Margaret Eliott at GrandfatherMountain, North Carolina, 2018.

“Wha daur meddle wi’ me?”

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Dear Kinsmen,

Christopher and I are now back with some wonderfulmemories of Grandfather Mountain and the Blue RidgeMountains (report in this issue).

We had a marvellous time thanks to the North CarolinaCommissioner, Sid and Carol and their team who lookedafter us and arranged all the activities over the weekend.

At home, we have a few changes on the ExecutiveCommittee. Sandra Inglis is taking over as Treasurer andLynn Elliott has joined us on the Committee. Of course,many of you know Hazel White, Treasurer for the lasttwenty years, and she has been a steady hand on the tilleras well as an extremely good friend. It is a great relief thatshe has decided to stay on the Committee to keep us allin order!

Redheugh has become a little bigger lately as we haveadded The Foulshiels Cottage on to the farm. This is aderelict cottage about half a mile up the hill behind thefarm and we are planning to restore and equip it thiswinter as a guest cottage that can be hired for holidaylets. It has the most amazing views, feels extremelyremote and will have about 2 double bedrooms.

The area has become very popular for mountain bikers,ramblers and those seeking a bit of peace and quiet!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Eliott of Redheugh

Redheugh, Newcastleton, Roxburghshire TD9 0SB

www.elliotclan.comwww.elliotclanusa.comwww.elliotclanaustralia.orgwww.visitnewcastleton.com

“Here’s to all Elliots and Elliot’ bairnsAnd them that lie in Elliots arms.”

No. 81 – Autumn 2018 Chief: Margaret Eliott of Redheugh

ELLIOT CLAN SOCIETY

Newsletter

NOTICES ANDNEWS ITEMS

At Last - A New Petrol StationNewcastleton has a new self servicepetrol station. The nearest one was 20miles away over the hill and this hasmade a terrific difference to our visitorsand residents.

Guides to The Scottish BordersBased in Edinburgh: Ian W Walker forBorders JourneysMobile: 07794 021819 email: ian@bordersjourneys.co.ukwebsite: www.bordersjourneys.co.ukResearching Scottish Ancestry - Ian’s Storywww.youtube.com/watch?v=wtxX55rLzD0Member of the Association of ProfessionalGenealogists (APG) and VisitScotlandAncestral Welcome Scheme.

Based in the Borders: Derek Stewart,historian - weekends only - email: reiver1514@gmail.comAuthor of “Wha Daur Meddle Wi Me”.Guided at Abbotsford and Bowhill.Border Reiver re-enactment group.

Correction: Scott of Satchells’publication of 1688 on the Scotts andthe Elliots: The link should read:archive.org/stream/metricalhistoryo00scot

VISITING THE CLAN ROOM: To avoid disappointment, please warn us if you intend to visitRedheugh. Email or telephone us on the follwing UK number:

013873-75213 or redheugh@btinternet.com

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The community’s experience with the recently departed andan unpopular leader, Joshua Hill,coupled with increasing visitsfrom troublesome Americanwhalers and general communitydisorder, brought the Islanders torecognize their need for stabilityand protection.The visit of the HMS Fly wastimely as CAPTAIN RUSSELLELIOTT was able to work with

pastor and teacher, GeorgeNobbs to draw up a constitutionand a code of laws.

Pitcairn’s Constitution signedonboard the HMS Fly on 30November 1838, incorporatedPitcairn Islands into the BritishEmpire and included two notablefirsts in British legislation –female suffrage and compulsoryschooling.

Pitcairn’sConstitutional

Beginnings

Miniatures recentlyacquired by the Chief

From the top: AdmiralRussell Eliott and his wife,Bethia Russell. Mary Russell(a cousin) married Sir William Eliott, 6th Bt.

Pitcairn Stamps

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Margaret Eliott was thehonoured guest at GrandfatherMountain 2018, pictured herewith banner-bearer, Ben Elliott.

Grandfather MountainNorth Carolina - 2018I was looking forward to thisfamous annual event. Two yearsearlier Sid Elliott had arranged thatI would be the Honoured Guestand the Elliots the honoured clan.Sid and Carol had done a greatdeal of preparation and were alovely host for my first night in theBlue Ridge Mountains. David andRita were kind enough to collectme from the chaotic airport atCharlotte which appeared to beunder reconstruction.

Bill and Marianne ferried seven ofus down to Biltmore House thenext day in his ‘truck’ for anexpedition to the largest house inAmerica! On a very hot day wejoined a thousand other touristsgawping at this extravaganza ofarchitecture with the addition ofChiluly glass sculptures positionedall round the grounds. We got backin time for the Torchlightceremony where I failed dismallyto yell loud enough for the Elliotsto hear!!

Christopher had arrived and onFriday we all went to the Games. It was an enormous pleasure seeingso many old friends who hadheroically flown in from all partsof the US to be there.

I was sharing the Guest of Honourspot with Andrew MacThomas ofFinegand whom I know well. BenElliott appeared as my excellentbanner bearer, always on handwhen needed.

