My Heart’s In The Highlands
Farewell to the Highlands, frewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love…
Robert Burns
A TALE OF SCOTTISH CLANS AND CASTLES........
The border wars between England and Scotland have been
romanticized in poetry, prose and on film. As a result of these century-long conflicts
castles were built on both sides of the English/Scottish border to provide
lodging and protection as well as central rallying points for allied forces in
times of peril. Just outside Jedbugh, Scotland
stands the Scottish border castle known as Ferniehirst Castle. Built in the 15th century,
Ferniehirst Castle is the ancestral home of the Kerr family.
In the summer
of 2012, Rufus Williamson, a descendant of the Kerr family, visited Scotland
and toured Ferniehirst Castle. For Rufus
it was an opportunity to see firsthand the home of his ancestors and to add to
his substantial knowledge of the Kerr family history.
The fascinating stories of the border wars,
Ferniehirst Castle, and the Kerr family will be shared on April 2, 2013, at the
meeting of Signal Mountain Genealogical Society. Rufus Williamson, guest speaker for the April
meeting will present, “A Visit to the Home of my Scottish Ancestors.” The meeting, held at the Walden Town Hall,
1836 Taft Highway, will begin at 1:00 p.m. with refreshments followed by the
business meeting and program at 1:30 p.m.
Guests are always welcome at the meetings.
Whether for an interesting telling of family history
or for a tour to a Scottish Castle, I urge you to join us on April 2nd
at the meeting of the Signal Mountain Genealogical Society.
My Heart’s In The Highlands 