The Resurrection of Clan MacTavish

 A Clan MacTavish Official Website

In 1949, a lady, Mrs. A.N. MacLeod, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, considered one of Canada's finest historians, received a book commission from the prestigious Champlain Society on the life of Lettia (MacTavish) Hargrave, spouse of a James Hargrave, Hudson Bay Factor in the new world. The Champlain Society turned over to Mrs. MacLeod letters written by Letitia (MacTavish) Hargrave to her parents in Scotland.  As Mrs. MacLeod started her research, it soon became apparent that she knew more about this family than she realized.

Mrs. MacLeod was the spouse of Dr. A. N. MacLeod and Dr. MacLeod took over the practice of a young Doctor who was forced to give up his practice due to illness. Alas, the good Doctor succumbed to his illness in the year 1900 at age 40, leaving a spouse whose name was not known.  Nothing more was known at this time of the doctor and his wife, except his name was Dr. James MacTavish.

As Mrs. MacLeod did more research, she realized that the young doctor who her husband replaced in Stonewall, Manitoba (a scant distance from Winnipeg) was a relative to Letitia MacTavish Hargrave.  The research took on an entirely new meaning, and as it continued, Mrs. MacLeod realized that these letters (supplied by the Champlain Society) were in fact the same family of MacTavish in Scotland who were relatives of the young doctor, James MacTavish.

Mrs. MacLeod now began a search for the family of Dr. James MacTavish, for as she suspected this man was the lineal heir to the Chiefship of the Clan MacTavish.  Her search ended in Brighton, England, where Dr. James MacTavish died in 1900, but that was all she was able to find at that time.

Going to the Hudson Bay archives, she found that James MacTavish had a brother six years his younger, Andrew Dugald MacTavish , born 1866; and tracing this son lead her to Sherbrooke, Quebec.  She wrote to the family of A.D. MacTavish, 7 London Street and also wrote to the Lord Lyon, Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, detailing her findings on the ‘lost’ family of the Chiefs of the Clan  MacTavish. 

Andrew Dugald MacTavish had passed away in 1943 and John William MacTavish was now the next in line.  This lead to much correspondence between Mrs. MacLeod and the MacTavish family, and then additional correspondence to and from the Court of the Lord Lyon. 

Eventually, all other heirs of the Chiefly line succumbed, until the heir was Edward Stewart Dugald MacTavish, who, being encouraged by the innocence of his grandson, Michael, to take up the responsibility of attaining to Chiefship of the Clan, submitted a petition to the Court of the Lord Lyon in 1993.

All the old correspondence between Mrs. MacLeod to the MacTavish Family in Canada, as well as the correspondence “of the times” from the Court of the Lord Lyon, were intact and in the possession of the heir.  From here, the painstaking genealogical progression of the family was ascribed to paper, and a petition was submitted to Lord Lyon for the undifferenced Arms of MacTavish of Dunardry, and attainder to the Chiefship, which in 1997 came to volition.

Edward Stewart “Dugald” MacTavish
MacTavish of Dunardry
 26th Chief of the Clan MacTavish (MacTamhais)

July 14, 1929 – June 19, 2005

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Dugald MacTavish, quietly and suddenly at his home in Vancouver, B.C. Canada on Sunday June 19, 2005.  

He was predeceased by his parents Andrew Dugald Mactavish and Greeba (Lalanne) Mactavish of Montreal, Canada. His passion and single minded determination has brought the MacTavish Clan out of over 200 years of dormancy for which we shall be ever grateful.

He was husband to his first wife the late Shirley Ferris of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and is remembered by his sister, Margot Cook of Seattle, Washington, USA, his wife Audrey and children Sandy (Chris), Steven Dugald (Leslie) and Cheryl (John) all of Ontario, Canada. Lovingly remembered by his niece Little Margot and grand children Tracy Conroy (Andrew), Robert, Deborah Shilson (William), Michael, James, Beverley and Lindsay.  Great-grandfather to McKenzie, Jessica, and Gavin.

The Chief’s ashes will be returned to Scotland as per his request, by members of his immediate family at a future date yet to be determined. Donations to a diabetes association in your area would be appreciated by the family.

May you rest in peace.

Cruach Mor!