Sid and Carol and their wonderfulfamily had provisioned the twotents and we were never short oflovely things to eat and drink. I wasproud that the Elliots were one of

the largest groups marching at thehead of the whole column duringthe Sunday March of the Clans.There was a very well run AGMand I also attended a meeting ofCOSCA.

Michael Elliott, our Commissionerin Louisiana, who died recentlyand was a very elegant dresser wascommemorated with hiswonderful outfits being sold byChristyn, his wife, in aid of theClan Society. She raised about$1000.00 and kindly gave me hislovely horn stick.

Our Clan dinner was a triumphwith about 54 members attendingin a lovely country club. Ourwonderful William Grissop sang inhis beautiful voice and I repeatedmy endless appreciation to allthose who voluntarily give theirtime and energy to the Elliot Clan.A testament to the memory of ourredoubtable ancestors who wereclever enough to emigrate toAmerica and leave this damp littlecountry of Scotland behind.

I have a lovely momento of mytime in the Blue Ridge Mountainsin a book called “WayfaringStrangers” The Musical Voyagefrom Scotland and Ulster toAppalachia with CD as a presentfrom Bill Elliott.

Christopher and I then managed to drive ourselves up toCharlottesville to visit Monticelloending up in Washington DC for a few nights. It was so hot thatwe disappeared for an entire dayinto the cool airconditionedNational Gallery and had a treat of a time.

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In the 12th century, the Bordertowns of Langholm, Biggar, Lanark,Musselburgh and Linlithgow began“Riding the Marches.” Young mencalled burgesses rode out to guardtheir livestock and warn offmarauders. A ‘steward’ led a bandof local men around their burgh’scommon land to patrol its borders.Each Borders communitydeveloped its own independentidentity and Borderers are stillintensely loyal to their hometown.This Common Riding tradition hasbecome one of Europe’s biggestequestrian spectacles. Thousandsof local people and visitors comeout to cheer hundreds of ridersparading through the town to

their rides in the surroundingcountryside.Every spring a Principal is electedto be the symbolic leader of theyear’s Riding and to lead theprocession carrying the town’s flag.He is usually a bachelor of goodcharacter, native to the townpreferably able to ride a horse. It isa great privilege to be selected andwill be a proud and memorable dayin the life of those chosen.Our own Newcastleton (CopshawHolm) has introduced its ownversion of Common Riding takingplace at the beginning of July everyyear. No horses are required, justbicycles and is a very popularevent.

The Originsof Tartan

Diodorus Siculus, the Greekhistorian in 100 BC wrote: “Theway they (the Celts) dress isastonishing: they wear brightlycoloured and embroideredshirts, with trousers calledbracae and cloaks fastened atthe shoulder with a brooch,heavy in winter light insummer. These cloaks arestriped or checkered in design,with the separate checks closetogether and in various colours.”

Marcus Terentius Varro, Romanscholar and writer 50BC “. . .woven of divers colours.”

Titus Livius, Roman historian30 BC “. . . flaming coloureddresses.”Elizabeth Wayland Barber, oneof the world’s leading scholarson ancient textiles, was part ofa group that thoroughlyinvestigated the clothing foundon remarkably well-preservedmummies in Qizilchoqa nearthe modern Chinese city ofHami on the edge of the GobiDesert. Those mummies werelong-nosed, light haired andround-eyed and were verydefinitely not Asian in origin,but Celts who were far fromtheir homeland of centralEurope.

In her book The Mummies of Urumchi she says: “AtQizilchoqa the dominantweave proved to be normaldiagonal twill and the chiefdecoration was plaid – that is,wide and narrow colour stripesin both warp and weft, as inthe woolen twill material of aScottish kilt. Many historianshave assumed that the idea ofplaids was relatively new toScotland in the 17th century.Archaeology tells a differentstory. The Celts have beenweaving plaid twills for 3,000years at least.

Riding the Marches: “Safe Oot, Safe In”

Derek James Stewart haswritten a book full of theforgotten stories of Elliots on the Scottish Border.

by Derek James Stewart

He delves into the history, their lives,hopes, adventures and survival living in a wild region between two hostilenations intermittently at war with each other. The author was born andbred in Hawick and trained as anengineer but found a passion forhistory. He has a degree in Historyfrom the Open University and hasworked at Hawick Musum, Bowhillhouse and Abbotsford. He is secretaryof the Living History club the “BorderClansen” who recreate and reenact the16th and 17th Century. He has takenpart in the last three Elliot Gatheringsat Redheugh and is a popular additionto these events.

Available from Amazon.com £49.99.

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MadameCeleste Elliott

Born Celeste Celine in Parisaround 1810 and enrolled as a pupil of the Parisconservatory. During her visitto the United States Celesteperformed in small ballets intheatres on the east coast. In1828 she married HENRYELLIOTT of Baltimore withwhom she had a daughter, b.1829. During her life shebecame a theatrical sensationand box-office star. Writingafter her death in 1882 theGentleman’s Magazine noted:It would be a difficult matterat the present juncture torealize the enthusiasm whichCeleste’s acting evoked inthose early days throughoutthe New World. No otheractress was ever morepopularly hailed there, andthe memory of none everremained so long green in thehearts of the Americanpeople. Cheered to the echoof the soldiery, affectionatelygreeted by the populace, andunanimously elected a FreeCitizen of the States. InKentucky not a seat remaineduntaken for several weeksbefore her appearance.

