welcome to our first newsletter, being sent to all who replied to my query letter earlier in the year, plus to email pals & my family. Thanks for your charts, family stories & anecdotes, photos, newspaper clippings & even chapters of an historical fiction in the works. It was all so very interesting! I knew then there was a need to form an association where we can all share in the story of the McCubbins.
Who are the McCubbins?
Early references to the name occur in the 15th century in Ayshire, Scotland. Variants were, Mackowban, M’abin, Mccubine, McKibbon plus several different versions. This was common in many families when illiteracy was the norm. Too, ministers in different parishes would record the name as they heard it spoken. The name was in Ireland at an early time, however so far, it appears the name originated in Scotland.
Beginning in the 17th century, we find the McCubbin name appearing on other continents. By the 18th & 19th centuries McCubbins were living in many parts of the globe; Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand. Still, many remained in Scotland.
A diverse group they were; Ag Labs & Ploughmen, Artisans & Artists, Bakers & Builders, Joiners, Farmers & Fishermen, School Teachers & Session Clerks, Miners, Seamen & Soldiers, Lords of the Castle and Covenanters!
They are all part of the McCubbin story, just waiting to be told.
What is a One-Name Study?
“A One name Study is a project researching all occurrences of a surname, as opposed to a particular pedigree (ancestors of one person) or descendancy (descendants of one person or couple). It may concentrate on aspects such as geographical distribution of the name & the changes in the distribution over the centuries or may attempt to reconstruct the geneaology of as many lines as possible bearing the name. A frequent aim is to identify a single original location of the name.” The aim is to research-study & preserve for posterity, all the relevant aspects of our McCubbin history and currently recognized surname variants, virtually WORLD-WIDE.
In Sept. 2000 I registered the name McCubbin/MacCubbin with the Guild of One Name Studies. Having gathered enough references from census & parish records, Scots Origins & International Genealogy Index, I had enough data to become a member. Upon joining the Guild, I agreed to assist all persons making enquiries regarding McCubbin , using my existing database. This past month I’ve been able to assist four persons get past a ‘brick wall’ in their research.
Getting a database set up, entering the info each of you have sent me & discovering more McCubbin families, began to catch up on me. Just when I was starting to think maybe I’d bitten off more than I could chew, Penny McColm of Australia (granddaughter of Frederick McCubbin, the artist) connected with me by e-mail. We began friendly e-discussions and exchange of information. Penny’s organized way with her research inspired me to get going with the idea of a McCubbin Association. She agreed to help with Australia McCubbins. And now Lynne McCubbin of Ayrshire is going to help too.
McCubbin Family Association Membership
Membership is free. The Association will be non-profit & non-constitutional. I regard genealogy as a hobby & pleasant pastime. Postal costs will be gratis. A free copy of the McCubbin book/or CD book, will be sent to all those who contribute material for the book. The book will take time, possibly a few years or more.
Membership is open to anyone who falls into one of these categories:
-if they have the name McCubbin, either by birth or marriage.
-if their surname was previously McCubbin, though they may have acquired another name by marriage.
-if they have ancestors who were called McCubbin and are genuinely interested in researching the name and ancestry of McCubbin families.
-the above criteria also apply to anyone with a recognized variant of the name.
How will we operate?
The Association will revolve around co-ordinators. They will have research responsibility for geographic areas. Their job is to collect, index and chart the information that we get from members and other genealogical sources. Each co-ordinator may publish a progress report in our newsletter, which eventually will be on-line.
If you haven’t already sent details of your family tree, I invite you to do so. Our aim is to co-ordinate your research with others working on the same line. It will reduce time-consuming and expensive duplication of effort. I’m reminded of a four hour microfilm session at the LDS. As I was finishing up, I saw the person next to me had also been researching the same name, parish & census!! We could only laugh at our situation.
Please send any data you have on the McCubbin family. Every little bit helps.
The Newsletter
Our newsletter, THE ‘CUB’ REPORT, will be issued yearly. It will include a variety of articles relevant to the surname; members’ queries, letters, interesting stories, etc.. Why CUB? A fond nickname, usually used by McCubbin friends and family, seemed to fit.
Jim is my husband of 41 yrs. Genealogy isn’t a hobby for him, and he’s happiest carving wood in his workshop (a true gggrandson of ALEXANDER McCUBBIN, the Joiner, of Stoneykirk.) He always enjoys hearing about his distant cousins & sends his regards.
A year has gone by since our flagship THE CUB REPORT was sent to you. Since then our association has amassed & entered into database, 2500 names, spouses included, dating back to the 1600’s. Marriage & Deaths starting from 1855 in Scotland were transcribed by paid researchers in Scotland, directly from the Parish registers. Births up to 1889 have been transcribed from the LDS International Genealogy Index & will eventually be confirmed from actual parish register. Marriages & Deaths pre 1855 were also taken from the IGI. Many of the names have been grouped into families. Now, we’re finding McCubbins who have ancestors not only in Scotland, but England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, & USA.
News from Australia
Penny McColm, our Australian coordinator, has been piecing together families there. Australia was a major destination for the McCubbins in the 1800’s
Penny relates, “Most families came to Australia and New Zealand in search of a better life than they could have had in Scotland. The opportunities to improve their lot were many; basically, hard work and diligence brought success to many.
By the 1850’s the Gold Rush had begun and the land was opening up with Government grants being an inducement to come and settle. Some McCubbin families settled on the land in the Northern NSW and spread further south into Victoria and Tasmania. Some operated hotels. Hotels seemed to be very much a McCubbin occupation. Many had trades, including boot-makers, bakers, mariners & gardeners, all bringing much needed expertise to the fledgling colony.
As yet we’re not sure which line came to Australia first but one of the earliest families we have found so far settled in Tasmania, in the mid 1840’s. This was JAMES McCUBBIN and his wife Elizabeth Lowry. This family then moved on to Victoria and South Australia and finally settled in the booming mining community of Broken Hill. They worked in the Silver mines and the male children followed in their fathers’ footsteps, working long days and at times in dangerous conditions. They certainly were pioneers.
There are 2 convicts that were sent here, one being THOMAS McCUBBIN, aged 48, single, born in Belfast and tried in Ayrshire for Assault on 15th April 1835. Therefore, Thomas was our first McCubbin to arrive on our shores aboard ‘The Susan’. Thomas’s indent shows he was a ‘gardener’s laborer & silk dyer’. Thomas was not the ideal prisoner. He absconded in 1840 from his employer in Maitland and was recaptured and punished accordingly. Thomas did not marry.
JANET RIDDELL McCUBBIN arrived in Sydney aboard ‘Mary Ann’ (5) 13th December 1843.”
Janet’s tale is still unfolding, but it is known that she married a William McCubbin in Lanark and had children before she was transported. Two children we know of – John and James. Can you imagine a young mother with two small boys, one only 2 years old, being sent off on a convict ship, never to see them again! Her crime was ‘house breaking’. She was sentenced to 7 years. Her husband WILLIAM McCUBBIN, a ‘Master Mason’, likely raised the boys along with help from other members of the family who lived in the Glasgow area.
It seems Janet was somewhat of a martyr in the family back in Scotland. Janet Riddell McCubbin’s name occurs among her descendants. Janet remarried in Australia after receiving her Certificate of Freedom and has living descendants there.
News from Scotland
LYNNE McCUBBIN has done an extensive history of her McCubbins that span from Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, to New Zealand & Canada. This has been added to our database. Lynne has also been transcribing censuses & BMD’s.
News from Canada
The book Peter McCubbin & Janet McKie Burns of Wigtownshire, Their Descendants & Ancestors, by Lorna McCubbin was completed & sent to family in Scotland, Canada, & USA who contributed their family history, photos & anecdotes. (This book is not for sale). A similar one will be done for the World McCubbin book.
Canada was not as popular a destination as Australia for emigrants. However, free land given through the Homestead Program, lured adventuresome McCubbins. One of the earliest known McCubbins in Canada was ROBERT McCUBBIN who ‘arrived from Galloway to Halifax in 1818. He later settled in Chatham Twp, Ontario in 1836.
A large McCubbin family settled in North Bay, Ontario. The west coast of British Columbia drew another few families.
United States of America
In the mid 1600’s JOHN McCUBBIN (known as John the Colonist) left Ayrshire. Apparently his father was a Covenanter. This is a large study and we appeal to John’s descendants to help in building up the American database, as well as tracing & documenting the claimed ancestry to King McAlpine.
New Zealand
We need a coordinator for New Zealand. McCubbins arrived there also – in the 1800’s. We’re in contact with some of their descendants.
England
Some McCubbins have contacted us from England, mainly through message boards & mailing lists. Next on the list of ‘things to do’ is send query letters to as many McCubbins in England as we can find, through phone books & other lists.
CUB BITS
In each newsletter we hope to add bits of early lore involving the McCubbin name. We’ll also include URLs which may be helpful in your searches for other relatives.
The following is from Dumfries Jail Books & Bail Bond Registers.
Date: 21/04/1787
Name: MCCUBBIN William
Crime: Paternity Alimony
Place: Dumfries
Subject: Meditatione Fugae
Notes: William McCubbin, labourer incarcerated in the Tolbooth by warrant under the hand of John Lawson, bailie proceeding on a petition by Janet Watson that she had a female child on the 20th Dec last by McCubbin. She alleges that he has failed to meet the financial burden of the child, except for two shillings and six pence and is about to leave the country to avoid further payment. To remain in prison until caution found.
24 Apr 1787 Liberated from the Tolbooth by his incarcerator, Janet Watson.
Archive Ref: GF4/26A/35,35A&36 Dumfries & Galloway Archives
Here’s a new searchable data base of Australians in WW2: There are 45 McCubbins listed. http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/
Queries & Help
If you have queries re your McCubbins or would like information from the McCubbin database don’t hesitate to contact me, Penny or Lynne.
Penny McColm, Penny in Australia will check her records. Lynne McCubbin in Ayrshire, may also have your answers.
Do you have photos of your grandparents, great grandparents & other early McCubbins & would like them included in the McCubbin website? Email them or contact us at mccubbin@one-name.org.
Wishing you the very best for the coming New Year,
The McCubbin Family History Association (Lorna, Penny, Lynne)
Member #3650 Guild of One Name Studies
For McCubbin name & variations worldwide.
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.
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
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.
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
This is our fourth annual newsletter. Our database continues to grow, more family trees and photos are coming in, we have downloaded wills from Scotland’s Documents, researched sasines and continue to connect McCubbins throughout the world.
Good news for McCubbins originating from Dumfriesshire! Kathy McCubbing Hopkins volunteered to be the association’s co-ordinator for the area. An immense amount of time was spent sending information back and forth, reviewing certificates, wills, sasines, monumental inscriptions, as well as family charts and information that was given to us. This ensured that all links were authentic and documented.
With so many names flying around, Penny McColm’s numbering system for Australia proved to be an efficient way to avoid confusion. By giving a number, i.e. #A01, to a family we were able to ‘keep it all straight’. We’ll now apply this system to the rest of the McCubbins of the world as we build up family charts.
Now and in the future, we will focus more on the actual McCubbin families from different areas. This newsletter will feature:
McCubbin Families of Dumfries
List of Pioneer Families of Australia
More census records from Lynne McCubbin of Ayrshire
American & Canadian McCubbins
Cub Bits
Queries
Acquisitions
Dumfriesshire McCubbins
by Kathy McCubbing Hopkins
Kirkcudbrightshire & Dumfriesshire in yellow
Dumfriesshire & its parishes (on the right) the ancient home of many McCubbins – especially Glencairn, Dunscore, Penpont, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries & Annan
I first heard from Lorna McCubbin in October 2003 – I can’t believe that was only a year ago! At that time I had recently started working on my McCubbing line who descend from John McCubbin (c.1745-1805) who was married to Margaret Tait. They lived at Kirkbride Farm in Keir.
Since then it has been one adventure after another, linking up with descendants of many of the Dumfries McCubbin families who have all helped with the jig-saw.
John McCubbin & Margaret Tait
The Keir McCubbins
#05
Being part of the project spurred me on to send out a couple of emails and letters, one to “The Farmer” at Kirkbride Farm in Keir (it still exists). The letter was passed to Leslie McCubbin in Dunscore who turns out to be my 3rd cousin. Leslie contacted me and passed on an absolute treasure chest of information, much of which was assembled by another 3rd cousin – Billy McCubbin who has been researching the family history for over 20 years. Over the next few months Lorna and I sifted through the information, checking sources and making links with information we already had. From all of that we were able to establish:
John and Margaret’s son Andrew McCubbing (b.1776) married Agnes Black and their children were:
John (1801-1877) who married Annie Patterson – Leslie is descended from this branch and has generously provided a wealth of information in the form of photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, etc. (note: the McCubbing name runs down through the generations of Keir McCubbins. Some used the ‘g’ and others didn’t. The name will be printed out in full where the ‘g’ appears)
Their son John 1835-1886, Coolah, NSW, Australia was one of the lads who left the farm, “Busy Bit”, to find a life in NSW, Australia. John and his cousin John (1833-1877, Coborra, NSW Australia) emigrated to Australia probably in the 1850s and joined their uncle James (1810-1888, Coonabarabran, NSW Australia, son of William and Jane Stitt/McMath) who had emigrated to Australia earlier, in the 1830s. John (b.1835) married his cousin Agnes McCubbin (1846-1830), daughter of James and Christina MacIntyre.
William McCubbing (1803-1877) who married Jane Stitt/McMath – Lorna has been in contact with John S McCubbing, of England, a descendant of this branch that moved to Edinburgh. John provided information and photos.
One of their sons, John (b.1833) was one of the lads who emigrated to Australia from the Busy-Bit. He later married Jane Johnston, but they had no children.
James (1810-1888, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia) who married Christina MacIntyre. Quite a bit of information has been assembled about their lives and descendants in Australia and a major contribution has been made by Billy McCubbin who had already prepared an outline of James’ life in Coolah. The family and their descendants who moved to Queensland (Allora, Roma) are an area of current interest which Penny is helping me with.
Andrew McCubbing (c.1810-1885) married to Jane Shennan, and then Martha Whan. This is my line of the family. Andrew moved to Creetown, Kirkmabreck after he married Martha and his son Andrew farmed at Spedlins in Lochmaben. Another son David, who had been in Ireland, died of typhus shortly after his marriage in 1857 to Jessie Carruthers, and Joseph McCubbing (my great-grandfather) moved to Ruthwell where he married Margaret Armstrong. He later moved to Terregles. Whilst my grandfather William Armstrong McCubbing (b.1883) married and moved to Bo’ness in West Lothian, his brother Andrew McCubbing (b. 1885) emigrated to Canada (Port Colborne, Ontario). Despite several attempts I have been unable to trace Andrew’s descendants.
The descendants of Andrew (1776-1842)’s second marriage to Hellen Henderson continued to farm Kirkbride until 1908, although the family were almost wiped out in 1864 when scarlet fever claimed the lives of three of their son Philip McCubbin (1822-1902) and Mary McKie’s children within 2 weeks of each other. Billy McCubbin is one of their descendants and I had the pleasure of visiting both Billy and Drew McCubbin (who still farms in the area) with Leslie, whilst I was in Scotland earlier this year. So much information was shared, including some wonderful photos, one of which marks the occasion of the family leaving Kirkbride after farming there for over a hundred years. The photograph was one of the gifts from the community and their leaving party is described in a local newspaper report of the event.
James McCubbin & Mary McMurdo
The Edgartoun McCubbins
#31
The Edgartoun McCubbin family headed by James (c.1710) and his wife Mary McMurdo were landowners, probably linked with McCubbington. Their son James McCubbin (c.1733-1811) married Janet Swan and the family settled in the Urr area, with links in Lochhrutton.
A grandson of James and Mary, Robert Swan McCubbin (c.1851-1911) married Charlotte Elfrida Gover and their sons saw military service during World War I serving for Canadian and Australian allied forces.
By 1916, Elfrida, by then widowed, was living in Fremantle, WA, Australia. Her son, Robert Swan McCubbin (b.1884) was awarded the Military Medal in 1917 whilst serving as a private in the 1st Anzac Corps: “”On 2nd April 1917, in the attack on Noreuil, Pte McCubbing a Bn Stretcher-bearer showed great courage and endurance in tending and in carrying in wounded throughout the day under machine gun and shell fire.” Her other sons John (1890) and James Unwin (1895) also served with the Anzacs. Another son, Charles Edward enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1916. Contact with the Carnamah Historical Society in WA, Australia has provided links with the McCubbin family descended from James Unwin, who were living there in the 1940s.
John McCubbin & Elizabeth ?
The Dunscore/Kirkmahoe McCubbins
#32
There has been great interest in this branch headed by John McCubbin (c.1723-1788) who was married to Elizabeth who died at Burnhead, Dunscore. Ian MacDonald has been helping out with information relating to his branch. He is descended from Elizabeth McCubbin (c.1793-1855) who married Joseph Welsh.
Dawn Ellis’s information on John McCubbin (c.1798-1863, Kirkton) who married Elizabeth Bowness has been useful and a contact that she recently passed to me (James McCubbin) turns out to be a descendant of James (1840-1927) who was stationmaster at Elvanfoot. James is reputed to have had Alexander the Covenanter’s bible in 1906. Whether the bible still survives is a mystery. Someone suggested it might be in the museum at Biggar (where several other Covenanter bibles are held), but they have been contacted and confirmed that they don’t hold it. James has been able to provide some very interesting information and delightful photos. He is currently following up on some references to the ownership of the Bible by his ancestor James.
James McCubbin & Isabella Lorimer
The Penpont McCubbins
#03
Much of the skeleton of the Penpoint McCubbins, headed by James McCubbin & Isabella Lorimer, then his son George (1790-1848) who was married to Agnes Lorimer, had been put together by Rob McCubbin whilst he was writing his book and Penny and Lorna have fleshed this out and explored the ‘Australian contingent’. Despite their proximity, no connections have yet been established with the Keir branch.
Robert McCubbin & Margaret McNaught/McKnight
The Dunscore, Dumfries & Troqueer, Kirkcudbright McCubbins
#33
Robert McCubbin (1717-1775) father of Robert who married Margaret McNaught/McKnight in Dunscore heads this branch of the family, some of whose descendants appear in Troqueer, whilst others moved to Canada.
Charlotte Davidson is a descendant and has kindly contributed an enormous amount of information about the descendants of Robert McCubbin (1782-1873) and his wife Mary Carson who moved to Chatham, Kent in Ontario, Canada. Recently another descendant of Robert McC and Mary Carson, Sharon McCubbin from North Carolina, USA contacted me – so the two of them are now in touch! Research passed to me by Billy McCubbin provided some very interesting information from the bible of Robert M’Cubbin from 1828 which lists the family and their birthdates. The following account provides an interesting picture of the family:
“Robert McCubbin was a poor Scottish relative of Captain James Carson of the “Dingell” on the River Mersey, Liverpool, England. He was employed as a ships carpenter in Capt Carson’s shipbuilding yards. Mary Carson was twenty years her brother’s junior and his ward. She fell in love with Robert and eloped from boarding school to marry him and her brother disinherited her. She was but 15, and aged 16 when her first son, James was born.” The account goes on to outline their journey to Halifax and Robert’s life in shipbuilding in Port Hope, Ontario and later at Bronte, near Hamilton where he was responsible for the fine paneling in Dundern Castle, Hamilton.
A descendant, Alvah Emerson McCubbin, born 1890, settled in the Vancouver area and has living family there.
John McCubbin & Jean McTurk
The Glencairn McCubbins
#34
Less progress has been made in tracking the descendants of John McCubbin (c.1717-1802) and Jean McTurk from Glencairn, one of whom was the Reverend of Irongray (John 1759-1817), although Edith Hordijk has been in touch and added another mystery to the pot. She is descended from Nicholas McCubbin (female, 1751-1823) who was married to Walter Renwick. She has good reason to suspect that their son James married a cousin called Nicholas McCubbin (daughter of John (c.1759, the minister at Irongray), Robert (c.1762) or William (1766), but we haven’t been able to establish this link yet.
James McCubbin & Jane Nelson
The Annan McCubbins
#04
Lorna and Penny have already done quite a bit of work on the Annan McCubbins, headed by James (c.1795) and Jane Neilson, and their descendants in Canada and Australia. This family were master boat builders, carpenters and fishermen. Their descendants span the globe from Australia to Canada.
Early McCubbins from McCubbington and Glencairn
A fair bit of information has been gathered about these early families, mainly through sasines and wills, although linking it together has proved difficult.
McCubbington (McCubinstoun) is a farm. There were McCubbins living there as early as the 1600’s – possibly before. See below:
MELROSE REGALITY RECORDS Vol III 1547 – 1706 (Romanes, ed)
Chartulary of Melrose
16/04/1607 Crown Charter by King James VI to Roger Hiddilstoun, sister’s son of the deceased Robert McCubbin, as “kindlie” tenant of the 6s 3d lands of Fardinmacrary called McCubinstoun formerly occupied by the said Robert McKubbin, in the Parish of Dunscoir, formerly belonging to the Abbey of Melrose and now to the Crown, to be held for yearly payment of 10s as the old rent and 12d of augmentation with duplication at entry of heirs, dated Edinburgh 5th April
1607 (See Reg Mag Sig No 1757) (f.183) Crown precept of Sasine following thereupon dated 25/06/1610 given by Robert Kirkpatrick, Burgess of Dumfries; witnesses John Hiddilstoun at Grangemilne, Robert McCubbens in Dunscoir, John Hawien there, and John McCubbin, son of the said Robert, Herbert Cunninghame being Notary. (f.165)
Table Register of Melrose by David Makullo
Charter to Roger Hiddilstoun of the 6s 3d lands of Ferdingwell McRory called McCubbingtoun, paying yearly 2s 6d with duplication. (f.138)
Above info resourced by David Hiddleston for James L McCubbin, 07, Mar 2003 Dumfries-Galloway mailing list
So, in conclusion, it has been an extremely fruitful year in terms of pulling together research on the McCubbin families from Dumfriesshire. Many, many thanks to all those who have contributed, including anyone I haven’t so far mentioned. There has been SO MUCH activity it has been a great challenge to keep track of it all. Feel free to contact me. Kathy
Australia McCubbins
by Penny McColm, Co-ordinator in Australia
The McCubbin families that came and settled in Australia & New Zealand came for many reasons but the most obvious reason was the Gold Rush that enveloped both countries during the 1850’s. As I have researched and documented these families they have come mainly from the Scottish counties of Ayrshire, Dumfries, & Lanarkshire and one large family from Wigtownshire. They settled in diverse areas, some in cities others in the outback and some in farming areas; & many chased the dream of finding gold.
The following lists show the Australian McCubbin pioneer settlers whose lines emanated from Scotland and are followed by the immigrant sons and daughters that settled in Australia & New Zealand. The majority of the family-trees were submitted to the association by descendants who have been instrumental in doing their own research and have an interest in family history.Further details, family histories, and contacts can be found by contacting me and quoting the #A reference number. Penny
#A01
Peter McCubbin & Janet Campbell: Wigtownshire, Scotland
Thomas McCubbin & Grace Blair Sloan: Australia
John Alexander McCubben & wife Christina Blackwood: Scotland
John Wells McCubbin & Lavinia A Ferguson
File includes John Alexander McCubben
Change in spelling from ‘in’ to ‘en’ occurs in shipping documents
#A02
Alexander McCubbin & Jean/Joan Macilwraith: Ayrshire Scotland
Alexander McCubbin & Annie McWilliam: Australia
#A03:
George McCubbin & Agnes Lorimer: Dumfries Scotland, to son
Robert McCubbin & Jane Young: Victoria, Australia
Son James b 1820 m Margaret Curry/Corrie & Agnes McNeish (refers to A#10)
Both marriages took place in Scotland
Grandson James b 1844 married Leah Hurleston in Victoria, Australia
#A04
James McCubbin & Jane Nelson/Neilson: Dumfries Scotland
Stothart McCubbin & Rosetta Hyam: Australia
#A05
John McCubbin born 1745 & Margaret Tait: Dumfries, Scotland to
Andrew McCubbin born 1776 & Agnes Black: Scotland to
James McCubbin born 1810 & Christina MacIntyre, Australia
And John McCubbin born 1801 & Annie Paterson: Scotland to
John McCubbin born 1835 & cousin Agnes McCubbin, daughter of James born 1810
William McC born 1803 & Jane Kirk of Scotland. Son of Andrew born 1776
John McCubbin son of William born 1803
John married Jane Johnson no issue
#NZ06
Peter Mc & Janet Hannah: Ayrshire, Scotland
James & Christian Isabel Campbell: New Zealand
#A07
James McCubbin & Elizabeth Lowery (Tasmania) Unknown Scotland
Son Thomas McCubbin & Susan Stark: (Broken Hill) Australia
#A09
Alexander Charles McCubbin & Jean Smith: Scotland to
Alexander McCubbin & Agnes Jackson: Wigtownshire, Scotland to
Son Alexander McCubbin & Elizabeth Simpson: Australia
Ballarat & Learmonth Vic
#A10
James McCubbin & Margaret Currie: Scotland
Son James McCubbin & Leah Hurleston: Australia (refers to #A03)
#A11
Janet Riddel McCubbin (Convict): Scotland
Transported to NSW
Refer to Lorna McCubbin
#A12
Alexander McCubbin & Jean Smith: Scotland to
Son William McCubbin & Catherine Menzies: Australia
Refer to #A09
#NZ13
Hugh McCubbin & Mary Hodgson: Probably London Middlesex UK
Family settled in New Zealand
#A16
Alexander McCubbin & Margaret Currie: Scotland to
Son John McCubbin & Mary Ann Munro: Australia
#A17
Alexander Charles McCubbin & Jean Smith Scotland to
William McCubbin & Catherine Menzies Australia, (refer to #A09)
#A18
Sarah Walker McCubbin married Thomas Potts: Scotland
Settled in New Zealand Combined with #A02
#A19
John McCubbin & Martha Chubb: Bedfordshire England to
John Edward McCubbin & Alice Randall: Australia
#NZ21
William Joseph McCubbin aka Joseph Moody McCubbin: New Zealand
Mother Wilhemina McCubbin: Scotland
Father Joseph Woodie (Moody) Johnston (refers #A02)
#A22
Joseph McCubbin aka Jsph Cunningham & Marion McIntosh: Scotland
Settled in Queensland Australia
News – More census records from Ayrshire
from Ayrshire co-ordinator Lynne McCubbin
Lynne has continued to gather census records. She made a trip to Glasgow to find more McCubbins.
Glasgow Census of 1861
Anderston – Ref No 33/3
John McCubbin 43 Laurieston, Wigtownshire
Jane 45 Ratuer? Wig
James 20 Whithorn
Susan 18 Whithorn
Mary 16 Whithorn
Andrew 13 Glasgow
John 12 Glasgow
Thomas 9 Glasgow
Jean 6 Glasgow
William 1 Glasgow
Blythswood – Ref 24/7
John 83 Dailly
Janet 77 Kirkoswald
Blythswood – Ref
David 37 Glasgow
Jessie 29 Bew Ayton
Calton – Ref 89/1
John 59 Girvan
Mary 59 Girvan
William 32 Girvan (These are mine, John’s wife being Mary Bisset)
Mary 30 Girvan
Grace 25 Girvan
John 23 Girvan
Glasgow Central – Ref 94/4
Andrew 36 Maybole
Margaret 35 Barrhill
John 7 Barrhill
Andrew 4 Glasgow
Got booted out after 2 hours – don’t librarians realise it takes longer than that to do research!
Also found bit of an entry in the 1851 Girvan census I missed previously –
Wilson Street
Thomas McCubbin Head 45 Weaver Girvan
Elizabeth Wife 50 Ireland
Thomas Son 7 Girvan next bit is what I missed
John McCreadie son-in-law 24 Girvan
Janet McCreadie dau-in-law 18 Girvan
Now unless Thomas had a previous wife I don’t know about, then John and Janet aren’t his in-laws. Rather it would appear the newly married Janet McCubbin b 1828 to my Andrew McC and Letitia Burchell was living with her 1st cousin once removed (ie Janet and Thomas sr). Guess it was easier to say in-law than all that!
