Thomas Sinclair 'The Gunns'; Mark Rugg Gunn 'History of the Clan Gunn'
Thomas Sinclair's The Gunns erroneously shows the shield associated with the Gunn Munro family of Braemore and implicit is the assumption that it applied to all Clan Gunn, but that is wrong as there has never been a Clan Gunn Chief approved by Lord Lyon there is no Clan Gunn coat of arms, so consequently there is no Clan Gunn crest badge, no Clan Gunn shield of arms and no Clan Gunn motto able to be legally used by Clan Gunn members. The popularity of Sinclair's text probably encouraged the wrong use of the Gunn Munro shield - note, for example, how Mark Rugg Gunn's front cover bears the upraised hand from the Gunn Munro shield.
Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns, Wick, William Rae, 1890
This volume by Sinclair is important as it is the first to explore the Gunns at depth; in earlier texts Gunn history was no more than an odd chapter or scattered reference. It is not an easy read, especially when covering genealogical detail. This genealogy can contradict itself and Sinclair unquestioningly repeats earlier stories. It does, though, have original research. It needs an Index. The 'Supplements' to the text can be found under the 'Scottish History' tab.
Mark Rugg Gunn, History of Clan Gunn, printed and published by Alex Maclean and Sons Glasgow, late 1960s?
This privately produced book is a much easier read than Sinclair, but often the narrative drive is lost in emotional terms, vague possibilities and retelling of stories at length. There are internal contradictions in his genealogy, many 'facts' are wrong and he accepts most myths at face value. The use of footnotes would have been helpful! It remains an impressive achievement.
Overall both books are worth mining for information, but neither are satisfactory as trustworthy history.
Of note -
- Memorabilia Domestica; Or, Parish Life in the North of Scotland by Donald Sage, 1840. This book includes Gunns and Gunn territory but it is much more than that; it is 'Parish life in the North of Scotland'. I've put it here as it is the key volume which evokes, in a readable form, the Gunn 'area' and certain important Gunn people.
- Ministers and Men in the Far North by the Rev. Alexander Auld - a mid 1800s recollection in Gunn territory with many Gunns. More detail can be found under the 'Scottish history' button. The Reverend Alexander Auld (who married Christina Barbara Ross Taylor) was brother to Jessie Auld who married John Gunn. John Gunn married Jessie (Janet) Auld in 1834; they emigrated to Nova Scotia. A child Johnina (Nina) was born there. They then went to Jamaica where John died in 1839 (see the slave rebellion there). The rest / some of the family then returned to Scotland before Nina emigrated to Victoria in July 1855 where she married Simon Grant. Other childen of John and Jessie included Alexander Gunn, George Gunn, James Gunn, Catherine Innes Gunn (died 1925 in Boston Mass.) and John.
Jessie Auld's parents were John Auld and Janet Horne Gunn 1792-1875) (with siblings the Rev. Alexander Gunn (often in the above book), James Gunn, Captain William Gunn, Helen Gunn and Catherine Gunn). Janet Horne Gunn's parents were John Gunn (23 October 1748 Watten died in Bower) and Jane Gunn (25 November 1751 Watten, died 1847 Watten).