The Executive has a new Treasurer in Sandra Inglis, daughter of HarryElliot (who helped Sir Arthur insetting up the Society). She takesover from Hazel White this summer.

Sandra Inglis, was born and broughtup in Newcastleton, educated in thePrimary School, Hawick High Schooland then at Moray House College ofEducation in Edinburgh graduating as a School Teacher in 1969. Shemarried a local boy, Stewart Inglisand had three sons. For twenty-threeyears she worked in Hawick HighSchool in a variety of posts, retiringin 2014. Widowed in 2010, Sandra is involved in many Newcastletonorganisations including the

First Responders, the HeritageAssociation and The CopshawClatter. She is also as a Trustee forthe Sir Arthur Eliott Memorial Trust.

having worked all his life he found itimpossible to retire. He realised hisdream to own a Hattersley treadleloom and make some of his owncloth. His workshop is at BuccleuchMill in Langholm and he sells onlineat www.elliotsshed.com His Elliotplaid is a quality product.

We also have a new member of theExecutive Committee in Lynn Elliott.

After a long and illustriousinternational career in the clothbusiness beginning at the age of 14in West Yorkshire, Lynn came toLangholm in 2000. After a couple ofyears he was made redundant but

The Elliot Clan SocietyExecutive Committee

CANADA

C1135 Hirst, Susan & Paul, Toronto ON

C1145 Elliot, Andrew & Lauri, Stoney Creek, ON.

UNITED STATES

US3959 Elliott, Sharon, Mount Vernon WA

US3960 Elliott, Laura, Eagle River Alaska

US3961 Carl, Lisa, Jacksonville Beach, FL

US3962 King, Darlene, Jacksonville FL

US3963 Elliott, Nancy, Carmichael CA

US3964 Workman, Jamie, Huntersville NC

US3965 Elliott, Scott, Modesto CA

US3966 Baker, Susan Lynn, Ridgefield CT

US3967 Elliott, Dominic, Folsom CA

US3968 Elliott, Kimberley, Bridgton ME

We welcome the following new members to the Society

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UNITED STATES

US3969 Shurtz, Danny, Lafayette CA

US3970 Harrison, Charles S. St. Joseph MO

US3971 Elliott-Stanford, Kimberly, Fountain Valley CA

US3972 Bauder, William Russell, Freeland MI

US3973 Wagner, Barbara, Palmer, Alaska

US3974 Spivey, Judith Elliott, Whitefish MT

US3975 Lovasik, Terry Acerto, Martinez CA

US3976 Collins, Mercere, Newland NC

US3977 Johnston, Jessica Elliott, Athens GA

US3978 Elliott, James, Huntersville NC

US3979 Elliott, Carlyn, Hendersonille NC

US3980 Battles, James B. Plano TX

AUSTRALIA

OC/387 Elliot, Carole, Coolangalla QL

Details of new members received too late for publication will appear in the next newsletter.

REMINDER FOR UK MEMBERS: Annual subscriptions are now due: Single Membership £18.00, Family Membership £20.00, Life Membership £150.00 to The Treasurer, Elliot Clan Society, 20 SouthLiddel Street, Newcastleton TD9 0RP. On line: Please put membership number as your reference. Sort Code 80-17-06. A/C 00668159.

The Sir Arthur Eliott Memorial Trust 2018Grants for this year were awarded to:

Lewis George Dalgleish - B.SC Geographyat Edinburgh University.

Finlay Skelton - History at EdinburghUniversity.

Daniel Nixon - Politics & Social and PublicPolicy at Glasgow University.

Rachel Nixon - Physics at St. AndrewsUniversity.

Emma McNeill - Criminology at NapierUniversity, Edinburgh.

Callon Herd - B. Des (Hons) ProductDesign at Napier.

Sara Yahia Mohammed - Medicine atAberdeen University.

TOTAL £1000

An Appeal to all our Clan members worldwide . . .

All of the above students have been born and educated inNewcastleton and the Borders and it is obvious that theyare pursuing a wide range of interests and talents. TheMemorial Trust has had more applications than we canhandle and we are able to help only a few each year.Although these grants are taken from the income of theTrust, the value of money pays for less each year and ourincome does not increase. We need more money to bemore effective. Sir Arthur Eliott loved this valley, thecentre of the old Elliot clan lands and wanted to see thiscommunity thrive and develop. This is the reason this Trustwas set up in 1972 and since then about 200 young peopleand local organisations have benefited from the annualgrants. The Clan members were an important part of thecreation of this Trust It has charitable status. SCO17755registered to this address. Margaret Eliott has undertakento match any donations received.