Cheers
Lynne
American & Canadian McCubbins
Lola Makubin
Bruce Campbell of Vancouver, Canada wrote in an email to Lorna McCubbin:
According to my documents, Lola Makubin (Machubin) was born March 15th 1864 in Annapolis & died on September 26, 1909 in Windsor, Nova Scotia. She married John Taylor Wood (sometimes known as the Sea Ghost of the Confederacy) in Annapolis Maryland on Nov. 24, 1856. Her father was George Makubin. She was suspected to have a brother James since records show that he (James) was a trustee in the transaction of transferring property on April 28, 1886 to one Anna Mather. Their Children were: Lola Makubin Wood 1864 – 1956, Robert Carroll Wood 1866 – 1884, Eleanor Makubbin Wood 1868 – 1953 (my Grandmother) John Taylor Wood 1870 – 19??, George Makubin Wood 1871 – 19??, Nina VanGrabbau Wood 1873 – 1955, Mary Catherine Hammond Wood 1875 – 1898 and Charles Carrol Wood 1876 – 1899.
Reynolds McCubbin
Penny McColm and Lorna McCubbin were delighted to find a Canadian McCubbin family, residing in Saskatchewan for over a hundred years, who linked to Penny’s Scotland line. It’s always fun to find a ‘cousin’ out there after a long sleuth. It helps in the search when the name is different from the norm. We knew there was a Reynolds McCubbin, born 1884, Liverpool. We had been looking for Reynolds without much success, when Lorna found him in Canadian WW1 records. A query to the rootsweb SASK mailing list prompted Ralph Goff to contact us. Thanks Ralph. Reynold’s son, William ‘Bill’ Reynolds McCubbin contacted us. Welcome to the fold, Bill —-and to all the descendants of Reynolds McCubbin.
If you are connected to either of the above McCubbins, please contact Lorna.
CUB BITS
My, how things have changed in 204 years! Here’s a true tale of a McCubbin lass.
Date: 14/Oct/1774
Name: McCUBBIN, Nickelis Place: Barnkirk of Craigs
Topic: found in bed with John Haliday; stated that both were fully clothed and he had no bad intention towards her.
A Kirk session was held with the Baillie, Elders and four witnesses. Excerpts from the session:
“The said John Haliday, being weary with the labour of the harvest flung himself on the bed where Jean Caird and Nickelis Mccubbin lay, with his clothes on, and that he immediately fell asleep and had no further intention, that the said Nickelis McCubbin had her clothes on also and that the circumstances of their having clothes on is acknowledged by all.”
They were required to appear before the Kirk Session. The Session dismissed them and they were given a sessional rebuke for their indecent appearance. They were required to give five shillings to the poor for their irregularity. Archive Ref: CH2/537/7 Page(s): 284, 287 & 292
Queries
A request for information about the following McCubbins comes from Jennifer Anklesaria. If there are any McCubbins who had family who lived in New Orleans, please contact Lorna.
McCUBBIN, William, born about 1837 in Glasgow, Scotland. Naturalization papers in New Orleans (1867) indicate he immigrated in 1851. His death certificate indicates he arrived in New Orleans in 1857. May have married Ellen _________ from Liverpool before 1867. He worked varied jobs: seaman, port warden, stevedore, bookstore owner and painter. Married Emma Louisa Hamilton in New Orleans in 1872; the certificate indicates his parents were James and Agnes McCubbin. Five children. William apparently was in the Masonic Order, died in New Orleans in 1897.
McCUBBIN, Joseph, born about 1843 in Liverpool, England. Death certificate indicates he arrived in New Orleans in 1857. Married Margaret Williams in New Orleans in 1870, seven children. Did dock work, lived on same street as William McCubbin in New Orleans between 1880-1895, died in late 1895.
McCUBBIN, James. Perhaps born Glasgow early 1800s. Married Agnes ______, perhaps before 1837. Named as father of William McCubbin in Williams marriage certificate in 1872. Perhaps removed to Liverpool.
Sometimes we hit a brick wall when we find an individual went by different surnames. Two that are tough to trace are the ancestors of the McCubbin/Neilson family of Scotland and Liverpool, and Joseph McCubbin/Cunningham of Scotland and Australia. If you have either of these combination of names in your ‘tree’, we’d like to hear from you.
Acquisitions
Many thanks to James L McCubbin of Atlanta, Georgia for sending us a copy of the McCubbins Family History by Howard Griffith and The Involvement of the McCubbin Name in Scotland by Hershell McCubbin. Both Mr Griffith and Mr McCubbin did an enormous amount of work on their projects. The claim to the Knockdolian McCubbins and the McCubbins possible ancestry from King MacAlpin is disputed by some historians, thus we have a big research project ahead of us in order to have an authentic history. The works sent by Jim and others have provided us with a place to start.
Thanks to those of you have donated photos, records, charts, family anecdotes. Your contributions add so much more to the story of the McCubbins, at the same time helping us keep down our personal expenses for archive searches and mailing costs. We continue to be a non-profit group and hope to continue in the future.
Last, but not least, Rob and Dawn McCubbin visited us (Jim & Lorna McCubbin) near Canmore, Alberta, while touring Canada this summer. Rob is a born story teller. He mesmerized us and our children with the historical saga of Culloden. Rob has recently had ‘Son of the Storm’ and ‘Written in Sand’ (a tale of McCubbins) published and is now working on another book. To read excerpts of the book, where to buy in Canada, UK and US, and for best prices in Australia and NZ contact Rob.
Regards and best wishes to all,
Lorna McCubbin & Penny McColm
Founders of The McCubbin Family History Association
Co-ordinators: Kathy McCubbing Hopkins, Dumfriesshire/ Lynne McCubbin, Ayrshire/Penny McColm, Australia/Lorna McCubbin, UK, Canada, USA
This is our fifth annual newsletter. Since last year, we’ve added many more McCubbins to our databank. Now with almost 6,000 McCubbins and their spouses, we’ve been able to link up more families. Almost all names have been documented through birth, marriage and death certificates, wills, sasines and census records.This newsletter will feature:
McCubbin Families of Wigtownshire
Is it McCubbin or McKibben?
An Ayrshire – Ireland McCubbin, McKibben family
Hello from Lynne McCubbin of Ayrshire
Early McCubbin Families in the Dunscore, Dumfriesshire Area
The CUB Report 2005 from Australia
Some Notable & Adventurous McCubbins
American & Canadian McCubbins
Queries
Wigtownshire McCubbins
by Lorna McCubbin
Scotland – Wigtownshire in red. Kirkcudbrightshire and Dumfriesshire (now Dumfries) lie directly east.
“WIGTOWNSHIRE, a maritime county in the SW extremity of Scotland, forms the W division of Galloway, and contains the most southerly land in Scotland.”
Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, 1885
GALLOWAY is a much older term. In the early Middle Ages it was virtually a Principality, if not a separate Kingdom from Scotland and England. Galloway at that time probably included a large portion of what we now call Ayrshire as well as most of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. Land grants from the Scottish King to the ‘de Bruce’ family in Annandale and Carrick were probably an attempt by the Crown to contain Galloway if not subjugate it.
The Parishes of Wigtownshire
The area today known as DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY formerly comprised the separate Scottish counties of Dumfriesshire,
Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire.
Today, the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire together comprise the area generally referred to as Galloway.
McCubbin Families of Wigtownshire
Hugh McCubbin & Jean Aitken
The Stranraer McCubbins
#40
Hugh and Jean were married circa 1778. They had nine known children. Several of their descendants were involved in the shipping industry in Stranraer, employed as Steam Boat Clerks, Sailors and Master Mariners.
John McCubbin & Elizabeth Beggs
The Leswalt McCubbins
#41
John and Elizabeth were married circa 1799. Elizabeth died after giving birth to six children. John married Margaret Wallace and had
five more children. Eleven children in all! Up to the early 1900’s, most of their descendants remained in the Leswalt area, working as
Farm Servants, Ploughmen, Byremen and Agricultural Labourers. When the railway made its way into the south of Scotland, some
of the family became employed in that industry.
William McCubbin & Janet Stewart
Kirkcolm to Leswalt, to Portpatrick, etc.
#42
William – born about 1750 – and his wife Janet had four known children, all of whom had many descendants. Although they continued to live in Wigtownshire during the 19th century, we find them in many different parishes; Kirkcolm, Inch, Portpatrick, Old Luce, Kirkmaiden, Stoneykirk. Most of them were Ploughmen, Argricultural Labourers, and Farm Servants. The following excerpt from Scotland’s People describes the life: “The Farm Servant and Agricultural Labourer were the foundation of lowland Scottish agriculture. Hiring could be a continuation of existing employment or a new contract established at a “hiring fair”, and for the Farm Servant, was normally for a one year period, or at least six months. The Agricultural Laborer on the other hand was paid day wages, hired on a short term, as and when work was needed. This was characteristic of arable farming – planting, hoeing, reaping, general farm work, etc. The contents of their houses would go with them as they ‘flitted’ to each home; table and chairs, bedsteads, mattresses, crockery, all loaded on a horse-drawn cart. They lived without roots, always on the edge of a move and as a result were fiercely self-sufficient and independent of mind.”
William McCubbin & Margaret Stroyan
The Kirkcowan McCubbins
#50
William and Margaret married about 1803 and had six known children. Many of them were involved in the building industry as Master Joiners and Master Plasterers. A Joiner was a skilled craftsman, working with wood. Usually he would have apprenticed with a master Joiner, who would often be a relative. He would likely be skilled in a specific area of woodworking, such as furniture making. One of the most skilled tasks the Joiner did was to make wooden cartwheels. Sometimes the Joiner would travel to a farm and repair a broken wooden item.
One of William and Margaret’s sons, John, a Master Joiner, moved to Kirkcudbright. At the time of the 1881 census, John’s son William, was a Master Plasterer “employing 5 men, 2 boys.”
Alexander McCubbin & Agnes Jackson
Leswalt to Australia
#09
Many descendants were Dairymen and Cheesemakers – the women also. Alexander and Agnes became the progenitors of descendants who went off to other parts of the world – America and Australia. Many Australians are descended from two of their sons, William, (who married Catherine Menzies), and Alexander, (who married Elizabeth Simpson).
Thomas McCubbin & Grizale Henderson
Ayr to New Luce
#43
Thomas and Grizale ‘Grace’, were married in Ayr, 1796. They moved to Stoneykirk where their son John was born. John married Ann McCulloch, became a Tailor and had eight children, most born in New Luce. Other descendants were Tailors, as well as Joiners, Engine Fitters, and Woolen Weavers.
Alexander McCubbin & Agnes Weir
The Kirkmaiden & Stoneykirk McCubbins
#45
The first official record of Alexander McCubbin is on the death register of his son William, in 1901. William’s mother is listed as Agnes Weir. Alexander’s occupation was a Joiner. William married Anne Chalmers in Kirkmaiden, in 1841.
Many Scots at this time were illiterate as evidenced by the use of X marks, instead of signatures, on the statutory birth, marriage and death certificates. William signed his name with an ‘X’ on all the birth certificates of his children. William and Annie were determined their own nine children should be educated – not an easy task on a farm worker’s income. Annie became very enterprising in supplementing the family income. “She kept a ‘Dame school’ in Drummore and boarded Lodgers – among them farm workers, a schoolmaster, and Wigtownshire poet, named ‘McCammie’.
The ‘Dame school’ would correspond with a present day nursery. This was common practice in Scotland in the late 18th & 19th centuries. A woman of some education would be paid 1d a week or similar to educate very young children, mainly teaching the alphabet, simple numeracy and to read the Bible – the main source of literature.” As told by a great granddaughter of William and Ann.
From the age of five years old, McCubbin children were listed in the censuses as ‘scholars’. By the time they left home they were literate, loved reciting poetry and were not afraid of a good days work.
One of their descendants, living today, went on to become a well known Canadian author, and champion of women’s rights. Doris McCubbin Anderson led the fight that resulted in one simple statement being enshrined – in 1981 – in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:” men and women are equal under the law.”
Is it McCubbin or McKibben?
The actual spelling of the name McKibben, is a rare occurrence in Scotland, although it predominates in Ireland. Because few people could write their names until about the middle of the 19th century, the church minister wrote it as he heard it. If the family had once lived in Ireland, they likely pronounced their name ‘McKibben’. The McKibben name occurs several times in the old parish records of Stoneykirk. The spelling changed in the early 1800’s when a new minister took over the parish. Some of the following McCubbin families originated from the McKibbens of Stoneykirk:
John McCubbin ‘McKibben’ & Margaret McWilliam
Stoneykirk, Whithorn, Glasserton
#44
John and Margaret were married in 1784 at Stoneykirk. John’s name was originally recorded as ‘McKibbon’, ‘McKibben’. In the early 1800’s the name began to appear as McCubbin, although the original spelling turns up throughout the records of some of their ten known children, who were born in the parishes of Stoneykirk, Portpatrick, Old Luce and Glenluce.
John began his work life in the fields, then took a leap from being a Ploughman to a Tailor. In 1841, at the age of 81, he was still working as a Tailor in Glasserton.
His descendants continued to work in the fields – as Ploughmen, Farm Servants, Agricultural Labourers, and some as Fishermen.
Some other McCubbins in the Stoneykirk parish were recorded in the mid and late 1700’s, as McKibbens:
– Alexander McCubbin ‘McKibben’ and Isobel Davidson, married about 1784
– John McCubbin ‘McKibben’ and Margaret Gibson, married 1755.
An Ayrshire – Ireland McCubbin, McKibben family
Researched by David McCormack
David McCormack, born in Ayrshire, now living in Alberta, Canada, has done extensive research on his ancestors; the earliest known being Shaw McKibben of County Down, Ireland. Shaw was David’s fourth great grandfather. Shaw is also the ancestor of another Canadian, Neil McCubbin of Quebec.
We first discovered the connection between Ayrshire and Ireland through Shaw’s son William, who emigrated to Ayrshire. Shaw McKibben of Ireland was recorded as the father on his son William’s death registration.
Shaw was 23 upon signing a land lease of a three acre farm in 1808, at Blaris, Townland of Maze, County Down, Ireland -from the Marchioness of Downshire. Shaw farmed the land until his death in 1860. He was 85 years old.
For the first time, we were able to show a definite link between the McKibbens of Ireland and the McCubbins of Scotland. It was an exciting find.
Great sleuthing Dave!
Hello from Lynne McCubbin of Ayrshire
“Have started going to Edinburgh’s Register House at least every three months. I recently completed the 1871 census for McCubbins in Ayrshire. (These will be entered onto the McCubbin Family History website). Hoping to get the 1901 next time I’m in Edinburgh.
Last week I heard from a descendant of Hugh McCubbin (b 1833 Girvan) who went on to become Lord Mayor of Liverpool. I have received some lovely old photos. This was such a great find for me.
I also made another wonderful discovery. My interest in the family tree began with my looking for David Peacock McCubbin who apparently deserted the Navy in WWI. He changed his name to David Stewart and went to Australia. Even with Penny’s help I’ve been unable to find anything about him. However, some naval records recently went online – would you believe my David showed up with all the ships he’d been on. He never deserted in WWI, because he jumped ship in 1891 in Barbados and wasn’t caught! So at least I have another 10 years of his life – perhaps one day I can find out what became of him.
I also have been involved with the Freecen project as a transcriber and checker. Unfortunately the Ayrshire census for 1851 wasn’t available on CD ROM, so have been doing other areas. No McCubbins so far! I’ve transcribed/checked two huge parishes in Glasgow (east end) and not a one showed up for 1841. Obviously any McCubbins were elsewhere in the city.”
Early McCubbin Families in the Dunscore, Dumfriesshire Area
by Kathy McCubbing Hopkins
According to “The Surnames of Scotland” by George F Black, the earliest McCubbin recorded was Martin M’Cubyn or M’Cubyne who was a tenant in the mill of Dalfubill in 1376 (RHM, I, p lvii). Dalfibble is about 11 miles north-east of Dunscore.
There is no doubt that the McCubbin family was well established in Dumfriesshire by the 16th century and there is a reference to a William McCowbin at Gilmerston (approximately ½ mile west of Dunscore) in 1529.
He held land on the estate of Sir John Hay of Yester, lord of the barony of Snade, lying in the parish of Glencairn. There seems to have been some sort of dispute between Hay and his tenants which turned into quite a nasty and bloody affair. A descendant of another tenant, Patrick Meliken (Milligan), has researched the archives and recounts the incidents which are an illustration of the brutal and bloody times these people lived in. An account of this can be found on the “The Regarde Bien” website:
The website also contains articles which give good descriptions of life (for the Milligans) in the area and there are occasional references to members of the McCubbin family.
There survives in Glencairn Moniaive churchyard a very old gravestone, from 1663, of a John MCubin (1563-1663) who lived at Marwhirn, which is north-west of Moniaive. It is believed that the famous mason, “Old Mortality” carved the back of the stone. “Old Mortality” was the nickname of Robert Paterson, a Scotsman of the 18th century who later in life decided to travel around Scotland with his trusty horse, re-engraving the tombs of 17th century covenanter martyrs.
Front- and back-sides of a very old McCubbin headstone, thought to be inscribed by “Old Mortality”
By 1565 Robert McCubbin was already ensconced at McCubbington and there are records of a Johnne McCubbine witnessing the baptism of a John Milliken (son of a neighbour from Milliganton Farm) in 1602, and in 1606 of an Elizabeth McCubene married to John Grier (by then deceased).
Regality of Melrose records of 1607 show a Robert McCubbines in Dunscoir (possibly the Robert at McCubbington) and, in 1618, in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland a James McCubene at Blackburne is mentioned as a tenant/servant of the Laird of Lag, whose family was later to be responsible for the execution of Alexander M’Cubine in 1685). Sasine Records show a Margaret McCubbin married to William Douglas and living at Glenrosche in 1620.
The project has copies of wills for McCubbins in this area, for example the will of Robert McCubbine of 1685, a chapman (land dealer) of Carneselloche and that of John McCubbin (c.1736-1812, husband of Margaret Currie and part of McCubbin family #31 Edgartoun) which was proved in 1813.
In 1685 Alexander M’Cubine, covenanter of Glencairn was arrested on Lochenkit Moor with 5 others, 4 of whom were immediately shot by Capt Bruce. Alexander M’Cubine and Edward Gordon of Galloway were taken to the Bridge of Urr where Grierson of Lagg was violently pressing the abjuration on the country people. The prisoners refused to take the oath, were denied recourse to the assizes and, on 3rd March were taken to Irongray by Lagg and his party. There the two covenanters were hanged on an oak tree at Hallhill within sight of the kirk. The stumps of the oak tree and a memorial can be seen there today which is inscribed:
Here lyes Edward Gordon and Alexander McCubine, martyres hanged without law by Lagg and Cap Bruce for adhereing to the word of God, Christ’s kingly government in his hous and the covenanted work of reformation against tyranny, perjury and prelacy. Rev. 12: II. Mar. 3: 1685 As Lagg and bloodie Bruce comman’d, we were hung up by hellish hand: and thus their furious rage to stay we died near Kirk of Iron-Gray: – Sweet rest we take once murder’d for religeons sake.
As Lagg and bloodie Bruce comman’d, we were hung up by hellish hand: and thus their furious rage to stay we died near Kirk of Iron-Gray: – Sweet rest we take once murder’d for religeons sake.”
The graves were enclosed by railings in 1832 when a new gravestone was put alongside the old one.
Another memorial to the Nithsdale Martyrs, including Alexr MacCubine, was erected in 1928 in the ancient cemetery of Dalgarnoc after a conventicle was held in 1925 in which the parish minister of Closeburn, Rev Charles Rolland Ramsay gave an account of the Nithsdale Covenanters and appealed for funds to renovate their monuments and commemorate them in an appropriate memorial. For the unveiling of the stately Northumbrian Cross honouring 57 of the Nithsdale Martyrs, whose names are inscribed upon it, a second conventicle was held in 1928. A separate stone placed at its base reads “From admirers in Australia”.
In 1985 a conventicle was held at the “communion stones” on Skeoch Hill at Irongray to commemorate the martyrs’ lives.
References to Alexander McCubbin by name (various spellings), and the struggles of the covenanters is mentioned in several books, including: “Hunted and Harried”, a novel by R M Ballantyne, c.1890;”The Laird of Lag, A Life Sketch” by Lt Col A Fergusson, 1886; “Tynron, Dumfriesshire” by W A Wilson, BEM 1957 – a descendant of the McCubbin family from Keir (#05), and “The Martyrs Graves of Scotland” by J H Thomson. An obelisk in Irongray memorializes a huge conventicle, held in 1678, attended by thousands of individuals.
There are 2 very similar references which indicate that a descendant, James (1840-1927, a stationmaster at Elvanfoot, part of family #32 Dunscore/Kirkmahoe) was in possession of Alexander’s bible: “The Martyrs Graves of Scotland” by J H Thomson, 1906 and “Galloway and the Covenanters”, Paisley Alexander Gardener, 1914. According to Thomson:
“The stationmaster at Elvanfoot, on the main line of the Caledonian railway, is a descendant of Alexander M’Cubbin and bears his name. He still possesses the martyr’s Bible. It is in good preservation. It is a small folio dated “Edinburgh, printed by Andro Hart, and are to be sold at his Buith on the Kirk Side of the Gates, a little beneath the cross Anno Dom 1610.”
Descendants of this branch are in contact with the project but, so far, no trace of the Bible (which would be about 400 years old now!) has been found, and it was not mentioned in James’ will. The Biggar museum which keeps a number of covenanters’ Bibles has been contacted but it does not reside there. If you know anything about the whereabouts of this Bible, please contact Kathy.
There were a couple of McCubbin family groups in Glencairn in the late 1600s/early 1700s but it has not thus far been possible to link them with Alexander. It is said that Alexander was married to a woman called Sarah and that they had 2 sons, Alexander and James.
During this period in Glencairn there are records of an Alexander and a James both married to Janet Maxwell(!) and Alexander to Margaret Brownrig(!) with several offspring from 1693 to 1706. Also an Alexander McGachie married to a Janet Maxwell with children born between 1697 and 1699. There are also records of a James McCubbin married to a Janet Waugh, married in Keir, with 5 children born in Glencairn between 1726 and 1742.
Meanwhile, McCubbins continued to live at McCubbington and have been tracked through Sasine records from Robert (1607, mentioned above) to his son John (1607, 1645), and then to son Robert (1645, 1718) who married Jean Freschie. Their son, James, who is mentioned in the Sasine of 1718 may be James McCubbin (c.1710-1770, a portioner (land dealer) whose descendants have been researched (#31 Edgartoun), although there is other information which links a James McCubbin (1654-1722, buried in Dunscore Portrack cemetery) from McCubbington to son James, a Merchant.
In the early 1700s a number of other McCubbins lived in the area: John (c.1684-1742) who married Agnes Gordon and lived at Halliday Hill, also Janet McCubbin who died in 1720, second wife of John McBurnie – they are buried in Dunscore Portrack cemetery. There is an Andrew mentioned in a Sasine of 1720 at Edgartoun, and a John, eldest son and heir of James, who is mentioned in a Sasine in 1725 for McCubbinstoun which also mentions a Robert McCubin in McCubbinstoun at that time.
Some good references have been found for early documents held in the Edinburgh archives which mention McCubbins from the Dunscore area and it will be a challenging project to locate, transcribe/translate them. Apart from the difficulties with transcribing very old documents, some of them are in Latin.
The CUB Report from Australia
by Penny McColm
Why would the children of Alexander McCubbin born 1794 and his wife Ann (nee Aitken) of Dailly Ayrshire leave their, homeland, a close-knit family and the rich family traditions of Scotland? A mystery indeed!
No documentation has been found so far to give the reasons why they all left Scotland. I believe that it was most likely lack of employment prospects that encouraged an entire generation to leave Scotland and set sail for the 4 corners of the earth, but leave it they did!
Sadly this implies that not a single living descendant of this family no longer survives in Scotland today.
Alexander and Ann were married on the 26th December 1817 and subsequently had 14 children, all born in Ayrshire during the years1818 to1838. There were 10 boys and 4 girls. One child William, was the only one who remained with his parents, another Alexander, born in 1819 died in infancy, the rest literally flew the nest!
Their stories are fascinating and as you will see they ventured to all corners of the globe. So in brief here is their story:
Alexander born 1818 died in 1819
David born 1819 went to Liverpool
Anderson born 1821 went to Liverpool
Peter born 1823 went to Liverpool
James born 1825 settled in Liverpool & Cheshire
William born 1826 died in Scotland in 1847
John born 1827 settled first in New Zealand then on to Australia
Alexander born 1827(twin brothers) migrated to Australia
Mary born 1829 migrated to New Zealand
Hamilton born 1831 went to Hawaii USA
Jane born 1832 also migrated to New Zealand
Sarah born 1833 joined her sister in New Zealand
Clement Wilson born 1835 moved to New Jersey USA
Wilhemina born 1838 went with her sisters to New Zealand
Each and every one of these children most likely never saw their parents again and as the research has opened up their lives to us there have been many mysteries solved. They married, had children, and tragically lost some, as was the norm for those days; some lived very hard lives at a time when Australia & New Zealand were recently settled. And those that stayed in England established themselves as publicans and mariners with the Cunard Line, they became highly respected members of the Liverpool community.
I am indebted this year to Marjory Woodward of Surrey UK who has contributed so much data to our history, which has kept me busy for the past year, Bill McCubbin of Canada, and Bill Smart of NZ/Australia, for their ongoing support. Ref #A02 Penny
Some Notable & Adventurous McCubbins
George Reynolds McCubbin of South Africa D.S.O
George Reynolds McCubbin was born in 1898 in Cape Town, the eldest son of David Aitken McCubbin and Lucy Clegg.
He attended King Edward’s School in Johannesburg. George distinguished himself as soon as he had finished his schooling. At the age of 18, he joined the Royal Flying Corp in 1916. He was passionate about flying.
On June 18th 1916, he was on patrol over the Western Front, when 3 enemy planes were seen on the horizon. A dramatic dogfight ensued and George was credited with shooting down German air ace Max Immelman, who was greatly feared for his flying skills in avoiding his enemies and his reputation for having shot down 15 allied planes.
George was unaware of this amazing feat he had achieved – that he had actually downed Immelman – for some 3 days after the incident, but 8 days later he was awarded the D.S.O. He was eventually promoted to Major; he later became a well-known and highly respected businessman in Johannesburg. He died on 7th September 1948.
Louis Frederick McCubbin of Australia O.B.E
Louis Frederick McCubbin was born 18 March 1890 in the suburb of Hawthorn, Melbourne Australia, he was the eldest son of Frederick McCubbin and Annie McCubbin nee Moriarty.
Louis was a talented artist and as a young man joined the 14th Battalion of the AIF and served in France from November 1917 with the 10th Field Ambulance. “McCubbin undertook a camouflage course in 1918 and became one of five soldiers already serving with the AIF to be appointed an official war artist affiliated with the Australian War Records Section.”
After the war Louis returned to Australia and was “employed by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra where he created the backgrounds of the dioramas, which adorn the walls of the Memorial. He also produced numerous watercolour preparatory sketches and two series of paintings to complement the dioramas. He was re-employed by the Memorial from 1935-1936 to undertake commissions for large paintings, depicting war damage on the Western Front.” (Source Aust War Memorial web site)
Later he became Director of the South Australian Art Gallery, he painted some of his finest works while living in Adelaide. He died in Melbourne on 6th December 1952.
John Findlay son of Jane McCubbin of New Zealand KCMG
John George Findlay was born 21st October 1862 in Hokitika on the West Coast of New Zealand. He was the third child of George Findlay and Jane McCubbin Findlay. Jane, together with her sisters and her husband had recently migrated to NZ from Scotland.
John’s education extended eventually to the University of Otago where he gained his LLB in 1886, he was called to the Bar in 1887. John married Josephine Emily Arkel in 1890 and they had three children. He practiced law for some years in Wellington and gradually became interested in politics; in 1906 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, and he took on the office of Attorney General.
His career flourished and in 1911 he decided to contest the Parnell seat for the House of Representatives. This attempt failed but he accomplished his aim and in 1917 he was elected.
