Clan Colquhoun: 2014

My last name is Burrell. The Burrell family hails from England and settled in Victoria, British Columbia. While I am extremely proud to represent the Burrell history at a young age I began to notice something, I was already taller then the whole side of the family. So despite the fact that Burrell was my name, based on my physical characteristics, I was a Colquhoun of Scotland. The Colquhouns are my mother’s side of the family and have quite an interesting history of their own.

(The Colquhoun family crest)

At the center of the Colquhoun lands is the village of Luss. Located on the west bank of Loch Lomond the village has been conserved and is noted as quite picturesque.

(Luss as seen on a map of Loch Lomond)

(A village street in Luss)

However, the origin of the clan goes back even further to the first half of the 13^th century. It began on the banks of the River Clyde in the small town of Old Kilpatrick. The lands bearing the name Colquhoun lay close and when the Earl of Lennox granted these lands to Humphrey of Kilpatrick in roughly 1241, his grandson Ingram decided to change his title to Ingram of Colquhoun. It was not until about 1368 that the Colquhoun family came into the land on the banks of Loch Lomond. Robert, the 5^th Colquhoun married the daughter of the 6^th Laird of Luss. She is known only as “the fair maid of Luss” as history has forgotten her real name. She was the Heiress to the Luss Estates though, and through her Robert inherited much along the west bank of Lock Lomond. Following this stroke of luck, the first Colquhoun house built on Loch Lomond was completed in the 16^th century. Known as Rossdu Castle, it hosted many visitors including Mary, Queen of Scots. All that remains today is a single tattered façade.

(the ruined facade at Rossdu Castle)

The most notable and bloody event in the clans history took place in February 1603, when the Colquhoun’s met the MacGregor clan in battle. It took place in Glen Fruin, which at the time was populated with many farms. The fertile lands were Colquhoun property but proved to tempting for the MacGregors whose own harsh mountainous lands prompted them into a lifestyle of raiding neighboring clans livestock, as well as looting and burning homes. The battle turned out to be a disaster and the Colquhoun’s forced to retreat back to Rossdu. The MacGregors slaughtered many Colquhoun followers and for months possessions stolen from Glen Fruin were sold. At the head of Glen Fruin, a stone commemorates those Colquhouns who died, perhaps as many as 140. It was said that only two MacGregors were killed, but this is considered too low a figure.

(MacGregor Tartan)

(Colquhoun Tartan)

(historical map of clan lands)

Sir James, the 23^rd Colquhoun, built a new Colquhoun home in the latter part of the 18^th century. Built in the latest classical style, near Rossdu Castle, the new home was known as Rossdu House. What started as a two –story square building had two wings and a portico added to it by Sir James son, also called James. Amazingly, this house still stands today and until 1985 the acting Colquhoun clan chief resided in the house. In 1985, Rossdu House was leased to the Lach Lomond golf Club (home of the Scottish Open) and it has been restored and refurbished to its former glory. It now serves as the stately clubhouse and headquarters of the club.

(Rossdu House)

(Rossdu House, now a golf course clubhouse)

Sir James not only built Rossdu House, but also was also responsible for having an early chapel at Luss demolished and replaced by a new church. The next Sir James Colquhoun then replaced this church as a memorial tribute to his father in 1875. A number of windows in the church are dedicated to family members.

(The Church Sir James Colquhouns son constructed as a memorial)

(Inside the church)

A quick tangent, where did the family motto come from? Visible on the family crest seen at the top of this piece, the Colquhoun motto is, “Si Je Puis.” French was the universally accepted language at the time but it translates to, “I will if I can.” Not the most inspiring family motto but there is a brief story behind it. In 1424, King James I of Scotland commanded Sir John Colquhoun to seize possession of the strongly fortified Dumbarton Castle from the Earl of Lennox. Sir John Colquhoun replied to the Kings order with, “Si Je Puis,” and the family motto was born. In case you were wondering they successfully stole the castle without a drop of blood and in return the king bestowed a coat of arms with a crest showing a stag’s head and two deep hounds as supporters, bearing the motto “Si Je Puis”.

(the family crest seen here at my Grandmothers on Bowen Island)

Now that the Colquhoun history is laid out on in full, although briefly, how did I come to share blood with this Scottish Clan? The answer is simple, good old-fashioned immigration. My great-grandfather, Walter Forbes Colquhoun was born and raised in the Colquhoun lands, but found work in his late teens as a shipbuilder in Aberdeen. He pursued this career for a few years quite happily until he met the love of his life. My great-grandmother, Jeanie Cooper, hailed from Edinburgh and as the story (mysteriously?) goes, they met at some sort of dance, unfortunately the details are now fuzzy. However, what is not fuzzy is they were both born at the beginning of the 20^th century. In his early twenties, with a new wife and an interest in at least one child, Canada seemed as if it could provide a good opportunity for the young family to grow and be successful. Knowing this, the couple held off on children briefly to allow my great-grandfather time to make the journey to the new world and establish himself before sending for his bride and other family members. His destination was Valleyfield, Quebec, which at the time was a popular landing spot to send new immigrants from the United Kingdom. Walter was employed by the Valleyfield paper mill and ended up working there his entire life.

(A young Walter top left, Jeanie right, Pictured top right is my Grandfather Ian.)

(Walter and Jeanie, right side, with my Grandmothers parents on their wedding day)

(The Valleyfield Mill)

My grandfather, Ian Colquhoun was born in 1927, on March 20. He grew up in Valleyfield and it wasn’t until his late teens that he moved to Montreal and met my grandmother, Barbara Donaghue. Ian made a quick impression (thankfully for my sake) on Barbara and after they met for the first time she was likely to be waiting by the phone for his next call. She didn’t have to wait long and the two quickly fell in love. My grandfather had aspirations of becoming an engineer, but unfortunately money was tight and putting himself through university was a difficult proposition. Luckily, my grandmother is a strong women and she had no problem working as a secretary to put my grandfather through school. He graduated and was hired amidst the chaos of getting married and having a child. At the age of 24, my grandmother gave birth to my mother, Leslie Jean Colquhoun on November 15, 1952. What followed graduation was a job as an engineer for Air Liquide Canada (Liquid Air), as well as two more children, my Uncle Ian Thomas (Tommy) and my Uncle Neil who is also six foot five and a throwback to the old clan. As my grandfather rose up the Air Liquide ranks, the family was forced to move around Canada, first to Toronto, back to Quebec, to Winnipeg, to Edmonton, and ultimately Vancouver. This is where my part in the family story begins after another lucky meeting between my mother and my father Keith Burrell, at the UBC faculty of law. I was born January 23, 1990, the second of boy of two children. My understanding of the Colquhoun family began with my grandfather. First I was curious why the name was different and soon I became enamored with it due to my grandfather and the kind man he was. He was my best friend as a child and like me was quite tall. His laugh was booming and he could be counted on as the life of the party. Many of my best memories as a young child involved fishing with him and he even used to let me drive the boat at 2 mph around our bay on Bowen. He was quite content to cast a line out of the boat and waste the afternoon away. He passed away in March of 2000, and not a day goes by where I don’t think about the man he was and the impact he had on my life. Anyway that’s the sentimental part that led me to want to achieve a greater understanding of the Colquhoun name and tradition. I have been told I am the spitting image of my Scottish ancestors down to my thick hair and tall frame. I look forward to traveling to Luss one day to take part in my cultures history. Until then I’m just proud to be a Colquhoun because my grandfather represented the name so beautifully.