True homecoming at Tynron

Jul 3 2009 by Sara Bain, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE peace of the remote, deserted cottage of Cormilligan near Tynron was broken briefly this weekend when 38 descendants of the McCaw family marked the Homecoming Year by gathering together from New Zealand, the USA, Mexico, Greece and England.

They joined local people in celebrating the lives of their ancestors William and Isabella McCaw who emigrated to Otago in New Zealand with nine of their 10 surviving children in 1880.

The family have held two formal reunions in New Zealand, first in 1972 and then in 1981, but this is the first time that they have journeyed as a group to Scotland.

The event was generously supported by the Dumfries and Galloway Homecoming Fund.

William McCaw (1818-1902) was a shepherd and famous in the local area for his book of popular theology Truth Frae ‘Mang the Heather and his lifelong contribution to the Dumfries and Galloway Standard.

When made redundant aged 61 William, Isabella and nine of their children decided to emigrate to New Zealand. Arriving in Wellington in September 1880, the family moved to South Otago, where William became a prominent elder in the Tokomairiro Church in Milton.

The five girls in the family Mary, Jean, Helen, Agnes and Sarah Isabella all married and lived with their families in the Milton area. Of the four sons Robert was a farmer in Waitahuna, both John and Robert were Presbyterian ministers and William was architect for the Southland School Board.

The family’s link to Scotland continued, both through letters sent to daughter Marion who had stayed behind and through William’s monthly Notes from New Zealand column, in which he gave the readers of the Dumfries and Galloway Standard regular accounts of life in New Zealand – from climate and agriculture to church affairs and politics.

The weekend began with a family reunion on Friday evening in Moniaive where many relatives from different continents met each other for the first time.

On Saturday, family members and local people met at Tynron Parish Hall and were welcomed by the Chair of Tynron Community Council, George Freeborn.

After travelling to Kirkconnel Farm, they then retraced the steps of their forefathers by walking to the McCaws’ former home Cormilligan.

They were piped up to the doorstep by William Prentice from Thornhill.

Over the last 40 years the McCaw clan – which is now of extensive size – have maintained the links to Dumfriesshire as hundreds of family members have journeyed to the now ruined cottage of Cormilligan to connect with the family’s Scottish origins.

Over a mile and a half from the nearest road, one is startled to find on Cormilligan’s walls signatures from McCaws in New Zealand, Australia, America and Canada. On Saturday the family thronged into the cottage and added their own signatures to the visitor’s book which is left there.

The celebrated local poet, Rab Wilson then read an Elegy, which was especially composed for the event.

John Stewart, great grandson of William McCaw said: “I have travelled to Cormilligan several times over the past 30 years, but this was a truly memorable afternoon.

“To be met by a piper and welcomed back so warmly by the local community has meant this has truly felt like a homecoming.”

In the evening, a barbeque and music, poetry and talks was laid on for the guests where Rab Wilson read his haunting Scots sonnet sequence Cormilligan which records an episode of the Lowland Victorian diaspora as seen through the eyes of the McCaw family.

Although the family cannot (yet) find a link to All Black captain Richie McCaw, an All Black was in attendance.

Bill McCaw, now in his 80s, was the oldest McCaw to attend the gathering. He played 32 matches for the All Blacks including five tests and was captain on one occasion against North of Scotland at Aberdeen in December 1953.

He said: “The weekend has been a wonderful experience and I thank all those who have made it possible.”

The youngest McCaw descendant present was six-month-old Itzel Joy Stewart Nava, who had travelled with her parents from Mexico.

John Maxwell owner of Cormilligan, and who kindly permitted the visit, joined Bill McCaw in cutting the celebratory cake.

Mary Stewart, great great grandaughter of William McCaw and author of a history of McCaw's life, thanked the Parish Hall Committee and everyone in the community of Tynron for their fantastic hospitality and commented that it had been “a truly magnificent event. The McCaw family have certainly been welcomed home”.

The evening finished with a ceilidh and the McCaw family showed that they had not forgotten their roots by enthusiastically joining in the dancing.

To complete the weekend of activities, on the Sunday the family were given a tour of the local churches associated with the McCaw family by Ian Millar and then gathered for a Farewell lunch in Tynron Parish Hall