One of the most perplexing mysteries of the Buckalew family history has been the name itself. Discover the origin of the name, I have thought, and we will perhaps discover the origin of our ancestors themselves.

Commercial genealogists have opined that perhaps the name is Eastern European, Maybe Czechoslovakian, perhaps mixed with German. Others have told me that the name sounds as if it may be Welsh, "Buck" referring to male deer, and "alew" deriving from the Welsh word "lewellen," alluding to a valley, thus being a reference to persons of or coming from a place known as "Deer Valley" or "Valley of The Deer." Still others have conjectured that the name derives from the vocation of making buckles or armor.

I even traced out an Irish lead that had indicated that one of our ancestors was a youthful crew member who, at 16 years of age, had left an Irish ship in Savannah, GA, harbor. The Irish Genealogical Society in Dublin told me, however, that the name did not appear to be Irish, and that it was not to be found on the manifest of any Irish ship that had sailed to America in the period that had been indicated as possible.

And then, when I had run out of leads to follow, I discovered that Gerry Green of Nursery, TX, had, in 1985, published an extensive work on the Buckalews. Her study was prompted by her first visit to her great-great-grandmother's grave in a lonely rural setting in the Texas hill country north of Bandera. There she found a weathered and broken gravestone with the inscription: "M.M. Rose--November 24, 1833--February 27, 1884--Nee Buckelew."

Reflecting upon that inscription on that gravestone in that lonely cemetery, Gerry Green wrote: "It was a frustratingly final summary of her life--which only made me want to know more about her 50 years. I said to myself, 'Mary Buckelew, why didn't you write down the things that were important in your life, so that we--your descendants--could really get to know you? Oh, sure, Mary Buckelew, because I'm standing here in this old cemetery, I know when you were born and when you died.

"That's not good enough! I want to know you and know what happened between 1833 and 1884..."

Thus began the marvelous work of Gerry Green, "Mary's People--The Buckelews," a 348 page book, published in 1985, and followed in the next five years--as readers responded with additional information--by eight supplements under the title of "Buckalew Traces." We Buckalews, regardless of the spelling variations, are immeasurably indebted to Gerry for her past and continuing dedicated efforts.

In my first telephone conversation with Gerry, I told her that I was treating as possible ancestors and kin all persons who pronounce their names in such ways as to closely phonetically match "Buckalew," "Buckelew," "Buckaloo," "Bucklew," or anything else even close. Gerry agreed with this attitude and practice, and graciously said that she had similarly dealt with the name in the pursuit of her research.

Very little imagination is needed to grasp how a variety of spellings could appear in one family. Many could have chosen to simplify more difficult spellings. Many others could not spell at all, and so census takers, clerks of court, and registrars spelled the strange name according to what they heard. For a variety of understandable reasons, our forebears adopted and continued to use these different spelling. So, don't get hung up on a spelling difference.

The Genealogical Division of the Samford University Library, Birmingham, AL, has a valuable set of several volumes by William Anderson, entitled "The Scottish Nation; or, The Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours, and Biographical History of the People of Scotland," A. Fullarton & Co., 44 South Bridge, Edinburgh; and 18 Newgate Street, London; 1871. In Volume I, on p. 448, are these words: "BUCCLEUCH, duke of, in the peerage of Scotland, a title possessed by the distinguished house of Scott, which has long held a very high rank in titles, worth, and importance in the kingdom, while their territorial possessions are more extensive and valuable than those of any other family in Scotland. The history of the earliest generations of the Buccleuch family is involved in obscurity." Anderson continues with a six generation genealogical table and narrative, prepared by--and holograph of--Sir Walter Scott, of Abbotsford, Bart., in which he traces the origin and descent of this family. See data and notes from this table produced elsewhere in the Buckalew genealogical file.

On p. 451, in speaking of one Sir William Scott who declared his support of James VI in 1567, Anderson continues, "He attained considerable renown as a military commander under Maurice Prince of Ornage, and was, for his services and military merit, raised to the peerage of Scotland, 16th March 1606, under the title of Lord Scott of BUCCLEUCH."

"The locality of the title is in one of the minor vales of Selkirkshire, and tradition attributes its origin to a recess, or in modern (1871) Scotch, a cleugh therein. A tradition preserved by Scott of Satchells in his 'True History of the Right Honourable name of Scott,' published in 1688, and quoted by Sir Walter Scott in the notes to 'The Lay of The Last Mistrel,' gives the following romantic origin of the name of BUCCLEUCH: 'Two brothers, natives of Galloway, banished for a riot or insurrection, came to Rankelburn in Ettrick Forest, where the keeper received them joyfully on account of their skill in the mysteries of thee chase. Kenneth MacAlpin, king of Scotland came soon after to hunt in the royal forest, and pursued a buck from Ettrickheuch to the glen now called Buckleuch, about two miles above the junction of Rankelburn with the river Ettrick. Here the stag stood at bay; and the king and his attendants, who followed on horseback, were thrown out by the steepness of the hill and the morass. John, of the brethren from Galloway, had followed the chase on foot; and now coming in, seized the buck by the horns, and, being a man of great strength and activity, threw him on his back, and ran with this burden about a mile up a steep hill, to a place called Cracra-cross, where Kenneth had halted, and laid the buck at the sovereign's feet, who said,

'But Jamieson confirms and places beyond doubt the correctness of the definition of the word cleugh given by Ruddiman, viz. a rock or hill, a clift or cliff, from the Anglo-Saxon clif, as used at least until long after the origin of the name Buccleuch.

'It is synonymous, or at least then it was, with heugh, a height. The word buck is also by Jamieson and Richardson, derived from the Teutonic buck-en, to bow, to bend, and when used as an adjective it means of a round or circular shape, as buck-basket, a round basket for clothes; buck-wheat, rounded wheat; bucket, a small round vessel for water. It occurs also in the Scotch, as buckie shell, a round or spiral shell; buckstone, a large round stone; and in topography in Buck of Cabroch (in aberdeenshire), a circular portion of that remarkably deep and continuous hollow or dell. The word Buccleuch, therefore, would appear to imply the round or circular rock or hill which gives name to the ravine in question, and the tradition may be regarded as one of those attempts to unlock the etymology of local names which, setting alike chronology and history, whether general or family, at defiance, have nevertheless a plausible air, and pass, because unquestioned, with the majority of mankind.'"

