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The distinguished Scottish family of Agnew is one of the oldest Clans and its history is closely interwoven into the rich and beautiful tapestry of the Chronicles of Scotland. The Agnew family historians are met with two separate sources of the origins of the Agnews when researching into the records. One source states that they are descended from Herbert d"Aigneaux, a Norman Count enjoying a huge and powerful barony in the Contentin (Caen). There is, however, no record that this Count accompanied William the Conqueror into England at the Battle of Hasting. There seems to be a family record that a branch settled soon after the Conquest at Wigton in south west Scotland from whom, according to this source the hereditary sheriffdom in Galloway and the Baronets of Agnew, are descended. Another source states that they are descended from Edin (or John) McDonnell. Brother of Angus Oge. Lord of the Isles, his grandson being John MacGnieve who was called in English Agnew Later, the Chiefs were called O'Gnieve or O'Agnew. About them was written the famous ancient poem "The Lament of Agnews" (O"Gnieves). Sir Andrew Agnew in his famous "history of the Agnews' tends to support the former origin, that of Norman. However we must remember that the history was written in times when being of Norman origin was fashionable, and in his history of the neighbouring clans he also strayed somewhat form the fact. Of the two, the more likely origin is Gaelic. In that section of Scotland, Galloway, Norman intrusion between the times of 1100 and 1400 was very rare, and the people of the area were extremely militant to outsides of any form, whether they were Scots or otherwise. It was also unlikely that even the Scottish King would have had sufficient power to grant land to a Norman in this area. It is therefore concluded that they were descended from the Lord of the Isles, and to be of pure Gaelic stock, with a conjectural lineage which dates back to 327 A.D. |
In 1296 A.D. King Edward 1st of England made a brief but historically important conquest of Scotland. The end result was significant in that it united Scotland as it had never been before, and let to the ultimate victory of King Robert the Bruce, two decades later. However, when Edward made his conquest, he called for all Clan Chiefs, Bishops, nobles and knights to pay homage to him. This they were forced to do by applying their seal to a parchment which become known later as the 'Ragman Rolls'. These Rolls are now in the archives of the Tower of London, and are one of Scotland's first census records. They also serve genealogists well, recording Scotland's oldest families. The English Scottish boarder, between Berwick in the east and Carlisle in the west, had been a constant source of embarrassment to both the English and Scottish Crowns. Tribes of Clans had developed which were a law unto themselves. In 1246 AD twelve Scottish and twelve English Chiefs met and agreed a code of law for the border territories. The agreed code took into consideration traditional life styles and patterns which had historically developed in the evolvement of border life. The agreed code was unlike any law for the rest of Britain. Hence, it was a far greater offence to refuse assistance to help the owner recover his sheep, than it was to steal them in the first place. In 1368 the Lochnaw family of Agnews were appointed hereditary sheriffs of Galloway by King David 2nd of Scotland. In 1603, the uniting of the Scottish and English Crowns was effected when King James VI of Scotland also become King James 1st of England. At this time it was expedient to take definite steps to disperse the 'unruly border clan'. Which had been established may centuries before. Notable amongst the 'unruly' clans were the Kerrs, the Douglasses, Scotts, Johnstons, Maxwells and Moffats, to name but a few. These names had been associated with the very same 'border law' which each successive King of Scotland had subscribed to and agreed. For the next fifty years they were moved sometimes forcibly to England, to northern Scotland, Ireland , and of course, to the Colonies. Meanwhile, Clansmen continued to play an active and important role in the politics of Scotland as the country moved forwards parliamentary unity with England in 1707 AD. With the merging of the English and Scottish Crowns in 1603 James VI of Scotland had become James1st of England, but there had continued in Scotland, the right to exercise parliamentary government. During this period and particular, many noted Scottish parliamentarians made important contributions to the Scottish way of life. Among these were: Sir Andrew of Lochnaw represented the parish and Clan in 1644, 1645, 1646 and intermittently through to 1670. His son Sir Andrew, represented the parish from 1685 to 1700 and Sir Patrick, before migrating to Ireland represented from 1628 to 1633. Captains William and John Agnew were stationed at Island Magee in the County of Antrim in 1689, and Captain Sir Robert Agnew was stationed to Braid in Antrim. Captains Patrick and Francis Agnew were at Glenarm Barony in Antrim. In all 39 families of Agnew we transferred and 26 of those families settled in Antrim. Life in Ireland became little improved over what the clansmen had left on the Border. Lands were granted and then lost overnight by some careless, or sometimes a well conceived act which had gone politically astray. Economic survival was made difficult by severe rules of conduct and obligations. They turned their attention towards the New World, with its democratic way of life. They sailed aboard the armada of tall sailing ships which plied the North Atlantic for the next three centuries. They were known as the 'White Sails', small ships, rotting at the seams, of which the Rambler, the Hector, the Sarah and the Dove were but a few of many. In the New World, the Clansmen became the hardy pioneer stock who contributed greatly to the cultural, political and social ideas and development of their new homelands. Sir Patrick Agnew, who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia, was one of these people. Hayes Agnew undoubtedly was one of North America's most famous surgeons, and could be considered one of the world's foremost medical men of all times. |
CONSILIO NON IMPETU "By design not by happenstance" |