During these years he travelled to Britain where he was honoured with the KCMG in the coronation honours of King George V, two years later in 1919 he retired from public service. He eventually settled in Sussex, England and died there on 7th December 1929.
James Alexander McCubbin of Liverpool UK
James Alexander McCubbin was born on 9th June 1852 in Liverpool England the second son of Alexander McCubbin and Ann McCubbin nee McWilliam.
James was born on the eve of his parent’s departure for Australia; they had decided to emigrate and they settled in Melbourne Victoria Australia.
James spent his childhood years growing up in the rapidly expanding and exciting city of Melbourne of the 1860’s. It is not known when he farewelled his parents, brothers and sisters and sailed to England, where he soon settled in with the large extended family of his father. He was employed by the Cunard Shipping Line, working out of Liverpool on the Atlantic run as an assistant purser. He married his cousin, Annie McCubbin, daughter of his Uncle Peter, on the 3rd of July 1876 in the Registry Office, Liverpool. Eventually James became a Chief Purser. He no doubt must have been delighted to be posted to the position of Chief Purser on the prestigious Lusitania on the Liverpool to New York run. Sadly that sealed his fate and the witty and jovial James Alexander died when, off the coast of Ireland, a German U Boat torpedoed the ship on the 7th May 1915. His body was recovered and he was buried in the Toxteth Cemetery Liverpool Lancashire.
McCubbin – McCubben – McCubbing ANZACS WW1 & WW2
Many McCubbin men and women enlisted in the forces during both World Wars.
In some instances, where some have given their lives for their country, their names have not always been entered in to the Death Indexes of Australia.
Searching the excellent databases in the following web sites can rectify this unfortunate oversight:
Go to Collections, the name, in WW1. Go to Name in WW2 and type in any of the following: McCubbin, MacCubbin, McCubbine, McCubben, McCubbing.
During the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway was the gateway to both the Chilkoot pass and the White Pass. The stampede of would-be miners changed a quiet one-cabin town in 1897 and 1898 into a boom town where “craft of every description, from ocean-going steamers to little more than floating coffins were dumping a crazily mixed mass of humanity into the makeshift tent village.”
There was no law in the gold rush town. An extensive system of fraud, theft, armed robbery and murder left many ‘stampeders’ penniless or dead before they could start their journey north to the gold fields.
Grave of John McCubbin, Died 1898 Skagway Gold Rush Cemetery, Skagway
A McCubbin Family in British Columbia, Canada – Thomas McCubbin and Sarah Hazle
Gail Blagdon (nee) McCubbin, of British Columbia has recently set up a website relating the story of her McCubbin family. Following is an edited clip from Gail’s site:
Thomas McCubbin and Sarah Hazle married at Maybole, Ayr, in 1836. One of their sons, John McCubbin, Sr. was a tailor. “He and his wife Elizabeth had two sons, Thomas Hazle born November 14, 1877 and John Stevenson born May 2, 1884.
Tom learned tailoring from his father and worked at his trade in London, England and then had a shop in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. While in Rothesay he met Elizabeth Shirra Dougall of Kippen, Sterlingshire,. They became engaged and in the spring of 1910 Tom left Scotland to make his fortune in British Columbia.
It was hard to imagine the courage and spirit of adventure that led this thirty-two year old man to leave his family in Ayr and venture into the wilds of British Columbia.”
Want to know more about Tom McCubbin’s life in a northern Canadian town? Go to Gail’s website:
Queries
Karen Downie of Edinburgh, has done an enormous amount of work searching for members of the family of John McCubbin ‘McKibben’ and Margaret McWilliam, of Stoneykirk. (File #44). Not only has she hurdled ‘brick walls’ in the search, she has shared her information with our group. A long list of Monumental Inscriptions, given to Karen by Dumfries & Galloway History Association, helped solve mysteries as well as add to our databank. From our collection of McCubbins, we in turn, have added more to Karen’s family.
Special thanks to LG Brown of England, who is descended from James McCubbin and Isabella Stoddart, File #04. His family settled in the Liverpool area. After LG received the information he required from our databank, he continued to research other McCubbin families in England for us. Many thanks LG.
Miki Collins, thank you for your continued diligence in helping with the proper documentation of Americans descended from John McCubbin of Maryland.
AND once again thank you all who have contributed to the McCubbin project. Every little CUB bit helps.
Our 2006 CUB report will feature Ayrshire families. Wishing you the very best for 2006
The McCubbin name is registered with the Guild of One Name Studies
Searching the McCubbin name worldwide.
Member #3650
Contact us at: mccubbin@one-name.org
December, 2006 Dear Cubbies,
Issue number 6 features:
The McCubbins of Ayrshire (Part One)
A McCubbin Reunion in San Francisco
Bermuda – The Mystery of the Sundial
The McCubbin Family of Penpont, Dumfriesshire
The Five Remarkable McCubbing Sisters of Fayette County, Kentucky
Australia – New Acquisitions
Reynolds McCubbin – A Canadian Pioneer
CUB BITS
Queries
The McCubbins of Ayrshire
by Lynne McCubbin File #06 Ayrshire
Five other shires – Wigtown, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries, Lanark and Renfrew – bound the former county of Ayrshire. Ayrshire now consists of three districts South,East and North. Even at that the three districts are still pretty large. This has not made it easy for the genealogist, as the main libraries tend to only hold information relating to their own areas.
Ayrshire’s main town is naturally enough, Ayr, which has a long and often bloody history. In 1197 William the Lyon ordered that a castle be built between the Rivers Ayr and Doon and before long the town of Ayr was born. The occupation by the English in the late 13th century led to William Wallace setting fire to the barns in the town, which surrounded the English soldiers. It is said that Wallace stood and watched the fires from the nearby hamlet of Craigie and stated that ‘the barns o’ Ayr burn weil‘ (well). A monument now stands there called appropriately Barnweil. Not long after Robert the Bruce razed the fort to keep it from further English occupation.
I grew up in the village of Alloway, outside Ayr, birthplace of our national bard, Rabbie Burns. Many happy days in my childhood were spent roaming and romping through the beautiful parks of Bellisle and Rozelle. I was terrified to venture into the Auld Alloway Kirk, where Tam O’Shanter encountered the witch Cutty Sark. I marvelled at the ‘hoof’ print left by his poor horse Meg on the Brig O’ Doon after she lost her grey tail! Many summer holidays were spent in the lovely seaside town of Girvan – birth place of my great grandfather William McCubbin and his forebears. —– Below: Brig O’Doon, Alloway
The Ayrshire coast is beautiful and the run down from Ayr to Ballantrae is breathtaking. You can pass through the idyllic little fishing village of Dunure or take the inland road through the ancient historical town of Maybole. The great expanse of beach at Croy with Culzean Castle on its southern end is lovely. On through Girvan to Lendalfoot with its spattering of old holiday huts, many of them now renovated and pretty. We often stop at a car park on the cliff’s edge and take an exhilarating hike down to a little cove. Within this secluded spot exists the legendary Sawney Bean’s cave – legend has it that he and his large family lived there and lived off passing travellers – literally, as they were apparently cannibals! My Dad frightened the life out of me as a kid taking me into the cave…and I loved every minute of it! Even now I still get chill in there. Sadly these days you’re more likely to find the remnants of a party with beer cans and fire ashes! Just outside the cave my great grandmother had a vegetable garden – she was raised in Lendalfoot and must have walked a fair old bit to tend to the family plot. You can still see the stones that marked this little garden. Below: Lendalfoot
Employment in 17th and 18th century Ayrshire was mainly made up of weaving and farming but this was to give way later to mining. The inland towns such as Dalmellington, Muirkirk, and Cumnock thrived on mining – or rather I should say the mining companies did – for the workers it was a hard, hard existence. Weaving was the mainstay of places like Girvan and Newmilns, where I now live. Weaving is still a major industry here. ————Below: McCubbin’s Corner, Townhead St, Cumnock
As for the McCubbins – they were weavers, farmers, innkeepers, miners, tailors, masons, etc. Some became prosperous others weren’t so fortunate. Many moved to Glasgow, with many more emigrating to America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. But before we take a look at some of them we need to go a bit further back in history.
Perhaps the most famous McCubbin of Ayrshire was Lord Fergus of Knockdolian. Legend has it that he was born (about 1602) in the McCubbinstone area, near Glencairn, Dumfriesshire, and became the Laird of Knockdolian Castle, Colmonell, Ayrshire, former ‘old pile’ of the Grahams. He married Sarah MacGregor Black in 1628 and had various children.
Fergus lived at a time of great religious and political turmoil and he became involved with the Covenanters. In 1666 Fergus died for his beliefs. It is said that a curse was placed upon the McCubbin Family at Knockdolian stating that no heirs would ever hold court at Knockdolian again. It should be noted that a curse existed long before this. Apparently the Lady of Knockdolian (perhaps a Graham?) was upset that the resident Mermaid’s singing kept her baby awake at night. The rock on which the Mermaid sang her nightly arias was ordered destroyed by the Lady. The Mermaid was rather miffed by this turn of events and she arose from the sea singing:
“Ye may think on your cradle – I’ll think on my stane;
And there’ll ne’er be an heir to Knockdolian again.”
A few nights later the Lady of Knockdolian found the cradle overturned and her poor child dead on the floor. She was never blessed with any more children. Ah, the stuff of legends indeed!
Well, the curse may have been true inasmuch as a McCubbin was never Laird of Knockdolian again, but the line certainly didn’t die out. Fergus’ son, John, was apparently disowned by his father as he held differing religious views. He took off for pastures new in the shape of Maryland, which of course is a whole other story.
The McCubbins didn’t vanish from Colmonell completely, however. In 1692 a Fergus McCubbine of Parks, Colmonell is listed. I would imagine the bloodline was therefore still alive and kicking.
And so we jump a half-century to where documentation of my own line of McCubbins began. Whether we are connected to Fergus or not I do not know but there must have been a severe downturn of fortunes if we were!
Daniel McCubbin, my 5th great grandfather, was born about 1742 in Kirkoswald. He was a Master Mason who had four known children by Margaret McGhie – Helen, James, John and Thomas, who were born in Girvan. Following the birth of Thomas in 1777 it would appear that Daniel remarried Mary Eaglesome and had a further eight children. This has never been confirmed and there were two Daniels born in Kirkoswald about 1742 so it may be two completely separate families.
Daniel and Margaret’s son John married Margaret McKissock and it is from their children that my McCubbin Tree really takes off. Their youngest son Peter (my 3rd great grandfather) married a young girl by the name of Janet Hannah from Ballantrae. I guess Peter is the first ‘great’ that I have an affinity with. Like his father he was a Weaver and resided in Wilson Street in Girvan for at least 30 years. This little row of cottages still exist and I’ve had the pleasure of wandering down it and imagining what life was like for Peter and his family.
Peter and Janet were married for 24 years before she died in 1859. Her youngest son Thomas was only 6 years old. I have always felt sorry for Thomas as he never married and died in the Poorhouse in Glasgow in 1909. John, the eldest ended up in Paisley and I’m sure there must be descendants up that way somewhere. Next was James, who headed for a new life in New Zealand. He arrived in Otago about 1862 and married Isabella Campbell from Islay, whom he’d met on the ship. From what I understand there are no male descendants left from that line. Brother Peter died at the young age of 22 in Ardrossan.
The three remaining children had families and I have traced a great many branches and twiglets – not much contact with living descendants but they must be out there somewhere! Margaret had two children before marrying Thomas Quail – Janet Hannah and Hugh both went on to have families. Brother Matthew moved to Ayr and married Ann Pettigrew in 1874 – two years later both she and his baby daughter had died within weeks of each other. Six months later he remarried to Margaret White – they had five children together. One son Matthew died in France during the last months of WW1.
William, my great great grandfather married Sarah Peacock – their marriage was short-lived too, Sarah died in 1881 leaving three young children, David Peacock (7), Peter (4) and William (3). David became the sailor who jumped ship and was the reason for my starting genealogy in the first place (it’s all his fault!). Peter died young aged only 19 from TB. So the direct line dwindled away and was left to my great grandfather to continue. William Jr. married Jemima McCracken (it’s her veggie garden at Sawney Bean’s cave). He was a Master Mason, who built (along with others naturally) a famous department store in Glasgow in the 1930’s – it’s still there today. William and Jemima had three children – Peter, William, my grandfather and Jean. I never met my grandfather of Peter but I knew Jean and she only passed away in 2000. A second cousin 4 times removed of mine was Hugh McCubbin. In 1895 he was appointed an Alderman of Liverpool. The year of his death he donated a fountain to his hometown of Girvan. Below: McCubbin Fountain, Girvan
There was another line of McCubbins in Girvan, who originated in Ireland, which was featured in last year’s Cub Report – I traced the line for sometime before realising they weren’t mine. Fortunately for me both lines married into each other so all was not in vain. Yet another line appears in Girvan, which I have so far been unable to connect to. McCubbin is such a common name in the surrounding villages and towns like Colmonell, Ballantrae and Maybole that I have no doubt they are related somewhere along the line – unfortunately probably before the records were properly documented. There are four Fergus children in my tree – the name was still being given as late as 1910, so maybe, just maybe, Sir Fergus was my umpteenth great grandfather….
So that is my brief and very general summary of Ayrshire and my McCubbins. I’m pleased to say, that even though it is over a hundred years since my ancestors left Girvan, my children, like myself have come to know Girvan and that makes me very, very proud of my ancestry, regardless of whether there is nobility or not!
A McCubbin Reunion in San Francisco
File #62 Ayrshire
Organized by Nancy Altman
John McCubbin (born about 1775) and Agnes Hodgeon raised their children in Maybole, Ayr. Their descendants moved on to Glasgow, then to various parts of the world. Answering a query letter to Lorna McCubbin, one of their great great grandsons, Alexander McCubbin told of his early life. “My father was John McCubbin and he married Agnes McLaughlin in Greenock, Scotland in 1904. He was 18 and his bride 17. Shortly after, they boarded ship for Hong Kong where my father was to be employed in the Taikoo Sugar Refinery. In those days you had a contract for five years then were granted a one year vacation. During those five years my sister, Elizabeth Lee, and brother, John, were born. At the end of the contract the family sailed for Greenock for their vacation. My father returned to Hong Kong alone because of the war situation, and my mother was with child and advised not to travel. I was born Alexander, on December 17, 1914. We stayed with my great grandma, grandma, and mother. Mother was a seamstress and Grandma a Midwife. It was said that she delivered half the babies in Greenock, no doubt an exaggeration. My father did not see me until I was about five years old, when the family reunited after the war. In 1923 we sailed for San Francisco where a family reunion was in the offing. My grandmother, her four sons, one daughter, twenty grandsons and two granddaughters all attended.”
The First McCubbin Reunion in San Francisco, 1923
The next reunion of John and Agnes’ descendants was held this year, February 2006. Organized by Nancy Altman, their (many times great) granddaughter, says the event was a huge success. Nancy writes to Lorna and Lynne McCubbin; “It was amazing. A good time was had by all, and I believe we sparked some interest from the 30 something age group, all third cousins, who are very keen to continue with reunions. William (Bill) McCubbin, (one of the many Bills!), was the guest of honour. He is 94 years old and was at the first McCubbin reunion in San Francisco back in 1923. He was very dear, as he said to me at the start of dinner – “Please don’t ask me to stand and say anything, I’m very shy.” Well…my cousin Campbell, (Alex’s son) from B.C. who is a radio personality in Vancouver offered to be the host for the evening, and as he was speaking, Bill grabs the mike and begins telling all the details of the 1923 McCubbin reunion in San Francisco. He was wonderful! Not shy after all.
Alex McCubbin who is also in his 90’s, who answered your query letter, and now lives in Surrey, B.C. Canada, was unable to attend. Believe it or not, I met three cousins for the first time who grew up about three miles from my home! We had 100 people attend, and mostly they are all residing in the SF Bay area. Best wishes to both of you and thank you again for making our journey back to our roots complete.” (Lorna and Lynne provided the research for the ancestral charts)
Bermuda , The Mystery of the Sundial
File #46 Wigtownshire by Lorna McCubbin
I received the following query from Mark R. Herauf, CA, of Southlands Resort, Bermuda:
“I am hoping you can help me out. I work for a company in Bermuda that purchased a large plot of land to develop. Currently it has 7 houses on it. A couple of the houses were converted from horse stables and carriage storage buildings. We think it may have been used to teach students from Warwick Academy when the school had problems with the building. The property used to be owned by a James Morgan (from Canada), who passed away in 1932. It has not been maintained for about 30 years so there is much plant/vegetation growth that needs to be cleared. While doing some clearing of the property, we found this sundial (picture attached) laying face down in some weeds. From what I can see, the name shows Rev. A. McCubbin, Leswalt. Do you know of this person that could have lived in Bermuda? We would like to get some background information for our project as we plan to have a history room of who worked/lived on the property.”
I answered Mr. Herauf that I do have information about Rev. Andrew McCubbin of Leswalt, Wigtownshire, Scotland. However, I then needed to establish a time line of Andrew’s life and establish when he may have been and/or served in Bermuda. Andrew McCubbin was born in Kirkinner, Wigtownshire about 1765. He married (1) Isabella MacLean, of Tiree, who died 1832 (2) Alexa McDougall, 1837 in Leswalt. Her father was a landed proprietor in Argyll. Andrew was 30 years senior to Alexa, who was 35, according to the census of 1841. However, Alexa may have had a sense of humour or conveniently had memory loss because she once again gave her age as mid-thirties at the 1851 census. She died at age 70 in 1885. No matter, Andrew had a very young wife. Both censuses find Andrew at the Manse/Glebe, in Leswalt with his wife Alexa, in Leswalt.
I found more documented records that Andrew resided in Leswalt. In the Statistical Accounts of Scotland 1791 – 1845, Rev Andrew McCubbin, Minister, was the author of a detailed description of the Parish of Leswalt, Presbytery of Stranraer, Synod of Galloway, which he wrote in 1839. He opens his account with: “Leswalt signifies the meadow along the burn. The rivulet, on the bank of which stands the old church, takes its rise out of a large moss of nearly 1000 acres, and forms a beautiful cascade where it enters the romantic glen of Altdowran, which signifies the Otter’s Burn.” He describes his parish church “built in 1828, stands in a very convenient situation for the parishioners, and is about eight miles from the farthest extremities of the parish, and affords accommodation for 800 sitters. No free sittings. The manse was built in 1811. The glebe contains nearly 20 acres.”
There is no record of Andrew having children with either of his wives. And, because BMD records in the mid 1700’s were so sparse I had difficulty finding a link to parents, siblings or their descendants. Fortunately Andrew wrote a Will in 1846. Written on his tombstone (with a family crest on top), in the Leswalt Old Kirkyard his death and his first wife Isabella are recorded: “To the Memory of His dear wife Mrs. Isabella MacLean of Tiree, who died 19th Oct 1832. The Revd. Andrew MacCubbin, Minister of this Parish, died 4th February 1852 in the 54th year of his ministry.”
Andrew left an estate “of £300 and under £450” After amounts owed to the Earl of Stair, A.Vans Agnew, and other persons, his wife Alexa was to get half of the estate as long as she was widowed to Andrew – a house and ‘yeard‘ in the Burgh of Stranraer, cattle, silver plate in the manse of Leswalt. The other half divided in four equal shares to his three deceased brothers lawful descendants, John, Brown and Alexander and his (then living) sister Jean, nee McCulloch. Also to John and Ann, grand nephew and niece, £25 each.
An extensive search through Wigtownshire records (and the McCubbin database) helped me link up Andrew to two of his brothers – Brown and Alexander. John and Jean were nowhere to be found (maybe they emigrated). Brown McAdam McCubbin, a Farmer, married Isobel Connin and has several descendants. They did not stray far from the old home area of Kirkinner – where I found many in Whithorn and Penninghame. I have had no contact with living descendants so far. Alexander, also a Farmer, married Mary Stewart in Kirkinner and had twelve children. They too did not stray too far from the fold, although through making links in this search I’ve found a living descendant of Alexander, now residing in Liverpool. I asked if there was any folklore about a Bermuda connection. None is known.
It appears that Andrew began his ministry at the Leswalt church when he was 35 years old. His earlier years, before 1800, may have been in Bermuda. One of the trustees on his Will was John McDougall, Esq, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. A seafaring person such as John McDougall could have heightened Andrew’s curiosity about fields further than Wigtownshire, or for that matter, a seafaring friend may have placed a sundial in memory of Rev A McCubbin of Leswalt.
The search for more about Reverend Andrew McCubbin to be continued……..(Please do tell us of any McCubbin family connections you may have with Bermuda)
The McCubbin Family of Penpont, Dumfriesshire
File #03 Dumfriesshire by Kathy McCubbin Hopkins
This family were Builders, Stonemasons, Farmers and Drapers. Some moved away from Penpont to Edinburgh or further afield to Carlisle (Anglo-Scot borders) and Uxbridge in Middlesex (just north of London). Some emigrated and settled in the new world; Victoria, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Virginia and Washington, DC in the USA. Some must have remained in Dumfriesshire, but they are more elusive and have evaded detection…so far.
The family can be traced back to James McCubbin and Isabel Lorimer who had 10 children in Penpont between 1783 and 1800. Daughter Mary (b.1786) married James Dalgliesh and they must have spent some time In Uxbridge Middlesex where their second son Thomas, who was to become a Draper was probably born (he is recorded to have been born in Middlesex c.1818). Thomas returned to Penpont where he married his first cousin, Jane McCubbin (daughter of Mary’s brother George McCubbin and his wife Agnes Lorimer) in 1860. It is not known where Thomas died., but Jane died in Uxbridge in 1861. No records for offspring have so far been found.
Son George (b.1790), a Builder, later to become a Mason, married Agnes Lorimer in 1815 and they had ten children. Their son John (who died, when a young man) was a Draper. Perhaps this was how their daughter Jane met cousin Thomas Dalgliesh, a Draper from Uxbridge, who she married. George and Agnes’ daughter Isabella died when only 14 years old, and another daughter, also named Isabella died when 79 years old, in 1915, of shock after extensive burning. Two of the sons, James and Robert emigrated to Australia where they settled in Victoria:
Son Robert married Jane Young and they went to Australia, settling Woodend, Victoria where he died in 1884. It is through this line that Rob McCubbin in Victoria, Australia is linked. He loosely based his novel, Son of the Storm”, and others, on his ancestors from Penpont. Son James, a journeyman Stonemason in 1841 when he married Margaret Corrie in Edinburgh, and later a Farmer of 14 acres in 1851 when he married Agnes McNish. Some time after 1851 they went to Australia where he died ten years later. Agnes was back in Penpont by 1881. James and his wives had a total of nine children.
The eldest (with Margaret) was James who married Leah Hurlestone from Wales and went to settle in Australia where he worked as a Storekeeper, also in Woodend, Victoria. Ten of their eleven children were born in Woodend, with the youngest being born in Footscray, Victoria in 1897. Many appear to have remained in the area.
Their son, James (b.1879) married Nellie McPhaill in Fitzroy, Victoria and some of their children’s marriages have been tracked into the 1930s in Victoria.
The youngest (William Charles, with Agnes) was born in North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia around 1859. William must have returned to Dumfries and spent his boyhood years there as Bill Dyke supplied a postcard of Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill which has a note on the back which say that William spent his boyhood days there. Also he is listed in the 1881 census at Penpont, and had moved to Glasgow by 1885 where records show that he joined the Lanarkshire Rifle volunteers. Bill also supplied a photo of William Charles and his wife Mary A Mitchell which was taken in 1921, below (in Glasgow).
His descendants can be tracked through to Bill Dyke whose grandmother was Euphemia McCubbin (Effie) daughter of William Charles. Effie, ‘in service’, emigrated to Winnipeg where she later met Alfred Webb Dyke and married. Effie and son, William, briefly returned to Glasgow during WW1 while Alfred served in France and Belgium for the Canadian Army. After WW1 they re-settled in Ontario where descendants live today.
During the late 19th century one of James’ sons was a Grocer’s Shopman and another a Draper’s Assistant – both remaining in the area. One of the daughter’s second marriages was to a cattle dealer, Thomas Beattie Mitchell, from Newton, Ayr.
Son William (b. about 1824), also a Mason, married Isabella McNeish in 1848, a local girl from Dunscore and they had seven children. As their children grew up they moved away to local places like Morton and Moffat. Two sons continued family trades with William (b1865) becoming a Joiner, and George (b.1851) becoming a Builder and Sculptor. One of their daughters, Isabella, married a Dr Edgar Taylor in Carlisle and their only son, Clement Edwin, was a casualty in WW1 when his merchant ship was torpedoed. Two of the other girls went further afield to New York, USA where they died in the 2nd decade of the 20th century.
Son Andrew (b.1792) was a Gardener and then Landowner and married Janet Dalrymple. They had seven children, who may have been born in Edinburgh. One daughter, Isabella Lorimer McCubbin, emigrated to New Zealand in 1870. She was married to James Kinvig who was born on the Isle of Man. Their daughter, Ellanor Elizabeth Kinvig, was born in Ballarat Australia in about 1862. Their son, William, emigrated to Virginia, USA in 1872 and was living in Washington DC later on.
Of their twin sons Edward and John (b.1795), it is thought that Edward may have moved to Stratford in England where he worked as a Servant to a Tea-dealer, and later became a Tea Dealer himself. The descendants of Edward McCubbin (also spelt McCubbin and Mcaben) and his wife Sophia have been extensively tracked forward. They resided in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Bedforshire and Buckinghamshire and a descendant, John (b.1835 Stratford-on-Avon), a Draper, emigrated to Geelong, Victoria, Australia in 1895. Many of these descendants seem to have been in the draper trade which is one of the reasons that it is thought that the family originally hail from Penpont, as well as the links the family developed with Victoria, Australia.
(Australian research, File #A03 done by Penny McColm) Rob McCubbin is working on his next historical novel. A gripping tale about his ancestors of Dumfriesshire (above). The title is ‘Blood on the Heather’.
The Five Remarkable McCubbing Sisters of Fayette, Kentucky
File #31 Dumfriesshire by Lorna McCubbin
Kathy McCubbing Hopkins and I have spent three years researching the descendants of James McCubbin (b1710) and his wife Mary McMurdo of Edgartoun/Dunscore, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, (File #31). Their descendants span the globe from USA, Canada, New Zealand, not to mention the homeplace, Scotland. We’ve been fortunate to have been helped by Leslie McCubbin – Dumfries, Billy McCubbin – Ayrshire, Dennis Marshall – California, Margaret McColl – New Zealand, Jean Miskiman – Canada, Andrew Bowman – Australia, and co-ordinator – Penny McColm, Australia. If your family is ‘of this tree’ we will be happy to share the McCubbing charts with you.
Sometimes when doing genealogy and searching on the internet I occasionally ‘hit the jackpot’. While browsing through Ancestry.com I found a biography about the McCubbing sisters of Fayette, Kentucky and was able to link them into File #31.
Mary, Marion, Jessie, Isabelle and Margaret McCubbing were descendants of James McCubbin and Mary McMurdo and were the daughters of James McCubbing (b1818) and Isabella Waugh. James and Isabella emigrated to Fayette County, Kentucky USA in 1866, along with their children. The following account is excerpted from ‘A History of Kentucky, Vol 4, Biographies, 1922’. A much fuller version is available on Ancestry.com.
James had been raised in a very successful farming family in Scotland; his father being a Farmer of 464 acres in Crossmichael, Kirkcudbright. “However, James, instead of farming with his father, prepared himself for the legal profession by attending law school in Edinborough (sic), but in Scotland the family name had been closely and prominently associated with the livestock industry for four generations, his early experience having been in connection with this basic line of enterprise, and its lure having led him to abandon his plan for engaging in the practice of law and to identify himself the same important branch of industry in the United States. Choosing to farm near Lexington, KY, he and his family achieved marked success in the breeding and raising of Shorthorn Cattle.” His only surviving son William soon owned his own farm nearby, had a family, but died young in about 1905. James Sr. died in 1898, his wife Isabella Waugh, shortly after, leaving their five daughters on the farm. Daughter Jessie managed the farm.
