Jenny Cameron of Glendessary

[Carine Martin]

I’m starting a Phd thesis on Jenny Cameron here in France. I’m writing the presentation for my project at the moment and I’ve realised I have precious little information about when she was born and when she died. All the eighteenth-century books I’ve read always fall short of giving this particular information .The National Portrait Gallery website tells me she may have been born in 1700 and died in 1790. But Maggie Craigg in her book d**n Rebel Bitches writes that she died in 1772. This is all very confusing! I’ve tried to look for genealogical information about her on the Clan Cameron website but it came to nothing.

Can anyone help me, please?

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Carine,

Welcome to the Forum.

Jean Cameron did indeed die in 1772,and I think you should initially have a look at the item entitled "Camerons of Glendessary" on the History section of this Message Centre.Page 3 of this item,specifically,features a number of postings on Jean,and this should get you moving in the right direction!Her Will,incidently,can be accessed on a pay-to-view basis,at www.scottishdocuments.com.

I have seen references to Jean being born at any time between 1700 and 1715,but there does not seem to be any specific record of her true age.

Regards,
Chris.

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Welcome Carine,

Are your Martins scottish in origin? My ancestors were originally MacMartins of Letterfinlay.

Please stick around, even after your thesis is done - we can always use more input!

Slainte,

John

[Carine Martin]

Dear forum members,

Thank you for making me feel so welcome and for offering me your help on the forum and off. I did have a look at the discussion on the Camerons of Glendessary and it was enlightening indeed.
Incidentally, I'm not of Scottish origins, Martin being the most common name in France. I was actually surprised to find it was a Scottish name as well on my first trip to Scotland!
I’m sorry being so late in letting you know how grateful I am. The thing is I was very busy writing the presentation for my Phd thesis. Now that’s it’s won the approval of my tutor I can move on to the research proper.

Regards,

Carine Martin

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Hi Carine,

Congratulations on having your thesis topic approved. Please come back and visit us and let us know what you find out.

Wishing you all the best,

John

[Cameronian]

Well Carine, you are not as disconnected as you may have thought;

Quoting from Somerled MacMillan’s Bygone Lochaber:

The MacMartins of Letterfinlay Were originally of ecclesiastical stock, being one time devotees of St Martin of Tours, as the old Gaelic form of their name – MacGhille Mhartainn (Son of the Servant of Martin) implies. Tradition has it that they came over to Scotland from Ireland about a thousand years ago and were found at an early date in Ayrshire then Argyll, prior to their settlement in Lochaber.

Therefore the name, if not the stock as well, originated with you in France.

I will have the material on Jean Cameron copied for you and post it on if you provide me with an address off list…..

We are all very interested to view your Thesis. Regards Val

[SherbrookeJacobite]

I am very familiar with "Bygone Lochaber" and have read it many times. I have also read other sources which suggest the MacMartins were of Pictish stock. They were part of Clan Mael-anfhaidh. Others suggest we were part of Clan Chattan. Maybe all are true at different times? Perhaps the Clan Cameron DNA tests will provide some evidence.

[Cameronian]

John, I must admit to a smile when there is an attempt to label the original inhabitants of any area, be they Scotti, Picts, Dalrician or other….rather similar to the British claim of Terra Nullus when discovering Australia completely ignoring the Aboriginal population that dwelt here.

If the west coast of Scotland was claimed as home, by Irish invaders from time to time, then I am equally sure that those from the west coast of Scotland took their families over to the Irish coast and settled there as well.

Time and DNA testing will reveal all of this in the future, but I would accept that the name MacMartin was derived from St Martin of Tours and it was given to those who lived in that land and followed his teachings. These people would have been those whom we descend from, we await with interest what the future will tell us.

[SherbrookeJacobite]

St. Martin of Tours was born in Germany, about 316, and died somewhere around 397 or 400. His cult was very popular throughout the middle ages. A multitude of churches and chapels were dedicated to him, and a great number of places were called by his name.

Paraphrased from an article by Leon Clugnet in "The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IX".

I believe that the MacMartins took their name as followers of "his cult" as opposed to being actual followers of St. Martin while he was alive. I have no proof of this, of course, I just find it to be a more plausible explanation.

It is well documeneted that the Scots came from Ireland, and the Picts occupied the land before that. There were also Norse rampaging all around the coast of Britain, and other tribes present at various times as well. Any or all of these could be our ancestors.

Somerled MacMillan reveals a number of his prejudices in "Bygone Lochaber" and occasionally skews facts, or local traditions, to fit his beliefs. I still think it is a wonderful book, and I treasure it for the information it contains, much which may otherwise have been lost.

However we came to reside in Lochaber, I'm glad we did - and equally glad of our Cameron kinship.

By the way, thank you very much Val for your transcription of the correspondance and information surrounding the Rising of 1715. They provided some fascinating insights to what transpired, and the possible thoughts and motives behind the actions that were taken. I really enjoyed reading them - and I share your assessment of Mar. How history might have been changed had there been another James Graham, First Marquis of Montrose, heading up the Kings forces (or a John Graham of Claverhouse, or a Lord George Murray). "Bobbing John" may have had reasons for his political fence sitting - but it is clear he was no military commander.

Slainte,

John