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.

George Moore

On this day, 20 November 1864, George Moore, my 4th great-grandfather, passed away.

Born in Scotland circa 1811, nothing is known of George Moore’s childhood or his parentage, unfortunately.

Cináed mac Ailpín

On this day, 13 February 858, Cináed mac Ailpín (Kenneth MacAlpin), died. He was my 36th great-grandfather through one line and a multi-times (still trying to unravel this one) great-grandfather through another.

Cináed mac Ailpín was born in 810 in Iona, Scotland. The son of Ailpín, he is regarded by many as the founder of medieval Scotland.

By 843, at roughly the same time that the people of Wales were separated from the invading Saxons by Offa’s Dyke, Cináed mac Ailpín was creating the Kingdom of Alba (Scotia) by unifying the warring societies of the Anglos, Britons, Picts, and Scots.

His success was due in part to the continued threat of Viking raids. In 872, Harald Fairhair seized control of Norway, causing many of the jarls to seek out new lands. Norse settlements grew in Caithness, the Isle of Man, Orkney, Ross, Shetland, Sutherland, and the Western Isles.