The biography continues – “Mr. and Mrs. McCubbing are survived by five children, all daughters, namely: Mary Swan, Marion, Jessie, Isabelle and Margaret. This remarkable family of sisters remain at the old home place, and Miss Jessie McCubbing has shown great executive and practical ability in the active management of the farm since the death of her father. The Young Mary strain of Shorthorns is still maintained on the McCubbing farm. The place is well improved, and under the management of Jessie McCubbing, its prestige as a stock farm is being admirably maintained. Miss Isabelle McCubbing and Miss Margaret McCubbing have achieved distinctive popularity and success as teachers, Miss Margaret being principal of the Picadome High School. Misses Mary and Marion McCubbing preside as hostesses at the family home, which is a center of gracious and cultured hospitality. The McCubbing sisters, like their parents, have thus proved a most valued acquisition to the civic and social life of Fayette County.”
Australia – New Acquistions
Penny McColm
File #02A Australia
Penny McColm, co-ordinator for Australia continues to gain further information about the large family of Alexander McCubbin and Jean Gray #02A. Penny’s grandfather, Frederick McCubbin is ‘of this tree’. Penny received, from Marjory Woodward, several pages of her recollections of her early life, as well as newspaper clippings and copies of births, marriages and deaths from the family Bible. All this information will be recorded in the databank, and eventually available for future reference.
Penny has spent many hours searching for information about the estate of Bargany, where Alexander’s son (also Alexander) was a Steward/Factor for Lady Jane Dalrymple Hamilton, in the early 1800’s. More information has been gained, which will also go into the #02A file.
Reynolds McCubbin – A Canadian Pioneer
File #02 by ‘Bill’ William Reynolds McCubbin of Canada
Also a descendant of Alexander McCubbin and Jean Gray, Bill McCubbin of Saskatchewan has been in contact with distant cousin, Penny McColm, and told of his father’s life:
“Dad, Reynolds McCubbin, was born 1884, in Liverpool, England, at 57 Merton Rd, (this home being a landmark today we understand). He was the youngest of 12 children born to James and Ann McCubbin. He went to a boarding school, at a fairly young age, which he was not fond of. He developed asthma and was told to move away from England if he wanted to live a longer life. As a consequence, he came to Canada in 1904 at age 20. He started a new life in Alberta, then worked his way eastward to the Lipton area of Saskatchewan, where he worked as a farm labourer for the Hays family. When WW1 broke out he joined the Canadian Army and went overseas to the battlefield. He was wounded once in the hand, also gassed with ‘Mustard Gas’. After the war he took up homestead rights on a quarter section of land four miles from Mr. Hays farm. He lived in a tent all summer and one winter, until he had some land cleared and a house built, all the while courting our mother, Ada Hays, whom he married in Dec. 1922. They proceeded to raise we five kids. They went through some good times and bad on the farm – the dirty 30’s being the worst. But somehow they managed and we never went hungry. Still suffering from asthma, at age 62, he gave up farming and moved to Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask, near Lipton where he worked at the local hotel. He passed away at age 86 and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery.”(Abridged copy)
CUB BITS
Can you guess what the names Mclarblidy, Matherbfind, McCulling and McCubbing have in common? While searching for McCubbing family of Fayette, Kentucky, in the 1920 US Federal Census on Ancestry.com, I was nearly ready to give up when I decided to try another tack and lo and behold I found the four McCubbing sisters, listed as Matherbfind. Other McCubbings were listed as Mclarblidy and Mcculling. The names had been transcribed wrongly and typed from the original record. A reminder that whenever you are searching for a person in historical records and having no success, you can often find what you’re looking for if you go to the orginal record. Parish records in Scotland are a good example. Sometimes you’ll discover more accurate information than you can find on transcribed sources.
Queries
A query from Kathy McCubbing Hopkins
Any McCubbins out there with ancestral links to Welland or Grimsby Counties, Ontario, Canada? From the time I first started researching my McCubbin(g)s I’ve had my eye out for my great-uncle Andrew McCubbin. My dad showed me a letter he received from his Uncle Andrew’s son, George, in the 1950s from Port Colborne and we wondered what had become of them all. He had very few hard facts to give me – only that he’d been named after his cousin and that Andrew was married to Peggy. He thought George and his wife had a daughter – possibly called Naomi.
Well, years and years later, after much fruitless research, I came across a reference to an Andrew McCubbin and a George McCubbin and their spouses in Oakwood Cemetery Welland, Wainfleet, Ontario. A kind soul on a message board tracked down the inscription for me which showed birth and death dates. The birth date of Andrew matched what I had found from Scottish records, so I was fairly confident that I had found them. A couple of years after that some Ontario marriage records were put on line and, at last I found Andrew’s marriage certificate. He married Margaret Linn Graham on 3 Mar 1913 at the Village of Grimsby in the County of Lincoln and I found that, at the time of his marriage Andrew was working as a Grocer and his wife Margaret (Peggy) was a Dressmaker. They lived in the village where they were married. I deduced from this and records I had from Scotland that Andrew must have emigrated sometime between 1911 and 1913. So I can now confirm the names on the tombstones in Oakwood Cemetery do indeed belong to my great-uncle Andrew (1887-1960) and his wife Margaret (1888-1946). Their son was called George Philip McCubbin (1913-1958) and his wife was called Yolanda (1919-1983). But I have no other information about this family and would very much like to find out more about their life in Canada and, if possible, trace their daughter, or any other descendants.
Thanks to all who have contributed to our continuing research. Please feel free to contact us about any questions or queries about your McCubbin ancestors. We’re happy to help. Next year our 2007 CUB report will continue on with Ayrshire McCubbin families.
The McCubbin name and its variations are registered with the Guild of One Name Studies
Searching for the McCubbin name worldwide.
Member #3650
Contact us at: mccubbin@one-name.org
November, 2007 Dear Cubbies,
Issue number 7 features:
Announcing the McCubbin DNA Project
McCubbin Families of Ayrshire, Scotland (Part Two)
The McCubbin Family of Dunscore/Kirkmahoe
The McCubbin Family from Keir, Dumfriesshire
News from Canada
A Clue about the Mystery of the Sundial, Bermuda
McCubbin Pioneers of Mid West America
Queries
CUB BITS
The McCubbin DNA Project
Have you ever met a McCubbin who looks a lot like you, but isn’t one of your family? Do you ever wonder if you are related to a McCubbing, McCubbine, MacCubbin, McCubbins, or even a McKibben? Where did your McCubbin family originate – Scotland? Ireland? What’s the evolution of the McCubbin surname? Did you know that DNA testing can help find the answers to your questions.
What is DNA?
DNA is in the genes, which are in the chromosomes, which are in the cells, which are in the person. A small portion of DNA is carried on the Y Chromosome, which is passed almost unchanged from father to son through the generations. A DNA test has been developed to analyze this Chromosome. It is painless, quick, and the result contains no personal information. A test kit is sent to you in the mail. You swab the inside of your cheek and return it to the test lab. Each participant receives their own ‘customer code’ and each sample kit is coded so that, by logging onto a secure webpage set up for each Surname Project, participants can check the progress of their sample. All males sharing a common ancestor along the male lines should have the same DNA on the markers that are tested in this project. When we have enough results, a man in Australia might find that he has an exact match to a male in America. That male may be a direct descendant of ‘John the Colonist’ who arrived in Maryland in the mid 1600s. That line, in America, is a well documented tree. The Australian male now gains an extended family line he never knew existed.
DNA testing is an especially helpful tool when we have a One Name Study such as ours where we have hundreds of names sorted into family groups.
We hope to better understand our McCUBBIN kinship, family lines, ethnic origins, migrations, and even Scottish clan affiliations. In essence, this DNA project endeavors to answer two questions every genealogist has: Who are we and where did we come from? We can use DNA testing in our genealogical quest to help answer these questions.
The test result contains no personal information, and you will match those to whom you are related.
We have chosen Family Tree DNA as the lab to secure our records. Our name McCubbin, and variants are now registered with FTDNA. They have a very informative website where you can order your test at: Family Tree DNA
Women, you can test for your maternal lines at FTDNA. You can help with your McCubbin line by encouraging your father, husband, sons, uncles and male cousins to participate in the McCubbin DNA project.
McCubbin Families of Ayrshire
Alexander McCubbin & Jean/Joan Macilwraith The Ballantrae McCubbins #02
The descendants of the family of Alexander McCubbin and Jean Macilwraith virtually span the globe from Scotland to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, South Africa, Canada and America. Alexander and the next two generations of Alexanders were Baron Officers and Land Stewards in Ballantrae and Dailly. From then on, the lure of the world took the McCubbins from Scotland as Sailors, Master Mariners and Ship Stewards. Some lost their lives at sea, others in the wars. Others emigrated and became Innkeepers, Bakers, Railway Workers and Artists, to name a few. (More about this family in previous CUB reports by descendant Penny McColm).
Alexander Charles McCubbin & Jean Smith The Ayr McCubbins #68
Alexander McCubbin and Jean Smith married in 1765 and had eight known children, all born in Ayr. Many were Tailors and Clothiers. Some descendants moved to America and Canada. Check McCubbins of the Pacific (Canada) on our Links.
Daniel McCubbin & (1)Margaret McGhie (2)Margaret Eagleshom The Girvan McCubbins #06
Daniel McCubbin, born circa 1759, was a Master Mason. He married Margaret McGhie, then possibly Margaret Eagleshom. He had eleven known children. Lynne McCubbin related: “They were Weavers, Farmers, Innkeepers, Miners, Tailors, Masons, etc. Some became prosperous others weren’t so fortunate. Many moved to Glasgow, with many more emigrating to America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.”
Descendant Mathew McCubbin, born c1877, died at Vimy, 1918, leaving his wife, Jessie and daughter, Jane. (More about Lynne’s family in CUB Report 2006).
James McCubbin & Elizabeth Bowman The Maybole McCubbins #13
James McCubbin was a Tailor. He and Elizabeth Bowman had six known children, born between c1780 and 1790. Some of his sons were Drapers and Merchants. His son Andrew was a Master Draper, and Andrew’s sons were also Drapers. Some of them relocated to England and lived on Oxford St., St James, Westminster. Descendant Hugh James McCubbin married Evane Chambers in Shanghai, China. Their first child was born in Shanghai, the next in California and finally in New Zealand, where descendants live to this day.
John McCubbin & Elizabeth Arthur Dalrymple, Coylton #16
John McCubbin was a Ploughman. He had two known sons, David and Alexander. Alexander married Margaret Currie, 1859, Coylton, Ayr and their first son John was born at sea, circa 1861, enroute to Australia. Daughter Jane was born in Australia. There is no further information about this family. If you are a descendant of this family and would like to help build this family tree, please contact us at mccubbin@one-name.org
Robert McCubbin & Elizabeth Lochiel Kilmarnock #22
Robert McCubbin’s surname was listed as McGibbon on his son Joseph’s marriage register, 26 January 1872, making it a difficult family to trace as Joseph also had an alias of Cunningham (his mother’s name from a previous marriage). They were a family of Coal Miners. Robert’s grandson John McCubbin aka Cunningham was born 1878 in Kilmarnock, married Mary Murdoch Burnside Hay and moved to Australia. Many descendants live in and near Brisbane today.
Shaw McCubbin & Sarah Chapman County Down – Ireland, & Girvan #55
Shaw McCubbin’s Irish history was researched extensively by David McCormack. Shaw’s Irish surname was McKibben. At the age of 23, in 1807, he leased a three acre farm from the Marchioness of Downshire, County Down. He married Sarah Chapman in 1808. One known son, William, was born circa 1811 in Ireland and moved to Girvan, Ayr. He was a Cotton Weaver. He and his wife Martha Hay had ten children who became Weavers, Plumbers, Painters, Railway Workers, etc. His daughters were Weavers and Shopkeepers. One daughter, Martha, married Alexander Birch. Their son, also Alexander, was a Civil Surgeon — he died in 1902 in St Helena, which was a concentration camp during the Boer War (1899 – 1902). There are many living descendants in Scotland, UK and Canada.
Andrew McCubbin & Margaret Warden Maybole #56
Andrew McCubbin was a Clergyman. His son Mathew was born 1810. Mathew was a Shoemaker. Mathew and his wife Margaret had five sons. Four of them became Shoemakers. Also a grandson, Mathew, became a Shoemaker, whose own son was killed in action in 1917 at Arras, France.
William McCubbin & Annie Watson Dundonald, Kilmarnock #57
William McCubbin was born 1831, Symington. He married Annie Watson, 1853, Dundonald. William was a Pithead Man. Known children were 1)Thomas who married Elizabeth Stevenson, 2)William Simson McCubbin who married Mary Wood, 3)Andrew who married Jessie Cowan, 4)Annie who married John McIntosh. That’s all we know about this family. Contact us if you can help in the search.
John McCubbin & Elizabeth McIntyre Maybole, Kirkoswald #58
John McCubbin, a Ploughman and Grieve, (a farm overseer or manager), and his wife Elizabeth had six known children, Henry, born 1796, Robert, born 1798, Agnes, born 1802, Elizabeth, born 1803, Jannet, born 1805, John, born 1806. Son Robert was also a Ploughman. he married Margaret Lightbody. His children Margaret. John and Elizabeth were born in Kirkoswald. Surnames of those they married were: Bray, Beaton, Thornton, Kerrigan, Wilson and Nicol.
David McCubbin & Margaret McKail Kilmarnock, Auchinleck, Dundonald #59
David married Margaret McKail ‘McHaill’ 1850, Auchinleck. David was a Preserve Storeman. Children were John, David, Margaret (married John Blair), Agnes (married Robert Barclay), Alexander, a Preserve Manufacturer, married Isabella Weir.
Thomas McCubbin & Mary Blair Irvine #60
Thomas McCubbin, Mariner and Ship Rigger, and Mary Blair were married 1816, Lanark. Son, David was a Coalminer. He married Martha Harrigan in Irvine. Second son Gifford, married Mary Ann Harding. Following in his father’s footsteps, Gifford became a Mariner and Ship Rigger.
James McCubbin & Jannet Millar Dailly, Maybole, Girvan #61
James McCubbin, also listed as McCubbine, was born circa 1692 in Brunston, Dailly. By the late 1700’s his offspring were Tailors. However, it’s obvious the next generations had a love for horses, being Coach Drivers and Ostlers. The meaning of Ostler for that period in time was, ‘one who tends to horses at an inn’. James’ great, great grandson, also James, born 1825, became an Ostler. His own son emigrated to Canada where he became a well respected Farmer and Horseman. “While actively engaged in farming, Mr McCubbin’s hobby was breeding of Ayrshire cattle and Clydesdale horses and many trophies of live stock exhibitions were won by his animals.” (information provided by Canadian family) Note the variation of the McCubbin name, i.e. McCubbine.
Thomas McCubbin, born 1833, Maybole, was also a descendant of James & Jannet. He became a well known proprietor of the Eglinton Hotel and later the King’s Arms Hotel, Maybole. Thomas and his wife Mary McClymont enlarged the hotel and stables. Upon Thomas’ death his son John Gillespie McCubbin was mainly interested in the hiring side of the business, with the result that he soon had about thirty horses for pulling brakes, waggonettes and carriages. Excursions became very popular and the Kings Arms soon acquired a great reputation, running regular four-in-hand sightseeing excursions to such beauty spots as Loch Doon, Tairlaw Linn and Maidens. Wordsworth, Keats, Dante, Gabriel, Rosetti and Robert Louis Stevenson all stayed in this hotel while exploring the neighbouring country. John Gillespie McCubbin became a prominent local Councilor and Provost of Maybole. Source: http://www.maybole.org/history/ and descendant Sally Walker.
John McCubbin & Agnes Hodgeon Maybole #62
John McCubbin was a Linen Weaver. He and his wife Agnes had three known sons, William, born 1798, Charles, born 1799 and James, born 1800. Descendants continued to work in the weaving business. Some also became Painters, and Bakers in Maybole, Glasgow and Greenock areas. John McCubbin, a great grandson of John and Agnes, worked for a time at the Taikoo Sugar Refinery in Hong Kong. His son John also became involved in the sugar industry and worked in India. Alexander, of this same family was born 1914 in Greenock. In a, sometimes amusing, sometimes sad, letter to Lorna McCubbin, he related parts of his life. “Sent out to the Middle East I was in Alexandria in Egypt when my first born, a daughter, was born. After various actions in the Middle East, Cyprus, Syria and the Western Desert, I was made a POW and spent the next three years behind wire. When the war ended I saw my daughter for the first time.”
John and Agnes’ descendants held a family reunion in San Francisco in 2006. (see 2006 CUB Report).
The McCubbin Family of Dunscore/Kirkmahoe #32
JAMES McCUBBIN THE STATION MASTER (1840 – 1927)
The family headed by John McCubbin (c1723 – 1788) and his wife Elizabeth who hailed originally from Burnhead in Dunscore, and later moved to the nearby Kirkton, Kirkmahoe, were mainly Tailors until great grandson James McCubbin gave up tailoring around 1861 (perhaps when he married) to become a Stationmaster.
James W McCubbin, a descendant who now lives in Nottinghamshire, has been in contact with the One-Name McCubbin Study and has generously shared what he knows about his ancestors, paying tribute to his uncle: “I have drawn on written and verbal evidence in these narratives from letters and conversations between myself James William McCubbin and my late uncle (David Brown McCubbin), without whom the essence of these details would have been lost.”
Whilst James the Stationmaster is definitely worthy of note in that he seems to have been quite a character, another thing of great interest is his link with Alexander the Covenanter, by virtue of him reportedly having been in possession of the Covenanter’s bible.
According to descendant James, “Old Mac”, as James is affectionately known within the family, was quite a unique character. Until 1861 he apprenticed to his father John McCubbin (c1798 – 1863, Master Tailor) and he worked as a Tailor until around that time when he went to work as Stationmaster at Crawford and agent at Elvanfoot, amassing 34 years with the Caledonian Railway Company.
Descendant, James relates: “Crawford, Elvanfoot and the Leadhills were all contributing to the ‘new’ industrial revolution of the 19th century as the railways allowed for the transportation of lead and other metals that were being mined in the area at the time. Also, the London to Glasgow rail route was established. Long before telephones existed in that part of Scotland James set up his own telegraph system between Elvanfoot and Ivy Lodge at Crawford, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. He could be considered a charismatic character and a bit of a pioneer, perhaps, not least by being the first to explore the technology at the time, in that area.
James married Janet Brown from Dumfries in June 1861, so perhaps it was this life change that prompted him to change his work also. Perhaps Janet’s family were involved in the railways and this was how James came to be in this sphere of work.
Between 1862 and 1878 James and Janet had 8 children. Their only two sons, Joseph (1870 – 1946) and James (1872 – 1897) both worked on the railways: Joseph for the whole of his life, starting off in 1897 as a Railway Signal Man, becoming a Railway Guard by 1925. But, the younger son, James, started work as a Printsman and only during the latter couple of years of his life did he work as a Signalman. One of James and Janet’s daughters (Mary, born c. 1878) married John Martin, a Signalman.
Property
Old Mac had Ivy Lodge at Crawford built for him in 1896 and he also owned the row of cottages named Rosemount. As Stationmaster at Elvanfoot, he also had a large house built named Marchmont and all of these properties are still in existence today. Marchmont is recognised by the two lions heads at the entrance gates.
ALEX THE COVENANTER’S BIBLE
It is through something that was written in “The Martyrs Graves of Scotland” by JH Thomson in 1906 and also mentioned in “Galloway and the Covenanters” by Paisley Alexander Gardener in 1914 that gives credence to the family’s ancestral link with Alexander the Covenanter. From the Martyrs Graves of Scotland:
“The Stationmaster at Elvanfoot, on the main line of the Caledonian railway, is a descendant of Alexander M’Cubbin and bears his name. He still possesses the martyr’s Bible. It is in good preservation. It is a small folio dated”
“Edinburgh, printed by Andro Hart, and are to be sold at his Buith on the Kirk Side of the Gates, a little beneath the cross Anno Dom 1610.””
Various efforts have been made to trace the Bible, sadly to no avail. Neither is it mentioned in James’ will, descendant James is in possession of, but one would assume that Thomson would have visited James and seen the Bible in order to make his remark “it is in good preservation”. What became of Alexander the Covenanter’s Bible looks sadly to remain a mystery.
Some months before his wife, Janet died in November 1909, James bought a motorcar which descendant James researched: “Cumbria Archive service positively identified it as a Panhard et Lavasser, 12 HP Tonneau, dark red with green leather to seat 4 or 5. First registered on 22 February 1904 and owned by Old Mac James McCubbin of Marchfield Cottage, Crawford on 3 August 1909.”
Stationmaster McCubbin
After the sad loss of his wife, James was not to remain single for long. He married his second wife, Janet Thomson a year later in November 1910 and, according to descendant James: “One story passed down through the family is that following his first wife’s death, he advertised for a Housekeeper and Jane Thomson (daughter of Walter Thomson – Farmer) applied for the job. The story goes that he suggested, ‘tongues would be wagging’ in the village at this arrangement, so they ‘might as well get married’; which is just what they did.
Above the couple are shown along with James’ mother in law, Mary Roddan Tait Thomson and one of Jane’s sisters in James’ motor car and presumably the photograph was taken with his camera. James was apparently fond of gadgets and had the werewithal to purchase them.
He also seems to be a man of fun, as shown by the snap of him and his wife, taken in the garden, with him pushing her in the wheelbarrow!
James, the Station Master
Descendant James writes: “James McCubbin (Old Mac) is buried with both his first and second wife in the Kirkyard at Elvanfoot, which makes an interesting arrangement. I believe, the church is, now, privately owned by a lady living in Glasgow. Someone appears to maintain the graves and I would hope that these continue to survive for future generations to connect with their ancestors.” His headstone notes, he was “Station Master in this district for 34 years and Elder for 26 years.”
JAMES “RUBE” McCUBBIN
1897 – 1965
James “Rube” McCubbin was James W McCubbin’s grandfather and grandson of James the Stationmaster. He was born in 1897 at Sunny Brae Cottage in the District of Forth, Lanarkshire. He married Jane Carlyle in 1919 and they had 5 children. Below he is shown with his wife, Jane Carlyle and their mothers.
Rube and Jane Carlyle and mothers
Descendant James writes:
“Rube/James McCubbin worked in the coal mines in Lanarkshire and was a Contractor, setting on men and developing tunnels into coal seams. He was part of the team that atempted a mine rescue in which many miners died. I think the mine in question was Kings Hill No. 1 or No. 2.
James was born two months after his father’s death. He was the only son and his mother brought him up single-handed. For many years she kept a sweet shop at the village of Forth, in Scotland. It still exists but is now an Indian takeaway.
James (Rube) was a Stone-mining Contractor in the Scottish coal-fields, employing men, driving the tunnels, by blasting and clearing the rock, which would allow men access to the rich coal-seams in the Ayrshire coal-fields. He was the man that hired and fired the labour.
Below are extracts taken from personal notes to me from my late uncle David Brian McCubbin. “Father’s team were the main rescue and repair men at Kingshill Colliery No. 2, ten miles from the village of Forth, Lanarkshire. Whenever there was a ‘cave in’ [roof fall] dad’s team would clear the debris and shore up the roof. Disaster struck in 1934 with an underground fire. Six men burned to death, a real tragedy in a small village.” (DB McCubbin, 2001). “During the general strike of 1926, he had to seek work away from the Lanarkshire coalfields. No unemployment in those days. He got the job of Grave-digger in the village of Kirkpatrick Durham, near Dumfries. He was known as a bit of a joker and he dug graves as darkness set in. He also knew of two old ladies who would walk the same route past the church in the evening. When digging a grave near the cemetery wall, a crumbling coffin exposed a skull, which he put on the wall and put a stub of a candle inside. Needless to say the old ladies fled for their lives.” (letter, D. B. McCubbin 2002).
James McCubbin (Rube) was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in the village of Forth, Lodge, Wilsontown, St Johns no 236 and Pastmaster 1931 – 1932.”
by Kathy McCubbing Hopkins, co-ordinator for Dumfries. Contributors: Descendants James W McCubbin & the late David Brown McCubbin
The McCubbin Family from Keir, Dumfriesshire #05
JOHN McCUBBIN (1835 – 1886) – AN EMIGRANT TO AUSTRALIA
An interesting part of the Keir McCubbin family history relates to McCubbin lads who were born a generation apart at Kirkbride Farm in Keir and who emigrated from Scotland to New South Wales in Australia in the early to mid 19th century. The earliest pioneer, James McCubbin (1810 -1888), was an early emigrant, arriving in Australia in the 1830s where he set about making his fortune with some verve. He was followed some 15 years later by 2 nephews, both called John, sons of his brothers John and William.
FAMILY HEIRLOOM
The fascinating story of James McCubbin will be told in another Cub Report, but in this Report we’d like to relate the tale of one of his nephews John (1835 – 1886) because, Lisa Josey, in Queensland, Australia has recently been in touch with the McCubbin one-name study and told us the story of an heirloom which was given to John by his parents when they left Scotland and which is still worn on special occasions by McCubbin descendants to this day! Lisa relates:
“The Shell Pendant we have was given to John by his mother. Apparently his mother, Annie McCubbin (nee Paterson) picked two shells up on a beach after she saw him and his cousin off on the ship to Australia. She had the shells set with gold and attached them to a fob watch and sent them to her son and nephew. The gold on the shell that we have is engraved with a date (185_?) This story has been passed down the line so I guess that there is no way of knowing whether it is completely accurate but we certainly have the shell, which is now a brooch, and the lid from the the fob watch. As far as the second shell goes I don’t know who is in possession of it but it would be great to be able to investigate. -don’t know where to start really!”
The Shell Pendant
According to Lisa “It is tradition for it to be worn by female McCubbin descendants on their wedding day. Most recently it was worn by my Grandmother on her 90th birthday last December.” Lisa and her parents visited Dumfriesshire last summer (2007) and we were happy to put her in touch with 3rd cousins still living in the area she visited. Leslie and Billy McCubbin kindly extended their hospitality to Lisa and her parents and showed them the area. Lisa brought some wonderful photos with her and generously shared copies with us.
EMIGRATION
The emigraton of cousins John (1835-1886, son of John McCubbin and Annie Paterson of Kirkbride, Keir) and John (1834-1877, son of William McCubbin and Jane Stitt of Keir, Glencairn and then Willowgrove, Dumfries) from the BUSY BIT in Keir, Dumfriesshire to New South Wales has now become something of a local legend.
A number of sources cite the event and an interesting account of it, the Busy Bit area, and the community in general are recalled in an interview with a nephew of one of the emigrants, Philip McCubbin (1900 – 1991, Leslie’s father) in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard in 1988. In summary, legend has it that the whole Busy Bit community upped its roots and moved, lock, stock and barrel to Australia in 1872 [this date is cited in many sources but appears to be incorrect, we know that John was in Australia by 1861]. The Schoolmaster went, the Blacksmith and, it is even said the Clydesdale horses…the first to arrive in Australia according to one version of the story.
Philip recounted that “there were only four young men, of about 19 years old” who went. He said that his Uncle John (1835-1886) married out there and had ten of a family [they appear to have had eleven children, although their daughter Catherine died in infancy in 1870]. Philip seems to have skipped a generation when recounting that…John [John 1867-1919, son of John and Agnes McCubbin?) died sometime after the First World War, and when his wife died the letters stopped coming.
During his interview Philip was quite definite and said he had never heard anything about a schoolmaster going, but the son of the Blacksmith at Barndennoch (Barndennoch replaced the Busy Bit school) was in the small group. It is thought that the boys left Scotland from Carsethorn and it took six months to reach Australia. In our time of high speed communication and travel it is a sobering thought that their families received no news about their loved ones’ safe arrival for at least a year.
The Busy Bit was a small farmtoun settlement, nestling in the narrow valley on the road between Dunscore and Glenmidge. A handful of families lived in what was probably a single, long building with several homes. There may have been other cottages nearby that belonged to the community. There was also a Busy Bit school which McCubbin boys from Kirkbride attended, the ruins of which are still just visible. A modern agricultural barn now stands on the site of the Busy bit.
The site hasn’t been inhabited since the McCubbin lads left. Philip’s closing remarks were: “The Busy Bit! It’s never been busy in my day.”
