52 Weeks of Ancestors Challenge 2021

  Many Kirkpatricks know the story of Roger Kirkpatrick with Robert de Bruce and the murder of Red Comyn in Greyfriars Church in Dumfries; after all, that’s where we got the bloody dagger as the coat of arms and the motto “I mak siccar.”  However, there’s more to the story. First, for those who may not know about the Red Comyn murder, here’s the story. Edward I of England was the ruler over both England and Scotland.  The Scots were oppressed, so a rebellion was ensuing.  Those who were considered candidates for the Scottish crown were Robert de Bruce and Red Comyn, who struck a deal: Bruce suggested, “Support my title to the crown and I will give you all my lands, or give me all your lands and I will support your title to the crown.” Because Comyn’s claim to the crown was weaker, he chose the land in exchange for supporting Bruce. They took an oath of fidelity and secrecy, which Comyn broke by going to Edward I and telling him of the agreement.  After escaping the wrath of Edward I, B

 #19 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Well, there goes that New Year's goal.  I've been busy with end of school year stuff and haven't kept up with this project. The past few prompts didn't bring anything immediately to minds.  But now it's Father's Day, and I have some pictures. Happy Father's Day everyone! James Stevens Kirkpatrick with his son (my father) Stanley Stevens Kirkpatrick My dad My maternal grandfather Carl Evans Canaday with my grandma Mid Carl Evans Canaday's father William Hardy Canaday

 Week 19 - Mother's Day My husband says my family is a matriarchal family and the men are only there as background “window dressing.” I admit that ties are very close among the females in my family.  As is tradition, we will be meeting up at the farm, having a BBQ, and hanging out. In honor of Mother’s day, I am posting some pictures of female family members past and present. My Great Grandmother Anna (Nelson) Canaday, with my mom.     My Great Grandma Mary Valeria (Whetherhult) Carlock        My Grandma Mildred (Carlock) Canaday                                    My Grandma Athena (Spencer) Kirkpatrick My Great Grandmother Anna Retta (Lloyd) Spencer Bruneel (Right)                                                  

  Week 18 - Crime and Punishment The Maniacal Murder in My Family Tree          My ancestor, William C Canaday (1836-1905), had a brother: Richard Darius Canaday (1840-1907).  Richard had a daughter named Mary Cotton Canaday. Mary married William H Artman, (my ancestor Mary (Polly) Artman’s brother) and they had five children, the oldest being Charles. According to The Evening Republic , a newspaper in Columbus, Indiana, William H Artman was a “Spiritualist.”  The Victorian Era Spiritualism movement in America got its start on April 1, 1848, in Hydesville, New York by the Fox sisters, two teenage girls who claimed they conversed with a man who had been murdered several years previously, in the house they lived in.  Spiritualists use mediums and conduct séances in efforts to contact the dead. (Victorianweb.org)            According to the February 13 th article in The Evening Republic, William H Artman, on the morning of February 12 th 1894, during breakfast, attacked and murdered

 Week 17 - Favorite Place This was actually a very difficult prompt. I was torn between the family homestead where I grew up (which most relatives who might read this already know about) or something from Scotland when I visited a couple years ago.  I wouldn't be able to settle on one favorite place in Scotland - I visited both the Closeburn (Kirkpatrick) Castle and had a tour, and visited the Caerlaverock Castle - also tied to the Kirkpatrick's. These places were very different from each other.  Caerlaverock is in ruins, but very peaceful and fun to climb around in - and it had a moat! There is a legend attached to this castle, or maybe it was the earlier one (the foundation of the earlier castle is also on this property): Many Kirkpatrick's know the story of Roger Kirkpatrick with Robert de Bruce and the murder of Red Comyn in Greyfriars Church in Dumfries; after all, that’s where we got the bloody dagger as the coat of arms and the motto “I mak siccar.”  However, there’s

  Week 16 - DNA DNA is what renewed my interest in genealogy. I have discovered so many new things, new “long-lost” 2nd and 3rd cousins, and have also been able to answer some questions in places where research and paper trails have dried up.   This week I’ll show how my siblings’ DNA has helped with these discoveries when my own DNA might not have been enough to do it. Years ago Melvin Alsager put together a book on the Kirkpatrick side of the family after he and Aunt Mary researched it. I’m sure many of you Kirkpatrick’s have it as he handed them out at one of our family reunions. At the end it says, “It is now up to each branch of the Kirkpatrick tree to add their own pages to this starter project and to keep the family history current as a continuing memorial to our ancestors. Please feel free to prune and graft onto the older limbs and even re-examine the reliability of the roots.” When I first got my DNA results, I was surprised to see I had so many Stevens, Carlock, and Canada