Writing History

WRITING ABOUT SCOTTISH or CLAN HISTORY

The author of modernly written Scottish, or other, antiquaries did not live during the events he or she is writing about, so no first hand knowledge is available to the author. Any writing of history is subject to debate, and is a good and healthy thing. Addressing ancient history in the modern era requires the author to research multiple sources and interpret what others have recorded before, keeping in mind, such accounts were written prior to the author’s birth. History therefore, is not about telling tales passed as oral history, from one person to the next. History, is about providing an open window to the past for those who will read what the author has concluded, and further, offer the reader an avenue of finding related sources to broaden their understanding of the topic(s) addressed in the reference works listed. If an article does not contain references, it is nothing more than an editorial, the opinion of the author, and cannot be seriously considered as an historic account.

Myth or legend is very often intertwined with facts, in many if not all, old writings. Such mythological accounts cannot be verified as authentic actions. Myths and legends, while entertaining, intriguing and mystifying possibilities, or oral tales passed from one generation to the next, should never be presented as actual historic events. Thus, the author can never say that he or she KNOWS, with absolute, or even a minute degree of certainty, any such tall tale is fact. Sources must be provided for an informed reader to accept any supposed historic conclusions made by the author.

James Taylor, historian, who wrote, Great Historic Families of Scotland, believed that certain family origins were "hid in the mists of antiquity". However, Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, former Lord Lyon King of Arms, addressed this state of being as precisely where all family origins begin. We can not logically conclude that pedigrees or oral history that have been penned by any ancient author are fully factual, particulary if that author was not present at the event. We were not there, so were simply do not know. We assume, and can very often find degrees of authentic events and pedigrees stemming from 14th century Scotland. Much of Scottish history, or stories about the clans, families and events prior to this time, may contain inconclusive or contradictory substance, or simply be fabrications that have become accepted lore. These must be viewed with an eye of skepticism.

I offer as example, what can only be judged as a fabrication from the The House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of the Clan Campbell, from the Year 420 to the Present Time, 1871, John Tweed, Glasgow. We find on page 10 of The House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches these two entries of pedigree:

III. Uther, the second son, suceeded his brother, and died anno 520, and left the throne to

IV. Arthur of the Round Table, so named from his causing one of that form to be made to quell disputes for precedency amoung his nobles....

We can view these two entries an obvious reach to affix the legends of King Arthur to the Campbells. These two entries are considered (by this author) as an attempt to create a lofty, ancient accounting of the lineage and historical facts surrounding Clan Campbell, though modernly such accounts are discounted, even by most Campbells. Other so-called authors, in the past, and even in current times, have attempted to create lofty pladitudes to vent subversiveness out of a particular following. Such lofty prevarications are nothing more than unsubstanciated mytholgical rubbish offered to the reader as true history. It is whimsical fiction that is better suited for comic books, paperback romances, movies or Hollywood musicals. Brigadoonery is a word that comes to mind. The informed reader soon tires of such fictional and fractured contrivances, fully understanding their true nature, and seeks out verifiable sources.

Fables, or fairy tales, or perhaps 'partially' true accounts, may be a better word for some chronicles and early works. Chronicles like The Four Masters, and certain Irish or Scottish ‘annuls’, often differ with other manuscripts in events, time and persons mentioned. While there may be truth in each and every account, separating it from fables is a hard and arduous task since the events portrayed happened well before the author’s lifetime. Hence consulting multiple accounts is the only way to reach a logical conclusion. This is where the author must take a stand and present what he or she finds from authoritative and accepted works by reputable, known authors of both primary and secondary sources, thereby separating ... fact from fiction. In such an endeavor, sources for the author’s work must be listed, so that the reader may understand the substance, and why the author has chosen to write such. To offer a fable, myth or legend as historic fact, without either stating it is such, or producing an historic context for it, providing footnote, quotes or sources, or annotating referenced works, the author is creating a NEW FAIRY TALE.

