An interesting look at the origins of the Clan

[Bruce]

The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;.
Douglas, Robert, Sir, 1694-1770.

LIVINGSTON. Earl of LINLITHGOW.
IT is the opinion of some antiquaries, that the first of this noble family was a Hungarian gentleman, who came to Scotland with Margaret, queen to King Malcolm Canmore, about the year 1078. Certain it is they begun to make a figure in this country soon after that era.
Their immediate ancestor,
I. LIVINGUS, flourished in the reigns of Page 410 king Alexander I. and king David, who succeeded Alexander, anno 1124.
He was possessed of a considerable estate in West-Lothian, and called it Livingston, after his own name, which afterwards became the chief title and surname of the family.
He was father of
II. THURSTANUS,* who was witness to the foundation charter of the abbey of Holyroodhouse, anno 1128.
He made a donation to that abbacy, ec∣clesiam de Livingstoun cum dimidia carucata terrae,*et una tosta, &c. &c. pro salute animae suae, &c. and is then designed Thurstanus filius Livingi.
He left issue two sons.
1. Alexander.
2. William.
In a donation to the priory of St. Andrews,*Thurstanus filius Livingi et Willielmus filius ejus, are witnesses, temp. regis Willielmi.
Thurstan was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. ALEXANDER, who, in a charter of king William,* is designed Alexander filius Thurstani filii Livingi, &c. The charter has no date; but must have been in or before 1214, in which year king William died.
He having succeeded to the lands and barony of Livingston, assumed that for his surname, and was progenitor of all the Living∣stons in Scotland.
He died in the end of the reign of king Alexander II. leaving issue a son and successor,
IV. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON,* who acquired the lands of Gorgyn near Edinburgh, and is then designed Willielmus de Living∣ston, miles, anno 1263.
He is witness in a Charter of Malcolm earl of Lennox,* together with sir William de Keith, Gilbert Drummond, &c. anno 1270.
He had issue three sons.
1. Sir William, his heir.
2. Sir Archibald, progenitor of the Livingstons of Calendar and Linlithgow, as will be shown hereafter.
3. Adam de Livingston,* who swore sealty to king Edward I. of England, anno 1296.
He died before the year 1300, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
V. WILLIAM LIVINGSTON of that ilk,* who is witness in a charter of Donald earl of Lennox, together with Malcolm Fleming earl of Wigton, &c. and is then designed sir William Livingston knight, in the year 1300.
This sir William was a steady friend of king Robert Bruce, and died soon after that great monarch, leaving issue two sons.
1. Sir William, his heir.
2. Robert de Livingston,* who, being a man of parts, was one of the Scotch commissioners appointed to treat with the English about king David's liberty, anno 1348.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
VI. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON of that ilk, a man of stannch honour, great abilities, and a true patriot.* He was one of the hostages for John earl of Murray, anno 1340.
He was afterwards employed in all the negociations and public transactions with the English,* during king David's captivity, from 1346 to 1357, in which last year he was named one of the hostages for his ransom, and is then designed Willielmus de Livingston miles, &c.
He died about the year 1370, and was succeeded by his son,
VII. Sir PATRICK LIVINGSTON of that ilk,* who, in his father's lifetime, was one of the noble Scotch heirs, appointed sure∣ties for king David's ransom, and is then designed Patricius filius et haeres domini Willi∣elmi, &c. anno 1357.
He died before 1400, leaving issue a son,
VIII. Sir ROBERT LIVINGSTON of that ilk,* who succeeded him, and was one of the hostages for king James I's ransom, anno 1424.
This family made a considerable figure in Scotland, and continued in the male line till the reign of king James IV. that sir Bartholomew Livingston of that ilk, grandson of this sir Robert, died without sons, and left issue only three daughters his co-heiresses.
Agnes, the eldest, married—Learmont, whose son James made a donation to the prioress and convent of Senys near Edinburgh,*unum annuum redditum decem mercarum usualis monetae regni Scotiae, annuatim levand. et percipiend. de tota et integra mea tertia parte terrarum et baronioe de Livingston, cum pertinen. jacen. infra vicecom. de Linlithgow, &c. dated at Edinburgh, 15th November, and confirmed by king James V. the last day of December, 1533.