JOHN’S LIFE IN AUSTRALIA
It is thought that John emigrated to Australia sometime during the 1850s. By 1861 he had taken over the running of the Post Office in Coolah from his uncle James. At this time, like his uncle and his cousin John, he was an Innkeeper, running the Red Heifer (also known as the Red Cow) at Warana Creek and he was also the Newspaper Agent for the West Post, Coolah. John was to become uncle James’ son-in-law in addition to being his nephew when he married his cousin Agnes in July 1862. They had at least 11 children who were born in the Coonabarabran district (probably in Coolah). By 1868 he became the Publican at the Box Ridge Inn in Coonabarabran, which is mentioned on a number of occasions in “Coonabarabran, As It Was In the Beginning”, (published 1983, Joy Pickette & Mervyn Campbell, Macquarie Publications Pty Ltd). In about 1880 it seems the McCubbin family moved. The Lovells moved out to the old inn at Box Ridge where they replaced the McCubbins. By now it had become quite a going concern. Very large stock yards had been built close by.” John died in 1886, aged 51 but it is not known where he is buried. Lisa provided this wonderful photo of Agnes, wife of John, who was born in 1846 in New South Wales and lived until 1930. She died in Narrabri, NSW.
John and Agnes’ descendants have been found in Narrabri, NSW (daughter’s families) and in Roma, Queensland (family of son William James McCubbin (1875-1943) who is a direct ancestor of Lisa Josey). William James McCubbin married Clara Tunney in Roma in April 1909 and they had 9 children, many of whom are still living in various parts of Queensland.
by Kathy McCubbing Hopkins. Researched by Kathy, Lorna McC, Penny McColm. Contributors: Lisa Josey & descendants of the above family.
News From Canada
AN OBITUARY Doris McCubbin Anderson 1921 – 2007
Doris McCubbin Anderson
Jim McCubbin and Lorna Kinsey McCubbin, sponsors of the McCubbin Family History Association, lost a beloved sister/sister-in-law when Doris (nee McCubbin) Anderson died at the age of 85, of Pulmonary Fibrosis, in Toronto Canada, Mar 2, 2007.
“Doris, a magazine editor, author and campaigner of women’s rights, was an independent spirit always ready to defy authority in defence of her principles” – a spirit not unlike her Scottish born father, Thomas McCubbin. When she was younger she did not always agree with her father. Late in life she said, “He was a rebel, and he had a good mind, read widely and challenged everything.”
Doris graduated from teachers’ college in 1940 and earned enough money teaching in rural communities in Alberta, Canada, to put herself through university where she received a BA in 1945. She worked her way into journalism, joining the Chatelaine magazine in 1951. During 1957 – 77 she was its editor. Doris did not believe women’s rights were sufficiently supported by changes that were being made to Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. She led a fight that resulted in one simple statement being enshrined in the charter: “men and women are equal under the law.” She was a champion of fairness for all women. During her career, Doris wrote for the Toronto Star, completed an autobiography titled Rebel Daughter (1996), The Unfinished Revolution: Status of Women in Twelve Countries (1991), Affairs of State (1988) and authored several novels. She received many awards including three honorary degrees.
Doris loved her brothers and three sons and treasured family gatherings. The family and its history was an important part of her life. At the age of nearly 80, she thought nothing of scrambling through overgrown cemeteries with her brother Jim and his wife, Lorna, while searching for the family’s roots in Wigtownshire, Scotland and the Lake District of England. Doris kept notes, records and photos of her family and ancestors for many years. They became the backbone for Lorna’s compiling of their McCubbin family tree, their ancestral book, and ultimately the founding of the McCubbin Family History Association.
by Jim & Lorna McCubbin.
James McCubbin with his sister Doris McCubbin Anderson
~~~~~~~
More about the Sundial Mystery
In the CUB REPORT 2006 we told the tale of a sundial found on a vacant piece of land owned by a resort company in Bermuda. While clearing the land a sundial was found bearing the name of Rev Andrew McCubbin, Leswalt. Andrew was born in Wigtownshire, Scotland about 1765. The tale sparked some interest from a reader who wrote: “I have been spending the day trying to research my family, and found mention of a sundial found in the weeds in Bermuda and saw your site.
About thirty years ago, when I was in high school, I was on a study trip to Antibes, France about 1975. Trying to learn French in France, and being very shy. But I went down to the parlor school dorms to read a book and get out of the hot sun for a while.
While there, a group of island (Bermuda and Jamaica) teens and some of the American teens were there talking in French/English and drinking doctored Fanta soda. They were later sent home early for causing problems, but I heard one talk of moving a sundial, or found it, not sure which, and it would cause a lot of grief for the people who wanted to find it. The person said it was near a school or some buildings.When I heard them talking I couldn’t understand if they went to a school there or they just hung out at the school’s remains. So either the stone was near to where it was placed or it was transported a ways, I don’t know which, but there was some mischief in it. I’m glad it has been found.”
McCubbin Pioneers of Mid West America
Since forming the McCubbin History Association eight years ago, we have received many copies of letters, documents and photos. Among them are some letters and articles by John Cameron McCubbin. John was descended from John the Colonist, and his descendant James McCubbin and wife Polly Cook of North Carolina. Also known as John C McCubbin, he was born 1863, near Carthage, Hancock Co, Illinois. He was an avid Genealogist and Historian. Known to be accurate in recording his research, he wrote numerous articles and letters about his family. John died 1957 in Los Angeles, California.
Following are excerpts from John McCubbin’s papers. To round it out, included are census records and land grant records, (sourced from Ancestry.com). They are copied exactly as they were spelled on the originals. Thus, you will once agan see the variations of the spelling of the McCubbin surname as well as Christian names. The individuals aren’t necessarily James and Polly’s descendants, they may also be from James’ brothers.
NORTH CAROLINA
LIST OF SOULS was the heading for the census of 1790 for Rockingham County, North Carolina. There were three McCubbin families listed, those of James, John and Nicholas. It is assumed these three were brothers, (further research is required to prove so). We will focus mainly on James this time.
MOVING ON TO KENTUCKY
From John C McCubbin’s memoirs, Fresno CA Sept 6, 1928, (John was a great grandson of the following James and grandson of Joseph)
“My great grandfather, James McCubbin (born in North Carolina) moved with his family from the northern part of Rockingham County, North Carolina over the moutains to Green County, Kentucky. James had relatives there, who had resided there since 1796, and in 1805, James took his family over there and visited these relatives. He was so favorably impressed with the new country that he moved there the following year. One of James’ sons, Joseph, my grandfather, died Jan 4, 1881, when I was seventeen years of age. He was always proud of the fact that his father, James McCubbin had served in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, and would often relate stories which he had heard his father tell concerning his army life.
I have in my possession the record of the birth of James McCubbin family and the date of the death of James McCubbin on sheets of coarse, unruled yellow paper. This was copied from the old family Bible by Nicholas McCubbin, as son of James McCubbin, nearly one hundred years ago. Copied from that old sheet:”
The above thirteen children were all alive and well and attended their father’s funeral.” The first 9 children were born in Rockingham Co, N.C, Pleasant being the last in 1804. Nicholas and his younger siblings, Thomas W, Martha Elizabeth, and David, were born in Green Co, Kentucky.
KENTUCKY
Settling into Kentucky, the McCubbins received the following land grants along with the water course:
GREEN COUNTY
James McCubbin, 150 acres, surveyed 1815. “The James McCubbin ‘plantation’ in Kentucky, manufactured powder [“hand ground in an old coffee mill”] and the growing of tobacoo, both produced for the market.”
Nicholas McCubbins, 24 acres, Green River, 1832
John McCabaness, 15 acres, Russells Creek, 1821
John McCabaness, 10 acres, Green River, 1821
HART COUNTY
Zachariah McCubbin, 42 acres, Knox Lick Creek, 1848
Zachoria McCubbin, 50 acres, Green R., 1822
Zachariah McCubbin, 15 acres, Lynn Camp Creek, 1848
Zachariah McCubbun, 5 acres, 1848
Sallie McCubbins, 92 acres, 2 miles S Bacon Creek, 1865
HOPKINS COUNTY
William McCubbins, 50 acres, Bull Cr., 1817
CENSUS RECORDS OF KENTUCKY, 1820, 1830, 1840
Tracing the McCubbin family in early America(and their name variants) is a relatively easy thing to do. Click into Ancestry.com, type in McCubbin (with Soundex to included sound alike names) and the State. (Sometimes Ancestry.com has free trials, otherwise a subscription is required).
Census of 1820
Mundfordville, Hart County – Zacheriah, James and families (no names). Name spelled ‘McCUBBEN’.
Franklin, Simpson County – John McCUBBIN and family
Census of 1830
Greensburgh Township, Green County – Zachariah, Elizabeth, James, Pleasant and families. All on same census page. All spelled ‘McCUBBINS’.
Same county township and county as above – Pleasant McCUBBINS
Green County – Joseph McCUBBINS, Joseph McCUBBINS, Jr., in separate residences, on same page.
Washington County – Nicholas McCUBBINS and family
Hart County – William and Zachariah ‘McCUBINS’
Census of 1840
Green County – James, Zacharia and Nickolas McCUBBIN and families
Nickolas McCUBBIN and family
Nickolas McCOBBIN and family
Marion County -Nicholas McCUBBINS and family, James and 1 female
Hart County – Zachariah McCUBBINS and family
Estill County – Jas McCUBUIN and family
Census records give us sources to help back up and verify written or oral information from family members. John C McCubbin’s account about some of the McCubbins moving out of Kentucky to Illinois is clearly seen in the above censuses. For example, Pleasant was apparently no longer in Kentucky. Following are excerpts from John C McCubbin’s papers:
MOVING ON TO ILLINOIS
“Between Sept 24 and Oct 1, 1830, an emigrant party mainly Rupes, Bloyds and McCubbins, started northward from Green Co Kentucky with the intention of establishing homes for themselves in the wilds of western Illinois. Among the party of at least 29 were the following McCubbin families: Pleasant and Matilda (Rupe) McCubbin and their eight children, William H and Eleanor (McCubbin) Rupe and their four children. (Pleasant McCubbin and Wm H Rupe had each married the other’s sister). They continued their journey to Hancock Co and located in what is now Oak Grove school district. They built their houses of logs.”
In 1831 Levi and Barbara Bloyd, who lived in the settlement, sent a letter back to Kentucky to family and friends. The original transcriber aimed to reproduce as nearly as possible, the spelling and use of capital letters. Following are excerpts from ‘The Pioneer Letter’:
“November the 1th in the year 1831
Dear friends I wonst more take My pen in hand to write to you to inform you of our health at this time we are tolerable well at this time except Letle Levi he has Chis and fevers yet we have all been sick we got our sickness By going to the Elenoys River we Believe this to Be a healthy pace and we hope these few lines will find you all engoing your healths we are living in handcock county on the west fork of Crucked Creeke Near the Mouth of it A New settlement Cold Rays Settlement No one has lived here longer than this summer Corn is scars in this settlement it was planted late and got frost bit frost fel here in the Latter end of September But there are plenty within twenty five mils of us at one doler in trad pr Barrel Wheete is plenty at fifty Cents pr bushel and I hope it will always be that it is Redy market for Cash this is a fine furtile Countre we have plenty of Clard Land and that is good and A plenty of good timber two A plenty of Stock water good mill seats here we have to dig wells Mostly to use Best of hog rang and all kin of stock But I would advise purson that Coms to this plce to Bring all the Cattle they possible Can thay are Not Much expense and thay are hard to get here William Rupe and plese [Pleasant] McCubbin is living here But plese is going back to Bierds fery to stay this winter [Next few sentences of the letter are omitted as there are several unreadable spaces] we are all well plesed with Country wish our Mother and joseph Winn to come out to us we want Samuel phillips to Move out here Nicholas Mccubbin an Jack Mccubbin also to Mov out we think thay can do Much Better her than there we Remember our Compliments to old mother pierson Joseph winn direct your letters to Bierds ferry Morgan write as soon as posable This to Smauel phillps to Nicholas Mccubbin to old Mother pierson and to all friends So No More at present But Remember your Loving Friends until death we are and ever Bee your friends until death Levi Bloyd Barbara Bloyd”
(From Hancock County Historical Society Newsletter, Vol 1V, Oct 1986, Newsletter No 52.) From Bloyd Genforum on-line, Nancy Scott
Related John C McCubbin: “All went well with the new settlers until their crops were in, when an Indian scare created a disturbance in that section. There were good grounds for such an excitement at that time on account of the Black Hawk war that was being waged not far to the north of them. They abandoned their homes at once, they made all haste possible with their slowly plodding ox teams to Beardstown, 50 miles east of the Illinois River. Here they built one log structure and lived there until they felt it would be safe, then returned to their homes.”
[The Black Hawk War of 1832 resulted in the deaths of 70 settlers and soldiers, and hundreds of Black Hawk’s band. As well as the combat casualties of the war, a relief force under General Winfield Scott suffered hundreds dead and deserted. The war also resulted in the settlement of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. It ended the threat of Native American attacks in northwest Illinois and allowed the region to be further settled.]
“Reports sent back to Kentucky were so favorable that they prompted Thomas, David and Joseph, who were brothers of Pleasant, to eventually move their families to the new settlement.” However, by 1840 we find only Joseph McCubbin in Illinois. Many of his descendants live there today.
CENSUS RECORDS OF ILLINOIS, 1840
Hancock, Illinois, Joseph McCUBBIN and family.
MOVING ON TO MISSOURI
What prompted the McCubbins to continue moving is hard to say, Better land, more land, better climate, less stress with relations with Indians? Within a few years the McCubbins and the Rupes, except Joseph McCubbin and his family, relocated to Benton, Missouri in 1836. The last to leave was Pleasant McCubbin.
CENSUS RECORDS OF MISSOURI, 1840
Lindsay, Benton Co, Pleasant McCUBBEN and family
Lindsay, Benton Co, David McCUBBIN and family
Glaze, Miller Co, Thomas, John, James and William McCUBBIN and families
Cooper Co, G M McCUBBIN
Fulton, Callaway Co, Alpheus McCUBBIN
Ripley Co, William McCUBBIN
At the time the census of 1840 was taken, Missouri and Maryland had the largest number of McCubbin families in the whole of America, which really wasn’t a lot when you look at the numbers used. The largest numbers were between 6 and 9 families. Taking second place were Kentucky and Virginia with 3 to 5 families recorded. Next were Arkansas and Indiana with 1 to 2 families. The remaining had zero McCubbins recorded. However, by using the McCubbin name with an ‘s’ ending, a different total appears with Kentucky as the front runner and next Tennesee and North Carolina.
The plains and west coast began to attract McCubbin families. In the 1880’s John Cameron McCubbin and his father Joseph moved to California. More about them and their relatives who settled western America in the CUB REPORT 2008.
Above researched by Lorna McCubbin. Many thanks to Dave McCubbin of Kansas for sending copies of John C McCubbin’s papers as well as other documents. Corrections and additions welcome.
Queries
Following is the kind of query we often receive. Sometimes we have no luck at all, other times we can help a person find their ancestors. Eventually we come to a point where we ‘hit a brick wall’, (as the genealogy folk say). We’ve hit the wall with the following query, yet we feel this person should link into a much larger family group, that of the above families of McCubbins and to John the Colonist of Maryland.
“Hi, my name is Kristen McCubbins and I was wondering if you have a family tree about my McCubbins? My granpa’s name was Herbert V McCubbins, but he died before I could ask him about his family background. My dad’s dad was named Herbert V McCubbins Jr and his dad was named Herbert V McCubbins Sr. I thank you very much for helping with this”
This is what we found of Kristen’s ancestors. Kristen didn’t know the sad story of her great, great, great grandfather who was killed when struck by lightning, leaving four young children to be raised by his wife.
All the following records were found using Ancestry.com – McCubbin (with and without an ‘s’ is shown below as found in the records).
Kristen’s great grandfather was: HERBERT V McCUBBINS, son of GEORGE THOMAS McCUBBINS. Herbert was born 25 April 1913, Hart Co, KY.
GEORGE THOMAS McCUBBINS son of JOHN D McCUBBINS, married Francis Puckett. They had a daughter, Ada, born May 1903. son Clarence, born abt 1906, son Roy S, born abt 1908, son, Herbert V, b 25 Apr 1913, Their father GEORGE THOMAS McCUBBINS, a farmer, died 2 May, 1915, Hart Co., struck by lightning and died instantly. Death record shows his father as John McCubbins and Harriet Logsdon.
The census of 1920, Munfordville, Hart, shows Francis, 34, a widow, with children, Ada, 16, Clarence R, 14, Roy S, 12, Herbert D (should be V), 6.
JOHN D McCUBBIN, son of JOSHUA McCUBBIN, married Harriette B Logsdon. The census of 1900, Munfordville, Hart, shows John, 39, Harriette B, 39, George T, 17, Eugene, 15, Charles, 11, Willie, 9, Claud, 6, Mary A, 5, Lulie B, 4, Lena M, 11 months. JOHN D McCUBBINS died 9 Sep 1930. George T was recorded as a Private in the 27th KY Infantry Regiment.
JOSHUA McCUBBINS, born KY, abt 1828. Kentucky Marriage Records show JOSHUA B McCUBBIN, 26, Birth, Green, Residence, Hart. Married Mary J Reynolds, 21. Date of marriage 14 Dec 1855. The census of 1860 then showed them living in Hart Co, daughter Martha E McCubbins, 9 mo old, was with them. Another daughter, Nancy Susan born 1856, to JOSHUA B McCUBBINS and Mary Reynolds, Hart Co.
Nancy Susan died 1858, Hart, age 2, of Hydrocephalus (water on the brain). The census of 1870 finds them at Lower Brush Creek district, Green Co listed as J.B. McCUBBIN, 42, Farmer, wife Mary J, 34, born Virginia, Martha E, 11, William T, 9, John D, 9 (twins) Zacheriah, 2.
US Civil War Soldiers 1861 – 1865: JOSHUA B McCUBBIN, Side – Union, Regiment – Kentucky, Regiment name 6th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Company L, Rank in: Private, Rank Out: Corporal.
Here’s where we hit a brick wall. We could find no record of JOSHUA B McCUBBIN’S birth. Surely he was related to the many other McCubbins in Green and Hart counties. He gave his youngest son the name, Zacheriah – a name which runs through the McCubbin/McCubbins families who lived in that area of the world.
If you are a descendant and have any information about Joshua and who his parents were, please contact us at: mccubbin@one-name.org
CUB BITS
McCubbin Place Names
The McCubbin name and variants of McCubbin can be found in various locations around the world, both natural features and names where McCubbins likely lived such as streets and roads. Because McCubbin is a rare name in most parts of the world, there aren’t many places with our McCubbin name. Here’s a few: McCubbin (and McCubbins) Lane in Germantown, Maryland as well as in Munfordville and Bardstown, Kentucky. McCubbin Road in Virginia, Oregon and Missouri. McCubbin Street – Australia, Texas, Missouri, North Carolina. McCubbin Court, Australia. There’s a McCubbin Corner in Cumnock, Scotland, a McCubbing Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, and a MacCubbin Road in Damascus, Maryland. McCubbin Creek runs through McCubbin Basin in Wallowa County, Oregon. McCubbins Point is at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri and a McCubbins Gulch on Mt Hood, Oregon. There’s a McCubbin Fountain in Girvan, Ayrshire, a McCubbin Building in Rogers, Arkansas and numerous memorials with McCubbin names, dedicated to those who lost their lives during wars and the covenanting times. Our early McCubbin settlers left their mark. You may have a few more to add to the list.
Thanks again to all who have contributed to our continuing research. Contact us about any questions or queries about your McCubbin ancestors. Next year we’ll tell you more about our DNA results.
The McCubbin name is registered with the Guild of One Name Studies
Searching the McCubbin name and variants worldwide.
Member #3650
Contact us at: mccubbin@one-name.org
November, 2008 Dear Cubbies,
Issue Number 8 features:
The First Anniversary of the McCubbin DNA Project Ronald ‘Rick’ McCubbin and his Amazing DNA Discovery The Nicholas McCubbin Boys Bargany House, Ayrshire and the McCubbin Family Connection Wilhemina and the Master Mariner (and her son and six beautiful granddaughters) Isabella McCubbin’s son, the film star Wilfred Lawson Queries CUB BITS
The McCubbin DNA Project
by Lorna McCubbin, Project Administrator
This is our first anniversary. We have 23 McCubbin members signed up!
November 2007
The McCubbin surname project was started with the assistance of Susan Meates, Guild of One Name Studies DNA Co-ordinator and Don Chesnut, Co-administrator for the project.
Males with the McCubbin surname were actively recruited by email. They were chosen from specific family tree charts in our database, in order to get base markers for each family group. Some of these men were offered the DNA test as a gift from the sponsors of the McCubbin Family History Association, in order to get the project started. Some members made a donation for other McCubbins to buy the kit.
Then came the surprises for those of us who have been researching the McCubbin name for several years. We assumed that because McCubbin is a relatively rare name and seemingly has roots in a small area of the world, namely Southwest Scotland, that they would likely have the same DNA and be closely related. Not so!
November 2008
23 men have submitted DNA samples over the past year. Results have been received for 20 men, and 3 samples are awaiting analysis or are in transit.
Six men with a haplotype of R1b1b2 were matched, 3 of whom had markers which indicated a relationship with King Niall of Ireland. *(see below). These men, presently living in Scotland, England, Canada and Australia are included in the following descendancy charts:
– #05 John McCubbin (1745-1805) and Margaret Tait of Keir
– #62 John McCubbin (married 1797) and Agnes Hodgeon of Maybole
– #41 John McCubbin (1799-1889) and Elizabeth Beggs of Leswalt.
We do not have a paper trail before the 1750s for the above, therefore cannot link these charts, however through DNA we do know they have a common ancestor. Family folklore tells of a relationship to Alexander McCubbine, the Covenanter and martyr who was hung for attending a prayer meeting in 1685.
*”A recent study conducted at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, found that a striking percentage of men in Ireland (and quite a few in Scotland) share the same Y chromosome, suggesting that the 5th-century warlord known as “Niall of the Nine Hostages” may be the ancestor of one in 12 Irishmen. Niall established a dynasty of powerful chieftains that dominated the island for six centuries.
In the study scientists found an area in northwest Ireland where they claim 21.5% carry Niall’s genetic fingerprint, says Brian McVoy, one of the team at Trinity. The same area of Ireland has previously been the subject of anthropological study and has shown a strikingly high percentage of men from Haplogroup R1b (98%) versus 90% in southeast Ireland. According to McVoy this area was the main powerbase of the Ui Neill kings, which literally translated means “descendants of Niall”. *from the FTDNA website
Four men with a predicted haplotype of R1b1b2 were matched. A fifth man, not in the FTDNA project, found that he is an exact match with Ronald ‘Rick’ McCubbin. (See the following story). These five men, presently living in Kentucky, Maryland, Canada, Scotland and England, are included in the following descendancy charts:
– #80, John the Colonist of America (1630-1686)
– #61-43 John McCubbin and Janet Millar of Ayrshire (born 1692)
Family folklore and extensive research by others before us, show that this group goes back to the Lords of *Traddonuck and Knockdolian in Ayrshire. A variant that pops up in their DNA results is the name McBean, with whom they have a match. *Traddonuck has several spelling variations
Five men with a haplotype of R1b1b2 were matched. These men presently living in the US, Scotland, and Australia as well as a Canadian, living in the Cayman Islands, are included in the following descendancy charts:
– #A02, Alexander McCubbin (married 1736) and Jean McIlwraith of Ballantrae, Ayrshire
– #44 John McCubbin (McKibbon) (married 1755) and Margaret Gibson of Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire
– #45 Alexander McCubbin (c1789-1840) and Agnes Weir of Kirkmaiden and Stoneykirk.
Family folklore among some of them tells that they “came from Ireland way back”. Not only that, they are among the few in the Scottish records of McCubbins, who had their names written as McKibbon in the early parish registers of Wigtownshire. One other was Shaw McKibbon of Ireland whose son William McCubbin settled in Girvan. McKibbon is known as an Irish name and is rare in Scotland.
Two men with a haplotype of I1 are related. These men, presently living in England and Australia are included in the following descendancy chart:
– #03 James McCubbin (married c 1780) and Isabella Lorimer of Penpont.
After we have more DNA candidates we may have a better understanding of where this group links in with other McCubbin men. Two other men tested have no match with the McCubbin name, at this point.
Tests at the Lab – One male, a McCubbin, is a Jamaican of African descent. His family is anxiously waiting for his results which will be ready next month.
We are still looking for more DNA candidates. For more info contact Lorna. If you would like to join the project but cannot afford the price, there may be help available. Do not be embarrassed to apply. This is not charity. Your DNA sample is valuable to the McCubbin Society.
Similarly, if you would like to contribute to this cause, email for more information. You can read more about DNA in the previous CUB report, 2007.
Women who are interested in their family tree can help with our project by encouraging husbands, sons, grandfathers, uncles, cousins to take the test. It could be a chance for gift giving. Too, the cost has recently been reduced AND even more because we are members of a one-name study. Family Tree DNA has just announced their end-of-the-year savings. Contact Lorna to find out more about these special discounted rates.
Ronald ‘Rick’McCubbin and his Amazing DNA Discovery
A McCubbin DNA Success Story
By: Ronald Rick McCubbin, Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
With modern technology and the advancement of DNA, those of us who are serious, yet amateur genealogists are finding more people paying the price to have their DNA tested in order to confirm lineage, find missing ancestors, or to simply locate every possible cousin that may exist. The latter is the reason that I decided to have my DNA compared to others in order to fill in any gaps in my McCubbin family tree, which I have diligently researched for many years.
The DNA story that is the center of attention is about my great grandmothers son, Robert E. McCubbin. Her other son, Richard Curtis McCubbin, was my grandfather.
As a young boy I was always interested in my family history. I knew everyone and how they were related, however, there was a picture of a man displayed in the front room of the house at 321 East Kentucky Street in Louisville. When I asked about this strange man whom I had never met but realized he was somebody important since he had an entire wall to himself, my great grandmother sat me down and told me that this was her son, my great uncle, Robert E. McCubbin. She told of him going to war in 1943 and died in 1944 after his famous unit, the 29th Infantry, hit Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.
She went on to tell me that my grandfather almost joined his brother Robert, but due to a slight disability was rejected and always felt the pain of losing a very close brother in a war that he could not be a part of, if for no other reason but to be with Robert. My grandfather told me that his biggest fear was that Robert, who was unmarried with no children, would be forgotten and his service to our nation unsung simply because he left no one to carry on his name. At that point, in 1978, I decided that no, Robert would be NOT be forgotten. When my great grandmother realized that I was sincere she gave me an old dusty box. It was full of Roberts items from the war; the flag that draped his coffin, letters from elected officials, his Purple Heart, all of the V-mail that she had received from him, and even his wallet that the Army returned after confirming his death.
Many years have passed since I began my research and just last year I completed a page on Robert in my on-line Tree complete with pictures and information about his death. As I continued adding more McCubbin information that I had located I began to read about people having their DNA tested in order to scientifically confirm lineage. I read it with great interest not only because of the genealogical perspective, but when I started my law enforcement career, DNA was something of the future, and now, here we are using it for pleasure, not just to solve crimes. This past January I decided for my birthday I would give myself a present; order the DNA kit from Ancestry.com. What a gift it has been!!
When my results were available I found I had been matched with 4 other men, none of which were McCubbins. DNA sites offer a contact email through their system and I emailed all four. On March 6th, 2008 I received a reply to my email from a man named Peter Vickery. Peter, who is in England, went on to write that he was not necessarily researching his Tree as most of us were, but that recently, at his fathers death, he was told that his father was not his biological father. He had submitted his DNA as a gamble to locate any information on who his biological father was. He said that his mother, who is well into her 80s, told him that his real father was an American soldier named Robert, in his 30s, was stationed in England and was deployed to Normandy. He was about 63, an airman. When she realized that she was pregnant, she attempted to contact him. She spoke with a commanding officer that advised her that Robert was injured and had been sent back to the States. Peter ended, tongue in cheek, jokingly stating that if I knew anyone in my family who fits this, to let him know. At this point, I nearly fell from my chair!
