The Percy Forbes-Leith of Fyvie Tiffany Window Memorial

The largest Tiffany stained glass window in Scotland is installed in a small village kirk. The memorial window was the gift of the American business associates of a successful Scottish steel magnate who lost his only son in the Boer Wars. 

Alexander Forbes-Leith made a fortune in the American steel industry. He returned to his native Scotland and purchased Fyvie Castle and its estates. His youngest child Percy was born in 1881 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Percy joined the British Army and became a second lieutenant in the Royal Dragoons. His unit was sent to South Africa for the Boer Wars. While on active duty, he died of enteric fever in 1900. In 1901, Forbes-Leith commissioned a new granite memorial chancel for the local kirk, St. Peter's Church in Fyvie. Forbes-Leith’s American business colleagues purchased from the Louis Comfort Tiffany Company in New York a large stained-glass window depicting the Archangel Michael.  The plaque in the church notes that the window was in memory of Percy Forbes-Leith and that it was "Erected by his friends in the United States of America." 

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/tiffany

Jacobite of Uprising of 1745 and the Battle of Culloden

The Battle of Culloden was fought on Forbes land on April 16, 1746. The supporters of the grandson of deposed Catholic King James II and VII (known as “Jacobites” based on the Latin name “Jacobus”) fought under Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie.") They met the forces of the British government of William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, on the captured estate of highlander Duncan Forbes (1685 - 1747), 5th laird of Culloden. As Lord President of the Court of Sessions, Forbes was the highest ranking representative of British Government in Scotland. His cousin, Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Pitsligo (1680 – 1762) was a member of the Scottish Parliament before the Union and fought on the Jacobite side in the 1715 Battle of Sheriffmuir. At the age of 65, he returned to the Jacobite cause as Stuart’s Master of Horse (cavalry.) The Jacobites lost the battle. Pitsligo escaped first to Elgin and then to his home at Pitsligo Castle near Rosehearty. His estates were seized in 1748 and his title was attainted. Duncan Forbes never received government compensation for the destruction of his estate and died a year after the battle. In 1881, Duncan Forbes, 10th laird of Culloden built the Culloden Memorial Cairn.   

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/jacobite-uprising-1745

James Forbes of Hartford, Connecticut

As the surviving son of James I and VI, Charles I was crowned king of Scotland and England in February 1626. Due to his strong conviction of the divine right of kings, he failed to consult with Parliament about many laws, particularly levying of taxes. Therefore, the English parliament demanded a constitutional monarchy. From 1642, Charles I fought the army of the English parliament in the English Civil War. By the end of 1648, Oliver Cromwell's army had consolidated its control over England. Charles I was executed in January 1649, the monarchy was abolished, and his son, Charles II, fled in exile. The execution of Charles I consolidated Scots against the new English Republic Independents and the Covenanter Parliament of Scotland proclaimed that Charles II was their king.

James Forbes (1627 – 1692) was most likely the son of Captain James Forbes of Caithness, the second son of Duncan Forbes (1572-1654), Provost of Inverness and first lord of Culloden. In 1650, James Forbes, the younger, fought for his king at the Battle of Dunbar. Unfortunately, the Scots were defeated by a much smaller force led by Oliver Cromwell. Over 10,000 Scots were captured and marched to Newcastle. However, holding such a large number of prisoners was expensive. Therefore, the Council of State, which was England's governing body, decided to ship prisoners to New England as indentured servants. On November 8, 1651, the John and Sarah sailed with about 300 Scottish prisoners on board, of which 272 of them survived to reach Charlestown in the Massachusetts Bay Colony on May 13, 1652.  One of the names on the passenger list was "James farfason." This is most probably James Forbes which was written by an English clerk unfamiliar with Scots Gaelic dialect. In 1658, James obtained land from John Crow in Hartford. The record of this land transaction notes the spelling of his last name as “fforbas.” In 1688 James and his family resided in the neighborhood of Hartford known as “Scotland,” which was renamed Burnside. James died intestate in 1692 and his total property was valued at about £344. James had 7 children and most them had several children. The details of the subsequent generations are meticulously recounted by Karen Lorraine Forbes in her genealogy Descendants of James Forbes of Hartford, Connecticut. She traced twelve generations of his descendants who have settled all around North America. 

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/james-forbes-of-hartford

House of Forbes

The book House of Forbes offers a family history and genealogical data about the Forbes family of Scotland from about 1271 A.D. to the present. The authors Alistair and Henrietta Tayler include research of past genealogists as well as critical analysis. Additions of the later members of the House of Forbes are drawn from the 1987 reprint. Pedigree charts of 30 of the Forbes families of Scotland are included, and 16 of these are discussed in the text. The 1937 edition published by the Third Spalding Club is currently out of print but the Clan Forbes Society provides a complete scan of the work and over 30 updated family trees.

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/house-of-forbes

Welcome Members!

Please welcome our new Active Members for April 2022: 

• Karen L. Forbes, Florida, USA
• Dana Elizabeth Baker-Pearlman, Michigan, USA
• Gary K. Humphrey, Texas, USA
• Gerd Fobes, Germany
• Patricia Lynne Grimminger, Florida, USA

Please welcome our Renewing Active Members  for April 2022: 

• Marvin Forbes, California, 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. 

• Become a New Active Member here.
• Renew your Active Membership here. 
• Become a Patron Member here. 

Highland Games & Festivals

Rick Forbes (pictured above) and Bart Forbes represented the Clan Forbes Society at the Highland Games in Sherman, Texas, in March 2022. 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

Fair Hill Scottish Games

May 21, 2022, Elkton, MD, 21921

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Scottish Fest USA

May 28-29, 2022; Costa Mesa, CA

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Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games

May 6-8, 2022; Decatur, Texas

Clan Forbes Convener: Rick Forbes, Bart Forbes

Savannah Scottish Games

May 7, 2022; Savannah, Georgia

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Stirling Classic Scottish Festival

May 20-22, 2022; Yukon, Oklahoma

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Northern Nevada Celtic Celebration

May 21, 2022; Reno, Nevada

St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival

May 21, 2022; Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, Missouri

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Smoky Mountain Highland Games

May 21-22, 2022; Maryville, Tennessee

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Glasgow Highland Games

June 3-5; 2022; Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas, Kentucky

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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

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Coastal Highland Games

June 4, 2022; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games

June 11-12, 2022; Blairsville, Georgia

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Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games

June 17-18, 2022; Itasca, Illinois

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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

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Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

July 7 - 10, 2022; Linville, North Carolina

Clan Forbes Convener: Ron Pearson

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Skagit Valley Highland Games

July 8-10, 2022; Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon, Washington

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Payson Scottish Festival

July 8-9, 2022; Payson, Utah

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Kootenai Highland Gathering

July 15-16, 2022; River Bend Restaurant, Libby, Montana

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Arizona Highland Games and Gathering

July 16-17, 2022; Rodeo Grounds, Williams, Arizona

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Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival

July 16, 2022; Look Park, Northampton, Massachusetts

Clan Forbes Convener: Leslie A. Furbish

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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

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CNY Scottish Games & Celtic Festival

August 13, 2022; Long Branch Park, Liverpool NY

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Maine Highland Games & Scottish Festival

August 20, 2022; Topsham, Maine

Clan Forbes Conveners: Leslie A. Furbish and Ben Forbus

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Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering

August 20-21, 2022; Daly Mansion, Hamilton, Montana

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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