More on the Watties Neach debate
Posted by Dawn-Ann on March 12, 2010
I’ve written before on what I have discovered about Watties Neach (there ain’t one). Now I have stumbled upon some fresh evidence that I am correct in my assumption!
In an old edition of the Kirkpatrick Newsletter, dated Jan-Feb-Mar 1990, I found this letter to the editor. It was written by a fellow named Charles Jacobs and reads, in part:
Most of the family information from Scotland states that Alexander and his brother Andrew were born at Watties Neach in Dumfrieshire. In talking with local historians in Dumfries, I was told that there is no such a community in the area and such a name would be meaningless. Before we arrived there, a genealogist ran an inquiry in the local paper about Watties Neach. Several replied that there was a Watties Neuk [Neuch] on property known as Denby Yett. The translation would be something like Walter’s Nook or corner. Watties Neuk is nothing more than a pile of stones in a pasture at this time.
So there you go. Where my previous post says it is Wallace’s Neuch, this one says Walter’s, but in all other details we are in agreement. And the search goes on!
Comments
6 Responses to “More on the Watties Neach debate”Leave a comment, and if you'd like your own picture to show up next to your comments, go get a gravatar!
Dawn-Ann,
Found your blog through a Google search, and this thread on “Watties Neach”, “Wallaces House”, and “Walter’s Neuk” is of particular interest to me also. I have been trying to find out where this location was in Nithsdale/Dumfries Shire for decades, also contacting local historians in Scotland. Finally, a kind old man who had found my website contacted me and gave me quite a bit of information. His name is William Conbhail.
First, he used to work for “…I know the site rather well as I used to work for the Scottish Office Civil Service per Historic Scotland and inspected that site several times.”
He stated that the name Watties Neach was probably mis-interpreted, since: “…Old Scots hand writing has some similarity to Old German Sutterland Script which I am fluent in and when I write Wallace’s House it could be read as Watties Neach! but, someone trying to figure it out. As the “l” doesn’t have a loop and “a” looks a bit like “ie”…”
He sent me links to Ordnance Survey maps of the area and Wallace’s House IS identified on it, and is in the vicinity of our Kirkpatrick Family activity near the Kirkmichael Estates owned by the “Second House of Kirkpatrick” (Closeburn being the first).
Interesting, isn’t it?
Sincerely,
John P. Kirkpatrick
Ellsinore, MO
Hi John! Thank you for posting to my little site. What you say here looks really familiar and I wonder if it wasn’t your exchange with William Conbhail that I discovered online. I think I tried to email you once about it, as I was going to Scotland and wanted to find Wallace’s House but I may have had an old email or something, as I never heard back. I did not manage to find the ruins but I think I got close. Next time I will allow myself much more time.
Are you the “jpkirkpatrick” with the website by the same name? If so, I am listed here. I think it’s amazing work you are doing and it has helped me so much with my research. My goal is to verify the branch from Scotland that “crossed the pond” so many years ago. There are a few theories floating around out there but I haven’t been able to find anything verifiable.
Anyway, thanks again for commenting. It was very nice to hear from you.
Dawn, The search is over. I’ve found Wallace’s House.
Go to this map:
http://www.scottish-places.info/scotgaz/parishes/parmap1008.html
Click on HISTORICAL
Zoom in 5 clicks (be patient–it takes a while to load)
Wallace’s House is jut above the H in KIRKMICHAEL.
Also, I’ve set up a research and sharing site for Kirkpatricks.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~caulleyfamilyinfo/Kirk-Kil-Patrick/Index.html
Hi Tom! Thanks for the links. The map didn’t work for me (I tried it in both browsers), but I can tell from the highway and town names that I was really close when I went searching while I was there. I didn’t have enough time but next time I will make sure I do!
The collaboration site looks interesting, but I could not find a way to turn the music off so I didn’t stay too long. I will come back again when I have more time.
Onward and upwards!
Dawn
Dawn,
Just mute your volume while you are there. LOL
Tom
That would work if I weren’t trying to listen to my OWN music! ;)