'The Gunns' by Robert R. Gunn
A modern version of the The Gunns.
The Gunns by Robert R Gunn (USA) 1925
I've recently had another look at this 1925 text by Robert Russell Gunn and it is worthy of note.
Why? The opening thirty eight pages tell the traditional mythic version of Clan Gunn history in Scotland but thereafter it is a detailed genealogical examination of Gunns adapting into the USA from the earliest times on. (I think the earliest is 1635.) So in a book of one hundred and seventy pages three quarters of it explore how normal Gunns adapted into new cultures and a new country. As such, it is an early version of a 'people's history' and should be commended.
This idea seems to be being picked up in North America recently; 'We are presently working on various aspects of the history of the Gunns who emigrated to Canada, including septs or associated names thereof. The first of these articles will be about Mann, sept of Clan Gunn' and 'As mentioned in previous bulletins, we are presently preparing articles about ancestors who emigrated to Canada and New England for publication in The Gunn Salute, the official newsletter of CGSNA. The first episode will cover the pre-colonization period as well as the arrival of the first-known Gunn to settle in North America. Jasper Gunn left London, England on July 14, 1635 on the vessel Defense. He first settled in Roxbury, MA and later moved to Hartford, CT where he died in 1671. Upcoming issues will feature Gunns at Hudson’s Bay and Gunns who settled in Ontario'. The Jasper Gunn is in the RR Gunn book...
*****
Actually I have been a bit harsh and am re-reading the book. There are some nice vignettes, such as on page 45 -
In 1565 one Alexander Gunn, a son of John Gunn, who was a son of Robert Gunn, one of the Crowner's sons, met one of the Scottish nobility, to be exact, the Earl of Moray, who was a bastard brother of Queen Mary, in the streets of Inverness, Scotland. Alexander Gunn possibly did not recognise a bastard noble as outranking him, for he not failed to give the way to Moray, but he blocked it and caused Moray and his party to have to turn out to pass him, and for this he was beheaded by order of Mary, Queen of Scots.
It's a point made before - a Gunn chief being from the MacRob line.
Chapter V111 is also worthy of reading with his summary view on how the Gunns were not able to adapt to the necessity of gaining Court favour - and Crown charters for land - in the period 1580ish to 1620ish. This inability he argues marks the end of the Gunns as significant historical players and relegates the Clan to the minor roles of history, although obviously some individuals still play major roles.
I've recently had another look at this 1925 text by Robert Russell Gunn and it is worthy of note.
Why? The opening thirty eight pages tell the traditional mythic version of Clan Gunn history in Scotland but thereafter it is a detailed genealogical examination of Gunns adapting into the USA from the earliest times on. (I think the earliest is 1635.) So in a book of one hundred and seventy pages three quarters of it explore how normal Gunns adapted into new cultures and a new country. As such, it is an early version of a 'people's history' and should be commended.
This idea seems to be being picked up in North America recently; 'We are presently working on various aspects of the history of the Gunns who emigrated to Canada, including septs or associated names thereof. The first of these articles will be about Mann, sept of Clan Gunn' and 'As mentioned in previous bulletins, we are presently preparing articles about ancestors who emigrated to Canada and New England for publication in The Gunn Salute, the official newsletter of CGSNA. The first episode will cover the pre-colonization period as well as the arrival of the first-known Gunn to settle in North America. Jasper Gunn left London, England on July 14, 1635 on the vessel Defense. He first settled in Roxbury, MA and later moved to Hartford, CT where he died in 1671. Upcoming issues will feature Gunns at Hudson’s Bay and Gunns who settled in Ontario'. The Jasper Gunn is in the RR Gunn book...
*****
Actually I have been a bit harsh and am re-reading the book. There are some nice vignettes, such as on page 45 -
In 1565 one Alexander Gunn, a son of John Gunn, who was a son of Robert Gunn, one of the Crowner's sons, met one of the Scottish nobility, to be exact, the Earl of Moray, who was a bastard brother of Queen Mary, in the streets of Inverness, Scotland. Alexander Gunn possibly did not recognise a bastard noble as outranking him, for he not failed to give the way to Moray, but he blocked it and caused Moray and his party to have to turn out to pass him, and for this he was beheaded by order of Mary, Queen of Scots.
It's a point made before - a Gunn chief being from the MacRob line.
Chapter V111 is also worthy of reading with his summary view on how the Gunns were not able to adapt to the necessity of gaining Court favour - and Crown charters for land - in the period 1580ish to 1620ish. This inability he argues marks the end of the Gunns as significant historical players and relegates the Clan to the minor roles of history, although obviously some individuals still play major roles.