AUNT JESSIE McCLYMONT

'Us girls' ( Lesley,Judith and Penny) who are organising this gathering of the clan have a very great admiration and gratitude for this fine lady Jessie McClymont who valued the family enough to hand write out the family tree which has been the guide as Lesley and Penny set out to find many of the family and... update her tree to the present.

It was she, who hosted the second last reunion in Brisbane in her garden.

There are now 400 names entered on the present version of the family tree -and that is really not accounting for all the youngestmembers of the present generation.

Jessie was born the daughter of Alexander the 9th born of the Manuka clan. She saw war service enlisting in the army 20.12 1942 and was a lieutenant who was discharged 5.8.1946.

In a previous blog there was an account of her other devotion to family when she took responsibility for a cousin Gordon Mills who had a long term stay in hospital. Many of her neices and a nephew spent time staying with her in Brisbane.

We have posted two photographs of Jessie. One is obviously her in her uniform during the war and the other is a delightful image of her as a small child - being spun in the air! The explanation for the picture says she is with Alex (her father) and Bert (her uncle Robert McClymon10th born Manuka McClymont.)

Thanks to Sue Rutherford (daughter of Jim, grand daughter of Alexander also called Mac, of the original 14) for the photo of Jessie. Its excellent that Sue and ALL her siblings (descendants of Alexander of the 14) are coming to be with us at the reunion.

Unfortunately Auntie Jesie isn't around to see to celebrate this reunion with us.

HERE'S TO YOU AUNTY JESSIE!

FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

THE FAMILY SEAL AND WATCH.

Here is a photograph of the family seal and watch that belonged to our forefather Alexander Cumingham McClymont that has been passed down in the family. Tim McClymont (grandson of Norman whose father was the first born Thomas of Manuka ) is the present custodian of these precious relics. Lots of the family didn't know they existed and Tim has been kind enough to arranged for them to be at the reunion for all to see - even though he can't come himself. We do so appreciate his generousity. Robert McClymont( grandson of Robert the tenth born at Manuka) is bring a photograph of Isabella's wooden writing compendium. How exciting this all is!

WHO ARE THESE FAMILY MEMBERS???

These unnamed photos have been found in the large leather bound family photo album from Manuka. Do you have any idea who any of them may be? If so, we would be delighted to hear from you to identify any or all of them.

Does A P Smith ring a bell with anyone? He is the person in the photo on the right and we do not have any idea where he fits into the McClymont family.

REUNION DETAILS UP DATE.

NEWS FLASH!

SEVENTY FIVE McCLYMONTS CONFIRMED TO BE DESCENDING ON THE BEEF CAPITAL!

It is very rewarding to have had such an interest and we are all very excited about being together.

If you haven't committed to coming and are reconsidering - please don't hesitate to contact us.

If anyone needs to party on after the day time action we are able to descend on The Great Western Hotel that is not too far away for a delicious steak and real country atmosphere. That's if you haven't had enough by that time! We have arranged that we won't have to book before hand and they assure us they will be open - Sunday it is!

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL ON SUNDAY 13th June FOR A GREAT DAY IN THE GARDEN!

ROLL CALL OF THE "MANUKA" FOURTEEN - Portraits are in the order of their birth

Thomas and Samuel

James (Jim) , George and Annie ( m. Ensor)

Flora (m. Mills), Isabella ( Isa) and Mary Jane ( Ginny) (m. McKenzie)



Alexander (Mac), Robert ( Bert) and Hugh


Agnes , Achibald and Norman.

CAN ANYONE 'SHED LIGHT' ON THESE PLEASE?

UNSOLVED MYSTERY.

Judith has asked that we try to shed some light on something she wants to know. Her father Robert ( the 10th born Manuka child) recieved some money from family in Scotland and with it bought the home 'Avalon' on top of Point Danger, Coolangatta. Does anyone remember who was the generous person in the family? She also wishes to hear if anyone else got the gift.

We are endeavouring to have a slide show of photographs we have amased for you to veiw at the reunion. However there are some wonderful ones with NO NAMES! We will put a few here for you to ask older family members to help us with identification.

These first two came from the Kensington McClymont family and have "Tom?" on the back - any ideas as they don't really resemble the other pictures of Thomas that we have.

YOUR CLAN HERITAGE

"Among the clans of the Western Highlands which appear to be able to claim actual descent from early celtic stock, Clan Lamont may be considered one of the most assured. There is some reason to believe that the Lamont Chiefs were originally a branch of the great house of O'Neil, kings of Ulster in early times. The hand sumounting the old Lamont ulster crest is pointed to as being undoubtedly the "Red hand of Ulster", and the Lamont motto "Nec parcas nec spernas," is also pointed to as indicating the close relationship, while the documents of early times which refer to the Chief as "The Great Lamont of Cowal".

The name Lamont appears to date from the middle of the thirteenth century. In a very early time the Lamonts appear to have possessed the greater part of Cowal, and the ruins of reveral of their strong holds still remain to attest their greatness."

The Lamonts established their chief seats at castles of Toward and Ascog, which they held till thier destruction by the Campbells in the 17th century.

The chiefs eventually took up residence at Ard Lamont, where the last chief to live in Cowal was born in 1845. in 1893, the last of the clan lands were sold and the chiefs later emigrated to Australia.

Include here are images of the Cowal Castle, the Clan Crest and a map of the region on the west coast of Scotland where they settled.

EXTRACT FROM "YOUR CLAN HERITAGE - CLAN LAMONT."