In October 1993, I corresponded with Miss Kate Hannah, Private Secretary of the current Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry who lives in the Bowhill estate in Selkirk, Scotland. In this correspondence I received a beautifully illustrated brochure (printed in 1981) pertaining to Bowhill, containing--along with enlightening narrative-- a depiction of the of the coat of arms of the Duke of Buccleuch as Chief of Clan Scott. Here are extracts from that brochure: "Ancient Ettrick Forest, embracing today's Bowhill Estate, was granted by Robert the Bruce to the Douglas family in 1322 as a reward for their services. It reverted to the Crown in 1450 and for a hundred years was a favorite hunting ground for the Kings of Scotland, as a hunting box. Various Scotts had been active Rangers from the 12th century and, according to legend, it was in a deep "Cleuch" or ravine in the Rankil Burn, in the heart of the forest, that a certain young Scott seized a cornered buck by the antlers, after it had turned on the King's hounds, and threw it over his shoulder: hence the origin of the name Buccleuch (Buck-Cleuch). In about 1550 the forest was distributed mainly to members of the Scott family but the old Douglas connection with the land was happily restored by a marriage in 1720 between the Scotts and the Douglases...

"The earliest written record of an ancestor of the present Scotts of Buccleuch refers to a Scott, living at Kirkurd in Peeblesshire, who was involved with the founding of the Episcopal Church in Glasgow in 1116. It is probable that his forbears originally came from Galloway, the first known base of the Scott clan. In the 13th and 14th centuries several generations, many bearing the name Richard Scott, acquired more and more property between the rivers Teviot and Yarrow, later spreading over the watershed into Eskdale and Liddesdale. For several hundred years life in the Borders was turbulent as may be seen from the many keeps and fortifications strategically placed throughout the country. Newark, Oakwood, Kirkhope, Branxholm, Goldilands, Hermitage, Gilnockie, Langholm and others still stand guard on Scott territory today. In these troubled times one Sir Walter Scott fought at Flodden with King James IV, while his son was instrumental in the victory at the Battle of Ancram and was prominent at the Battle of Pinkie.

"One of the most picturesque characters to emerge in the 16th century was the Walter Scott who was knighted by King James VI in 1590. Because of his dashing exploits in Border raids he was known as "Bold Buccleuch". In 1596, his astonishingly daring rescue of the imprisoned Kinmount Willie from the English stronghold of Carlisle Castle, with a handful of only 80 horsemen, roused the wrath and indignation of Queen Elizabeth. An acrimonious correspondence followed between her and King James of Scotland, and nearly two years passed before she confronted the pardoned Scott. In reply to her question 'how he dared to undertake an enterprise so desperate and presumptuous' he said: 'What is it that a man dare not do?' So impressed was she, that she turned to the bystanders with the comment: 'With ten thousand such men our brothers in Scotland might shake the firmest throne in Europe.' In 1606 he was created 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch. His son was created Earl of Buccleuch in 1619 and distinguished himself in command of forces in the Netherlands."

The following excerpts are from Robert Bain's "The Clans and Tartans of Scotland," 1968: "The Scotts, one of the most powerful Border clans, take their name from a race who invaded Scotland at an early date and filtered into many other countries. Uchtredus Filius Scoti witnessed charters between 1107 and 1128, and from him were descended the Scotts of Buccleuch and the Scotts of Balwearie.

"The Buccleuchs exchanged Murdochston in Lanarkshire for Branxholm in Roxburghshire. Sir Walter, 13th Baron, was created Lord Scott of Buccleuch by James VI and his son was raised to the dignity of Earl of Buccleuch. His grandson became 2nd Duke, and the third Duke succeeded to the Dukedom of Queensberry.

"Sir Michael Scott, knighted by Alexander II, obtained the lands of Balwearie by marriage with the heiress of Sir Richard Balwearie. Their son, Sir Michael, who died about 1300, was the famous wizard, actually one of the most learned men of his time. It is notable that of fourteen successive barons of Balwearie, thirteen of them were knighted. The Balwearie family are now represented by the Scotts of Ancrum.

"Among the many prominent families of the clan are the Scots of Harden, of which family Sir Walter Scott, author of Waverly, was a scion. William Scott, who died in 1563, received the estate of Harden from his brother Walter Scott of Synton. Walter, 2nd of Harden, was the famous 'Auld Wat of Harden,' of whom many traditions still survive in the Border country, and he and his wife Mary Scott, 'the Flower of Yarrow,' are celebrated in Border song.

Coat of Arms of the Duke of Buccleuch as Chief of Clan Scott: The Royal arms of Great Britain differenced for Monmouth, quartering Campbell of Argyll (top right) and Douglas quartering Mar (bottom left). The bottom right quarter quarters Montagu, Monthermer, Churchill and Brudenell. The inner shield is Scott of Buccleuch. The main shield is surrounded by the collar and badge of the Order of the Thistle.

Our venerable, possible kinsman, Sir Walter Scott, made many references to the Buccleuchs in his works. In "The Lay of The Last Minstrel," Canto VI, divison VIII, describing a wedding feast, he wrote,
"Such day of mirth ne'er cheered their clan,
Since old Buccleuch the name did gain,
When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en."

South Carolina Genealogies, Volume 3, Page 251, states as follows: "Scott of Clerkington (afterwards Scott of Millenie) was of an ancient branch of the illustrious House of Buccleaugh, descended from that family when they resided in Lanarkshire."

Gerry presents several versions that she has come across as to how our ancestors came to America. She introduces this aspect of the subject by saying, "There are many theories on the family origin and immigration to this land. Some have the family settling first in New York, then moving on to Middlesex Co., New Jersey. In other versions, they land in New Jersey, and one even has a Buckelew in Jamestown, Virginia! ...And, the 'Old World home' can be just about any place you..."

