Making Connections
Strathblane Heritage Website Contact Form
We regularly receive messages through the website, some are offering information and some are asking for information and we try to help where we can, within the limits of our small committee.
We were excited at the beginning of September to receive a message from the other side of the Atlantic. The sender, Jane VINTON is a descendent of an old Strathblane family, who had emigrated ‘lock, stock & barrel’ to Vermont in 1832. She had found our website by searching the internet.
Not only that, but she was planning to visit before the end of the month. and was wondering if any living descendants were still around! The name we were given was McLAM, a very unusual name in 19th century Scotland. Two of the committee members, Anne Balfour, co-chair, and Jane Parfitt, treasurer, who are very enthusiastic amateur genealogists couldn’t resist the intriguing mystery and within hours of.receiving the message they had both started researching.

Before the day was out, Jane Vinton had sent us a copy of the newspaper article which had started her on her search for her Scottish ancestors. Published in 1908 in Vermont, it was a very detailed account of a McLAM family gathering. It included a wealth of genealogical information about the John McLAM who emigrated with nine of his eleven children to Vermont from the Strathblane area in 1832. We were able to confirm that the family had changed their name from McILQUHAM, after which the rest is history, as they say.
With Anne and Jane pursuing different leads we were able to add all four of Jane Vinton’s Scottish 5 X great grandparents to her tree, locating baptism and marriage records. Anne found the family in John Guthrie Smith’s book and found strong connections to the Relief Church of Scotland and The Scottish American Company of Farmers.
At the end of September, Jane Vinton was touring the North of Scotland with her husband and friends. After many emails and WhatsApp messages and calls we hatched a plan. Unfortunately Anne was in France at that point.
Having installed her companions at the Kitchen Window in Killearn for afternoon tea, Jane Vinton joined Jane Parfitt for a whistle stop tour of five locations which we know were associated with her family:

Old Killearn Kirk, where her 5 X GG were married in 1767. Her 4 X GG was baptised here along with her siblings between 1768 and 1784.
Middleton of Mugdock, The family farm as evidenced on baptism records and JGS’s book.
Cairns Church in Milngavie, formerly the Relief Church. Jane’s 5 X GG was minister here from 1799 to 1808.
Barnellan Farm, named in the 1908 newspaper article.
Strathblane Parish Kirk, site of many McILQUHAM marriages and baptisms.
Jane was extremely grateful to us for giving her a unique experience, and not only thanked us with a generous donation, but bought 3 teatowels and a pack of cards. We rendezvoused with the tea drinkers in Strathblane and Jane P. waved them off on their onward journey to Edinburgh.

Anne and Jane would like to make it clear that they headed off down this rabbit hole of their own free will and realise that this was a one off effort for a special occasion. They appreciate the forbearance of their husbands when faced with empty dinner tables and minimal communication from their wives.