The male line of the ancient house of Livingston of that ilk thus ending, we now return to the ancestor of this noble family, viz.
V. Sir ARCHIBALD LIVINGSTON, second son of sir William Livingston of that ilk, the fourth generation of this genealogical account before mentioned.
Page 411 This sir Archibald, with many others of his countrymen,* was forced to swear fealty to king Edward I. of England, when he had over-run Scotland, anno 1296.
He died soon thereafter, leaving issue a son,
VI. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON,* who in an old manuscript accompt of this family, is designed of Easter-wemyss.
He flourished in the reign of king Robert Bruce, and married a daughter of sir John Erskine of that ilk, ancestor of the family of Mar, by whom he had a son and heir,
VII. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, a man of great courage, and resolution, and high∣ly esteemed by king David Bruce, whom he accompanied in his unfortunate expedition in∣to England, and for his gallant behaviour, had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him under the banner.
He was taken prisoner with his royal master, at the battle of Durham,*anno 1346, but was released soon thereafter.
He was appointed one of the commissioners to treat with the English, about the king's liberty,*anno 1348, and is then designed Willielmus Livingston bannerettus, &c.
He married Christian, daughter and heiress of Patrick Calendar of that ilk,* whose estate had been forfeited to the crown by king Robert Bruce, for his adherence to the Baliol's interest; but king David restored it to sir William Livingston, and the said Christian his wife heiress thereof, and Calendar afterwards became the chief title of his family.
This sir William is a witness in a confirmation charter of king David Bruce to the monastery of Kelso,* together with Malcolm earl of Wigton, William earl of Sutherland, Robert de Erskine, knight, &c. anno 1354.
He got a charter under the great seal, to him, and Christian Calendar his wife, daughter and heiress of Patrick Calendar of that ilk,* of the lands and barony of Kilnsyth, &c. in Dunbartonshire, dated at the castle of Kindriminy, 3d October, the 33d year of his reign, anno dom. 1362.
By the said Christian, he lest issue a son
VIII. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON of Calendar,* who died in the end of the reign of king Robert II. and lest isse a son,
IX. Sir JOHN LIVINGSTON of Calendar, who succeeded him.
This sir John was one of the arbiters in a submission betwixt the abbot and convent of Cambuskenneth,* and Robert de Dumbarny, &c. 17th February, 1389.
In a donation of David Fleming lord of Biggar,* to the monastery of Cambuskenneth, the witnesses are, Robert duke of Albany, earl of Fyfe and Menteith, Murdoch his son and heir, Thomas de Erskine lord of Alway, sir John Livingston of Calendar, Alexander Livingston, &c. anno 1399.
He married, 1st,—, daughter of —Menteith of Carse, by whom he had three sons.
1. Sir Alexander, his heir.
2. Robert,* ancestor of the Livingstons of Westquarter and Kinnaird, of which last the earls of Newburgh, &c. are descended.
3. John, ancestor of the Livingstons of Bonton, &c.
He married, 2dly, Agnes, daughter of sir James Douglas of Dalkeith, by whom he had a son,
Sir William Livingston, first of the house of Kilsyth. (Vide title Kilsyth.)
He was killed in the service of his country,* at the battle of Homildon, anno 1402, and suc∣ceeded by his eldest son,
X. Sir ALEXANDER LIVINGSTON of Calendar,* who was one of the magnates Scotiae, that sat on the trial of Murdoch Duke of Albany, anno 1424.
He was a man of good parts, and much esteemed for capacity and integrity.
After the murder of king James I.* he was by parliament appointed governor to the young king, which occasioned great animosities betwixt the queen-mother, chancellor ••hton and him; but at last all differences were made up betwixt her majesty and him, by a solemn indenture yet extant, and narrated at large in Crawsurd's peerage, dated 4th September, 1439.
However, this harmony did not long subsist amongst them; for the queen, the chancellor, and sir Alexander, continued wrang∣ing, till the king begun to take the management into his own hands, anno 1444.
Sir Alexander's enemies then prevailed with his majesty to call a parliament, to which sir Alexander was summoned to appear.