1. Peter Burklew (hereafter presented as "Buckalew). "...nobody knows where Peter Buckalew came from. The first mention of him is found in another man's 1680 patent for Staten Island, New York land. The words of that old deed take us back in time over 300 years..." The home that Peter built was in Great Kills, New York, and was standing until fairly recent construction displaced it. The land on which it stood "was sold in 1692, four years after Peter Buckalew bought land in Middlesex County, New Jersey... Other original documents, hopefully, will confirm that Peter Buckalew was married to Annetje Fredericks, the daughter of a ship carpenter and his wife, Frederick and Grietje Jans Jansen. Also awaiting confirmation is that Peter and Annetje had seven children: Peter; Frederick, born 1676; Annetje, born 1678; Margaret; Isaac; Mary and Maybe, Francis."

2. "In 1662, 'The Faith' docked with her holds full of passengers from Holland. Among them were WILLIAM JANSZ and HARMEN JANSEN, from BERCKELOO. To really get into all the complexities surrounding those early Dutch names, would take pages. Briefly, though, later records seem to indicate these two men became William and Harmen Van (means 'from') Berckeloo. And, eventually, the 'Van' was dropped--creating more confusion for us! New York records show the family to still be there as late as 1697."

3. "An article, 'Pioneer Families of Cheesequake,' by Adeline Gordon, appeared in an undated issue of The Matawan Journal of Matawan, New Jersey. Miss Gordon contends the first Buckelew in America was a French Huguenot by the name of PIERRE BILLIOU. Pierre was said to have been a native of Artois, France, but later moved to Holland. He, his wife and children sailed from the latter in 1661, presumably to Staten Island, New York. During that same year, the first permanent settlement was established there under his leadership, which led to his being called, 'The Father of Staten Island.' According to the article, his will was probated in New York in 1702."

"She goes on to say that Pierre had four sons: (1) Isaac, who had sons named Jacob, John and Peter; (2) Jacob, who named his sons Francis and Peter; (3) John and (4) Pierre, Jr., apparently had no sons. If I am interpreting Miss Gordon's lengthy and complex article correctly, she believes one of Pierre's grandsons named Peter was the same Peter who first bought land in Middlesex Co. in 1688 from Marie Lambert. In that deed, the name was spelled Buckaleiu or Buckaleiw, and some version of this spelling was used by the descendants until the 1770s, when one or more branches changed it to Burlew."

"To tell you the truth, I have done very little research on the families of New York prior to 1700, but it is my understanding every major researcher in that area is of the opinion that Pierre Billiou was not connected, in any way, to the Peter Buckaleiw who bought Middlesex County land. At any rate, Pierre's sons were not old enough to have sons of legal age in 1688."

4. FRANCIS and GILBERT BUCCELEUCH--"This version comes from a History of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, by J.H. Battle, and published in 1887. This family sketch states that the two brothers went from Scotland to France with Queen Mary. They immigrated to Long Island about 1663, and both married in this country. In time, Francis became Buckalew, and Gilbert's name changed to Boileau. It goes on to say that Francis moved to South Amboy (Middlesex Co.), New Jersey; that he bequeathed land there prior to his death at 110 years to his son, Samuel. [Another, similar version, from a 'book in the L. A. Library' says Francis was born in 1640, and died in South Amboy, New Jersey in 1750.] The tract, was then bequeathed by Samuel to his son, John, in a 1782 will. Samuel is said to have died in New Jersey in 1792 at the age of 96. This particular John, born in 1743, eventually moved west into Pennsylvania. Gilbert Boileau was not mentioned again in the sketch." (Gerry discussed problems with this particular line later in her book.)

5. FRANCIS and GILBERT SCOTT--"Unfortunately, I don't have the slightest idea where this version originated. Some notes in my files state, 'The American Buckelews are descended from a Scottish Border clan, the Scotts, Barons of Buccleuch (bu kloo). Two brothers, Francis and Gilbert Scott of the clan of Buccleuch, came to America on the ship Caledonia about 1664. They dropped the sirname (sic) Scott and kept the clan name, changing the spelling to Bucklew.' The notation goes on to say they settled in New Jersey. As has already been shown, it was not at all unusual for people to adopt place names for their surnames. Thus far, records to link the Buckelews to the Scott line have not been shared with me."

[The above account appeals to me more than any other. Today (19 Aug 93) I went to the LDS geneological library here in Birmingham and found the following in the Old Parish Records (OPR) of Scotland, town of Selkirk, parish of BUCCLEUCH: 1. Scott, Frances; related to William Richmond Scott; female, born 26 Jul 1750; 2. Scott, Francis; related to William Scott, male, born 21 Dec 1626; 3. Scott, Mrs. Francis, wife of Francis Scott, female, born about 1628; 4. Scott, Francis; related to William Scott, male, born 11 Jan 1695.

[The OPR extracts above establish the parish of Buccleuch as the locality of origin for several Francis(es) Scotts. Francis Scott of Buccleuch, born 21 Dec 1626, could very well be the one who came to America aboard the Caledonia in 1664.

[From an undated transcribed letter, written by John W. Buckalew to his niece, Mrs. Marinda Jones:

Our family has been always noted for the honesty and probity of its members, persons of strong clear judgments and great moral honesty.

Gilbert and Francis Boileau. two Huguenot brothers, left France in 1663 in consequence of the continued persecutions of the Roman Catholic Church which commenced upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and continued for near 200 years. Family traditions say the family of which these two young men were members kept their Bible fastened to the bottom of one of the heavy clumsy chairs of the period with the curtains hanging down concealing it, when they wished to read it one or more members of the family were placed as sentinels outside, to guard against surprise by the maligant priesthood or their more ignorant and brutal assistant, the penalty death by torture or imprisonment and confiscation of property directed by all the malevolence the followers of the Christ upon earth could inflict.

The sentinels placed some members of the family would turn up the chair read a portion of the scriptures and conduct the services...The above two brothers settled on Long Island near where the city of Brooklyn now stands, at the time owned by the Dutch there being but one church at that time in "Nie Yorck."