I immediately e-mailed Peter back and said not only do I think I can help, I think I can solve this one! I told him about my great uncle who not only fit the description, but also with DNA scientifically linking that SOMEONE in my family was his father, I told him more, asked him for more, and we went back and forth that day on Robert. I asked him to email me pictures of himself and I sent him pictures of Robert. We continued, but cautiously, because there is always that question of is this real? Is it too good to be true? This man, in his 60s is searching for his biological father and on a gamble submits his DNA, and I, thousands of miles away in America, in Kentucky, had an uncle that fit every aspect of what he was told about his father; almost surreal. For several days we continued to compare pictures, descriptions, and information in order to rule out any doubt. The main tool, DNA is hard to argue; science doesnt lie. There were simply so many matches that we knew we had solved it; Robert E. McCubbin, a country boy from Hart County, Kentucky, who died in the famous Invasion of Normandy, was Peters father. We had one more confirmation up our sleeve; Peters mother, who was in a nursing home in England.
Robert Elvis McCubbin, of Louisville, is shown in uniform in 1943. In front of his family’s home on East Kentucky Street before he left for World War II.
When Peter took some of the many pictures I emailed him to his mother, he said, her face lit up and she confirmed this was his father. He was a lovely man she said. She went on to talk about Robert and what she remembered of him; he loved eating fish and chips, loved looking at the old buildings in England, and was a deep thinker. Lastly, Peter said that his mother asked him to leave the pictures of Robert for perhaps a trip down memory lane for her, but closure for Peter Vickery.
Now that I have a cousin in England, my father Ron is excited that he has a 1st cousin as there are only 3 descendants alive from that immediate line. We have invited him to Kentucky where he will be treated like royalty, no English pun intended.
Update: In the summer of 2008, Peter, who is married but has no children, arrived in Kentucky to meet an extra family he never knew existed. He visited the house on East Kentucky Street where his father had lived. Before the family was to visit the burial site of Robert Elvis McCubbin in Louisvilles Evergreen Cemetery, where Peter would lay a flag on his fathers grave, he told a Courier news reporter who was covering the story, Thats probably going to get to me. And it did!
Rick McCubbin, left, his brother, Mike, rear, Peter Vickery, center, Rick McCubbin’s son, Aaron, rear right, and Rick and Mike’s father, Ron, posed for a photo. They recently discovered — from a trans-Atlantic DNA search on a genealogy Web site — that Vickery, an Englishman, is Ron’s first cousin.
Pete and his wife Jan have an appointment with the Embassy in London in November to what if any rights or privileges he may have since his father was American. He is doing so because Pete and Jan are planning to move from their native country and settle in Bardstown, KY..with his new family.
This story of success has inspired me to submit another DNA through Family Tree and submit the results to the McCubbin DNA Project and I encourage everyone to do the same. What a great feeling it is to not only confirm lineage, but who knows..you just might find a McCousin that you didnt know!! It is truly beyond words.
The Nicholas McCubbin Boys of America
by Lorna McCubbin
The Nicholas Boys The evolution of the Nicholas name among the descendants of John the Colonist of Maryland
Nicholas as a boy’s first name was used generation after generation among the American McCubbins. Spelt Nicolas in Scotland, it was generally used as a girl’s name. The earliest appearance of the name in America was with Nicholas, born about 1708 in Anne Arundel County. He was the son of Zachariah MacCubbin and Susanna Nicholson. Susanna was the daughter of Nicholas Nicholson and Hester Larkin. This would point to the origin of the name, which has been a popular name for generations up to present day. Historical records in Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina and Missouri, all show McCubbins with the Nicholas first name.
Craig McCubbin of Baltimore recently contacted me. His uncle, grandfather, great grandfather and gg grandfather, all were called Nicholas. We’ve hit a brick wall at Nicholas, the Barber, born New York, 1831, who fought in the Civil War, then lived in Baltimore (according to the census of 1900). Of interest, is that Craig’s father recently had his DNA test done through our project and has an exact match with Rick McCubbin who has traced his family back to John the Colonist. So, DNA has proven for us that Craig and family are on the same tree, and at some point they both share an MRCA (most recent common ancestor).
If you have a Nicholas McCubbin (or variants) in your ancestry, and have a family Bible or birth, marriage, death certificates to help us with verification, we look forward to hearing from you. AND also helping you connect your Nicholas. Contact Rick
One more important aspect about the Nicholas name in the McCubbin DNA line. There will be descendants of Nicholas MacCubbin, born 1710, with the Carroll surname. Nicholas was the son of Zachariah MacCubbin, born 1679, a Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Nicholas married Mary Clare Carroll, 1747, who was the daughter of Dr Charles Carroll. He amassed a huge amount of wealth and property. Mary’s sons were left large estates on the condition they change their surname to Carroll. Thus, descendants of this family are named Carroll not MacCubbin (or McCubbin).
Bargany House, Ayrshire and the McCubbin Family Connection (Chart #A02)
by Penny McColm
In 1864 James Paterson wrote a history of the counties of Ayr formerly called Carrick and Wigton. Through the kind assistance of the Carnegie Library in Ayr I have been provided with an extract from this book in relation to the history of this ancient property.
The original old house of Bargany was situated close to the river Girvan, and it was considered a commodious house, but a new house was later built, further up the hill to where the house stands today, and was one of the first unfortified houses built in Scotland.
On the 26 May 1492 the name of Dougal McCuben of Trawdonnak occurs in a charter by Robert, Abbot of Crossarague. In that year Colin MacAlexander of Daltippen conveyed the lands of Tradonnag MucCubbing to Sir Thomas Kennedy of Bargany and Ardstincher. From being first as we have seen, Tennents (sic) or occupiers, the McCubbins subsequently became the proprietors of Tradunnock.
In 1511, Thomas McCubben held the property and a notional instrument narrates that on the 5th June 1548, Thomas Kennedy of Bargany gave sasine with his own hands to Thomas McCubbyn of the lands of Knockbrockloch, alias Tordenat, in the parish of Kirkoswald.
Sir Fergus MacCubbin of Tradunnock, Lord of Dunscoir, had a son John McCubbin, who was proprietor , in 1602 and it was probably his son Fergus McCubbin of Tradunnock who was subsequently styled of Knockdolian on the roll of Members of the Kirk of Colmonell, under date 1642.
There are documents held in the National Archives in Edinburgh relating to Bargany the McCubbins , the Kennedys and their families. A further connection to Bargany and the Hamilton-Dalyrmple family is through Alexander the baker, born 1827 is that as a young man he was employed at Cliveden the house situated on the Thames River in Buckinghamshire. Fred McCubbin recalls his parents being at Cliveden and Cookham when he visited Britain in 1907.
By coincidence one of Scotlands renowned painters the Reverend John Thomson (1778-1840) came from Dailly, his works are exhibited in the National Gallery of Scotland. The house was constructed with stone that was removed from a ruined castle on the banks of the Girvan River. There was an inscription in stone and it says that the house was built in 16H.B.81, the H. being for Hamilton & the B for Bargany, the builder was Lord John Bargany who died in 1693.
The house is situated 19 miles southeast of Ayr and is on the banks of the Girvan River it has had many alterations over the centuries and was known as the home of the Kennedy family until it eventually passed into the Hamilton family.
Sir Hew Dalrymple Hamilton of North Berwick and Bargany was elected M.P. for Haddington-shire in 1795. Sir Hew married Lady Jane daughter of Adam first Viscount of Duncan on the 19th May 1800, this is the Lady Jane referred to in the McCubbin family history.
On Lady Janes death in Paris, in March 1852 her obituary was full of praise for her long connected liberal, judicious, and unobtrusive charities (that) have long been doing a great deal of good to the youthful and poorer classes, and where her singular urbanity of temper and kindliness of manner endeared her to all ranks.”
Bargany is well known for its beautiful gardens, which were started in the late 18th century, there have been many well respected gardeners associated with there upkeep. An ornamental bridge was erected c.1756 known as the Dukes Bridge, to harmonise and complement the azalea beds.
My great great grandfather Alexander McCubbin born in 1794 has been variously named as a Factor of Lady Jane Hamilton, Baron Office, Land Steward, Gentleman, Farmer or a servant, depending on which document you are reading.
In the 1841 census the family of Alexander and his wife Anne Aitken were residing at Lovestone which was the factors house this house stands on the edge of the Bargany grounds, 2 of his children were born in Lovestone. This house still stands today.
There ends the connection between the McCubbins and Bargany House, I am unable to find any documents that could enlighten me as to the employment of any McCubbins prior to this generation.
Some interesting anecdotes recorded by some of the servants employed at Bargany have been recorded about the daily life in the house which gives an insight into the running of large house in the eighteenth century.
From John MacDonalds story published in Memoirs of an Eighteenth Century Footman. He states that in 1750 at the age of 9 he was hired by Bargany coachman John Bell, the very young John MacDonald was sent on horse back, dressed in postilions livery from Edinburgh to Bargany some considerable distance. He was taken to meet Lady Anne Hamilton on arrival there, to see if she approved of him, apparently she did approve of him and he commenced his employment.
John left Bargany after six years of service, he left with some ill will from his former boss John Bell, the coachman, their relationship had been brutal and the animosity between the two was irrevocable. Remember that young John was by this time was aged about 15 years old.
John became something of a ladies man and managed to get himself into all sorts of scrapes in the following years, which included a supposed relationship with, not only the Lady of the House where he was then employed, but also some of the maids, of his new employer the Earl of Craufurd, his reputation thus became severely tarnished.
In 1760 John was reemployed by John Hamilton of Bargany as a body servant a valet but the wife of John the Lady Ann Hamilton, became so alarmed at John MacDonalds philandering that she asked her god-daughter and several female members of the household to leave the house as she felt “there was something between them”. John was immediately dismissed. He ended up unemployed in London and lost his own wife as well!
Other memoirs mentioned in Servants Of Ayrshire 1750-1914 were given by Mrs. Hume who was a cook at Bargany, She commenced work at the age of 15 as a scullery maid.
She continues Each person knew what to do. I wouldnt have dared to go up to Cook. You waited until you were spoken to. Cook was your mistress. She kept her place and you kept yours. She was nice to you in a way. Every morning the scullery maid took a big ewer of water up to the cooks bedroom no bathrooms (in those days). Sometimes she would say is there a cup of tea going?
The relationship of master and servant was just that the servants were powerless and they were governed by the will of their employers.
Mrs. Hume explained how she obtained her post at Bargany. You paid a yearly subscription (to an agency) (of ) 2/6d then 5/- (shillings) as your wage rose. When you wanted a job, you wrote and told them you were in need of a position. You told them where youd been previously employed and provided references if you wanted to improve your position. Mrs. Sharp the Cook /Housekeeper at Bargany spoke broad Scots to everybody. Fife was a retired butler. Ward also a butler, succeeded him. Somebody had to recommend you. Mrs. Sharp recommended me.
As for the house itself it has gone through many alterations, additions and transitions over the centuries. The18th century interiors are considered of great importance.
Its much prized gardens have been added to and nurtured . Some years ago the Dalrymple-Hamilton family placed the property on the market, and in 1980 the family tried to have the house demolished but after much opposition the house was offered for rent. In 1985 an American investor offered £31,000 for the privilege of restoring Bargany.
Bargany House
The Front Entrance to Bargany House
We finally come to the gardens, which are particularly beautiful with a lake, many azaleas and wonderful trees. They are attributed to plans by Thomas White and George Robertson created in 1774. Many other gardeners were connected to the house and in the 1820 W.S Gilpin whose work is mainly to be seen now. The lake was created by joining several ponds together, and the surrounding parkland was crated at this time. There is a pineapple house situated in a walled garden created about 1818. There are colorful cherry trees, Snake Bark Maple, Tulip, Magnolia and many more exotic trees.
Bargany Pond
Sources: 1. The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire by Michael C Davis 2.Counties of Ayr and Wigton Vol.11-Carrick by James Paterson Published 1864 Edinburgh. 3. Bargany Pond, J Dalrymple Hamilton, web photo 4. Lorna McCubbin 5. My thanks for the Carnegie Library of Ayr, Scotland, for supplying me with documents, book extracts and research assistance they gave me in creating this small history. Penny McColm
Wilhemina and the Master Mariner – (and her son and six beautiful granddaughters)
by Bill Smart, reviewed by Lorna McCubbin
Almost one hundred and fifty years ago, a young woman named Wilhemina McCubbin, left her home in Loveston, Ayrshire, Scotland, to travel to New Zealand. Both her parents had died, her father, Alexander, having been a ‘Land Officer’ at the Bargany estate. Some of her siblings had already left for Australia and New Zealand, where her brother John was the proprietor of the Otago Hotel in Dunedin. In New Zealand,Wilhemena met Master Mariner, Joseph Moodie.
They had a brief affair which resulted in the birth of a son, in 1866. Born Joseph Moodie McCubbin, in Hokitika, he was known throughout his life as William Joseph McCubbin. His mother, Wilhemina, apparently left him with her sister in Hokitika and became the Housekeeper at the Provincial Hotel in Dunedin. She died in Dunedin at the age of 43 from “Disease of the Heart”. William Joseph was now an orphan (his father, whom he likely never knew, had died when he was three years old). William, having been cared for by his mother’s family, was known as an intelligent and articulate boy.
Joseph Wm Johnson McCubbin age 15, New Zealand
He continued on with his schooling, finished it and started apprenticing as a Butcher in Hokitika He met and married Florence Mary Law (who had already been avidly courted via letter, by another man). These letters were also in ‘the find’ that Bill Smart found in his parents garage.
After their marriage in 1891, they moved to Denniston where William was working for the Westcoast Coal company as a coal miner, until he took over as manager of the Cooperative Society Butchery.
William & Florence, Wedding 1891
(Throughout the essay, Bill has given informative descriptions of the towns, Hokitika, Denniston and Westport, where Flo and William had lived). Flo and William went on to have six beautiful daughters – Mary, Florence, Annie, Jessie Doreen, Marion and Kathleen.
Four of the McCubbin sisters, Anne, Doreen, Mary & Flo
Each had their own special qualities. Reading through the many letters that travelled among them, one can appreciate the love and care they all had for one another. Their letters tell of everyday life in New Zealand. One of the major events in the girls lives was when Jessie (known as Doreen) won the Miss Wellington beauty contest in 1926.
Says Bill, “A contest like this had never been organised in NZ and from newspaper accounts of the day it is apparent that great enthusiasm was expressed over the whole of the country.” There were over 550 entries. Letters and telegrams flew from sister to sister and parents. Anne said in one letter, “Best Love, Anne. We are all sick with excitement.” Bill’s mother, Kathleen, the youngest of the six girls, was the athlete. “She was keen on playing sport and was a champion diver on the Westcoast. Cath was a keen swimmer as well. Hockey and Basket Ball were both games she enjoyed.”
Cath, Marion, Anne, Florence, Doreen, Mary, c1920
It was a pleasure reading Bill’s compilation of his family’s letters as well as the descriptive dialogue he used to keep the story flowing.
AND remember, please don’t throw out the family letters. You never know which of your children or grandchildren will take on the role of family historian, and jump with joy when they find a box of old letters and photos.
If any McCubbin is related to the #A02 tree (Alexander McCubbin & Jean McIlwraith, the Ballantrae McCubbins) and would like to contact Bill Smart, send an email via Penny.
Obituary of Martha McCubbin and mention of Isabella McCubbin’s son, the film star Wilfred Lawson
from Lynne McCubbin in an email to Lorna
I’ve just received an obituary for Martha McCubbin, daughter of William McC and Margaret Galloway, grandaughter of
William Mcc and Martha Hay. In this obit it states that she was the aunt of film star Wilfred Lawson (yeah I’d never heard of him either).
His mother was Isabella Mcc who moved to Yorkshire England where she was a housekeeper for John M D Worsnop in 1881. By 1891 she had become his wife and had Wilfred (you can see how the name Worsnop would never really have worked in the movies!). Anyway, a little bit of trivia for those directly connected to this line. Apparently he was pals with Richard Burton and starred with Michael Caine, John Wayne and various other big names.
Cheers, Lynne
From Irvine Herald, Mar 27, 1942
Film Star’s Aunt
Death of Miss Martha McCubbin
“Miss Martha M’Cubbin, who passed away, age of 81 years, will be remembered by generations of Irvineites as the dear old lady who kept a “tuck” shop in Montgomery Street for the long period of 40+ Years. She was beloved by the children for whom she always had a warm affection.
Born in Girvan she came to Irvine with her parents, the late Mr and Mrs William M’Cubbin, as a child, and was one of a family of four sons and four daughters. She is survived by two sisters and numerous nephews and nieces, one of her nephews being, Wilfred Lawson, the famous film star.”
Wilfred (1900 – 1966) played in movies such as War & Peace, The Naked Edge, Room at the Top and Tom Jones.
The above family is descended from Shaw McCubbin & Sarah Chapman, Chart #55
CUB BITS
from Lyn Smith of Australia
Lyn Smith of Australia wrote of Matthew McCubbin, a randy character, in her family tree.
“Reading the Kirkmichael Parish registers a number of years ago. The Matthew McCubbin who was married to Margaret Howard, must have been a “bit of a lad”. Twice in the Kirk Session records it lists that Matthew had had illegitimate children with another local girl named Isabella Flood – in both cases the records state child’s name, “conceived in carnal lust” One daughter was christened on the same day as one of his legitimate children and the other a month before one of his earlier sons. Must have been an interesting family situation in a very small town!”
Thank you Lyn! I have been trying to link this Matthew who had children with Isabella Flood to his McCubbin ancestors. He’s been a ‘stray’ in my McCubbin database for years. Finally, I found the reason why. Goes to show that going to original old parish registers is the answer! Matthew himself was an illegitimate child of Rev Andrew McCubbin.
The above Rev Andrew McCubbin, (1765-1852) of Leswalt and son Matthew, (c1810-1866)of Kirkmichael and Maybole are included in Chart #46-56. The Reverend Andrew was a colorful character too. He had an unacknowledged son, whom he didn’t include in his will. He apparently spent time in Bermuda. Possibly Jamaica too – DNA may tell. And he married a 24 year old woman when he was in his late 60’s.
News from the Bard
Rob McCubbin (of Australia) is at it again! He’s working on “On Wings of Eagles”. Check with Rob where you can buy his books.
Of his historical novels based on fictional stories of the McCubbin saga reviewers are saying, “-a narrative as sharp as a sword’s edge. A must read for those who love a ripping good yarn.” “Son of the Storm is a family saga with more than a hint of authenticity about – you’ll enjoy it.” “Rob McCubbin’s historical novel weaves a fascinating fiction of adventure and romance over the strands of his factual family history.”
Rob also has a contact who will make ‘shoulder patches’ of coats of arms with a McCubbin tartan background. They cost about $6.50 US and can be paid for by Pay Pal. Find out more from Bob Wright at Bob
Above is the crest (it is a different interpretation than the one with the arm and sword)
From Sally Walker, wrote to Lorna in an email:
“Re The Crest and Arms of Fergus McCubbin (Mcaben) of Knockdolian. I have just looked at the details from the office of the Lord Lyon recently available at http://www.scotlands people.gov.uk and have noticed something which may interest the McCubbin devotees.
The crest and a description of it is not very clear, but clarifies information I already hold. I previously understood that the motto was Nulli Proede – but that is incorrect, it is actually Nulli Preda. I have cast about for translations of this and the best I can come up with is “none prey” or “none predate” I was not sure about this but I spent a little time browsing the other symbols on the crest, a castle on a rock (presumably relating to Knockdolian) a helmet (common on such arms) and above that a swallow. Why a swallow? I then checked several other references, one of which is something called the Aberdeen Bestiary. Within the entry for “Swallow” is the following: It is not harassed by other birds and is never their prey. Birds of prey never fall upon it, in the same way that the contrite of heart are never the prey of devils.
That really seems to me to support my contention for the motto. I do hope you find that interesting.
I have a further query, I note that the date of the entry of the arms is given as 1/7/1673, but I read somewhere that Fergus died fighting in the Pentland hills in 1666 at the age of about (loosely) 60. I guess then that this must be Fergus McCubbin 2 (I believe the Nephew of Fergus 1?)”
McCubbing People on FaceBook
A note from Kathy McCubbing Hopkins
Something that has recently struck my interest is the McCubbing Facebook group: My brother joined and since then other members of my family and a few other Cubbies from across the globe. Email Kathy for an invitation if you’d like to check it out.
Queries
We’re looking for DNA candidates for male descendants of James McCubbin & Isabella Lorimer, of Penpont Chart #03, Rev Andrew McCubbin of Leswalt, Chart #46-56, Shaw McCubbin & Sarah Chapman of Ireland & William, of Girvan, Chart #55 (this is Lynne McCubbin’s tree).
AND the Tailors of Linslade (as we call them in our records). If you are a McCubbin and have ties to Leamington, Warwick, Leighton Buzzard, Linslade, Buckingham, we’d like to hear from you. We need a candidate to prove which tree you ‘belong’ to. We have two tentative conclusions – either Chart #A02 Alexander McCubbin & Jean McIlwraith, (one of their descendants is Frederick McCubbin, the artist of Australia). The second one is Chart #03 James McCubbin & Isabella Lorimer, whose descendants were skilled Masons.
We also need candidates from the ancestral homeland – Scotland. If you are a Scot whose family has lived in Scotland for centuries, or a Scot living abroad whose close family is from Scotland, you would be helping the project greatly if you would submit your DNA. This is not the DNA which is used for criminal investigations and your results are entirely anonymous at your discretion.
There are funds set aside for DNA candidates of the above. Contact Lorna
Our New Co-ordinator for ‘The American McCubbins – descendants of John the Colonist’
By now, you’ve read about Rick (Ronald McCubbin) in the story near the beginning of this report, who has found a new cousin through DNA. I have communicated with Rick for the past few years and have found him to be a tenacious and meticulous researcher. He has traced his family back to John the Colonist and now, through DNA had found a match in Scotland to a 90 year old McCubbin who states that his family was related to the Lords Fergus and John McCubbin of Knockdolian. Rick has records and photos of his family and entered his chart with Ancestry.com. Our association has always needed a co-ordinator for the descendants of John the Colonist who arrived in America in the mid 1600’s. Rick has agreed to be the co-ordinator. If you know or think you are related to John the Colonist, please contact Rick. If you have records from a family Bible, or letters or photos, we hope you will share them with Rick, in order for him to gather together this large and diverse American family. And also help you with yours. Contact Rick
Forming a MCFHA committee
As our McCubbin Family Association (MCFHA) continues to grow, we’re finding the need to form a committee. Now that we have a sizable, well researched database for world McCubbins, except America, we can now continue on with other areas. Our new arrangement will be:
Thanks again to all who have added to our continuing research. We are especially thankful to those of you who contributed to the DNA project. It is providing a great insight into our past.
Contact us about any questions or queries about your McCubbin ancestors.
All the best for 2009!!
The MCFHA Committee
The McCubbin name, and variants, are registered with the Guild of One Name Studies
Searching the McCubbin name and variants worldwide.
Member #5414
Contact us at: mccubbin@one-name.org
November, 2009 Dear Cubbies,
Issue Number 9 features:
Second Anniversary of the McCubbin DNA Project
The McCubbins Centuries on the Sea
Proximity to Ireland and its Influence on SW Scotland – Galloway
Over the Sea to America
Eighty (and more) Days to Australia by Sea
Son of the Storm by Rob McCubbin
Remembering Early McCubbins of the Sea
The Sea Affected Whole Families
The Sea Helped Ambitious Men Become Wealthy
A Master Boat Building & Seaman Dynasty of Annan, Dumfriesshire
The Short-lived Seafaring Days of David Peacock McCubbin
Generations of A Family involved in the Shipping Lines
A Tragedy at Sea – James Alexander McCubbin & the Lusitania
George McCubbing and the Battle of the Atlantic
Admiral John D McCubbin – An American of the Sea
McCubbin Catholic Births
Deanside of Fayette, Kentucky; a McCubbing Descendant Reunion
Chart Change to #68 & #A09
Query
Second Anniversary of the McCubbin DNA Project
by Lorna McCubbin, Project Administrator
There are now 32 members in the McCubbin DNA Project. There are four distinct DNA groups that have evolved. For easier identification each group has a number and name. Name indicates the earliest known ancestor within a test group. The latter part indicates ancestral roots yet to be proven in our research.
Group 1. Keir, Dumfriesshire – 1745. Alexander the Martyr & King Niall of Ireland
Group 2. Maryland, USA – c1620, John the Colonist. The Lords of Knockdolian and Tradunnock, c 1400’s in Ayrshire
Group 3. Galloway, South West Scotland – 1735. The Dal Riata, Ireland
Group 4. Penpont, Dumfriesshire – c1760. The Master Masons
Since our last CUB report, 9 results have been returned from the Family Tree DNA lab at the University of Texas. Three of those males ‘belong’ to the Keir group, three to the Galloway group and three to John the Colonist. One found ‘no match’. It is notable that the name ‘McBean’ shows up in John Colonist group. It appears that a shortened version of ‘McCubbin’ evolved in America.
In the past year the following families have been added to the above groups:
Group 1
#06 Daniel McCubbin & Margaret McGhie (married before 1769) of Ayrshire
#04 James McCubbin (b. 1770-80) & Isabella Stoddard of Dumfriesshire
#69 Harold McCubbin b. 1912 (living) of Jamaica. Ancestor John and/or Andrew of Scotland Group 2
#14 James McCubbin (b about 1760) & Elizabeth Bowman, Maybole, Ayr Group 3
#42 William McCubbin (b about 1750) & Jane Stewart, Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire
#55 Shaw McCubbin (b about 1785) & Sarah Chapman, County Down, Ireland
#68 Alexander Charles (m 1765) & Jean Smith, Ayr, Ayshire
#54 James McCubbin (b about 1780) & Isabella McClelland, Mochrum, Wig
Want to join? The project requires McCubbin males to purchase a test kit (a swab to rub inside the cheek) and mail it back to the lab. You can go toFamily Tree DNA to read more, read our past two CUB reports (2007, 2008), and/ or contact us at mccubbin@one-name.org.
There is a special sale price on now until Dec 31, 2009. Orders for the following tests need to be placed and paid for by December 31, 2009.
We are looking for male McCubbin candidates who are descendants of the following ancestors. Earliest known ancestor is listed first, then geographic areas where descendants settled.
Peter McCubbin & Janet Campbell (married 1801) – Wigtown to Glasgow, to Australia
James McCubbin & Janet McIntyre (m. 1802) – Wigtown to Lancashire to Australia
Alexander McCubbin & Agnes Jackson (m. 1808) – Wigtown to Australia
Edward McCubbin & Sophia (m. 1829) – Dumfriesshire to Buckinghamshire & Linslade
There are funds available to help pay the cost for qualified individuals of these groups. To find out if you belong to one of these groups, email us at mccubbin@one-name.org
We will be forever grateful to native Scots who submit their DNAs. You can be as anonymous as you want to be. But know this: when 90 yr old Alan McCubbin of Scotland, submitted his DNA, and the test results returned, I could almost hear the shout of joy when a match was made with a McCubbin of America, who was able, virtually, to set his foot on Scottish soil. If this inspires you contact us at mccubbin@one-name.org. We may have a kit set aside for you.
The McCubbins, Centuries on the Sea
Scotland is a country that has more than 10,000 miles of coastline and it’s only natural that our McCubbins had an ancient and deep-rooted connection to the sea. They were fishermen, sailors, master mariners, ship builders, captains and pursers, travelers to new lands and merchants who made their fortunes via the sea. Some were born at sea, fought at sea, drowned at sea, died with fevers and dysentry on board ship and buried at sea.
Proximity to Ireland and Its Influence on SW Scotland – Galloway
The proximity of Ireland to Scotland by sea, a mere 12 miles in places, played a large part in co-mingling McCubbin Irish and Scottish genes. In Oer the Sheugh (meaning ‘Over the Ditch, metaphorically, the Irish Sea) by Charles Kelly* who relates ” The earliest recorded migrations were those of the Dal Riata, who lived in the glens of north County Antrim. The Dal Riata are better known by the name of Scots which was derived from the Latin Scotti meaning sea-pirates. Roman historians referred to the Scots making forays into Argyllshire (Eregyll the land of the Gael!) from as early as the 3rd century. While it is normally believed that the Gaelic language was restricted to the north and west of Scotland what is not generally known is that the language was also native to south west Scotland particularly to Galloway. The presence of the Gaelic language together with archaeological evidence indicates the colonisation of Galloway by Irish migrants, the Gall Ghaidhill (foreign gael) after whom Galloway is named. The Irish influx is believed to have occurred during the 7th and 8th centuries.
