Genealogy

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FAMILY HISTORY for Scottish Exiles and others.

In Gaelic the word for children is 'clan' , but nowadays it is used to mean 'family'. Many clans added to their strength by inviting other families to join them, thus giving rise to the term 'a sept of the clan'. The table below shows some of the septs of the clan Lamont. It does not include every possible spelling of the clan name. e.g. Black or MacGilledow comes from the Gaelic MacGhille Dhuibh. As now the children took their father's name but there was a time when they were given their mother's maiden name. Those searching their family history should always consider another spelling of their name.

The Lamont Clan. (Pronounced Lam-ont not La-mont as if it were a French mountain.)  

The SEPTS of clan Lamont listed below can wear the Lamont tartan

It is believed that a 13th century son of the MacEarchar clan had the title of Lawman bestowed on him giving rise to the new name Lawman (Laumon and its later spelling Lamont). They were wrongly accused by the Campbells of supporting the Royalist cause who then swore an oath to eliminate every member of the clan. Many Lamonts escaped massacre by simply changing their names and taking a new one to match the colour of their hair. Black - a Lamont with black hair, White (Whyte) - a Lamont with blond or fair hair and so on.

The table shows a section of my family tree relating to the name Black. I'd be grateful to anyone who can add to what I already know about my ancestors.

Donald Black married Winifred or Una Lamont on Mull in 1790. They had several children including Hector born in 1799 at Glaich on Ulva. He married Margaret or Peggy McQuarrie in Gribun in 1828. They had a son Alexander born in 1828 who worked as a shoemaker in Tobermory-Isle of Mull. Hector and Peggy both died in Tobermory. Alexander married Mary McIntyre (her father Alexander was a handloom weaver in Ardnamurchan).Their daughter Mary Ann came to Glasgow and married Donald McFadyen. They had three children - Colin (killed in the Great War in 1915) Alexander (my father) and Babara. There are several blanks in my family tree. Can any one help? Alexander (born in Gribun in1828) worked as a shoemaker in Helensburgh for a time before he went to Falkirk. He disappears from my records at this point. I know he was quite old when he died but where?