Clan Forbes Society Newsletter June 2022 |
|
|
Druminnor Castle Druminnor Castle in Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was originally known as Castle Forbes and was the seat of the Chiefs of Clan Forbes for over 500 years. The Old Tower (now demolished) was probably built before 1300. The Great Hall block, then called ‘ye house of Drumynnour’, was added by Alexander, 1st Lord Forbes, (1380 - 1448) about 1430-40. The castle was attacked by the Gordons in 1449, sacked by the Douglases in 1452, and captured and partly demolished by the Gordons in 1571 to 1573. William, 11th Lord Forbes, (1620 – 1697), greatly repaired and remodeled the castle in 1660 to 1661. Jacobites frequently attacked and damaged the castle between 1689 and 1690. As a result, by 1700, William, 12th Lord Forbes, (c. 1657 – 1716) was bankrupt, even after selling off much of the estate. His eldest son William, 13th Lord Forbes, (c. 1687 – 1730) succeeded to the title and lost what little he had in rash investment ventures. In 1770, James 16th Lord Forbes, (1725 – 1804) sold Druminnor and moved across the Braes of Forbes to the house of Putachie, which became the new seat of Clan Forbes. Margaret Forbes-Sempill, a daughter of Lord Forbes-Sempill of Craigievar, bought Druminnor, restoring it to Forbes ownership after a gap of 185 years. In 1975, Druminnor was bought by Andrew Forbes of the Pitsligo & Monymusk branch. The current owner is Andrew’s son, Alexander Forbes. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/druminnor-castle |
|
|
S.S. Clan Forbes "Clan Forbes" was the name of a series of four ships (three steam ships and one motorized vessel) that were built or purchased by Clan Line Steamers Ltd from 1882 to 1985. The company named over 240 of their ships after specific clans. The first “SS Clan Forbes” was an iron screw steamship (S.S.) built in 1882 with a total internal volume (measured by gross register tonnage or GRT) of 2,441. The second “SS Clan Forbes” was a steamship built in 1903 with a triple expansion engine single shaft screw with a speed of up to 11 knots. While on hire from the British government, the ship was sunk by a torpedo from a German submarine 115 nautical miles from Alexandria, Egypt. The third “SS Clan Forbes” was built in 1938 with boilers that supplied superheated steam to a pair of three-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines. In November 1940, she was one of the three merchant ships that took part in Operation Collar, a convoy to supply Malta and Alexandria. Italian forces attempted to intercept the ships which resulted in the Battle of Cape Spartivento. After the war, the ship continued in Clan Line service until sold for scrap in 1959. The "MS (motor ship) Clan Forbes" was built in 1961 and was powered by a 6-cylinder oil engine capable of 16 knots and had a capacity of 9,292 GRT. She was sold several times and dismantled in 1985. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/ss-clan-forbes |
|
|
Forbes, Whisky, and Robert Burns Scottish Bard Robert Burns was very fond of whisky – especially the Forbes-distilled whisky called Ferintosh! Here are the final four stanzas of the Robert Burns poem “Scotch Drink:” O Whisky! soul o' plays and pranks! Accept a bardie's gratfu' thanks! When wanting thee, what tuneless cranks Are my poor verses! Thou comes-they rattle in their ranks, At ither's a-s! Thee, Ferintosh! O sadly lost! Scotland lament frae coast to coast! Now colic grips, an' barkin hoast May kill us a'; For loyal Forbes' charter'd boast Is ta'en awa? Thae curst horse-leeches o' the' Excise, Wha mak the whisky stells their prize! Haud up thy han', Deil! ance, twice, thrice! There, seize the blinkers! An' bake them up in brunstane pies For poor damn'd drinkers. Fortune! if thou'll but gie me still Hale breeks, a scone, an' whisky gill, An' rowth o' rhyme to rave at will, Tak a' the rest, An' deal't about as thy blind skill Directs thee best. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/whisky |
|
|
Origins of Forbes In the 6th and 7th centuries, Gaelic invaders from northern Ireland created the overkingdom of Dál Riata (also called Dalriada) in the western islands and highlands of Scotland. Dalriadic warriors pushed eastward into Pictland (part of which is now Aberdeenshire) and intermarried with the Picts. The most likely source of the name “Forbes” is from the descriptive Irish Gaelic name Forbhasach. Literally, this meant a "large head" and was an idiom for "forward leaning" or “bold.” Legend relates that a section of land was named after Ochonchar the Bold, or Forbhasach. Since the use of surnames did not come into common practice until the 14th century, Ochonochar’s descendants were referred to as residing in the area of Forbhasach or “de Forbes” in the French of the royal court. Therefore, the first mention is of a “Duncan de Forbes” in 1271. The common use of Forbes as a surname started within the lifetime of Alexander, 1st Lord Forbes (circa 1380 - 1448.) In 1402, the charter of the lands of Edinbanchory and Craiglogy, was granted to "Alexander de Forbes” and in 1423 he was referred to as “Alexander Forbes” in another land grant. Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/origins |
|
|
Welcome Members!