He was accused of having alienated the crown-lands &c.* and was found guilty, his e∣state confiscated, and himself sent prisoner to Dunbarton castle, which treatment, it was thought, he by no means deserved.
Whether the king was sensible he was not guilty of what was laid to his charge, or whether he continued to have a friendship for the man that had the care of him in his younger years, we shall not pretend to determine; but certain it is, the king soon thereafter not only gave him his liberty, but restored to him Page 412 his whole estate, and he continued ever after in great favour with his majesty, who consti∣tuted him justice-general of Scotland, anno 1449,* in which year he was also nominated one of the ambassadors to the court of England, and is then designed Alexander de Livingston, dominus de Calendar, justiciarius Scotiae.
He died soon thereafter, having married —, daughter of—Dundass of that ilk, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.
1. James, his heir.
2. Alexander, ancestor of the Livingstons of Dunipace.
1st daughter, Janet, married to James first lord Hamilton.
2. Elizabeth, married to James Dundass of that ilk.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
XI. Sir JAMES LIVINGSTON of Calendar, a man of great worth and merit,* who was appointed captain of the castle of Stirling, and had the tuition of the young king conferred upon him by his father, which great trust he discharged with fidelity and honour.
He was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the English,*anno 1452, and is then designed sir James Livingston of Calendar. He got a safe conduct to go up to England, anno 1453, and is then designed James lord Livingston; so that he was certainly raised to the dignity of the peerage, in the end of 1452,* or beginning of 1453, in which last year he was appointed one of the privy council to his majesty, master of his houshold, and lord great chamberlain of Scotland, which high office he enjoyed as long as he lived, with universal applause.
He got charters under the great seal,*Ja∣cobo domino Livingston, of several lands and baronies, inter 1454 et 1465.
He sat as a peer in the parliaments called to meet 1462,*&c.
He married Marian, but of what family we know not,* tho' she is designed widow of James lord Livingston, anno 1478. By her he had issue two sons and two daughters.
1. James, his heir.
2. Alexander, who carried on the line of of this family, as will be shown hereafter.
1st daughter, Elizabeth, married to John earl of Ross, and lord of the isles.
2. Eupheme, married to sir Malcolm Fleming, son and heir of Robert lord Flem∣ing.
He died anno 1467, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
XII. JAMES, second lord, who got charters under the great seal, Jacolo domino Livingston, of the lands of Baldoran,* Slamannan, Muir, and many others, inter 1470 et 1492.
He married, 1st, a daughter of sir John Erskine of Kinnoul; 2dly, a daughter of sir Robert Crichton; but dying without issue, his estate and honours devolved upon his nephew sir John, son of his brother Alexander before mentioned.
XIII. Sir JOHN LIVINGTON,* son of A∣lexander, second son of James first lord Livingston, succeeded his uncle James the second lord, as before observed, and was third lord Livingston.
He married, 1st, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert lord Fleming, by whom he had a son,
William, his heir.
He married,* 2dly, a daughter of sir John Houstoun of that ilk, by whom he had another son,
Alexander, ancestor of the Livingstons of Glentyran, whose male-line is now extinct.
He died about the year 1510, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
XIV. WILLIAM, fourth lord, who got charters under the great seal,*Willielmo domi∣no Livingston, of the lands and barony of Ca∣lendar, castle thereof, &c. anno 1511.
He marrried Agnes Hepburn,* daughter of Adam lord Hailes, sister of Patrick first earl of Bothwel, by whom he had a son,
Alexander,—and two daughters.
1st Margaret, married to John, fourth lord Hay of Yester, ancestor of the marquis of Tweeddale.
2. Isabel, married to Nichol Ramsay, an∣cestor of the earl of Dalhousie.
He was succeeded by his son,
XV. ALEXANDER, fifth lord Livingston, who, in his father's lifetime,* got charters un∣der the great seal, (to Alexander, son and apparent heir of James lord Livingston,) of the lands and barony of Calendar, castle thereof, &c. &c. inter 1511 et 1516.
He afterwards got charters from queen Ma∣ry,* of many lands and baronies, (Alexandro domino de Livingston, inter 1542 et 1548.