As the Seannachie (historian) appointed by the current 27th Chief of Clan MacTavish, this author’s focus is of consequence the Clan MacTavish. I acquired information surrounding the Clan MacTavish’s often-sketchy past, while reconstructing my own family’s genealogy over nearly thirty-five years. I also obtained a few materials from the late Chief. So far, research has not yielded a day-to-day, or year-to-year, chronicle of Clan MacTavish history, and as such certain early periods of time, some consisting of many years, cannot, yet, be accounted for. Other clans or families find this true as well. Such may be due to early English intervention in Scoltand where it is assumed that many records went south or were destroyed. Where no authentic or verifiable sources can be found for Clan MacTavish history, no effort is made to “fill-in” the periods of time that cannot be substanciated. The author may draw logical conclusions based in known facts for a given a period, or based in accepted period practices, and wording ought to reveal this fact to the reader. Where any author provides an assumption about certain events (events that cannot be determined to be a conclusively based in an historic context) that factor should be evident in the author’s use of words. The use of words, like “perhaps”, “probably”, “what better place”, “likely”, "we can be certain", et cetera, express a possibility, not a fact, nor do such instances often reference other authoritive sources. These are vehicles of persuation that offer alternatives to the main thought, or an alternately connected thought. Of particular interest is the use of "we can be certain", or similar phrase, by some authors. I strive to stay away from such non-provable inferences. If a source(s) for the "certainty" of a conslusion is not given, then such is contrived nonsense, or the editorial opinion of the writer, and where it exits, such should be made obvious to the reader.

I have attempted to provide accurate references for the work presented, and any conclusions there to, should the reader care to do further research.

Finding history particular to the Clan MacTavish has not been easy. The late Chief, Dugald MacTavish spend many years looking for information about the Clan. Ironically some of the most informative was found in New York City, written by a descendant of both the MacSweens and MacTavishes. Other items, such as the MacTavish of Dunardry Papers, are located in the Lochgilphead Library and this author has not seen any of those papers personally, but has seen photcopies of some pages. These papers are suspected as having a wealth of information that is yet to be investigated.

