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About 200 people attended the Shaw family reunion on Sunday 4 January 2004. A web site will be developed to bring together all the information that was available. Watch this space .... The reunion was held the Tauwhare School Hall near Cambridge, Waikato, New Zealand and later there was a service at the Hautapu Cemetery.
A special "thank you" to everyone who contributed to the day. Much new information was revealed and the personal stories were wonderful. We were able to develop a significant account of our history in New Zealand, links to Australia, and our origins.
Descendants of William Shaw of Kells (died 1722), and associates, attended. Most of the New Zealand descendants of William Shaw are descended from David Shaw who lived in the Waikato. Many came to New Zealand on the Viola in the 1860s. There are strong links to Australia and South America.
We came from Muirkirk in Ayrshire, but those at Muirkirk came from Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire. Other relevant places are Stevenston in Ayrshire and Minningaff in Kirkcudbright.
This map shows where Kirkcudbrightshire is in Scotland.
We are probably a branch of the the lowland or "territorial" Shaw's. We are not the highland Shaw's who formed 300 years after us, and have a tartan and a clan. We are not a clan and we do not have a tartan. Our most likely symbol is 3 cups, but that is another story - like our loyalty to King Robert and Scotland, and now to Scotland's Parliament.
The Shaw graves on are the left of the path as we face the church. This is not the original Kells church, and the Shaw graves were moved to this site from the earlier church site. We can only speculate on the reasons why the graves were moved, and note that it was not a common practice.
For more pictures of the Kells church
The Shaw families lived around Loch Clatteringshaws. They were not far from Bruce's Stone, 1307. We can identify the specific locations from the Old Parish Register for Kells. The oldest site known had a stone courtyard and two stone towers. More of a house than a castle. As a general trend over centuries they seemed to have moved properties from Clatteringshaws towards Loch Ken. Unfortunately, the forest company has planted two generations of trees over the site and pretty much destroyed it. There is no mention of the significance of these sites to the Shaw's in the Clatteringshaws Visitors Centre.
If you want to do research on the family, I would suggest a project. According to Shaw's who live in the area today, it is likely that the Shaw lands were given to them by King Robert the Bruce for services in his campaigns against the English. There may be records that relate to this and we should search for such records. Also, it might be possible to locate the origin of the name "Clatteringshaws" and see if it has any links to our family name.
Regarding the links to Robert the Bruce, Andrew McCormick in his popular book (1932) records the story that the Auld Wife O' Craigencalzie gave her three sons to aid The Bruce when he was "hard pressed" and that they gathered a number of Galloway men who defeated the English at the Battle of Raploch Moss, "which lies between Craigencalzie and Clatterinshaws" (note the absence of the "g"). As a reward the King bestowed upon Murdoch, McLurg, and McKie "the bit hassock o' land between the burns of Palnure and Penkln". Shaws married McKies and Murdoch and McLurg lands passed to other families. The lands a few miles to the west are sometimes called the "Cradle of Scotland's Independence". Bruce's Stone - a granite boulder on Moss Raploch marks the site of Robert I's victory over the English in 1307 Picture> Real history> The Murdoch's story>.
There are three key sources of early Shaw information: (1) the grave inscription of two brothers at Kells, (2) a will located in Edinburgh, and (3) bond information from the 1670s to the 1690s.
Glen Lee is about two miles north of New Galloway. Here is the inscription from the Glenlee - Drumrash - Shaw's flat stone at Kells Church yard:
"This stone is erected by James & David Shaw as a monument to their father William Shaw who died 1722 and of their mother Elspeth Newal who died 1731 also buried here is Marey McCourtie spouse to James Shaw Sd died 1727. Also Isobel Welsh spouse to the Sd James. She died 1752. Also Sarah Brown spouces to David Shaw. She died 1753. Also the Sd David Shaw died - imber ?? 20th 1767 aged 77. Sd James Shaw died at Glenlee Aprial 29th 1770 in his 80th year of his life. Also William Shaw his oldest son who died at Glen lea 1772 aged 49. Also James Shaw of Bardenoch his 2nd sone who died 14th July 1789 aged 64 years. Also his fourth son Ebenezer Shaw Esq of Drumrash who died 24th Feb 1821 aged 70 years. Also Elizabeth Neil wife of Ebenezer Shaw Esq of Drumrash his grands on whoe died on the 21st Mrach 1826 aged 26 years Lys on the left side. Also of John Shaw their 3rd sone who died at Drumrash on the 26th July 1826 aged 85 years Lys on the right side. Also Maragaret Gordon spouse to the above John Shaw who died at Drumrash May 18th 1833 age 81 years."
(2) The the testament and will of Elizan McKill spouce of Johne Schaw (also given as Jon Schawe) of Craigend given 22 December 1676. The oath was taken on 14 Februrary 1677 at New Gallaway. William Shaw was a witness. There are several Shaws mentioned and significant places. The text of this will be placed on the web site shortly.
(3) The bond information is from the Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court Deed. A CD of this exists somewhere in some library. There are references to "Oasie" Hosea Shaw (1674). Samual and William Shaws sons of Hosea Shaw witness things.
The above notes are temporary and a step on the way towards the building of a web site for the Territorial Shaw's. If you have anything to contribute please email Robert Shaw.