Clan Feud: Forbes vs. Gordon
 

The feud between the houses of Forbes and Gordon was one of Scotland’s most public and enduring. The rivalry began in the 12th and 13th centuries with different origins (Forbes was northern Celtic and Gordon was Norman-French from the Borders) and competing loyalties. The relationship was exacerbated by grabs for land and power in the 14th and 15th centuries. The feud escalated with murders and battles on both sides, specifically the Battles of Tillieangus and Craibstane. The feud was barely mitigated by intermarriage and two Acts of Parliament. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/clan-feud-gordon 

New Zealand Prime Minister "Honest George" William Forbes

“Honest George” William Forbes (1869 –1947) served as the 22nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from May 1930 to December 1935, during the depths of the Depression. In 1935, the Labor Party withdrew its support from his coalition government due to Forbes’s economic measures of reducing the government deficit, proposing 10 percent wage cuts, and providing public assistance only to men who labored on public works. A local newspaper wrote in 1931, “Whatever the faults and shortcomings the Rt. Hon. Forbes may have, his worst political foe cannot justly charge him with a lack of either frankness or courage.” In 1935, Forbes was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal and in 1937, he was awarded the King George VI Coronation Medal. The George Forbes Memorial Library was established at Lincoln University near Christchurch in Canterbury, New Zealand. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/george-william-forbes 

Fecht of Aberdeen

On September 13 in 1644 occurred the disastrous Fecht of Aberdeen between Royalist and Covenanter forces. Increasingly autocratic, King Charles I sent James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, with his troops of MacDonalds, Gordons, Ogilvies, and Irish mercenaries to seize the City of Aberdeen. The Scottish Parliament hastily assembled a force lead by Sir William Forbes of Craigievar; Andrew Fraser, 2nd Lord Fraser; and William Crichton, 3rd Lord Crichton. Montose routed the defending forces and allowed the Irish troops to kill, rob, and plunder the town. According to an eye-witness, “nothing heard but pitiful howling, crying, weeping mourning, through all the streets.” Montrose was finally defeated at the Battle of Philiphaugh on September 13, 1645 – a year to the day of the Fecht of Aberdeen. The King was convicted of treason and executed in 1649. Montrose was beheaded at Mercat Cross in Edinburgh in 1650. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/fecht-of-aberdeen 

Silversmith Forbes of New York

For about a century, the Forbes family of New York City dominated the silver trade in the newly-formed United States of America. Brothers William Garret Forbes (1751 – 1840) and Abraham Gerritze Forbes (1763 – 1833) began their trade as silversmiths in about 1785. Their grandfather, William Forbes, came from Scotland and settled in New York City about 1703. As the Forbes silversmithing business grew, the sons apprenticed with their fathers before either joining them or going out on their own to manufacture silver products. These silversmiths included Benjamin Gilbert Forbes (1793 – 1856), Garret Forbes (1785 – 1851), John Wolf Forbes (1781 – 1864), Colin VanGelder Forbes (1776 – 1858), and William Forbes (1798 – 1888.) Some of John Wolf Forbes silver can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and at the White House, the United States Executive Mansion. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/silversmith-forbes-of-new-york 

House of Forbes in the Military

If one of your ancestors served in the military, please let us know! For the U.S. Veteran’s Day on November 11, we’ll be honoring our servicemembers in special section of the website. Please send your photographs and brief biography to news@clan-forbes.org 

Welcome Members!

Please welcome our new Active Members for September 2020:

• Ms. Anglia Annette Miller, Indiana, USA
• Ms. Janet L. Forbes, Massachusetts, USA
• Ms. Elizabeth Hammond Carlson, Wyoming USA
• Mr. Harrison Holland Forbes, Tennessee, USA 
• Ms. Aranicole Forbes, Texas, USA
• Ms. Elspeth Forbes-Wiltshire, England, UK 

Please welcome back our renewing Active Members for August 2020:

• Evelyn A. Forbes
• James E. Forbush
   

If you haven’t already supported the Society financially, please consider becoming a paid member! Active Membership is $25 annually will help the Society research the history and heritage of the House of Forbes; develop resources for tracing your genealogy with your cousins around the world; connect with other members in the Clan Forbes Community; and encourage more members to join us in events, tours and gatherings. Thanks to all our 2019 members – and now it’s time to renew your support for 2020! Renew your membership here.

House of Forbes Members

The Society is pleased to announce that Ms. Elizabeth Hammond Carlson has been approved as a House of Forbes Member by reporting her direct lineage from John de Forbes, founder of the House of Forbes.

Patron Members

If you don’t want the bother of renewing your membership every year, consider becoming a Patron Member for lifetime membership at the level of $600. 

Donations
Please consider making a donation to the Clan Forbes Society! For your donation of US$60 or more, you will receive a copy of Castles & Mansion Houses of the House of Forbes as your free gift. For your donation of US$25 or more, you will receive a Clan Forbes Challenge Coin as your free gift. Our thanks go out to Ms. Jean Stacy Gore, Ms. Annette Zamarchi, and Ms. Nancy Forbes for their donations during September!
 

Highland Games & Festivals

Many of the 2020 Highland Games and Scottish Festivals have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the status of some of the events that were planned this year:

• San Francisco Highland Games, California. CANCELLED (may be later in the year)
• Kelso Highlander Festival, Washington. CANCELLED
• Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games , Colorado. CANCELLED
• Maine Highland Games & Scottish Festival , Maine. POSTPONED
• St. Andrew's Society of Detroit Annual Highland Games , Michigan. CANCELLED
• Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering , Montana. RESCHEDULED: Aug 15-16, 2021
• Loch Norman Highland Games , North Carolina. POSTPONED
• Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games , New York. POSTPONED
• Quechee Scottish Festival and Competition, Vermont. POSTPONED
• Prescott Highland Games & Faire, Arizona. POSTPONED
• Caledonian Club of San Francisco , California. Sept. 5 – 6, 2020. SUBJECT TO CHANGE
• Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival , Colorado. Sept. 11 – 13, 2020.
• Columbus Scottish Festival , Indiana. POSTPONED.
• St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival , Missouri. POSTPONED
• New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival , New Hampshire. POSTPONED
• Scotfest Oklahoma , Oklahoma. POSTPONED
• Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival , Pennsylvania. Sept. 25 – 27, 2020.
• Ligonier Highland Games , Pennsylvania. POSTPONED
• Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival , Tennessee. POSTPONED
• Middle Tennessee Highland Games & Celtic Festival, Tennessee. POSTPONED
• Virginia Scottish Games & Festival , Virginia. POSTPONED
• Scotland CT Scottish Festival, Connecticut. POSTPONED
• Indianapolis Scottish Highland Games & Festival , Indiana. POSTPONED
• Scotland County Highland Games , North Carolina. POSTPONED
• Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games , Texas. RESCHEDULED: Oct. 16 – 18, 2020
• Celtic Heritage & Music Festival and National Tartan Day , MIssippi. CANCELLED
• Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering , South Carolina. CANCELLED.
• Clover Highland Games & Scots-Irish Festival , South Carolina, UNKNOWN
• Swamp Fox Highland Games &  Celtic Festival, South Carolina. Sept. 26, 2020