This lord was a man of great integrity and honour. He was intrusted with the care of queen Mary's education in her young and tender years,* and discharged his duty with great fidelity.
He married, 1st, Janet Stewart, by whom he had no issue.
He married, 2dly,* lady Agnes Douglas, daughter of John second earl of Morton, by whom he had three sons and four daughters.
Page 413 1. John master of Livingston, a youth of great intrepidity and merit, who married a daughter of Malcolm lord Fleming, but was killed at the battle of Pinkie, without issue, his father being then alive.
2. William, his father's heir.
3. Thomas, ancestor of the Livingstons of Haining.
1st daughter, Elizabeth, married to John Buchanan of that ilk.
2. Janet, married to sir Alexander Bruce of Airth.
3. Magdalene, married, 1st, to Arthur Erskine of Grange, brother to John earl of Mar; 2dly, to John Scrimgeour of Glastre, ancestor of lord Dundee.
4. Mary, married to John Semple of Beltree, son of lord Semple.
He died anno 1550, and was succeeded by his son,
XVI. WILLIAM, sixth lord Livingston, who got charters,* under the great seal, of several lands and baronies, inter 1550 et 1558.
He was a man of remarkable integrity and loyalty, a firm and steady friend of queen Mary. He behaved gallantly at the battle of Langside, though her majesty's troops were totally defeated; but lord Livingston never deserted her interest to the very last, and had always a large share of her majesty's confidence and esteem.
He married Agnes, daughter of Malcolm lord Fleming,* ancestor of the earl of Wigton, by whom he had five sons and two daughters.
1. Alexander, afterwards earl of Lithgow.
2. John.
3. Henry,
These two both died young.
4. Sir George Livingston of Ogleface, great grandfather, in a direct male-line, of Alexander Livingston late of Bedlormie, who left a numerous issue, viz. Alexander Livingston now of Bedlormie, Captain William Livingston, Robert Livingston, Esq; who hath several son, &c. This Alexander Livingston of Bedlormie appears to be the male representative of the noble families of Calendar, &c.
5. Sir William Livingston of Cultre, whose male line is now extinct.
1st daughter, Jean, married to Alexander fourth lord Elphingston.
2. Margaret, married, 1st, to sir Lewis Ballantyne of Broughton, lord justice clerk in the reign of king James VI. 2dly, to Patrick Stewart earl of Orkney.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
XVII. ALEXANDER, seventh lord, who got charters under the great seal, Alexandro domino Livingston, of the lands and barony of Calendar,* Airth, Slamannan-muir, &c. &c. inter 1598 et 1600.
He was, like many of his worthy ancestors, a man of singular probity, honour and integrity, and in great favour with king James VI.* who created him earl of Lithgow, lord Livingston of Calendar, &c. by patent dated 15th November 1600.
He got charters under the great seal, Alex∣andro comiti de Lithgow, et haeredibus masculis e corpore suo, quibus deficient, haeredibus mascu∣lis quibuscunque,*cognomen de Livingston geren∣tibus, &c. of the lands and village of Livingston, the Temple-lands of Nether-Carlowrie, the lands of Airth, Abbotshaugh, Bearcross, Saltcoats, Redhaugh, lands about Falkirk, &c. &c. inter 1602 et 1606.
He married lady Eleanor Hay, daughter of Andrew, eighth earl of Errol, a lady of singu∣lar virtue and accomplishments. The king being perfectly well acquainted with the fide∣lity and merit of this noble pair, committed the education of his daughter princess Eliza∣beth, afterwards queen of Bohemia, entirely to their care and management; and they dis∣charged their duty so much to his majesty's satisfaction, that when they delivered her safe at Windsor, they obtained a full acquitance for their care and conduct from the king and council,* (which we have seen) and it contains many great and noble clauses, much to both their honours, and that of the ancestors of the family of Lithgow, dated at Wind∣sor, anno 1603.
By the said lady Eleanor Hay, he left issue two sons and one daughter.
1. Alexander, his heir.
2. Sir James Livingston, afterwards earl of Calendar.
His daughter, lady Margaret, was married to John earl of Wigton.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
XVIII. ALEXANDER, second earl, who got charters under the great seal, Alexandro comiti de Lithgow, of the hereditary office of justiciar and bailie of the whole lands and ba∣rony of Ogleface, the village and lands of Bed∣lormie, Wester-craigs,*&c. the lands and ba∣rony of Herbertslure, with many others, inter 1608 et 1616.
