Prince Madog (Madoc) of Wales discovered America in 1170 - a 'Clan Gunn Westford Knight' comparison22/9/2015 Just read 'Did Prince Madog discover America' by Michael Senior which closely examines how the Welsh 'Prince Madog (Madoc)' supposedly discovered America in about 1170 and established a tribe of Welsh speaking 'Indians'. It's an absurd story which Senior rightly questions and the story has as much academic validity as the 'Clan Gunn in America 1398 Westford knight' myth. For more on that myth see http://clangunn.weebly.com/on-a-gunn-helping-discover-north-america---sir-james-gunn-of-clyth-crowner-of-caithness-and-the-westford-knight-myth.html
There is obviously more than one myth cluttering these years of American history...
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Interested to read about the forthcoming Clan Crawford Convention (Lord Lyon) and how normal members of the Clan can get an invitation to it - such a nice change from the near closed shop approach of the recent Clan Gunn Convention. See http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/996.html
Concerning George Gunn, Chief of the Clan Gunn - his tea service and early use of Clan Gunn 'arms'3/9/2015 Concerning George Gunn, Chief of the Clan Gunn - his tea service and early use of the Clan Gunn 'arms'
It is important to recognise that Lt George Gunn 1787-1859 had a very good claim to be Chief of the Clan Gunn and he was recognised as such by the first Clan Gunn Society and is described as such in Mark Rugg Gunn's Clan Gunn, see page 236.
A family tree for George Gunn can be found on http://clangunn.weebly.com/thomas-sinclair-supplement-8-2011903.html Now I have discussed the issue of female Clan Gunn Chief inheritance with the Lyon Court and there is no real problem with it (even after significant periods of time), so long as the family takes on the name Gunn and are otherwise eligible to inherit. I am aware that male inheritors of George Gunn's line have died out but female lines certainly exist. It would be an interesting issue if Lord Lyon was to accept that George Gunn should be accepted as the last Clan Gunn Chief... If he did the key genealogical point is - Lt. George Gunn 1787-1859 and Margaret MacDonald had six children. The oldest child was Christina M. Gunn. .
The children are, in order, Christine, Jessie 23.11.1876-24.1.1913 born Mississippi dies Texas, Alexander 23.2.1877- 28.7.1928 Mississippi for both birth and death, Mary Campbell b Mississippi 1877 d. Georgia, John Campbell b. 1878 Mississippi, Archibald C. Campbell b Hancock County Mississippi November 1879, Gordon Campbell, Hancock County Mississippi b. September 1883, Gracie Campbell Hancock County Mississippi b. March 1885, Edith Campbell Hancock County Mississippi b. September 1886, d. Standard Mississippi 24 February 1913, Edna Campbell Hancock County Mississippi b. 1 September 1886, d 1955 Jacksonville Duval Florida (married Augustus H Jones 1890 Ohio) and Robert Campbell b. 1887 Hancock County Mississippi. Now Americans - I believe - can inherit Chiefship if they inherit the right from sometime in 1870 or after as the relevant Westminster law altered from that year. George Gunn had siblings whose descendants can also be found which might complicate matters. Certainly the idea that the Clan Gunn Chief line has died out is totally wrong, as I have said many times before. Anyway to the main point of this entry. I thought people would like to see the silver tea pot, matching sugar bowl and milk jug given to George Gunn of Rhives by the Marchionness of Stafford. In particular I think people will be interested to see the Clan Gunn motto and 'sort of arms' on the teapot. It is probably the earliest known version of the unofficial Clan Gunn arms and motto in use today.
Teapot, sugar bowl and milk / cream jug
The inscription -
PRESENTED BY ELIZABETH MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD, TO GEORGE GUNN ESQr FACTOR OF SUTHERLAND 1832.
Perhaps the earliest known version of the Clan Gunn motto and 'badge'
For more information about the probable origin of the never supported by Lord Lyon Clan Gunn crest, badge and motto see http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-non-existent-clan-gunn-crest-badge-and-motto.html The key point is that the upraised hand and sword is 'interestingly' similar to part of the coat of arms matriculated for George Gunn Munro of Braemore; Lord Lyon has never matriculated a coat of arms for a Clan Gunn Chief so legally such items do not exist.
Peter Grant, who provided me with these images, also provided the following wording - Sterling silver tea pot, with matching sugar bowl and milk jug, which belonged to Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland (1765-1839) when Marchioness of Stafford, the tea pot engraved with her initial and coronet. Presented by her to George Gunn of Rhives, her factor, with the tea pot bearing the inscription “PRESENTED BY ELIZABETH MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD, TO GEORGE GUNN ESQR. FACTOR OF SUTHERLAND 1832”. The other face of the tea pot bears the Gunn crest with motto “AUT PAX AUT BELLUM”, no doubt added by George Gunn. Tea pot hallmarks are for London 1825, maker “I H”. Tea pot 270mm x 170mm. Sugar bowl 215mm x 145mm Milk jug 160mm x 125mm In possession (2015) of Peter and Morag Grant of Hanmer Springs, North Canterbury, New Zealand. Co-incidentally, one of Morag’s ancestors Hugh Matheson (from Shinness in Lairg, Sutherland), was the Sutherland estate ground officer in Assynt from around 1809 until his early death in 1817. He would have reported to George Gunn as the Assynt under factor before Hugh’s death. I note George Gunn's daughter Margaret Gunn married Malcolm Charles MacHardy in 1861 and they emigrated to Australia - this might explain why these items are in New Zealand. |
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