Gilbert remained near New York and retained the name Boileau while Francis my Great-Great Grandfather removed and settled near South Amboy Middlesex Co., N.Jersey where his name changed to Buckalow I suppose by the uncouth mouthing of the natives (Dutch & Swedes) of that barbarous land, - Francis Buckalow had 4 sons 3 of them lived to aggregate 300 years, while our forefather Samuel lived to the age of 105 years. Francis Buckalow was born in France in the year 1640 and died at South Amboy Middlesex Co. New Jersey in 1750 aged 110 years -- he married a French Huguenot woman in America by whom he had the aforementioned four sons and do not know whether any daughters or not. Samuel Buckalow his son is believed to have been born at South Amboy--he was born in 1677 married a Scotch woman, Mary Campbell by name by whom he had three daughters and two sons, Andrew and John Buckalow. He died at South Amboy 1782 aged 105 years. Andrew, his son removed to Virginia date unknown.

John Buckalow son of Samuel your great grandfather--was born at South Amboy N.J. in 1743 He married Mary McKinney a Scotch-Irish woman in 1773 and the following year moved to Northumberland County Pennsylvania accompanied by his father-in-law McKinney...and settled near where the town of Muncy now stands.

(Gerry's note: In a research report supposedly written by Albert Stokes--I have not verified this info--to an unknown person, he comments on the above letter, stating, "I found no public or contemporary records to verify any of the dates reletive to Samuel, nor can I prove his wive's names. Diligent search reveals very little...You will hear much about Samuel Buckalew's will which John M. Buckalew claims to have had in his possession. However, it was not probated anywhere in NJ and not in Pa., as far as I can determine."

Ref.: Pg. 695, Buckelew Traces, Issue No. 7 & 8, A continuation of Mary's People--The Buckelews, May 1989.]

6. FREDERICK BUCKELEW--"Another old county history. History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey, was edited by W. Woodford Clayton, and published in 1882. It contains a biographical sketch of a James Buckelew, and states his ancestor was Frederick Buckelew, a Scotch emigrant, who fled his native land to avoid religious persecution. He sailed from Inverness, Scotlant, in 1715 on the ship, Caledonia, (There's that ship, again!) and landed at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Shortly thereafter, according to the sketch, he 'selected' [whatever that means] a permanent settlement near what became Jamesburg. This Frederick had sons named Frederick and John (born 1705). John had sons named Abram, James, Thomas, John, Samuel and Frederick (born 1756)."

"Yet another biographical sketch, published in 1924 in South Jersey, A History 1664-1924, by Alfred ?Heston, disagrees to a point. He made mention of earlier Middlesex County Buckelew records, and considered the 1715 date to be in error."

Gerry Green published her second "Buckelew Traces" supplement to "Mary's People--The Buckelews" in April 1986. In it, on page 413, she included an article, entitled "THE 'CALEDONIA' SAILS AGAIN!!". as an addendum to what she had earlier written about "the various and sundry theories which have been published through the years about the original Buckelew in America--who he was (or they were, as the case may be), where he came from, and where he landed." Here is that later article, beginning with the third paragraph:

"Without repeating too much of what's already been written, one version has the Faith sailing a possible Buckelew across from Holland in 1662. Three of the theories don't mention the ship's name at all. However, two others, recapped in Mary's people, state the first Buckelews were passengers aboard the Caledonia, and that she had crossed from Scotland. The first tells us Francis and Gilbert Scott, of the Scottish clan of Buccleuch, came over about 1664. In America, they dropped the "Scott," but retained the clan name, spelling it Bucklew. The second says Frederick Buckelew landed at Perth Amboy, NJ in 1715 on the Caledonia.."

"Had the two stories not been so completely different, otherwise, perhaps the Caledonia 'connection' would never have aroused my curiosity. So often, there is at least a grain of truth in the tales which were handed down through the generations, and often, eventually, published. Unless there were two ships by the same name--I also thought the contradictions were funny. My gosh, it had to have taken a brave soul to climb aboard a brand new ship and cross the Atlantic in those days. Can you imagine anyone making the trip in a 51 year-old ship? I can't either! I wonder how long ships did last? That would be like one of us climbing into something built in 1935, and then taking off for 'parts unknown'! If true, I guess that would have been the Caledonia's last crossing!!"

"...because all of us could possibly have a direct interest in the Caledonia, I was ready to start digging! Thank goodness, though, before there was time to tackle that project, a letter, written almost 31 years ago, was received."

"It was dated 12 July 1955, and was from the NJ State Library/Archives to a Mrs. John Hunsicker in Shreveport, La., who had asked how she could obtain the passenger list of the ship 'Caledonia' on her last voyage about 1715. The reference librarian quoted from 'Notes, queries and replies' found in the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, 3rd series, vol. 4, p 173, which said: 'The CALEDONIA.--Mrs. Sarah E. Temple, of Flemington, wrote for information the CALEDONIA, mentioned in Whitehead's HISTORY OF PERTH AMBOY, page 265. She asks in what year was the vessel deserted by her captain and crew? When did she make her last voyage, and between what ports? Is there anywhere a list of her passengers on that voyage? She was informed that some notices of the CALEDONIA, about 1698-9, are to be found in the New York Colonial Documents, Volume IV, pages 556, 591, 592, 595, 760. No records of the Port of Perth Amboy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are known to be in existence, nor any lists of passengers arriving at that port during that period.'"

"...this is what Whitehead apparently had to say about The Wreck of the Caledonia: 'Lying in shoal water, nearly in front of the brick-yard of Mr. Hall, are the remains of a vessel which used to be much resorted to, and may still be, in consequence of there harboring numbers of fine fish.'

'The vessel was the Caledonia and her name has become very generally known, and, it may be said reverently spoken of, from her having borne to New Jersey many Scotch families, immigrating from Scotland during the trouble that agitated that country in 1715. She was commanded by Robert Drummond, and, for some cause now not known, the captain and crew deserted her while at the wharf at Amboy, and, a storm arising, she broke from her moorings and drifted to the spot above mentioned. It is probable that she was an old vessel and unseaworthy, which will account for no measures being adopted for her preservation.'

'This view of the case is confirmed by the fact that in a dispatch by Lord Bellamont to the Board of Trade, in the New York Colonial Papers, dated Oct. 20, 1699, a ship named Caledonia is mentioned as having made voyages between Scotland and America; and if she was the same vessel of which there is every probability, [the type on my copy changes at this point] it is not surprising the lapse of sixteen years should have rendered her no longer serviceable. There are several relics of the old vessel in different parts of the State, in possession of those who claim descent from those brought to our shores.'