He got also charters of several other lands,*inter 1624 et 1630.
He married, 1st, lady Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of George marquis of Huntly, by whom he had a son,
George, his heir.
He married, 2dly, lady Mary Douglas, eldest daughter of William tenth earl of Angus, Page 414 by whom he had another son,
Alexander, second earl of Calendar. (Vide page 115 of this work,)—and two daughters.
1. Lady Margaret, married, 1st, to sir Tho∣mas Nicholson of Carnock; 2dly, to sir George Stirling of Keir; 3dly, to sir John Stirling of Keir.
2. Lady Eleanor, who died unmarried.
The earl was succeeded by his eldest son,
XIX. GEORGE, third earl of Lithgow, a great loyalist, who suffered many hardships on account of his attachment to the royal family.
Upon the restoration of king Charles II. he was appointed one of the lords of his majesty's privy council, and captain of the royal regiment of foot guards.
In 1681, he resigned that commission, and was constituted justice-general of Scotland; in which office he continued till the year 1689.
He married lady Elizabeth Maule, daughter of Patrick first earl of Panmure, widow of John earl of Kinghorn, by whom he had two sons and one daughter.
1. George, his heir.
2. Alexander, third earl of Calendar, of whom more hereafter.
His daughter, lady Henriet, married to Ro∣bert viscount Oxenford.
He died on the 1st day of February 1690, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
XX. GEORGE, fourth earl of Lithgow, who came early into the revolution, and was sworn one of the lords of the privy council to king William and queen Mary, anno 1692; and being in great favour with his majesty, was appointed one of the commissioners of the treasury.
He married Henriet Sinclair, daughter of Alexander lord Duffus, but dying without is∣sue, anno 1695, his estate and honours devolved upon his nephew James earl of Calen∣dar, son of his brother Alexander, before men∣tioned, to whom we now return.
XX. ALEXANDER, third earl of Calendar, second son of George third earl of Lithgow, married lady Anne Graham, daughter of James marquis of Montrose, by whom he had a son,
James, his heir,—and two daughters.
1. Lady Henriet, who died unmarried.
2. Lady Mary, married to James Graham of Airth, Esq; an eminent lawier, and judge-admiral of Scotland, to whom she had several children.
He died anno 1694, and was succeeded by his son,
XXI. JAMES, fourth earl of Calendar, who succeeded to the estate and honours of Lithgow, upon the death of George the fourth earl, as before observed, was the fifth earl of Lithgow, heretable governor of the castle of Blackness, and hereditary sheriff of the county of Stirling.
He was elected one of the sixteen Scotch peers to the British parliament, anno 1713, but having had the misfortune to be engaged in the rebellion 1715, he was attainted of treason, and his estate and honours were forfeited to the crown.
He married lady Margaret Hay, daughter of John twelfth earl of Errol, whose grandson succeeded to the estate and honours of that noble family, as will be shown hereafter.
By her he had issue a son,
James, lord Livingston, who died young, —and a daughter,
XXII. Lady ANNE LIVINGSTON, who became his sole heiress, and married William fourth earl of Kilmarnock, to whom she had three sons.
XXIII. 1. JAMES, who succeeded to the estate and honours of Errol, in right of his grandmother lady Margaret Hay, before men∣tioned, and is now the fourteenth earl of Errol. Vide pages 255 and 378 of this work, where the other children are mentioned.
ARMS of the earl of Lithgow, &c.
Quarterly, 1st and 4th, argent, three cinque-foils gules, within a double tressure, with flowers de lis vert, for the name of Living∣ston: 2d and 3d, sable, a bend between six billets or, for Calendar; and over all, by way of surtout, in an escutcheon azure, an oak growing out of the base or, within a border argent, charged with eight gilliflowers gules, as a coat of augmentation, for the title of earl of Lith∣gow.
CREST; on a wreath, a demi-savage, wreathed about the temples and waist with laurel proper, holding in his right hand a ba∣ton erect, and in the left a serpent, which is twisted about his arm.
SUPPORTERS; two savages proper, wreathed as the crest, each holding on his exterior shoulder a baton or.
MOTTO; Si je puis.
CHIEF SEATS
Were at Calendar-castle in Stirlingshire, and at the Bridgehouse in Lithgowshire.
Nota, The family were heretable keepers of the palace of Lithgow.

