Along the border, between Scotland and England, flows a river from which a lot of woolens get their name - the Tweed. Just North of this river, in Berwickshire, lies the ancient home of CLAN HOME (always pronounced HUME).

This gridiron, between Scotland and England, was the site of many battles. During certain periods of time there were almost constant raids between the two countries. Because of its position, the HOMES became "peacemakers", above local family quarrels, and as Wardens of the Eastern Marshes it was their duty to suppress the lawless elements in a lawless land.

The family of HOME, itself, has its roots far back in the lineage of the royal families of Scotland and England. Malcolm II, King of Scotland (1005-1034 AD.), had one child, Bethoc, who married Crinan, Lay Abbott of Dunkeld. To this union were born two children: Duncan, King of Scotland (1034-1040 AD.), and Maldred, who married Algitha, daughter of Uchtred, and grandaughter of King Ethelred of England.

Egbert was the first King of United England (827-828 AD.). His second son, Alfred, known in history as Alfred the Great, was later King of England. Egbert was a direct ancestor of Ethelred the Unready, King of England (968-1013 AD.). In the year 1002 AD., he married Emma, the sister of Richard, Duke of Normandy, a lady who was known as the "Flower of Normandy".

Egbert was the last of the six early Saxon kings. Elgiva, the fifth child of Ethelred, married Uchtred, Prince of Northumberland. Their daughter, Algitha, married Maldred, grandson of Malcholm II, King of Scotland. From these two royal houses came the HOME family. Maldred and Algitha had a son Cospatrick, Earl of Northumberland, who fought at the Battle of Hastings. His grandson, Cospatrick III, married Ada, daughter of King William, the Lion of Scotland. She brought with her to the marriage, as her estate, the land of "I horn" or Home.

Thus, we see a resounding list of HOME lairdships in the merse of Berwickshire: Homes of Wedderburn, Polwarth, Marchmont, Manderston, Blackadder, Ninewalls, etc. Also many sept names are aligned with those of HOME. They are AITON, AITOUN, AYTON, BUNCLE, BUNKLE, EATON, GREENLAW, GREENLEA, GREENLEE, GREENLEASE, HALLIBURTON, HOLM, HOLMES, HOLNS, HULME, HUME, KELLO, KELLOE, KELLOW, KILLO, LANDALE, LANDELS, LANDLES, LANDLESS, MACHY, MACK, NESBETT, NESBITT, NISBET, PALMER, PAXTON, SHUME, WEDDERBOURNE and WEDDERBURN, to name a few.

The CLAN HOME SOCIETY was founded in 1980 through the efforts of Albert C. Eaton of Orlando, Florida, and based on the authority granted to him by the late Lord Home of the Hirsel in 1979. He is the Convenor of the Society and its' current President.

The CLAN HOME SOCIETY'S primary purpose is the preserve the history, culture and traditions of this great Border Clan, and wherever possible, it will help individual members in their genealogical research. A newsletter, known as "The Home Works", is published by the Society and the Annual General Meeting is held on the second weekend in July at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, North Carolina.

The Greenlaw Family Association was founded in 2004 by Stephen Holmes Snell, an historian and active genealogist, who became the Association’s first president until his death on January 10, 2008.

This year, 2008, marks the 255th anniversary of the arrival of William and Jane Greenlaw and their family in America. In the summer of 1753 they left Greenock, Scotland, the 18th century port area for Glasgow in the western part of Scotland and sailed across the Atlantic aboard the brig, Dolphin, landing near the present town of Warren, Maine (then a district of Massachusetts) on the St. Georges River.

Greenlaw, which means “verdant hill”. is an old family name from Berwickshire in the southern lowlands of Scotland in the Borders Region, close to England. The Greenlaws are a sept, or family, of the Home Clan and, as such, are entitled to wear the Home Clan tartan. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Greenlaws arrival in America, a milestone event in the family’s history, The American Greenlaw Tartan was designed and, in 2005 was registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority as the official tartan for the Greenlaws of North America.

During the American Revolution many Greenlaws were Loyalists with their allegiance to the British Crown and after the revolution they migrated to St. Andrews, New Brunswick, which was then part of Nova Scotia. Survival and endurance are hallmarks of Greenlaw history but their optimism for the future and their unflagging determination to rebuild their lives, yet again, continue to be reflected in New Brunswick’s motto: Spem Reduxit (Hope Restored).

For the members of the Greenlaw Family Association, our Reunion in Fredericton will be a time to celebrate our Scottish heritage, to honor our departed Greenlaw loved ones, and to recognize and appreciate our Greenlaw ancestors and their contributions to our American and Canadian culture.



2008 CLANS, SOCIETIES, AND ASSOCIATIONS

Host Clan: Clan Home - Greenlaw Family Association

CLANS:

1. Clan Campbell Society of North America, NB
2. Clan Donald, NS
3. Clan Donnachaidh Society Northeast Branch, ME
4. Clan Forbes, NB
5. Clan Graham Society, ON
6. Clan Henderson Society of Canada, NS
7. Clan Keith Society USA, Inc., NH
8. Clan MacFarlane Society Inc., ON
9. Clan MacKay Society of the USA Inc., ME
10. Clan MacKinnon, NB
11. Clan MacKintosh of North America, ME
12. Clan Maclean Atlantic Canada, NS
13. Clan Young, ME



SOCIETIES & ASSOCIATIONS:

1. N.B. Genealogy Society, Capital Branch
2. Fredericton Society of Saint Andrews, NB
3. N.B. Archives
4. N.B. Scottish Cultural Association
5. Saint Andrew’s Society of Saint John, NB
6. Scottish District Families Association, ME
7. Irish Canadian Cultural Association of NB - Capital Area Chapter