"Imagine, then, my reaction not long ago when the following material found it's way to P.O. Box 9, 'As far as research has revealed, the Bucklew families were all rich in the privileges of religious and national liberty, and the first we hear about was a few brothers, one of which was a lad of 10 years of age, by the name of Andrew Buckalew. They arrived in America in 1731, originating from Wales and northern England. According to The Historical Collections of Coshocton County, Ohio, tradition says, they first settled in Loudoun County, Virginia, [Loudoun Co. was created in 1757] after arriving in the James River, on the ship Caledonia.'"

"A ship of any other name would have been okay--but not the Caledonia !! I roared! On a serious note, though, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am in no way, form or fashion making fun of, or ridiculing anyone who has ever written anything about the Buckelews, or the ship, or whatever. Many words were written in Mary's People explaining how easy it is to get off the right track regarding who our ancestors were, and how they lived. I still appreciate their efforts, and that their work, even if not totally accurate, helps us tremendously by giving us leads to follow up on."

"I feel fairly certain those three biographical versions were written by people who had absolutely no knowledge of the others. It's kind of like being a 'Fat-Bit Researcher' who traces one particular ancestor, and doesn't key in on the whole picture. Okay, back to the Caledonia . Were the people who wrote about the Scotts and Frederick and Andrew all wrong--or did some Buckelew really come across on her? Or had the authors' read Whitehead's account, and simply made an assumption? I don't know, and I don't know how to find the truth. Unless her passenger lists have surfaced since 1955--that's out. The only hope would seem to be some obscure document, somewhere--but who knows where to search? New records are being published all the time, so maybe something will be found one of these days to shed some light on the matter."

BUCCLEUCH(S) extracts from "Blue Guide Scotland," John Tomes; A. & C. Black, London; Tenth edition 1992:

p. 73, Duchess Anne (of Monmouth) of...

Dalkeith, 4 miles SE of Edinburg: "...Dalkeith is a place of some historical interest in the context of the 17th century. Dalkeith has been a seat of the Scotts of Buccleuch since the 2nd Earl purchased the castle from the Douglases of Morton in 1651. His surviving heiress daughter, Anne, had Cromwell's General Monk for a guardian at the time when, here at Dalkeith, he was plotting the Restoration. At the age of 12 Anne was married to Charles II's natural son James (he himself was only 14), later made Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch and executed in 1685 after the failure of his Protestant rebellion against James VII/II. Later, c. 1700, Anne commissioned James Smith to build the present palace around the old castle. Although the place does not admit visitors, Dalkeith Park is open and offers woodland walks beside the river Esk, as well as nature trails, a Robert Adam bridge and, for the children, and adventure play area. In the town the Church of St. Nicholas, made collegiate in 1406, contains the tombs of Duchess Anne as also of the 1st Earl of Morton and his deaf and dumb wife Joanna, daughter of James I."

p. 73 & 85, The Scotts of...

Yarrow Valley, c. 45 miles south of Edinburgh via Selkirk: "Below Selkirk the road crosses the Ettrick and bears west, here traversing the site of the battle of Philiphaugh (1645) at which Leslie decisively defeated Montrose. Bowhill, just beyond and across the river, has long been the home of the Scotts of Buccleuch. The present house, started by the 3rd Duke of Buccleuch c. 1795, contains an outstanding collection of French furniture, as west as pictures by, amongst others, Leonardo da Vinci, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Claude, Canaletto, Guardi and Raeburn. There are also relics of the Duke of Monmouth and Sir Walter Scott. In the grounds there are nature trails and, for the children, and adventure woodland play area. Nearby Newark Castle, now a ruined 15th century oblong tower-house, stands on the site of an earlier royal hunting lodge. It was Montrose's supporters who had been made prisoner at Philiphaugh."

Nearby St. Mary's Loch: "Tibbie Shiel's Inn, on the spit separating St. Mary's Loch from Loch of The Lowes, perpetuates the name of the lady who was the innkeeper here for many years after 1823. Her inn was a favorite meeting-place of such men of letters as Scott, Carolled, Stevenson and James Hogg, the last of whom now sits as a statue beside the road here."

p. 85, 3rd Duke of... (See above)

p. 117, ...and Queensberry, Duke of...

Drumlanrig Castle (c. 20 miles NNE of Dumphries: "...is set in glorious parkland just north west of Carronbridge. This home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, occupying the site of a 15th century Douglas stronghold and close to that of a Roman fort, is a huge palace of local pink sandstone, forming a central courtyard with corner towers, built between 1679l-90 for the 1st Duke of Queensberry. The collection of outstandingly fine French furniture includes a cabinet given by Louis XIV to Charles II, who in turn presented it to his natural son the Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch,..."

p. 161&2, 5th Duke of...

Edinburgh: "The heart of Edinburgh until the expansion of the 18th century--and still the heart so far as the visitor to Old Edinburgh is concerned--Parliament Square still provides several links with the city's past, starting, on the west near a statue of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch,..."

There's an interesting and pertinent article on page 505 of Gerry's Buckelew Traces , Issue 4, from History of Columbia & Montour Cos., Penn., by J. H. Battle, written in 1887:

"JOHN M. BUCKALEW (1826-1887), lumberman, P.O. Fishingcreek, is descended from the BUCCLEUCHS, who went from Scotland to France with Queen Mary, and becoming Protestants, two brothers, Francis and Gilbert, immigrated to Long Island about 1663, while it was in the possession of the Dutch. They were both married in this country, and in time their names bame corrupted, Francis being called BUCKALEW, and Gilbert BOILEAU. Francis went to South Amboy, N. J. An old will, now in possession of our subject, made by Samuel BUCKALEW, dated 1782, devises to his son John a certain tract at the place mentioned, which it states was bequeathed to him by his father, Francis BUCKALEW. Family tradition has it that Francis lived to be 110, and his son Samuel is know to have been 96 years old at his death in New Jersey in 1792. He was the great-grandfather of John M. His son John was born Apr 14, 1743, and in 1773 married Mary McKinney, who was born Oct 5, 1754.. Shortly after the young couple immigrated to where the town of Muncy now stands, in Lycoming Co., he was a millwright and miller, and it is supposed, carried on the business there. The next we hear of him is that in 1776 he and Robert Robb were appointed a committee of safety for Turbot Township, Northumberland Co., under Franklin's central committee, at Philadelphia. In 1778 they were obliged to leave in consequence of Indian troubles which culminated with the death of 'Capt. Jim Brady,' who was a near neighbor and with whom they fought the redskins. John BUCKALEW's father-in--law followed him into the wilderness and went to Harrisburg. John went to Maryland and rented a mill at Rock Run; there he ground grain for the army under contract with the Continental Congress, and an old unpaid account of nearly 700 Pounds is still in existence. At the close of the Revolution he returned to Northumberland Co. and settled on Chillisquaque Creek, and there remained for a few years, thence going to Little Fishing creek, and later came to this township, where he died July 3, 1833. His wife Mary died Nov 25, 1829. They had 5 sons and 7 daughters."

"One of the sons, John M., was the father of our subject. He was born at Chillisquaque on Dec 17, 1786; learned his father's trade in Catawissa, and worked at it for a few years. In 1808, while still young, he purchased and removed to the place now occupied by his sons, Perry and John M. He became a farmer and lumberman, and died Nov 15, 1859, aged 73 years. He married, in 1812, Marther Funston, who was born in 1789 and died in 1840, aged 51 years. They had 9 children, 4 of whom died in childhood. Those who lived to maturity were William, who died on the homestead in 1864; Perry, who now owns a part of the farm; Charles R., of Bloomsburg, ex-US Senator; Mahala B., wife of Benjamine C. Hess, of this township, & John M., the youngest."

"Our subject was born Oct 17, 1826, in a house a short distance from the one he now occupies. He has always been engaged in lumbering and farming. In 1862 he enlisted in a company of Harrisburg, which was assigned to the 178th Pa as Co. A. He commanded the company until the expiration of his term of service. On his return he re-engaged at his former occupation, which he has since followed. In 1861 he was married to Miss Deliah K., daughter of Andrew and Theresa Creveling, of this township. She is a sister of Rev. S. lA. Creveling, who is a pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, connected with the Central Penn. Conference. Of unbounded energy and force of character, Mr. Buckalew is a man of mark and exercises a wide influence in the community. In politics he is a Republican."

An extended excerpt from Michael Brander's introduction to his book, THE EMIGRANT SCOTS, is appropriate here:
"The reasons for emigration in the first place were many and various, although usually made with a view to earning more money, or finding a better life, but they were also generally made with the hope, however faint, of one day returning to Scotland. It was this identification with their native country, indeed usually with one particular part of their native country, which distinguished the Scots so often from their fellow emigrants. While preeminently wanderers, the Scots also felt a tremendous loyalty to their homeland, and never more so than when abroad. This yearning for the land of their birth was generally transmitted to their children and passed on to their grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Thus, even when their blood had been diluted many times over and their names changed almost beyond recognition, those with Scots blood retain their feeling for Scotland and things Scottish with a singular tenacity."

"Like the Scots themselves, their parent stock, the emigrant Scots are an independent, hardy lot, who have generally contributed much to their countries of adoption, usually out of all proportion to their numbers, for they have a natural ability to adapt and put down roots while still retaining a love of their homeland. By learning something about the Scottish background to emigration, the reasons which made the Scots leave their country at different periods, and the success or failure they achieved in various fields, the emigrant Scots, their descendants, and for that matter, the Scots also, may learn something of an overseas heritage of which they are all part and of which they can all be proud."

From the body of Brander's book we have these insights:

(p.23) "The principal reasons for emigration were, until the later stages of James's reign, undoubtedly economic: those who saw no chance of improving their lot in Scotland, and a very real chance of starving if they stayed, quickly decided to leave. It was not until the last years of his reign that religion began to be an issue of any real importance. In the years after 1620, however, James sowed the seeds of religious differences which were to rend Scotland for the greater part of the seventeenth century."

(p. 24) "About the same period the Scots began to be attracted by the new world opening in the west. In 1621 Sir William Alexander, a favorite of James's who was created Earl of Stirling nine years later, was given vast tracts of land in Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, as well as parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Quebec. With the idea of founding a new Scotland, like the New England and New Holland already founded, he attempted to form a settlement in Nova Scotia. The first settlers left Scotland in 1622 and arrived in Nova Scotia in the autumn. They survived the winter with some losses and were relieved by a second ship in 1623, but nothing was achieved in the way of permanent settlement."

(p.26-27) "The Scots...declared Charles II King and in 1650 Cromwell invaded Scotland with 16,000 battle-hardened troops. Against these, Leslie raised some 22,000 partly trained recruits, then--by using the scorched-earth policy, familiar to the Scots since the time of Edward I, and refusing combat--he successfully thwarted Cromwell, finally forcing him to withdraw to Dunbar. Unfortunately at the Battle of Dunbar, when it came to actual combat at last, the English routed the Scots with such ease that it became known as the Dunbar Drove."

"About 10,000 prisoners were taken and a number of these were finally sold as bond-servants in the colonies. The majority, around 900, went to Virginia and some 150 to New England. The following year to the day, another Scottish army was defeated at the decisive Battle of Corcester, and again many of the prisoners taken were sent overseas to the plantations as bond-servants. Some 1,300 went to Guinea, and about 270 to Boston."

(p. 29) "From 1638 onwards, East New Jersey was another possible choice for emigrants from Scotland. Controlled by twenty-four proprietors, of whom five were Scots, two Irish, sixteen English and one Dutch (a man who, against all the current trends of the times, lived in Scotland), Scottish emigration was encouraged. In 1684 two ships from Scotland delivered a total of 290 emigrants, most of whom appear to have been fairly solid citizens. They reported back favorably and further emigrants followed. In 1702 New Jersey, by this time flourishing, became a Crown Colony with a good Scottish flavor to it." Witness such place names as PERTH Amboy, Kearney and Newark, et al.

On 24 Sep 1994, Norma and I attended the Highland Games in Montgomery, AL, at one of the booths I bough several tartan ties that had the following article attached: "SCOTT--Perhaps the most outstanding, and numerous, of the great Border Families was that of Scott.

