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Throughout September we have been celebrating all things Clan Munro. We have met some famous faces, visited many sites, and gained great insight into the history of this ancient clan. Finally, we called upon the valued Clan members to share their stories and we had a wonderful response; read the blog to find out more!
Read the Munro Stories
David Munroe
David got in touch and sent us some fantastic photos of his family's trip to Foulis Castle! David says, "Please find a few photos from my family’s trip to Foulis Castle in 2016, the ancestral home of the Munro clan."
"Dave Munroe & family at the front steps of Foulis Castle"
"This is Dave Munroe & family with Mrs. E. Munro (seated), the matriarch of Clan Munro, inside her home, Foulis Castle in 2016"
"Foulis Castle"
"This is a picture of the current chief of Clan Munro, Hector William Munro of Foulis. This was taken in 2018 at Foulis Castle. He is discussing a number of distinctions of various tartans worn by clan Munro."
"Another pic of Hector Munro guiding us through Foulis Castle in 2018."
"Here is a photo of me (left) and my brother Richard Mazzaferro. He also proudly wears Munro tartan. Richard has been the Master of Ceremonies at the Scottish Games in Altamont, NY for the past few years."
"This is my wife Terri Munroe and me at the St. Andrew’s Society of Albany, NY."
"Here is just a fun picture of my daughter, Leighanne Munroe, with “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones, taken at the Scottish Games at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH."
Thanks David, we love the photos!
Alenna Patterson
Alenna who lives in Central Queensland, Australia sent in her story about her Munro heritage. Read on to find out more!
"One of my maternal 3 x great grandmother's was a lady called Jane Munro. Jane came to Australia from Scotland, having been born in the Saltburn, Invergordon area. She spoke Gaelic, and when anyone visited who spoke the language, she would speak it with them. I'm unsure if she taught any of her children. If she did, by the time it got to my generation it wasn't being passed down, that's for sure. Roma (in Queensland) had a large number of Scottish and Irish families settle there, and some of the Irish families had started in Scotland themselves, so I think she would have had a good number of people to speak it with to stay in practice.
Jane's parents were William Munro and Ann Ross, who also had Thomas, Robert (who left to move to Canada), Ann, Isobel/Margaret, Catherine and William (whose daughter later lived with Jane in Australia).
The story I've been told is that she was either a lady's maid, or a lady's companion when she arrived in Queensland, though I haven't found any concrete information on the ship she arrived on. She married John Lines at a property they were both working on at Condamine, Queensland, and went on to have a total of 9 children with him, 8 of whom survived their first year.
Their first child was an unnamed girl, who died the same day. She was followed by William John Lines, Hannah Jane Lines, Alexander Munro Lines, Marion Jessie Lines, Jessie Sophia Lines, Charles Duncan Lines, Minnie Beatrice (or Minnie Theresa) Lines, and Mary Isobel Lines. I descend from her son Charles Duncan, and Munro or McKenzie were commonly given as a middle name for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond (one of my brother's middle names is McKenzie).
At some point, Jane's brother William Munro died and his daughter Williamina McKenzie Munro went to live with her aunt in Australia. Poor Lena, as she was apparently known, passed away from tuberculosis in 1900, and 6 years later Jane lost her second youngest daughter Minnie to the same disease, not long before she was due to be married. Aside from these losses, Jane's family was otherwise spared from disease or major injury, and she lived to be in her 80's, staying with her family in the Roma district she'd lived in for so long after her marriage in Queensland.
Unfortunately, she was not often in front of a camera, and I only have a photocopy of a seated portrait of her instead of anything with better quality, like with her daughters.
She's always struck me as a formidable woman, who was as tough as the land around her, and not someone I would have crossed lightly, given she travelled to the other side of the world for the hope of a better life and then proceeded to thrive. Having done some recent family history research (finding certificates, tracking down locations, etc.), she most likely applied the toughness bred into her from her homeland to her new home, and matched it strength for strength, blow for blow. The areas around Saltburn, Invergordon and Inverness are worlds apart from Roma, Queensland, Australia (it's very arid for a start, and can be both intensely hot in summer and freezing cold in winter), but each would require a hardiness and stubbornness of character not often found or utilized today."