Patrick Thompson

Seannachie






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		WRITING ABOUT SCOTTISH or CLAN HISTORY The author of modernly written Scottish, or other, antiquaries did not live during the events he or she is writing about, so no first hand knowledge is available to the author. Any writing of history is subject to debate, and is a good and healthy thing. Addressing ancient history in the modern era requires the author to research multiple sources and interpret what others have recorded before, keeping in mind, such accounts were written prior to the author’s birth. History therefore, is not about telling tales passed as oral history, from one person to the next. History, is about providing an open window to the past for those who will read what the author has concluded, and further, offer the reader an avenue of finding related sources to broaden their understanding of the topic(s) addressed in the reference works listed. If an article does not contain references, it is nothing more than an editorial, the opinion of the author, and cannot be seriously considered as an historic account. Myth or legend is very often intertwined with facts, in many if not all, old writings. Such mythological accounts cannot be verified as authentic actions. Myths and legends, while entertaining, intriguing and mystifying possibilities, or oral tales passed from one generation to the next, should never be presented as actual historic events. Thus, the author can never say that he or she KNOWS, with absolute, or even a minute degree of certainty, any such tall tale is fact. Sources must be provided for an informed reader to accept any supposed historic conclusions made by the author. James Taylor, historian, who wrote, Great Historic Families of Scotland, believed that certain family origins were "hid in the mists of antiquity". However, Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, former Lord Lyon King of Arms, addressed this state of being as precisely where all family origins begin. We can not logically conclude that pedigrees or oral history that have been penned by any ancient author are fully factual, particulary if that author was not present at the event. We were not there, so were simply do not know. We assume, and can very often find degrees of authentic events and pedigrees stemming from 14th century Scotland. Much of Scottish history, or stories about the clans, families and events prior to this time, may contain inconclusive or contradictory substance, or simply be fabrications that have become accepted lore. These must be viewed with an eye of skepticism. I offer as example, what can only be judged as a fabrication from the The House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of the Clan Campbell, from the Year 420 to the Present Time, 1871, John Tweed, Glasgow. We find on page 10 of The House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches these two entries of pedigree: III. Uther, the second son, suceeded his brother, and died anno 520, and left the throne to IV. Arthur of the Round Table, so named from his causing one of that form to be made to quell disputes for precedency amoung his nobles.... We can view these two entries an obvious reach to affix the legends of King Arthur to the Campbells. These two entries are considered (by this author) as an attempt to create a lofty, ancient accounting of the lineage and historical facts surrounding Clan Campbell, though modernly such accounts are discounted, even by most Campbells. Other so-called authors, in the past, and even in current times, have attempted to create lofty pladitudes to vent subversiveness out of a particular following. Such lofty prevarications are nothing more than unsubstanciated mytholgical rubbish offered to the reader as true history. It is whimsical fiction that is better suited for comic books, paperback romances, movies or Hollywood musicals. *Brigadoonery* is a word that comes to mind. The informed reader soon tires of such fictional and fractured contrivances, fully understanding their true nature, and seeks out verifiable sources. Fables, or fairy tales, or perhaps 'partially' true accounts, may be a better word for some chronicles and early works. Chronicles like The Four Masters, and certain Irish or Scottish ‘annuls’, often differ with other manuscripts in events, time and persons mentioned. While there may be truth in each and every account, separating it from fables is a hard and arduous task since the events portrayed happened well before the author’s lifetime. Hence consulting multiple accounts is the only way to reach a logical conclusion. This is where the author must take a stand and present what he or she finds from authoritative and accepted works by reputable, known authors of both primary and secondary sources, thereby separating ... fact from fiction. In such an endeavor, sources for the author’s work must be listed, so that the reader may understand the substance, and why the author has chosen to write such. To offer a fable, myth or legend as historic fact, without either stating it is such, or producing an historic context for it, providing footnote, quotes or sources, or annotating referenced works, the author is creating a NEW FAIRY TALE. As the Seannachie (historian) appointed by the current 27th Chief of Clan MacTavish, this author’s focus is of consequence the Clan MacTavish. I acquired information surrounding the Clan MacTavish’s often-sketchy past, while reconstructing my own family’s genealogy over nearly thirty-five years. I also obtained a few materials from the late Chief. So far, research has not yielded a day-to-day, or year-to-year, chronicle of Clan MacTavish history, and as such certain early periods of time, some consisting of many years, cannot, yet, be accounted for. Other clans or families find this true as well. Such may be due to early English intervention in Scoltand where it is assumed that many records went south or were destroyed. Where no authentic or verifiable sources can be found for Clan MacTavish history, no effort is made to “fill-in” the periods of time that cannot be substanciated. The author may draw logical conclusions based in known facts for a given a period, or based in accepted period practices, and wording ought to reveal this fact to the reader. Where any author provides an assumption about certain events (events that cannot be determined to be a conclusively based in an historic context) that factor should be evident in the author’s use of words. The use of words, like “perhaps”, “probably”, “what better place”, “likely”, "we can be certain", et cetera, express a possibility, not a fact, nor do such instances often reference other authoritive sources. These are vehicles of persuation that offer alternatives to the main thought, or an alternately connected thought. Of particular interest is the use of "we can be certain", or similar phrase, by some authors. I strive to stay away from such non-provable inferences. If a source(s) for the "certainty" of a conslusion is not given, then such is contrived nonsense, or the editorial opinion of the writer, and where it exits, such should be made obvious to the reader. I have attempted to provide accurate references for the work presented, and any conclusions there to, should the reader care to do further research. Finding history particular to the Clan MacTavish has not been easy. The late Chief, Dugald MacTavish spend many years looking for information about the Clan. Ironically some of the most informative was found in New York City, written by a descendant of both the MacSweens and MacTavishes. Other items, such as the MacTavish of Dunardry Papers, are located in the Lochgilphead Library and this author has not seen any of those papers personally, but has seen photcopies of some pages. These papers are suspected as having a wealth of information that is yet to be investigated. Patrick Thompson Seannachie







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