"Uchtred, son of Scot, lived in the first half of the 12th century, and from his two sons the numerous Scott branches began. The Scotts of BUCCLEUCH, whose Dukedom dates from 1673, ended in Anne, who married James, Duke of Monmouth, natural son of Charles II, who was beheaded for rebelling against his uncle, James II. From this marriage comes the line of the later Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry.

"From the line of Harden originating in the 14th century, sprang one of Scotland's greatest men: Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford.

"Like their neighbours, the Scotts were turbulent, cunning, courageous and filled with energy. The gathering place of the Families in time of war was Bellendean, on Borthwick Water. When the fierce cry of 'A Bellendaine!' was heard on the Border, men knew that the Scotts were 'out'."

Araminta Elizabeth Akin Axton, outstanding genealogist of Winter Park, FL, has graciously provided us the following results of her wisdom, scholarship; and of her extensive, intensive and expensive research. According to Mrs. Axton, she traveled "thousands of miles in SC, GA, AL, MS, LA, AR, TX, NY, NJ, PA, VA, NC, and in at least 55 counties in Georgia, doing research on the Buckalew family..."

In origin, Buccleuch is a place-name in Scotland. Although many family names were taken from place-names, the Duke of Buccleuch listed in Burk's Genealogical and heraldic history of peerage, baronetage, and knightage., 103rd edition, London, 1963, carry the family name of Scot(t).

In Scotland there was a noble family named Buccleuch (pronounced Buck-loo). Some of the descendants of this family came to Pennsylvania, where they appear on record in the counties of Bucks, Cumberland, Northumberland, etc. Also, you will find records of them in the New Jersey archives. Their surname is there spelled variously, as Buckalew, Buckalow, Buckalue, and Buckloo. (Pa. Archives, 3rd series [p. 85], Vol. 27, Index.)

Some of them moved to Loudon County, Virginia. On 8 March 1763, Richard Buckalew was given a grant of land at the foot of Blue Ridge, 200 acres in Loudon County; he sold this 14 Oct. 1785. By the next year, he and his family were in Mecklenburg County, N. C. Under date of June 7th, 1766, the following appear as members of a militia company there: Richard Bucklue, Jonathan Bucklue, George Bucklue, Thomas Bucklue, Garret Bucklue and Thos. Garret. (State Records of North Carolina (N.C. 7, Vol. 22, p. 396). In Mecklenburg County, these bought and sold land, the deeds showing that George was later of Burke County, N. C., and a James Buckalew of Edgefield District, South Carolina. The records in Edgefield County indicate that Richard was dead by 14 Aug. 1772. Richard was granted 500 acres in Edgefield District on the waters of Stephens Creek of the Savannah River.

In 1788 Frederick Buckelew witnessed a deed of James Buckelew in 96th District,
Edgefield County, South Carolina.

In 1790 Frederick Buckelew was granted 400 acres in Columbia County, Georgia. Next year he was granted more land.

In 1794 Frederick Buckelew lived in Warren County, Georgia.

In 1818 Frederick Buckelew lived in Twiggs County, Georgia, and died there between 1830 and 1840.

The American branch of the Buccleuch family emigrated from Scotland to France in the 16th century and later, during the Huguenot persecutions, emigrated to America.

1. Richard Buckelew
Born: PA or NJ. Died: Before 1784, 96th Dist., SC.

2. Frederick Buckelew
Born: 1750-1760 Died: After 1830, Twiggs Co., GA.
Married: Ruth Goslin (Gosling)
Born: 1750-1760 Died: Between 1840-1850.

3. William Buckelew
Born: 10/2/1785, South Carolina. Died: 1/22/1863, Monroe County, GA.
Married: Linney Proctor in 1808.
Born: 2/3/1785, NC. Died: 1/10/1823, Twiggs County, GA.

4. Harriet Ellen Buckelew
Born: 12/6/1811, Morgan Co., GA. Died 8/28/1909, Columbia Co., Ark.
Married: George W. Williamson on 5/7/1829, Henry Co., GA.
Born: 9/8/1806, Oglethorpe Co., GA. Died 1/4/1894, Pike County, GA.

5. Emma Ella Georgia Williamson
Born: 8/24/1853, Pike Co., GA. Died: 12/5/1916, Zebulon, GA.
Married: Burwell Stephen Akins on 11/17/1870, Pike Co., GA.
Born: 5/30/1849, Pike Co., GA. Died: 4/6/1918, Zebulon, GA.

6. Elisha Gunter Akin
Born: 8/14/1877, Pike Co., GA. Died: 4/19/1940, Orlando, FL.
Married: Montine Jones on 8/26/1906, Atlanta, GA.
Born: 1/27/1889, Anniston, AL. Died: 10/7/1967, Orlando, FL.

7. Araminta Elizabeth Akin
Born: 9/13/1912, Atlanta, GA.
Married: Howard Nelson Axton on 5/30/1941, Orlando, FL.
Born: 12/17/1910, W. Brownsville, PA.

ARMS
Or: The metal gold.

Bend: A division of the shield, formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base.
Dexter: The right-hand side of a shield; it should be borne in mind that in an illustration of armorial bearings the dexter side is on the left of the page, since for the purpose of heraldic blazon the shield is viewed from the position of a person holding it.

Chief: The upper part of a shield, occupying one-third thereof.

Sinister: The left side of the shield. (See dexter)

Az: Azure, blue.

Mullet: The rowel of a spur; English heralds make it of five straight points; French heralds of six.

Crescents: In heraldry, a bearing in the form of a young or new moon. Its horns turned towards the chief of the shield.

Field: Is the whole surface of the shield upon which the charges, or bearings, are depicted.

CREST

Stag: The male red deer. It is called the red deer from the reddish-brown color of the upper parts in summer.

Trippant: Applied to stags and other beasts of chase represented with one foot up as if trotting.

Ppr: Proper, applicable to all animals, trees, etc., when borne of their natural colour.

Attired: Applied to the horns of animals of the deer species, instead of armed, as they are supposed to wear their antlers not as weapons, but ornaments.

Unguled: Applied to the hoof of the stag, etc., when of a different tincture from the body.