Gaelic place names abound in Galloway, examples include Ballantrae (the town on the beach); Cairn Ryan (the Kings Hill) and Drummore (the Big Ridge). There is evidence of Gaelic speaking people even as far north as Kyle in Ayrshire.
The prevalence of Gaelic surnames in Galloway also attest to its having been a Gaelic speaking area, examples including MacCulloch, MacDowell, McKibben, McMaster and McKee (names which are also common in County Down).”
The Mull of Galloway, the southermost tip of Scotland, looking off to the Isle of Man and over to Ireland.
Family folklore among some of the Galloway McCubbins, says ‘they came from Ireland way back”. It’s possible the numerous McKibben names recorded in the early parish registers of Stoneykirk and Kirkmaiden may be as a result of the early invasions from Ireland. Those McKibben names changed to the existing McCubbin in the early 1700s and we now find living descendents of those McKibbens/McCubbins in family groups, who have matching DNA, i.e. John McKibbon/McCubbin & Mgt Gibson, Alexander McCubbin & Agnes Weir.
During the years 379 to 405, on the other side of the ‘Sheugh’ lived the warlord named Niall of the Nine Hostages who was the High King at Tara. A powerful and prolific king, as many as 3 million men worldwide might be directly descended from this single Irish warlord. Using international DNA databases, the signature Y chromosome was found in men in Scotland. Thus we find McCubbin males, Billy and Leslie of the Keir McCubbins, whose recent DNA tests show this chromosome. Not surprisingly, the signature Y chromosome has also spread around the world to a McCubbin in Australia (who matches with Billy and Leslie).
In later centuries, traveling once again by sea the reverse way, Scottish lowlanders seeking grazing land settled in Ulster, a practice fostered by the competing Irish warlords, who often preferred Scottish settlers on their land rather than rival Irishmen. After the Reformation, most Scots were Protestants, so the English, also mostly Protestant, encouraged ever more of them to settle in Ireland, hoping that this would help bring the country firmly under English control. To attract them, landowners granted longer leases than those offered in Scotland, thus encouraging them to lease the land. Many found they could do well growing flax and making linen.
So we find Shaw McKibben/McCubbin, born 1785, wife Sarah Chapman in County Down, in 1807 leasing a 3 acre farm from the Marchioness of Downshire. His son William, later migrated to Girvan, Ayrshire and now, also through DNA, we find Shaw’s family groups spread through Scotland and the rest of the world.
About 1630, after the crops failed on leased land in Balgreggan, Stoneykirk, the following family packed up and sailed over to Ireland. This is a fictional account by John Kelly* which would coincide with McCubbins who would be on the move:
“My father said we had no option but to leave Balgreggan but where could we go? One of the cottars, McClellan told my father that the tinkers often spoke of land and money to be had ower the sheugh in Ulster for anyone with a good back and willing hands. The decision was made, we would sell our Oxen, Ewes and Goats and take the boat fae Portpatrick tae Donaghadee.
My fathers cousin John Kelly of Wigtown had made the same trip many years before us. My father told us that his cousin had gone across with Montgomery of Braidstane in Ayrshire around the year sixteen hundred and six. John Kelly had been given life rent of 20 acres of good land in the Parish of New Town Ards. The Lady Montgomery had seen to it that my fathers cousin also had grazing rights for his stock, fodder for the winter a house and a garden plot. With a favourable wind and following a short but rough passage of some three hours we landed in the port of Donaghadee on the shores of County Down. This was no strange land as the tinkers had rightly told us, the Scots tongue was as broad there as in Wigtownshire. The names of the town folk were also well kent tae us, Campbell, Gibson, Dixon, McKee, Kennedy, Johnston, McCubbin, McCulloch and of course Kelly were all present. I began to wonder if our ship had not been blown back onto the shores of Galloway!” *Excerpted from a talk given by Charles Kelly, Associate Member from Scotland, at the Annual Meeting ot the North of Ireland Family HIstory Society, May, 2000
The McCubbins of Tradonnuck & Knockdolian
A well known family of early Ayrshire, the McCubbins of Tradonnuck and Knockdolian, traveled the sea between Ireland and Scotland. This McCubbin family also were established in Ireland and in 1690, John McCubine, brother of Fergus McCubbin of Knockdolian, was living in Belhomie, Antrim, Ireland when he died, leaving a will and testament to his brother Fergus.
Over the Sea to America
In mid 1600’s John (aka John the Colonist) of the above family, landed in America – as some records show – an indentured servant. This would have been during the Covenanting times. He settled in Maryland and became a free man, establishing a large plantation. Hundreds of his descendants today live throughout the USA. Seven living individuals who have had their DNA results are thought to be his descendants. Two reside in Maryland, one in Kentucky, one in England, one in Scotland, one in Canada and one in New Zealand.
Eighty and More Days By Sea to Australia
Another century and McCubbins were moving across another sea to Australia.
Probably lured by opportunity and land, a McCubbin from Keir (James, 1810-1888) was one of the early pioneers, arriving in Australia in the 1830s and followed some 15 years later by two nephews (both called John, 1833-1877 and 1835-1888) just before the Gold Rush of 1851.
The gold rush of 1851 lured more. Immigrant ships brought thousands of people keen to try their luck at the diggings. The sailing time from England was reduced to 80 days and the newcomers, like the migrants before them, endured appalling conditions under unscrupulous shipowners.
Son of the Storm
by Rob McCubbin
Rob McCubbin, author of several historical novels about the McCubbins, gives his account in Son of the Storm of a young family who have left their home in Dumfries for Australia. Here’s what Rob writes about how it may have been on board shortly after they began their journey.
“Sails billowed above him and cracked in the wind as the helmsman brought the ship around for the run south-west. Waves creamed past the hull as her port side dipped lower in the water, making her deck into a sloping ramp. Below decks, in the pervading gloom, the steerage passengers grabbed for their belongings to save them from sliding off where they had been stored. Previously level shelves and tops of boxes were transformed into angled surfaces not designed to cradle objects, and those which couldn’t be grabbed in time, wound up on the floor, smashed or dented. A bottle of rum shattered after falling off a top bunk, the smell quickly permeating the lower deck space. Its owner wailed his disappointment. Broken glass lay on the deck, waiting for an unwary foot. Everyone hung on. This was their first taste of a ship at sea.
The vessel corkscrewed its way through the waves, the motion transmitting itself through the beams and thwarts to the passengers trapped inside. The timbers groaned and squealed as their edges rubbed against each other. To the landlubbers, these noises were the sounds of impending doom. Most of them had been uprooted from small villages and had never even seen the ocean before. Being trapped inside this rolling hull was a living Hell. Many of them blanched and became ill as their stomaches revolted at the unusual pitching. The smell of new vomit mixed with the rum and the ever-present reek of tar. Bare feet slapped over the deck above as the sailors set up the topgallants to gain more speed as the living cargo moaned.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God!” Swait Jaisus, we’ll all be killed!”
“Mam, what’s happenin’?”
“She must be sinkin’. I’m gettin’ out,” preceded a mad rush for the steps by those nearest the hatchway.
Heads broke over the hatch coaming, eyes darting wildly about expecting to see the ship foundering and all the sailors jumping overboard. Instead, swabbies manned the halyards, their eyes either on the sails or on their midshipman, awaiting their next orders. The seas rushed by the port side, the lees almost awash as she raced before the wind. Captain Thwaites paced along the upper deck, his eyes on topgallants and royals, checking they were filling correctly and the shrouds were bearing evenly. Seeing the panic in their faces, the Bosun ambled over and reassured them.
“Sinkin’, my God no. Were just runnin before the wind. Captain’s makin’ good time. Now you lot get back below afore the Mate sees ye, or there’ll be all Hell to pay.”
If you would like to read more of Rob’s adventurous McCubbins, he has offered to email interested individuals, further excerpts from his series. Contact Rob
Remembering some McCubbins whose livelihoods depended on the sea, who were seafarers, or lost their lives at sea or were born at sea
David McCubbin, a Covenanter, drowned at sea while being transported on the slave ship, Crown of London in 1679
John and Jane, twins, born at sea, 1861, to Alexander McCubbin and Margaret Currie, enroute to Australia.
William, born 1844, Girvan, married to Sarah Peacock. A Fisherman.
Andrew, b 1837, Leswalt, m to Mary McBrearty. A Master Seaman.
John, b 1848, Maybole, m to Eliz McGregor. A Ship Painter in Glasgow.
John b 1849, Mochrum, m to Grace McLelland. A Fisherman at Isle of Whithorn.
Thomas, b 1844, Partick, Lanarkshire, m to Mgt Wells. A Fisherman and Master Mariner at Dunoon, Argyle.
James McCubbing, b1858, Ireland, m to Elizabeth McNee. A Marine Fireman, Liverpool
The sea affected whole families
David, b 1751, Stranraer, m Catherine McKeand. A Seaman Royal Navy.
David, his grandson, b 1806, Glasserton, drowned in the Atlantic, age 23.
John, his grandson, b 1816, Glasserton, drowned near Isle of Man, age 39.
The sea helped ambitious men become wealthy
Hugh McCubbin, born 1833, Girvan, married to Elisabeth Steven, was a South African and West Indian Merchant. He resided in West Derby, Lancashire. Hugh erected this fountain in his home town of Girvan. (Photos by Pamela Strain)
A Master Ship/Boat Building & Seaman Dynasty of Annan, Dumfriesshire
James McCubbin, b 1796, married to Jane Nelson, A Ship Carpenter.
James McCubbin, son, b 1817, Caerlaverock, m Frances Brown. A Ship Carpenter.
Robert McCubbin b 1821, son of James McC & Jane Nelson, m to Janet Carlyle. A Master Boat Builder.
James McCubbin, b 1854, born Annan, son of Robert McC & Janet Carlyle, m Elizabeth Ann Clarke. A Boat Builder and Fishmonger.
Robert McCubbin, b 1881, Annan. Son of Robert McC & Elizabeth Clarke. A Boat Builder. His obituary in North Bay, Ontario, Canada: “He was a pioneer boat builder widely known and liked by North Bay boating enthusiasts”.
Jonathan Nelson McCubbin, b 1829 Annan, m. Elizabeth. A Ship Carpenter in Liverpool.
Benjamin, son of James McC and Jane Nelson, b 1834, Annan, m to Jane Laidlaw. A Ship Carpenter and Seaman.
Benjamin, b 1854, Annan, m Elizabeth Welsh. A Fisherman.
Benjamin, b 1876, Annan, son of Benjamin McC & Eliz Welsh. A Fisherman. Drowned in the Solway, age 19.
The Short-lived Seafaring Days of David Peacock McCubbin
by Lynne McCubbin
HMS Impregnable
David, the eldest child of William McCubbin and Sarah Peacock, was born in 1874, Girvan. Sadly, in 1881 Sarah died leaving William to raise three young boys. As a merchant seaman he must have found it hard and the following year William married local widow Helen McChesney. Perhaps it is his fathers occupation that encouraged David to join the Royal Navy as by the tender age of 15 in 1890 he had enlisted. He joined HMS Impregnable, a training ship in Devonport, England, where his first rating was a B2C, which I believe is Boy 2nd Class. His naval record describes David as 5 2 tall, with light brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. Two years later he has grown 4 and has a burn mark on his right hand.
Barbados
David appears to have remained on training ships over the next couple of years his conduct is always described as good or very good. On 26th September 1892, his 18th birthday, he signs up for twelve years, is promoted from Boy 1st Class to Ordinary Seaman and posted to HMS Cleopatra. At this point it would appear David was happy with his chosen career and was moving steadily forward, so what went wrong only a few months later?
On the 1st February 1893 David run while moored in Barbados and was never caught. It is likely this was his first major voyage and that life as a sailor wasnt all he initially thought it would be. Regardless, his conduct was still vg right up until 31st December 1892. Was it a spur of the moment decision? Did finding his land legs in Barbados make him realise the high seas werent for him? Did he meet a young lady while on shore leave? How did he get from the Caribbean to Australia where I discovered him as David Stewart? All questions that are likely to remain unanswered but Im sure he had some great adventures along the way! (David was ‘The Absconder’ that got me started on my family history saga.)
Generations of A Family Involved in the Shipping Lines
All below are the family descendants of Alexander McCubbin & Jean McIlwraith of Ballantrae, Ayr, (including James Alexander McCubbin who went down with the Lusitania).
David, b 1819, Ballantrae, m Anne Thomson. Master Mariner. Superintendent Chief Steward on the Cunard Line, 40 years. Liverpool.
Alexander, b 1841, son of David, Dumbarton, a Mariner, then Hotel Proprietor in Bootle, Liverpool, m Mary Hough
His son, David, b 1874, West Derby, Liverpool, an employee with G&J Burns, the Glasgow line of Steamers.
His son, Alexander, b 1879, Bootle, Lancs, and employed in the office of the Cunard Company
Alexander, b 1873, Liverpool, Lancs, son of James McCubbin & Anne Reynolds. *”Alex was lost at sea, the ship he sailed in, never being heard of since leaving Liverpool, 8 or 9 years ago.”
David b 1850, Liverpool, son of David McCubbin & Anne Thomson, *”I was rather surprised to learn that my little brother David, had adopted the life of a sailor and had been bound apprentice to Mr Donald, Now Sir Donald Currie, a former manager of my father’s firm D&C MacIvor, and had sailed on his first voyage on board the “Tantallan Castle” for Calcutta, from which, poor little fellow, he never returned.” He was buried in the Bay of Bengal after suffering from Dysentry.
Clement Wilson McCubbin m Mary Gross. b 1835, Loveston, Aryshire. employed as Chief Steward aboard SS Corsica trading beween Havana & NY city. Died 1867, at Sea of Yellow Fever.
*From a 42 page letter written by David’s son Alexander, 1896, to his Aunt Sarah Potts in NZ. From this letter most of the history of this entire generation is sourced and researched. (Penny McColm)
A Tragedy at Sea
James Alexander McCubbin Chief Purser Photographed aboard the Lusitania
by Penny McColm
(My grandfather, Frederick McCubbin, the artist, was the brother of the James Alexander McCubbin)
James Alexander, born 1852, in Parish of St Peters, Liverpool, son of Alexander and Ann McWilliams, married his cousin, Annie McCubbin, dau. of Peter and Susan Hill McCubbin. James died at sea on the Lusitania, 1915. The ship was sunk by a German U boat during the 1st World War off the coast of Southern Ireland. At the time of his marriage to Annie, at the age of 24, his occupation was as a Purser’s Assistant, employed by Cunard Shipping Line.
They both lived at the family home of uncle David and aunt Anne in 30 Lower Mersey, View Street, Bootle, West Derby, Lancashire.
From all accounts James Alexander was quite a lad!
I have found several documented accounts of his career as an employee of the Cunard Shipping line. In 1881 he appears on the Liverpool census as a Corn Factor Director, aged 28 married and living at 79 Sutton St, West Derby, Lancashire, with his wife Annie. This is a very strange occupation for Jim, when in 1876 he is a trainee purser with Cunard and for the rest of his life he was employed by Cunard and based in Liverpool.
The duties of the ships senior purser were of great responsibility. He was, “to take and store the valuables of the passengers in his office which was situated near the main first class staircase.” Standing behind decorative metalwork grilles resembling the cashiers’ cages of fashionable shops, of the time, his staff would carefully issue receipts for valuables from wealthy passengers.
Concerts were organised where passengers and staff performed for the entertainment of everyone on board. Purser McCubbin was a famed & accomplished flautist, but on the occasion of one of these concerts he was somewhat miffed and refused to play. During a voyage on the “Saxonia, (another Cunard liner) some wag had put flour inside his instrument prior to a concert. At the first note both he and the imposing Bostonian matron accompanying him were enveloped in a white cloud. After that he had refused to perform in public again.”
After the death of his wife Annie and infant child , James furthered his career with Cunard and devoted some time to local charities in Liverpool. When not at sea, he lived with the family at Lower Mersey View.
James arrived in Melbourne aged 42 years in Dec 1893 on the ‘Orotava’.
He spent some time with the family in Melbourne and then continued on to New Zealand to visit his sisters and their families that were then living there, prior to returning to Liverpool.
He had relatives living in London on his mother’s side – the MackWilliams family, and he was close to his sister in law/cousin Lizzie McCubbin Christian and her family. This appears to have prompted him to purchase the Golders Green property where he planned to retire to be near his cousin and her family, but his untimely death over came his retirement plans in 1915.
The ‘Lusitania’ departed on the 1st May 1915 from New York. James was employed as chief purser on the luxury liner. It was sunk by a German U Boat torpedo on the 7th May 1915 off the Irish coast. And James died in this disaster, as did many other people.
His body was recovered in the following days and he was buried in the cemetery in Toxteth Park Liverpool.
Excerpts from Diana Preston’s book “Willful Murder” – The sinking of the Lusitania, published by Doubleday, UK, 2002, retell eyewitness accounts of Purser McCubbin, his wonderful sense of humor surviving to this day:
“As the Lusitania listed into the sea and there was considerable panic on board, Mr. James Leary was endeavoring to return to his cabin when he met Purser McCubbin, who had locked all Leary’s money in the ships safe. Leary asked “How about my valuables?” The purser replied “Young Man, if we get to port you will get them, and if we sink you won’t need them.” (p.213)
“As the chaos continued and the ship sank further into the sea, “Purser James McCubbin, accompanied by the ships doctor, was (seen) “walking up and down the Promenade deck smoking a cigarette” When asked why they were not at their positions, they replied that “there was not a chance for the boat to go down.” (p.219)
Prophetic words indeed, which were the last known James Alexander McCubbin uttered! Diana Preston describes him as “stout, white-bearded,” and at the time was 50 years old. James had planned to retire after this final voyage, but fate stepped in.
The Lusitania had taken the Atlantic record on her second voyage only to be beaten by the Mauretania on her maiden voyage. After the loss of the Lusitania in 1915, the Mauretania remained the fastest vessel on the North Atlantic until 1929.
Gangplank Willies was the nickname given to news-hungry New York reporters. Reporters and photographers often boarded the liners at Quarantine for the eight mile sail into dock. Cunard and White Star tipped them off as to any famous passengers on board. Purser McCubbin of the Lusitania entertained the Gangplank Willies to breakfast and Cunard whisky in his cabin. He sent bellboys to fetch millionaires or those involved in the latest divorce scandals, for interview. In order to be first with the news of the Titanic disaster in 1912, the New York Times hired a tug to take the reporters out to the Carpathia to interview the survivors. Captain Rostron refused to let them board. The tug broke down and the seasick reporters reached New York hours after rival newspapers had broken the story.
(above information taken from “Triumph of a Great Tradition: Official Souvenir History of the Cunard Line, 1999”)
George McCubbing and the Battle of the Atlantic
A descendant from Keir McCubbin, my father.
by Kathy McCubbing Hopkins
George McCubbing
George McCubbing (1924-2004) grew up in Boness, West Lothian in Scotland and left school when he was just 14 years old. On leaving school he worked for a time with a chemist, working on dyestuffs at ICI and during this time he began to have wider ambitions. War broke out when he was 15 and by the time he was 17 he was going off to Edinburgh each night on the bus to study Wireless and Telegraphy.
By 1943, when George was 19, he had joined Marconi and started work as a 3rd radio officer for the Merchant Navy. On 14th April 1943 he sailed from Glasgow on his first ship, the s/s Gharinda, heading across the Atlantic as part of the convoy ONS5 to bring desperately-needed food supplies to Britain from America.
It was an extremely hazardous job. Until the invention of radar, which had just started to be used, numerous allied ships had been torpedoed and destroyed by the wolfpacks of German U-boats which were in great force under the Atlantic.
The Gharinda was torpedoed on 5th May 1943, less than a month after George had embarked on his first voyage. He told me how they had heard a huge thump as the torpedo hit, but said that the evacuation was carried out in a very calm and orderly way and, thankfully, no lives were lost from the Gharinda. The only mishap was when the pursers briefcase flew open as he descended into the lifeboat and quite an amount of money it had held was scattered across the sea! A total of 13 ships were sunk from convoy ONS5.
MacKenzie J Gregory recorded the events on his weblog
Now U-266 fired off 4 fish at 1950 ( 7.50 PM ) on the evening of 5th. of May, and struck 3 ships, all of whom sank. The 5,136 ton Silvistan, went down in 2 minutes, the 5,306 ton Gharinda, all her large crew of 92 picked up, both these ships were British, the third was the Norwegian Bonde, at only 1,750 tons, the baby of this convoy, Tay found only 12 from her crew of 38.
After 4-6 hours Georges lifeboat was picked up by the Frigate Tay.
MacKenzie Gregory further writes:
This Battle for Convoy ONS 5, was a defining one in the Battle of the Atlantic, it was a major victory against the U-Boats, and a turning point, if one sought the time the Allies won THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC, it would have to be, May of 1943.
Commander Gretton wrote:” Lieutenant Commander Sherwood RNR. in HMS Tay, had handled a very dangerous situation with ability and coolness. I consider he did exceptionally well, being ably backed up by the group.”
Praise indeed, for a wonderful effort from a Reserve Officer, who at one stage was in charge of the close escort whilst he had two full four ringed Royal Navy Captains in command of ships in his group.
So, my fathers first entry on his Merchant Record records discharge place as at sea on the 5th May 1943 from a trip which lasted 3 weeks and which was followed by a 2-month break! An auspicious start to a working life which was to be full of travel and adventure.
The next ship George sailed in across the Atlantic, on a trip that was to last 4 months, was the Empire Kingsley, which left from Glasgow on 9 July 1943. He recalled the horror at watching a nearby ship, the Butas (spelling may be incorrect) being struck by the Luftwaffe and bursting into flames.
During the war he sailed on a further 2 ships: The s/s San Roberto and finally the Hopetown which departed from South Shields on 1st December 1944 on a trip which was to last 8 months. He was discharged from this ship at South Shields on 27 July 1945, some months after VE day had been declared. His Merchant Record only describes the destinations of these ships as being foreign, but it is known that he was in Italy during this period because he was a recipient of the Italy Star medal which was awarded to those in operational service in Sicily or Italy between 11th June 1943 and 8th May 1945.
George continued to work with the Merchant Navy after the war, travelling to the Americas, the Baltic, the Mediterranean and serving on a range of ships: King Neptune; Dunelmia; Empire Concrete; City of Lyons; s/s Paris City Bideford and s/s Benjamin Tay, from which he was discharged in August 1948 at Haifa, the ship having been deployed during the Haifa Blockade.
Post-war George continued working with the Merchant Navy for Marconi until 1951. He continued to work with Marconi as a Telecommunications Engineer until his retirement in 1989, always in field service working in areas all over the world including Gan, Singapore, Norway, Cyprus, Aden, Bahrain, Germany, Ecuador and finally Saudi Arabia.
Rear Admiral John D McCubbin
An American Man of the Seas (the following excerpted from Arlington National Cemetery website)
Rear Admiral John D. McCUBBIN, United States Coast guard (retired), age 94, passed away peacefully November 3, 2008, at his home in Steilacoom Washington.
Born in Wichita, Kansas, Admiral McCubbin was raised in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1939, he served as an Ensign aboard the USCG Cutter Taney in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1942, after completing Naval flight training at Pensacola, Florida, he was assigned to anti-submarine warfare duty, flying out of Greenland during World War II. He served in operational and command positions in search and rescue at Port Angeles, Washington, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Kodiak, Alaska, Barbers Point, Hawaii, San Francisco, California and Washington, D.C.
While serving as Chief of Staff for the 17th Coast Guard District in Juneau, Alaska, he was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1969. He was then assigned as Chief, Office of Reserve for the Coast Guard in Washington, D.C., receiving honors as Minute Man of the Year by the Reserve Officers Association.
His final assignment was Commander, 8th Coast Guard District, New Orleans, Louisiana. On June 30, 1973, Admiral McCubbin retired after more than 45 years in uniform, including 34 years of commissioned service. His many personal decorations include the Legion of Merit and Air Medals.
Admiral McCubbin was much admired by servicemen of all ranks. An extremely generous and kind man, he was highly regarded for his integrity, devotion to duty and outstanding strength of character. A man loved by all who knew him, especially his family, he will be dearly missed. As he often said, “I’ve had a good life, thanks:to the people who helped me.”
McCubbin Catholic Births recently added to Scotland’s People
(Baptism and GRO numbers can be viewed on the site )
1827 Margaret to Wm McCubbin & Jane Kerr, Dalbeattie, St Peter’s
1848 Janet to James McCubbin & Jane Smith, Dumfries, St Andrew’s
1851 John to James McCubbin & Jane Smith, Dumfries, St Andrew’s
1857 Susan to Gifford Blair McCubbin & Mary Ann Harding, Glasgow, St John’s
1859 Gifford to Gifford Blair McCubbin & Mary Ann Harding, Glasgow, St John’s
1864 John to John McCubbin & Jane Petigrew, Glasgow, St Paul’s
1865 William James to Mary McCubbin, Stranraer, St Joseph’s
1869 John to Thomas McCubbin & Mary Anne Miller, Barrhead, St John’s
1895 Anne to William McCubbin & Susan McCann, Saltcoats, St Mary’s
1897 James to William McCubbin & Susan McCann, Saltcoats, St Mary’s
1901 David to William McCubbin & Susan McCann, Saltcoats, St Mary’s
1902 Mary to William McCubbin & Susan McCann, Saltcoats, St Mary’s
“Chesley, we have struck gold!!!
Remember the ‘Five Remarkable McCubbing Sisters of Fayette, Kentucky’, featured in our 2006 report? Their parents were James McCubbing and Isabella Waugh, from Dumfriesshire, who established Deanside Farm near Fayette, Kentucky. They named the beautiful farm in remembrance of their homeplace in Scotland..
James McCubbing & Isabella Waugh
Deanside Farm
Chesley Jaracz, a descendant, of James & Isabella ‘discovered’ the article on-line in our report. He wrote:
“It was with extreme interest and no small measure of familial pride that I read your entry on “The Remarkable McCubbing Sisters of Fayette, Kentucky”. Those sisters were my great, great aunts. I was raised on that farm.”
Ed McCaw, Chesley’s cousin, also raised at Deanside, then contacted us. In preparation for a family reunion, they were trying to find out more about their ancestors. They had only the bare bones to the genealogy of the family, so we emailed Ed the very large family tree, dating back to the early 1700’s in Dunscore and Edgartoun, Dumfriesshire.
“Chesley”, he wrote his cousin, “We have struck gold!!!”
We too struck gold. We were introduced to the Deanside Farm website, and then enjoyed the wonderful story of the McCubbing family, their lives, and a treasure trove of old photos, that Ed and Chesley had put together.
Croquet at Deanside Farm, 1905
Chesley & Ed are descended from William McCubbing, the brother to the five sisters and who farmed with the sisters until his death on 2/4/1906. The farm stayed in the family until 1953 when approximately 100 acres, including the homestead (Deanside) was sold by James Edward ‘Eddie’ McCubbing’s widow upon his 2/28/1953 death (James was the grandson of James and Isabella McCubbing, the original 1878 purchasers). The remaining approximately 200 acres remained in the family as a dairy, beef, and tobacco farm until sold for development in the 1980’s.
McCubbin Family at Deanside
On June 7, 2009, several Deanside descendants and their families gathered for a reunion, and held a celebration at the Firebrook Clubhouse, opposite Deanside. (Firebrook subdivision sits on the previous Deanside).
Thank you Ed, Chesley and family for such a terrific contribution to the McCubbin story.