Please welcome our new Active Members for May 2022:
- Ms. Wanda Plawer, Illinois, USA
- Ms. Annette Elayne Fobbs, New York, USA
- Ms. Nancy Hillerud, North Dakota, USA
- Mr. Joseph Davidson Forbes, Arknsas, USA
- Mr. Christopher Lee Fordyce, South Carolina, USA
- Ms. Jeanne M. Creel, South Carolina, USA
Please welcome our Renewing Active Members for May 2022: - Mr. Richard Meservey, Florida, USA
- Ms. Stephanie Forbes Hayward, Michigan, USA
- Mr. Donald Howe, Massachusetts, USA
- Mr. Harrison Holland Forbes, Tennessee, USA
- Ms. Christine Edwards, Washington, USA
- Mr. Christopher Allan Forbes, Kansas, USA
- Mr. Robert Allan Scott, Maine, USA
Become an Active Member or Renew Now! If you haven’t already supported the Society financially, please consider becoming a paid member! Active Membership is US$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. 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 US$600. |
|
|
Highland Games & Festivals Here is the latest list of Highland Games and Scottish Festivals, as compiled by Leslie Furbish, VP for Conveners. Please check the Clan Forbes Society website for the latest announcements: https://www.clan-forbes.org/games United States Glasgow Highland Games June 3-5; 2022; Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas, Kentucky Garrett County Celtic Festival June 4, 2022; Friendsville, Maryland
Milwaukee Highland Games
June 4, 2022; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Maine Scottish Festival at Old Orchard Beach June 4, 2022; Old Orchard Beach, Maine Clan Forbes Convener: Leslie A. Furbish Coastal Highland Games June 4, 2022; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games June 11-12, 2022; Blairsville, Georgia Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games June 17-18, 2022; Itasca, Illinois Ohio Scottish Games June 24-25, 2022; Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Berea, Ohio Alaska Scottish Highland Games June 25-26, 2022; Palmer, Alaska Round Hill Highland Games June 26, 2022; Lakeville, Connecticut Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 7 - 10, 2022; Linville, North Carolina Clan Forbes Convener: Ron Pearson Skagit Valley Highland Games July 8-10, 2022; Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon, Washington Payson Scottish Festival July 8-9, 2022; Payson, Utah Kootenai Highland Gathering July 15-16, 2022; River Bend Restaurant, Libby, Montana Arizona Highland Games and Gathering July 16-17, 2022; Rodeo Grounds, Williams, Arizona Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival July 16, 2022; Look Park, Northampton, Massachusetts Clan Forbes Convener: Leslie A. Furbish Monterey Scottish Games & Festival July 16 & 17, 2022; Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey, California St. Andrew's Society of Detroit Annual Highland Games August 8-6, 2022; Greenmead Historical Village, Livonia, Michigan CNY Scottish Games & Celtic Festival August 13, 2022; Long Branch Park, Liverpool NY Maine Highland Games & Scottish Festival August 20, 2022; Topsham, Maine Clan Forbes Conveners: Leslie A. Furbish and Ben Forbus Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering August 20-21, 2022; Daly Mansion, Hamilton, Montana Douglas County Scottish Highland Games August 27-28, 2022; Henry Estate Winery, Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games August 27, 2022; Old Westbury Gardens, New York |
|
|
|
|
