Fierce when Roused ~ Embracing My Scottish Heritage

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 1 (FAMILY LORE)

This is my 6th year with the 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks Challenge.

I first joined in 2019 not sure I would be able to successfully complete it. 

If only I could go back and tell my doubting self that I would write every week for 5 years, and sign up for a 6th ... she would never believe me.   

Each year I like to go back to the beginning of attempting to figure out where I fit in my own genealogical story. 

I was always curious about my family history. 

An elementary school project started me on pride in who I was and where I came from.

I wrote up my family tree, but only  to my grandparents on both sides.

I learned the family motto - Glory is the reward of valour -

"Clan Robertson (also known as clan Donnachaidh) can trace their heritage further back than any other Scottish clan. They take their name from Robert "Riabhach" ("Grizzled") Duncanson, who captured and put to death the assassins of King James I. The Robertson clan crest was awarded by James II to honour this act.

The Robertson clan motto is "Virtutis gloria merces" (Glory is the reward of valour)

and the clan crest is a hand holding a crown." 1

AND made the  Clan war cry mine
"Garg'n Uair Dhuisgear" is gaelic for "Fierce when Roused" 2 

I begged for a clan kilt

Clan Robertson Tartan

 

And at age 29 (pregnant with my second child) I discovered I wasn't a Robertson ... I was UKRAINIAN on that side - from Austria (how's that for confusing) my grandfather had changed his name and decided Robertson was the one he wanted. Hence that is the name on my birth certificate and my father before me. 

By 30 years of age I realized that I had no idea who I was or where I came from.  

It took me many years to understand how my Ukrainian great grandparents had Austrian Passports when they came to Canada in 1909. 

I was 49 before a DNA match confirmed my grandfather Clyde Robertson really was Max Pellack. 

I lost my Robertson heritage, but not my Scottish heritage. 

My paternal grandmother was born in North Berwick, Scotland. My maternal great grandfather was born in Holytown, Scotland. 

My love of all things Scottish is in my blood. 

In hindsight I always knew who I was, but the genealogical route was slightly off my previous belief systems.

When you feel the call of your ancestors!!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  Clan Robertson. Family Finder. Clan. Retrieved January 5th 2024 from
https://clan.com/family/robertson#:~:text=GLORY%20THE%20REWARD,OF%20VALOUR&text=The%20Robertson%20clan%20crest%20was,a%20hand%20holding%20a%20crown.

2  CLAN DONNACHAIDH HISTORY. Fargo, James E. Fargo, FSA Scot. Clan Donnachaidh Society, Mid-Atlantic Branch. Retrieved January 5th 2024 from https://www.robertson.org/G_history-general.html

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

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