Sometimes we find an error in a family chart. One of our biggest nightmares is linking up two large family groups who turn out not to be related. At which point we have to go back, check again and again until we’re certain they aren’t matches. So far we’ve only had to unlink one. That is the family of file #68 Alexander Charles McCubbin & Jean Smith and #09 Alexander McCubbin & Agnes Jackson. A descendant of #68 contacted us and pointed out the error, thus Alexander of #09 is no longer considered a son of Alexander of #68, until we have further documented evidence. We have a DNA result for #68. We need a DNA match for #09 to see if there is link. If you or one of your male McCubbin relatives is a descendant of chart #09, Alexander McCubbin & Agnes Jackson, please contact us at mccubbin@one-name.org
Query
Query re Jamaican McCubbin and Frey ‘Fray’ connection:
In the continuing search for ancestors of Harold McCubbin (born 1912) and his daughter Joy, we are looking for information about Theresa ‘Teresa’ McCubbin, born Jamaica, c1840 to Andrew McCubbin. Would like to know the name, surname of her mother, who married Andrew McCubbin. Theresa married Henry Fray, Jamaica, 1860. Their daughter, also named Theresa, married Alfred Pawsey, 1882.
Contact mccubbin@one-name.org
If any readers have not had replies to their queries, please remind us. Sometimes emails go astray or simply get lost in our email box. Our aim is to answer everyone in our world McCubbin family.
Thanks again to all who have added families to our continuing research. We are especially thankful to those of you who contributed to the DNA project. It is providing a great insight into our past.
Contact us about any questions or queries about your McCubbin ancestors.
The McCubbin name, and variants, are registered with the Guild of One Name Studies, searching the McCubbin name and variants worldwide.
Member #5414
November, 2010 Dear Cubbies,
Issue Number 10 features:
Third Anniversary of the McCubbin DNA Project The Conventicle The Letter of 1859, from Australia to Scotland Clydesdales, Shorthorns and the Art of Animal Husbandry A note from Sheriff Rick McCubbin in Bardstown, Kentucky Obit for Charles McCubbin, Naturalist and Artist of Australia
Third Anniversary of the McCubbin DNA Project
by Lorna McCubbin, Project Administrator
There are now 40 members in the McCubbin DNA Project. 32 members have matches with others in the project. There are four distinct DNA groups. For easier identification each group has a number and name. Name indicates the earliest known ancestor within a test group. The latter part indicates possible ancestral roots yet to be proven in our research.
Group 1. Keir, Dumfriesshire – 1745. Alexander the Martyr & King Niall of Ireland
Group 2. Maryland, USA – c1620, John the Colonist. The Lords of Knockdolian and Tradunnock, c 1400’s in Ayrshire
Group 3. Galloway, South West Scotland – 1735. The Dal Riata, Ireland
Group 4. Penpont, Dumfriesshire – c1760. The Master Masons
Since our last CUB report, 5 matching results have been returned from the Family Tree DNA lab. Two of those males ‘belong’ to the Keir group, one to the Galloway group and two to John the Colonist. The Keir group now has two males with the McCubbing name. Five members of the Keir group have links to King Niall of Ireland. Two McKibbens joined the project and had no matches with the McCubbin name. The name ‘McBean’ shows up in John Colonist group. A McCubbin variant with a Mac (MacCubbin) has been confirmed. Two female members are looking for mitochondrial roots.
A long search for a donor from the descendants of the McCubbins/McCubbings (#31) of Edgartoun, Dumfries, found a McCubbing in Saskatchewan, Canada, who donated his DNA. Interested McCubbins/McCubbings in the Dumfries area were delighted to have confirmation that this major family is indeed their cousins. This donor also has a link to King Niall of Ireland, aka “Niall of the Nine Hostages” one of the greatest Irish kings. He was said to have consolidated his power by leading raids on the Roman Empire, taking hostages from rival Irish royal families, Britain and the European mainland, thus earning the name Niall of the Nine Hostages. Saint Patrick was said to have been kidnapped and brought to Ireland as one of his hostages during his raids.
FTDNA writes, Of note to Family Tree DNA customers, this signature is found in .6 of 1% of the entire Family Tree DNA database. It is characterized by the following Markers when our 12 marker test is applied:PANEL 1 (1-12)
Since the McCubbin project began we have the following family groups with one or more DNA donors tested and matched. (Number of donors in brackets below). If you are descended from those groups with one donor tested, please consider doing the test so we can double check.
Group 1
– #05 John McCubbin (1745-1805) & Margaret Tait of Keir (4)
– #31 James McCubbin & Mary McMurdo of Edgartoun (also McCubbing) (1)
– #62 John McCubbin (md 1797) & Agnes Hodgeon of Maybole (2)
– #41 John McCubbin (1799-1889) & Elizabeth Beggs of Leswal (1)
– #06 Daniel McCubbin & Margaret McGhie (md. before 1769) of Ayrshire (1)
– #04 James McCubbin (b 1770-80) & Isabella Stoddard of Dumfriesshire (2)
– #81/69 Father (born c 1725) of Hugh & Daniel McCubbin of Stranraer (1)
Group 2
– #14 James McCubbin (b abt. 1760) & Elizabeth Bowman, Maybole, Ayr (1)
– #80, John the Colonist of America (1630-1686) (6)
– #61-43 James McCubbin (b 1692) and Janet Millar of Ayrshire (2)
Note – chart number for John Colonist changed from #100 to #80
Group 3
– #02 Alexander McCubbin (md 1736) & Jean McIlwraith of Ballantrae, Ayrshire(1)
– #09 Alexander McCubbin (md 1808) & Agnes Jackson of Leswalt, Wigtownshire(1)
– #42 William McCubbin (b abt. 1750) & Jane Stewart, Kirkcolm, Wig(1)
– #44 John McCubbin (McKibbon) (md 1755) & Margaret Gibson of Stoneykirk, Wig (1)
– #45 Alexander McCubbin (c1789-1840) & Agnes Weir of Kirkmaiden & Stoneykirk(3)
– #54 James McCubbin (b abt.1780) & Isabella McClelland, Mochrum, Wig(1)
– #55 Shaw McCubbin (b abt.1785) & Sarah Chapman, County Down, Ireland(1)
– #68 Alexander Charles (md 1765) & Jean Smith, Ayr, Ayshire (1)
Group 4
#03 James MCubbin & Isabella Lorimer, Penpont, Dumfries (2)
Want to join? The project requires McCubbin males to purchase a test kit (a swab to rub inside the cheek) and mail it back to the lab. You can go to Family Tree DNA to read more and/ or contact us at McCubbinDNA@gmail.com
We are looking for male McCubbin candidates who are descendants of the following ancestors. Earliest known ancestor is listed first, then geographic areas where descendants settled.
Peter McCubbin & Janet Campbell (married 1801) – Wigtown to Glasgow, to Australia
James McCubbin & Janet McIntyre (m. 1802) – Wigtown to Lancashire to Australia
Edward McCubbin & wife Sophia (m. 1829) – Dumfries to Buckinghamshire & Linslade
Any McCubbin male who has roots in Kirkoswald. We are searching for a link to Sir Fergus MacCubbin of Tradunnock.
There are funds available to help pay the cost for qualified individuals of these groups. To find out if you belong to one of these groups, email us at McCubbinDNA@gmail.com
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Kathy McCubbing Hopkins has recently taken on the position of McCubbin DNA Co-administrator.
The Conventicle of 2010
by Kathy McCubbing Hopkins
On Sunday 29th August 2010 a conventicle was held to commemorate two Covenanter Martyrs, Alexander McCubine and Edward Gordon, who were captured at Lochenkit and hanged on an oak-tree on 3rd March 1685 at Hallhill, Kirkpatrick Irongray, the place where they were buried.
The conventicle was held on a sunny but windy day and more than 40 people attended, including 3 descendants of Alexander McCubine.
The congregation gathered at the Martyrs Graves at 3pm to hold a service led by Reverend Christine Sime to remember Covenanters who had been executed in those Killing Times.
Thanks to Leslie McCubbin of Dunscore for sending us a copy of the DVD produced by a member of the congregation from which we obtained these pictures of the gathering.
Three McCubbin Descendants Standing Front Row with Irongray Church in the background.
In the year 1685, when Alexander McCubine and Edward Gordon were executed without trial, at least 93 Covenanters were known to have suffered similar fates.
McCubine and Gordon had been arrested in late February 1685 when Captain Bruce and a party of troopers surprised and apprehended them at Lochenkit along with 4 other Covenanters, William Heron; John Gordon; William Stewart and John Wallace. Heron, Gordon, Stewart and Wallace were shot immediately and a monument to their memory stands at that isolated spot.
McCubine and Gordon were taken to the Bridge of Urr where the notorious Grierson of Lagg was violently pressing the population to formally renounce their commitment to the Covenants. McCubine and Gordon refused the oath, were denied recourse to the assizes and, on 3rd March, were taken to Irongray by Lagg and his party where they were hanged within sight of the Kirk.
The Scottish Covenanters Memorial Association regularly organise conventicles which are held throughout the country.
The last time a conventicle was held to commemmorate McCubine and Gordon was on Sunday 18th August 1985 at the Communion Stones on Skeoch Hill, a remembrance service having been held on the 300th anniversary of their deaths, on 3rd March 1985, at the Martyrs Memorial at Hallhill, Irongray.
The Martyrs graves at Hallhill, Irongray were enclosed by railings in 1832 and a new gravestone was put alongside the old one.
An image and transcription of the inscriptions on the graves can be found in the Cub Report, 2005 along with other information about Alexander McCubbin and his descendants.
Dalgarnoc Memorial Another memorial to the Nithsdale Martyrs, including Alexr MacCubine (sic), was erected in 1928 in the ancient cemetery of Dalgarnoc.
More details about this memorial are given in the Cub Report 2005 (link as above)
Background Information The Covenanters
The story of the Covenanters stretches back to the mid 16th century and concise histories can be found at the following websites:
The Covenanters were so named because in a series of covenants Scottish presbyterians bound themselves to maintain the Presbyterian doctrine as the sole religion of their country. They fiercely resisted the English, and defied laws which aimed to discourage nonconformism and to strengthen the position of the Established Church.
They were in constant conflict with the English government over their right to practice their religion as they deemed fit, whilst the English periodically tried to impose various constraints on the forms of religious service permitted, and in 1662 Charles II, in passing the Rescissory Act, renounced the covenants made and they were declared unlawful oaths and were to be formally retracted by all persons holding public office.
Other laws which aimed to prevent these Scots from practicing their religion in the way they wished included:
The Act of Uniformity 1662 which required the use of all the rites and ceremonies in the Book of Common Prayer in church services.
The Conventicle Act of 1664, which forbade conventicles (religious asssemblies of more than five people outside the auspices of the Church of England).
The Five Mile Act 1665 which sought to prevent nonconformists from living in incorporated and chartered towns. In defying these laws rebel ministers began to preach at secret conventicles in the fields and a period of persecution began. More than two-thirds of the Dumfries Presbytery ministers vacated their parishes rather than submit to the new Episcopal authorities, their congregations following them to hear sermons preached on the hillsides.
A new minister was installed at St Michael’s in Dumfries but so few people attended his services that the town council felt obliged to enforce compulsory attendance on Sundays with a fine of 40 Scottish Shillings for absenteeism.
It was made a crime for any person not licensed by the bishop to preach or to pray except with his own family. To do so outside one’s house incurred fines, imprisonment or banishment. To conduct a field conventicle was declared to be a capital offence, punishable by death. A reward of 500 Merks was offered to any person who could capture a field preacher and he was excused of any act of murder he might commit in the process. All suspected persons who could not be brought to trial were denounced in their absence, and any person supplying food or shelter to a Covenanter was also regarded as outside the law.
The Conventicle Act and the Five Mile Act were repealed in 1689.
Tradition tells us that the reason these men were executed near Irongray Church was that it might be within sight of Hallhill, then occupied by a family named Ferguson, well known for their attachment to the principles of the Covenanted Reformation. It was thought that the sight of the execution would overawe the Fergusons. It had quite the opposite effect. A young daughter of the family came to the martyrs when they were brought to the place of execution, and tied a handkerchief over their eyes. For this she was banished. Two differing accounts exist, one that she went to Lisbon, where she married a carpenter, and lived to a ripe old age. It is said that seventy years after the execution, on 1st November, 1755, the day of the great earthquake, when the city was all but entirely destroyed, and when from thirty to sixty thousand people lost their lives, she was sitting on a plank by the riverside when the sea came up, rising like a mountain. Multitudes of people were swept back to a watery grave when it retired, but it carried her on before it, and left her high and dry on the land. The other account says that she was banished to the colonies.
The Letter of 1859, from Australia to Scotland
In May of 2010, Garry Kelly, a descendant of John McCubbin & Margaret Tait of Keir, Dumfries, shared this very old letter with us. It had been in safe keeping by his family for over 150 years.
In the 1800s many young men were leaving Scotland. Some parents would never see their sons and daughters again. The letter was written by John McCubbin (married to Anne Paterson) to his son in Australia. It relays his deep concern and love for his son. The letter would take about three months in transit by sea to Australia. In fact Johns son in Australia, died at the young age 31, and father and son likely never saw each other again. Following is an excerpt the full text to be included in the main website in 2011. Many thanks to Leslie McCubbin of Dunscore for helping to translate and interpret some of the Scottish terms used.
Kirkbride, February 7th 1859
Dear John,(1) I sit down with pleasure to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all in good health at present thanks be to the Almighty God for all his blessings to us all. Hoping this will find you enjoying the same blessings and hoping that your uncle and his wife (2) and children, and John Kerr is all enjoying the same blessings. We worried very ill last month as we did not get a letter but we are in hopes that we will get one this month but you must not forget to write every month as your Mother and the rest of us all worry to hear from you how you are and how you are getting on, so for gods sake write if you can as long time there is nothing new that I can write, but we are getting on as well as we can. James (3) is started his old trade the Lime leading (4) again, and we bought a two year old filly at the Rood(5) fair and we have got a new cart for her, and your brother Andrew (6) is going to drive-mouth (7) her but he is not begun yet as the weather is but course(8)yet. I have sent you papers that you will have got, and you get yet one and your uncle one with this letter, so you must be sure and write every month as we do.” After giving news about the family, his father signed off – “So I can say no more at present but remain your affectionate father till death. John McCubbin – be sure and not forget and let us know how you are all bearing up in your country.”
_______________
1 John McCubbin 1835-1866, married to his cousin Agnes McCubbin and who emigrated to Australia c.1855.
2 James McCubbin 1810-1888, married to Christina MacIntyre in February 1845 in Muswellbrook NSW, Australia, aged 49 at time of letter.
3 James McCubbin 1846-1917, married to Janet Lorimer Kerr in October 1859, age 13 at time of letter (although 1861 census records him as aged 22 and thus born c.1839. The date we have may be a christening record).
4 Barjarg Lime quarry was in Keir so this might say Lime Kilns, however, James marriage certificate in October 1859 records him as a Farm Servant and he was working as Ploughman at the BusyBit in 1861 so this is a mystery, particularly as it is recorded as his old trade. Leslie thinks it might refer to leading in = carting; removing by the cart load, implying that James used his carting skills at the Lime Kilns.
5 The Rood Fair has been held in Dumfries on the last Wednesday in September for many years. It was an agricultural fair for hire of farm workers and other traders and a place for them to sell their wares. Buying and selling horses on the Whitesands was always the biggest part of the Rood Fair, although cattle, agricultural produce, and merchandise were
also bought and sold.
6 Andrew McCubbin 1846-1923, married to Janet Hiddleston in December 1877, age 13 at time of letter.
7 To drive-mouth a horse is to teach it which way to turn. It is achieved by putting a bit in the mouth with reins attached.
8 Course = crude, hard, disreputable, rough, inclement.
Clydesdales, Shorthorns and the Art of Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals. People are essentially specialists in animal husbandry by means of being farmers, ranchers, sheepherders, or anyone who takes care of a variety of animals. Children were taught early how to take care of the same types of animals their parents raised so that they could take over farms and ranches as adults.
In general, many of the practices involved in learning animal husbandry came naturally from being raised on farms where large numbers of animals were raised.
The earliest written records we have of McCubbin/g families being involved to a large degree in animal husbandry was recorded in a Court of Session, which tell us that in 1817, John McCubbing of Dunscore (of the Edgartoun McCubbings #31) bought and sold 1,793 cattle for which he paid £10466. In 1818 it is indicated that he went frequently to Ireland and the cattle he bought there were sold at Dumfries, Roughhill and Rossley Hill and other places. Another entry shows he bought 1,647 cattle for £14975.
He lived all his lifetime upon the farm of Springfield which was occupied by his father. The farm was partly laid out in grain and partly in pasture . Dealing cattle were grazed on grass parks near markets costing no less than £150 per year. Scottish Archives. West Register House, Court of Session Processes CS231/SEQ/MC/3/2
By 1851 the census shows him as a Farmer of 464 acres in Crossmichael.
His first son also named John, born 1817, was a Farmer and in 1861 he was farming 300 acres, employing 8 labourers in Shirmers, Balmaclellan, Kirkcudbright.
Johns second son Robert, was working his own farm at age 21. Tragically he died at age 25. His young sons, Robert (born 1842) and John (born 1844) continued to be raised on farms and according to census records, they spent time with their grandfather John, the farmer and cattle dealer.
Young John carried on with the familys inherent knowledge of husbandry. In the census of 1871 he was listed as a Cattle Dealer. When he died in 1874, his obituary stated, “He was a prominent and much respected personality in agricultural circles in the South of Scotland. He farmed at both Kissock, Beeswing and Drum Farm. He was a well known breeder of Clydesdales, of which he kept a stud. He bred a useful stock for farm purposes, and exported animals to all parts of the world. He was also a noted exhibitor and frequent prize winner at national and local shows, and had several cups to his credit. In other branches of stock rearing he was also very successful, and the Drum stock was always welcomed in the district markets.”
Written on back of photograph by grandson George Little, John McCubbing & Clydesdale Drum Farm, Beeswing, nr Dumfries, Scotland around 1885 – 1895
Clydesdales, known for their agile strength and docility, are a breed of draft horse derived from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named after that region. Thought to be over 300 years old, the breed was extensively used for pulling heavy loads in rural, industrial and urban settings, their common use extending into the 1960s when they were still a familiar sight pulling the carts of milk and vegetable vendors.
In Dumfriesshire a McCubbing invented a pneumatic collar to keep the pressure off the horses necks. He also invented the McCubbing seed sower, “so the Clydesdales could pull along their seed sower in their posh collars.” Info provided by a McCubbing descendant, Margaret McColl, of New Zealand. The article was forwarded to her by the Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society.
In a local newspaper on 29 August 1896 the following article was printed about John McCubbing, Farmer, Lochrutton:”Last week Mr William Taylor of Park Mains, Renfrew, sold to Mr R S Ewart, Buenos Ayres, 4 stallions, one of them being “Golden Star”, bought from Mr McCubbing, Drum, Lochrutton.”
John bred one of the world’s largest Clydesdales at Drum farm Beeswing. Three of his sons went to Canada and that Clydesdale “Doondodge Mossrock” went to son Alexander in Unity, Saskatchewan in 1933.
Johns son Alexander, (born 1885), on his Unity homestead became known for his Clydesdale horses. Horse breeding became a leading enterprise in Saskatchewan, with homesteads providing a ready market. The first two decades of the twentieth century were the Golden Years of horse husbandry related author Grant McEwan. ‘Every farmer was a horseman and every farm boy aspired to be a horseman. Horses on farms were as essential as oars in a rowboat. A farm without them was unthinkable.’
By 1907 the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture reported that large numbers of Clydesdale and Percheron stallions with the very best blood obtainable were making regular appearances at local fairs and exhibitions. Alexander’s barn was filled with ribbons won by their Clydesdales. Relates descendant Dennis Marshall, “The girl (pictured on the horse below) is my mother in 1933 when she and her parents were visiting her Uncle Alex in Unity. These Clydesdales of Alex’s were the breeding stock for the American Beer – Budweiser, Clydesdale-drawn wagons featured in many advertisements. I remember my grandfather George Little visiting these Budweiser Clydesdales at an event and speaking with the head horse trainer. My grandfather promptly listed all of the lineages histories of the horses he had at this event. The trainer was just amazed that he knew so much about these horses. Then my grandfather told him that he had lived with his grandfather John McCubbing (after George’s father died) at the Drum farm near Beeswing and Lochrutton when he was young and that he helped with the horses at Drum. He later stayed with his cousin Alex in Unity when he had brought over horses from Drum. He remembered quite a bit about these horses as he was very fond of them.”
Below: World’s largest Clydesdale in 1933 owned by Alexander McCubbing, Unity, Sask, Canada. Bought at the Chicago Exposition for $1,000.00, 1800 lbs, 19 hands high, bred at Drum Farm, Beeswing, Scotland. Alexander is pictured holding ‘Doondodge Mossrock’ while the girl on the horse is Dennis Marshall’s mother, Dorothy Little. Pictured with the team of McCubbing Clydesdales at a Budweiser ‘Promo’ in Whittier, California is Dennis Marshall’s grandfather, George Little.(photos complements of descendant Dennis Marshall)
Note from Lorna: When searching for material about Clydesdales for the CUB Report, I discovered a very timely article in the Dumfries & Galloway Standard, Apr 23, 2010, by Sara Bain. Author, Mary Bromilow was being interviewed about her forthcoming book which has a working title, ‘The Clydesdale: Workhorse of the World’. Mary says it will be the first book on Clydesdales published in this country for nearly 30 years. The main aim is to provide a tribute to this iconic Scottish breed and the place the horse has had in our social history both in Scotland and overseas.” She added, Some of the best Clydesdale studs were in Dumfries and Galloway.” And she said, “This is one of the biggest challenges finding good photographs of the horse at work both in town and in the country.” Mary asked that if anyone can help with her research, to contact her. We did, then submitted the above photographs via Dennis Marshall and his mother Dorothy, the girl on the horse. Mary was delighted to receive them.
‘The Clydesdale: Workhorse of the World’, will be published in April or May of 2011 by Argyll Publishing (they have an online shop), and will be available on Amazon. Mary says she doesn’t have a price yet, as that won’t be decided until the production costs are established. But it will be an illustrated large format paperback.
Shorthorns and Sheep
Another descendant of the Edgartoun McCubbings was James, born 1818. Several years before Alexander went to Canada, his great uncle, James McCubbing (born 1818) had immigrated to Kentucky.
He was featured in a biography of his life and family, in Kentucky History, 1922, History of Kentucky, Vol 4, Biographies, available on-line at Ancestry.com.
James McCubbing prepared for the legal profession by attending one of the leading law schools in the City of Edinborough, but in Scotland the family name had been closely and prominently associated with live-stock industry for four generations, his early experience having been in connection with this basic line of enterprise, and its lure having led him to abandon his plan for engaging in the practice of law and to identify himself with the same important branch of industry in the United States. Upon coming to this country Mr. McCubbing wisely chose Kentucky as the stage of his live-stock operations. He forthwith established his residence on the farm (that he named Deanside) still owned and occupied by his children, and here he achieved marked success in the breeding and raising of fine Shorthorn cattle. He exhibited cattle from his farm at various stock shows and county and state fairs, and gained many prizes on such exhibits. The Young Mary strain of Shorthorns is still maintained on the McCubbing farm, which is eligibly situated five miles from the City of Lexington. The place is well improved, and under the management of one of the daughters of Mr. McCubbing. Its prestige as a stock farm is being admirably maintained. Jessie McCubbing has shown great executive and practical ability in the active management of the farm since her fathers death.
Relates descendant Ed McCaw, who supplied the pictures below, Aunt Jessie was known for her “Young Mary Strain” of shorthorn cattle. She also raised sheep at Deanside.”
Jessie McCubbing with Scottie
Jessie (in back) with her flock of sheep, c1920
A Love For Horses
James McCubbin (#61-43 ) born c1692 in Brunston, Dailly married Jannet Millar. By the late 1700’s his offspring were Tailors. However, it’s obvious the next generations had a love for horses, being Coach Drivers and Ostlers. The meaning of Ostler for that period in time was, ‘one who tends to horses at an inn’. James’ great, great grandson, also James, born 1825, became an Ostler. His own son, John, emigrated to Ontario, Canada where he became a well respected Farmer and Horseman. While actively engaged in farming, Mr McCubbin’s hobby was breeding of Ayrshire cattle and Clydesdale horses and many trophies of live stock exhibitions were won by his animals.
Thomas McCubbin, born 1833, Maybole, was also a descendant of James & Jannet. He became a well known proprietor of the Eglinton Hotel and later the King’s Arms Hotel, Maybole. Thomas and his wife Mary McClymont enlarged the hotel and stables. Upon Thomas’ death his son John Gillespie McCubbin was mainly interested in the hiring side of the business, with the result that he soon had about thirty horses for pulling brakes, waggonettes and carriages. Excursions became very popular and the Kings Arms soon acquired a great reputation, running regular four-in-hand sightseeing excursions to such beauty spots as Loch Doon, Tairlaw Linn and Maidens. Wordsworth, Keats, Dante, Gabriel, Rosetti and Robert Louis Stevenson all stayed in this hotel while exploring the neighbouring country. John Gillespie McCubbin became a prominent local Councilor and Provost of Maybole.
And to Australia
By 1872 the entire village of “Busy Bit”, near Dunscore, emigrated to Sydney, New South Wales, villagers, schoolmaster, a nearby blacksmith, and it was said, the Clydesdale horses went too.
The Clydesdale is celebrated in one of the most popular images of rural life in Australia, G.W.Lambert’s painting “Across the Black Soil Plains” which shows a team straining to pull a wagon. (From The National Gallery of Australia)
A Note from Sheriff Rick McCubbin in Bardstown, Kentucky
Good to hear from you! I have been busy with my campaign but still find time to play with the family Tree. I do not really have anything to add though I get many emails, as well as folks stopping me, to ask about “Cousin Pete” and what we are doing. Also, I get a few joking to ask if I have found anymore long lost cousins through DNA!!! So, other than an update about Pete and his wife Jan visiting, I really do not. I am certainly enjoying the inquiries I receive on trying to help connect a “McCousin” to our Tree…most with some degree of success, I might add. Rick
Vale Charles McCubbin of Australia
Obituary provided by Penny McColm, Co-ordinator for Australia
Charles died suddenly on 21st June 2010 in Sale Victoria Australia
He was a gifted artist, his talent for painting and his passion for the butterflies that he collected and nurtured over the years, was one of his greatest endeavors; he eventually compiled the most extraordinary book, Australian Butterflies.
He was a dedicated naturalist and spent much of his time exploring the bush in the company of his children. Charles was the last Grandson of Frederick McCubbin. He will be greatly missed by his family and the art world. In an article written by Eleanor Venables of the Gippsland Times she quotes,
“He was a gracious and compassionate advocate who kindly gave of his talents and insights actively sharing his vision of environmental issues and causes.” “He has touched the lives of many Gippslanders and his loss is an immeasurable one.”
The church where his funeral was held was overflowing with people such was the high regard he was held in.
New Website
Our new website is presently being designed. Content is now being added. Each family chart will be profiled pre-1900s. For our Galleries we need pictures of people, places and cemetery headstones. Please send them to mccubbin@one-name.org.
All the best for 2011!!
The MCFHA Committee
Chairperson of McCubbin Family History Association – Kathy McCubbing Hopkins,
Member – Guild of One Name Studies – Kathy forwards world queries to co-ordinators.
DNA Project Administrator – Lorna McCubbin, Co-Admin – Kathy McCubbing Hopkins
Penny McColm – MCFHA Co-Founder & Co-ordinator for Australia. Penny
Co-ordinators specialties: Kathy McCubbing Hopkins, Dumfries, Lynne McCubbin, Ayrshire, Ronald ‘Rick’ McCubbin, America
MCFHA Sponsors – James & Lorna McCubbin
To the many people who have contributed to the content of the CUB report, we say Thank You!
We are especially thankful to those of you who provided samples for the DNA project. It is providing a great insight into our past.
Contact us about any questions or queries about your McCubbin ancestors.
The McCubbin name, and variants, are registered with the Guild of One Name Studies
Searching the McCubbin name and variants worldwide.
Member #5414 mccubbin@one-name.org
The Mull of Galloway, the southermost tip of Scotland, looking off to the Isle of Man and over to Ireland.
HMS Impregnable
Barbados
James Alexander McCubbin Chief Purser Photographed aboard the Lusitania
George McCubbing
James McCubbing & Isabella Waugh
Deanside Farm
Croquet at Deanside Farm, 1905
McCubbin Family at Deanside