[Greg Livingston]

Welcome to the forum, Bruce.

One thing to note, is that the Livingstons of Linlithgow were Lowland Scots while the MacLea's and Livingstone's are Highland Scots. There is some documentation that indicates that there is some relation between the two but nothing that confirms the connection that I have seen.

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Bruce,
Years ago I had contact with a lady who was of a family that was related to the old Westquarter Livingstone family as branch of that ancient aristocratic Callendar Livingston family and she had some 19th century family documents definitely connecting to her family to a Westquarter Livingston ancestor and I assume linking her Livingston ancestry back to the earliest Livingston ancestor. That was however the only person descended from the Westquarter Livingstone or another branch of the Callendar lowland Livingston family group who has contacted me or this Forum. Over the years I got the impression that may of the family principal Livingston family lines connected to this ancient noble family of Lowland Scotland may have largely died out but I could be wrong about that. There are descendants of Robert Livingston who received a large grant of land in what is present day New York State whose ancestry in Scotland has been said to connect to a branch of the lowland Callendar Livingston family.

Years ago I was touch with Robert Sewell who had a website regarding the Callendar Livingstons and has some expertise on this lowland Livingston family. My area of expertise is however Highland Argyllshire Maclea Livingstone's as you probably have deduced from the most of postings on our Forum over these many years.

The only Stewarts our highland Clan is known for certain to have a historic connection with our Maclea Livingstone Clan is the Western Argyllshire highland Appin Stuart Clan. In 1745 the Highland Appin Stuart's formed a regiment which a number of Highland Argyll Maclea's
served in. In the earlier 18th century records our clan member refer to themselves as Maconlea, Macinlea and Maclea. By the 1750's our clan members in Argyllshire in baptism and marriage records have noticeably begun to refer to themselves no longer as Maconlea or Maclea but by the family name Livingstone. There are a number of theories and a lot of speculation as to why our Highland Argyllshire Clan went with a name change to Livingstone or Livingston but all I know is that after 1751 the name Maconlea Macinlea or Maclea seems to disappear in the Argyllshire records that I have seen and thereafter for reasons unknown all of the birth, baptism and marriage record seem to only refer to our Argyllshire Clan folk as Livingstones or Livingston or sometime spelt Levingston in the Argyllshire Parish records.

