Genealogy Poetry Challenge: Scotland

For 11 years, Bill West, a retired bookseller with a computer and an interest in genealogy and history, has hosted an annual genealogy poetry challenge.

Anyone is welcome to join the challenge. All you have to do is blog a poem or song (or in my case, both) about the region in which at least one of your predecessors resided. Within the post, share how that poem/song relates to your ancestors’ lives.

My spouse and I both have Scottish roots with many of those ancestors being Highlanders. My spouse’s father’s maternal line boasts the Broughman clan. In his mother’s paternal line are these surnames: McHenry, McClelland,  Kinkead, Moore, and McGinnis. In my father’s paternal line, I have Ferguson. In my mother’s maternal line, there is Moore, while her paternal line is laden with Campbell, Fleming, Hay, McCoy, Graham, Gordon, Stewart, Montgomerie, Douglas, and Sinclair kin.

In honor of these Scottish ancestors, especially those who left their homeland for a new land, I have chosen for this year’s challenge a poem/song written in 1789 by Robert Burns titled, My Heart’s in the Highlands. It is sung to the tune Fáilte na Miosg:

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Farewell to the mountains, high-cover’d with snow,
Farewell to the straths and green vallies below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.

~by Robert Burns

 

 

Sancha of Léon

On this day, 7 November 1067, Sancha of Léon passed away. She was my 29th great-grandmother through her granddaughter Urraca di León y Castile and my 30th great-grandmother through her granddaughter Teresa of Léon.

Born circa 1018, Sancha de Léon was the daughter of Alfonso V of León by his first wife, Elvira Menéndez. She joined brother Bermudo III of León, born a year earlier.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day to spend with your family and for remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their county.

Early this morning, as I was preparing my homemade potato salad and cole slaw for tonight’s picnic, I gave thanks for our ancestors who have taken up arms through the centuries, particularly those who have perished while serving their country or cause, including:

Llywelyn ap Iorwerth

On this day, 11 April 1240, Llywelyn “Fawr” ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great), the longest reigning ruler of Welsh principalities, died in Aberconwy, Gwynedd, Wales. (He was my 23rd and 24th great-grandfather.)

Born circa 1173, Llywelyn ap Iorwerth was the only child of Iorwerth “Drwyndwn” ap Owain and Marared ferch Madog. Llywelyn’s father was the eldest surviving son of Owain Gwynedd, prince of Gwynedd. In 1174, Iorwerth ap Owain died in at the Battle at Pennant Melangell. His mother was the daughter of Madog ap Maredudd, Prince of Powys. Through her, Llywelyn is descended from Rhodri Mawr, king of Wales.

Henry II of Brabant

On this day, 1 February 1248, Henry II of Brabant passed away. He was my 24th and my 25th great-grandfather.

Born in 1207, in Leuven, Belgium, Henry II of Brabant was the son of Henry I of Brabant and Matilda of Boulogne.