Thank you Alenna for sharing, wonderful to read about your Munro ancestry!
Ross Munro
Next up is Ross from Canada, who shares a bit about his trip to Scotland back in the 1970s:
"My name is Ross Munro and I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada- my family is Scottish several generations back but we always grew up aware of our Scottish ancestry.
My parents took all of us 5 small kids (all with Scottish names: myself (Ross), Bruce, James, Ian and Cameron) on a barnstorming family vacation to Europe in 1973 where we spent a few days driving around Scotland in a camper van (where we slept usually upon parking in a farmer's field in the countryside).
I remember we all bought tartan tams and a Munro family plaque with our own tartan design as well as our Munro official slogan: Dread God (not the cheeriest slogan...ha!). My father was motivated to bring his kids to Europe to commemorate his own memories of his father (my grandfather) who served and fought in Europe during WW2 with the Queen's Own Cameron regiment based out of Winnipeg.
I also remember being amazed while in Scotland during that trip over 50 years ago at how many old castles there were everywhere.
I never ventured into the local cuisine as I imagine I would have preferred fish n chips over a bowl of haggis as a 9 year old foodie!
My wife Maria and I are a filmmaking team here now living and working in Vancouver and we have a new film we've submitted to film festivals- including some in Scotland. So, of course, I'd love to return to the ancient ancestral country of my roots and maybe- just maybe- try some haggis and a wee dram of local whiskey!"
Thank you for sharing, Ross, we hope you get to come over again!
Elizabeth Monroe James
Liz contacted us after finding out about Munro being our Clan of the Month and sent in some lovely photos!
She says, "It is a Teddy bear I had covered in the Munro tartan. The material was from the kilt my grandfather gave me when I was about 13 years of age! I am now 79!! As it was just sitting in a drawer, I decided to have large and small bears covered in the material for all my grandchildren. 9 of them have had a bear plus key rings made and a cross body bag made for myself.
The reason we have the Munro tartan is it is the maiden name of my paternal grand mother. On this side we all have Monroe as our middle names. All my cousins, their children, my three children and 8 out of 9 of my grandchildren etc, so it goes on!! The Monroe means we are related to President Monroe of the USA. 1819 to 1825 appx. This is all shown on our family tree!
My eldest, a lawyer, was in Washington and had a photo taken with the bust of President Monroe in I believe the Library of Congress!! My name Elizabeth Monroe Ernest /James is also featured in the book on Wimbledon written by John Barrett listing players who played at Wimbledon. I managed to play in the champs from 1967 to 1971. Monroe is there!!
Adding to it, my youngest son, his company is Monroe Partners based in London and another of his business with my daughter is Monroe Homes based in the Cotswolds. Her car reg even looks like Monroe! MO74ROE!!"
Thanks so much for sharing, Liz, we love how passionate you are about your Munro ancestry!
Pauline Cox
Pauline sent in her a wee piece about her Munro ancestry. She says, "my story is about my ancestor Margaret Munro. Way back in the 1800's, I don't know the exact date, she did the unthinkable. She eloped with her father's coachman, an Irish gentleman. They eventually landed in Tasmania Australia. I am 8th generation, still living in Australia.
It has been very difficult to find out much about her. I only know what was passed down by word of mouth. My grandmother remembered her sitting by the fireside."
We wonder if anyone knows any more about Margaret Munro to help Pauline? We can pass on the message to Pauline if you do!
Bill Munro from Schenectady Pipe Band
Previously we spoke with Bill Munro from the Schenectady Pipe Band - watch our video interview below!
Unfortunately September has come to an end, that certainly doesn't mean our love for Clan Munro is over, so be sure to get in touch with us if you fancy chatting all things Munro!