The position, shape and composition of the helmet all have meanings.

From still another source:

"Buccleugh (or Buccleuch) pronounced buck-a-loo is the title of one of the oldest families in Scotland. The family can be traced back to Sir Richard Le Scott, a person of great distinction in the reign of Alexander II of Scotland. Sir Richard swore fealty to Edward I of England in 1296. The name Buccleuch or Buccleugh is most likely derived from the location of the clan's original members. "Bal" means hamlet, and "Cleugh" means ravine. Thus, this sept or minor clan of the clan of Scott came from the hamlet in the ravine. The lineage from Sir Richard Le Scott is well documented down to the present Duke and Duchess of Buccleugh.

"In the mid-1500s two brothers of the Buccleuch clan joined Mary, Queen of Scots, and went to Paris. They and their descendants became French Huguenots. One family changed the name to Boileau. A descendant, Charles Rollin Buckalew, was a United States Senator from PA in the 1860s.

"Another family headed by Peter Buccleugh immigrated from Scotland to Staten Island about 1660. This family has been traced by Martin Buckelew of Helmetta in Monroe Twp, NJ. This branch of the family founded Jamesburg, NJ.

"...Frederick (Phrederick) Buccleugh was born in Scotland in 1674. As a Presbyterian he and his family were persecuted by the Church of England. Seeking freedom of religion, he and his family sailed from Inverness in 1715 on the ship "Caledonia" and landed in the area that today is South Amboy, NJ. They joined other Scottish families who had begun to pioneer the then wilds of the new country. Frederick may have come from nobility; he had a fair degree of wealth. He acquired hundreds of acres of land and left deeds and a will."

[....a reference to the ship CALEDONIA (History of the Old Tennent Church by Rev. F. R. Symmes, 1904) which states that "it is supposed that this ship brought emigrants from Scotland as early as 1685, and it is a matter of history that it bore to New Jersey many Scotch families about 1715."]

 

 

Perhaps the most outstanding, and numerous, of the great Border Families was that of Scott.

Uchtred, son of Scot, lived in the first half of the 12th century, and from his two sons the numerous Scott branches began. The Scotts of BUCCLEUCH, whose Dukedom dates from 1673, ended in Anne, who married James, Duke of Monmouth, natural son of Charles II, who was beheaded for rebelling against his uncle, James II. From this marriage comes the line of the later Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry.

From the line of Harden originating in the 14th century, sprang one of Scotland's greatest men: Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford.

Like their neighbours, the Scotts were turbulent, cunning, courageous and filled with energy. The gathering place of the Families in time of war was Bellendean, on Borthwick Water. When the fierce cry of 'A Bellendaine!' was heard on the Border, men knew that the Scotts were 'out'.

Much of the following information is taken from Anderson's book, Vol. 1, p.448, which he introduces thusly: "There is (1871) in the possession of the present Lord Polwarth, who is himself a noble branch of the Scotts, a genealogical table, prepared by and holograph of Sir Walter Scott, of Abbotsford, Bart., in which he traces the origin and descent of this family..."

On p. 451, in speaking of one Sir Walter Scott who declared his support of James VI in 1567, Anderson continues,"He attained considerable renown as a military commander under Maurice Prince of Ornage, and was, for his services and military merit, raised to the peerage of Scotland, 16th March 1606, under the title of Lord Scott of BUCCLEUCH.

"The locality of the title is in one of the minor vales of Selkirkshire, and tradition attributes its origin to a recess, or in modern (1871) Scotch, a cleugh therein. A tradition preserved by Scott of Satchells in his 'True History of the Right Honourable name of Scott,' published in 1688, and quoted by Sir Walter Scott in the notes to 'The Lay of The Last Mistrel,' gives the following romantic origine of the name of BUCCLEUCH:'Two brothers, natives of Galloway, banished for a riot or insurrection, came to Rankelburn in Ettrick Forest, where the keeper received them joyfully on account of their skill in the mysteries of thee chase. Kenneth MacAlpin, king of Scotland came soon after to hunt in the royal forest, and pursued a buck from Ettrickheuch to the glen now called Buckleuch, about two miles above the junction of Rankelburn with the river Ettrick. Here the stag stood at bay; and the king and his attendants, who followed on horseback, were thrown out by the steepness of the hill and the morass. John, of the brethren from Galloway, had followed the chase on foot; and now coming in, seized the buck by the horns, and, being a man of great strength and activity, threw him on his back, and ran with this burden about a mile up a steep hill, to a place called Cracra-cross, where Kenneth had halted, and laid the buck at the sovereign's feet, who said,

'And for the buck thou stoutly brought
   To us up that steep heuch,
'Thy designation ever shall
   Be John Scott in Buckscleuch.'"

Our venerable, possible kinsman, Sir Walter Scott, made many references to the Buccleuchs in his works. In "The Lay of The Last Minstrel," Canto VI, division VIII, describing a wedding feast, he wrote,

"Such day of mirth ne'er cheered their clan,
Since old Buccleuch the name did gain,
When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en."

My favorite theory about the arrival of the Scotts of Buccleuch in Americas is from the work of Gerry Green, "Mary's People--The Buckelews," in which she says, "Unfortunately, I don't have the slightest idea where this version originated. Some notes in my files state, 'The American Buckelews are descended from a Scottish Border clan, the Scotts, Barons of Buccleuch (bu kloo). Two brothers, Francis and Gilbert Scott of the clan of Buccleuch, came to America on the ship Caledonia about 1664. They dropped the sirname (sic) Scott and kept the clan name, changing the spelling to Bucklew.' The notation goes on to say they settled in New Jersey. ...it was not at all unusual for people to adopt place names for their surnames..."

So, here you are, my cousin Scotts, "A BELLENDAINE!!"

 

For more information on the Scott Clan, go to the Clan Scott Society web site at www.fyi-chicagoland.com/scott/main.htm.

NOTE on Scott succession: An unusual distinction of the Scott pedigree is that the succession has passed direct from father to son for some 30 generations from the 11th century, with the one exception of a daughter in Ann, Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth, whose marriage to the son of King Charles II introduced the family trees of the earliest Kings and Queens of England. [from Source #7]