Regarding Australia I know that a number of Maclea/Livingstones from parishes of Western Argyllshire settled in Australia in the 1850's encouraged to do so by landlords wanting to clear tenant farmers off their land and replace them with more profitable sheep. These would be however Maclea Livingstones from one of the parishes of Western Argyllshire with no known connection to a lowland Livingstone family. I am afraid that most of the Livingstone families who resided as tenants in our Clan in the 1700's and 1800's in the parishes of Western Argyllshire were for the most part low income tenant farmers and in the 1800's a good many of them migrated to lowland Lanarkshire looking for work or emigrated with their family's to Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. My own Maclea Livingstone ancestor Miles Livingston b. 1775, a native of Morvern Parish, Argyll was hired by Lord Selkirk to be boatbuilder in his colony in British North America in then Hudson's Bay Company Territory and in 1812 he departed Scotland for the Colony.

Are you descended from a Livingstone family that settled in the 1800's in Australia?

regards,
Donald Livingstone Clink
Clan Maclea Livingstone
Historian

[Bruce]

Hello Donald,

The background to my interest in the ancestors was the insertion of the name "Stewart" into our McColl name ( my Mothers Family) to celebrate a blood link to the "Stewarts of Appin" and one which I have yet to qualify, the McColl`s were from Appin ... if you ever see a link I would be grateful[.
The family did intermarry the Livingstons my G.Great Aunty Elizabeth McColl married Hugh Livingston in Appin and I have yet to track down the other links that we reputedly have.
My Fathers mother ( my Grandmother "Eliza Wallace" ) gives me William Livingston as my 13th G.Grandfather (1481-1545) and Thurston Livingston as his 8th G.Grandparent and therefore my 21st GG.

regards Bruce

[Greg Livingston]

Something to note on the McColl's. When I visited Scotland in 2017 and stayed with our Chief on Lismore, we toured the cemetery at the Kirk there. There were a lot of McColl's in the cemetery and still on the island.

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Bruce,
Indeed the McColls are a old Western family group who are known to have served with the Stewart of Appin's Appin Regiment during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion as did our own Clan members then referred to as Western Argyllshire Maclea's or Maconleas and subsequently Highland Livingstone's. There were lots of McColls, Stewarts and Livingstones in the Appin, Lismore and other neighbouring Parishes in the 18th and 19th centuries and certainly long before that.

Was your father a McColl? Is your family also closely related to the family of James Livingston and Isabella Clarke who settled in Australia that you mentioned. I was particularly interested in your info regarding James and Isabella because in the past we had some discussion about them on the forum and other Livingstons that settled in Australia and New Zealand.

I do not know a lot about Clan McColl as the focus here is pretty much Clan Maclea Livingstone l but I can tell you that the Argyllshire McColls were most definitely ardent supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 like our own Highland Clan serving in the Appin Regiment and unfortunately McColl clan members suffered significant casualties during that Rebellion.

There was one lady from England years ago who I was contact whose grandmother or great grandmother of was of Livingstone-Fenton family most definitely known in the 19th century records to be one of remaining branches of old aristocratic Westquarter Livingstons connected to that old lowland Livingston family group you mention. That was the only person years ago to contact me who mentioned a family connection to that old lowland Livingston family connected to the earlier Callendar Livingston family line. Robert Sewell is the expert on Callendar Livingstons. I have always wondered about descendants of this old lowland Livingston family line being out there somewhere in the world, but have, with one exception only, never in the past been contacted at the Forum here or located a known descendant of one of branches of the old Callendar Livingstones. It is however quite interesting to learn from you of your grandmother's information linking your family with that very old Livingston family line.


regards,

Donald (Livingstone) Clink
Historian
Clan Maclea Livingstone.