Our Valour© Vol. 3, No. 1  -  Jan 2008

THE COLLECTOR OF MALABAR - By John Logan Marjoribanks, Gavinton, Berwickshire, Scotland

The car juddered to a halt in a cloud of dust. The driver turned to me incredulously and said, “Do you mean to tell me I am sitting in the same car as the great grandson of William Logan?”
“Well, yes”, I replied, surprised by the reaction to my casual remark of a few moments earlier.
     It was February 1996 and we had been driving along a dusty road in Maharashtra, India, to visit an agricultural project, which my host for the day was taking me to see. He had mentioned that he had previously been an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). His last post had been as Collector of Calicut (now Kozhikode) in Kerala, southern India.
     “That's interesting”, I'd said, “My grandmother was born near there. Her father was the Collector of Malabar in the 1870s. I wonder if you ever saw his name in the records? He was called William Logan.” And that's when the brakes slammed on!
     But why, I wondered, should an administrator of the British Raj 120 years ago cause such a reaction in 1996? Clearly I would have to find out more.
     William Logan was the son of a tenant farmer in Berwickshire, Scotland, raised on the farm of Ferniecastle in the rolling arable land of the Merse, lying a few miles north of the River Tweed and the border with England. He was a bright lad, sent off to study at Musselburgh Academy near Edinburgh, where he became Dux (top scholar) at the age of 15 in 1856. I still have his heavy silver 'Dux' medal.
     The following year, when he enrolled at Edinburgh University to read Science, events were stirring on the other side of the world that would have a profound effect on his life. That was the year of what was to become known to the British as the Indian Mutiny, when sepoys in the Indian Army rebelled against their officers. What had started with a rumour that the new powder cartridges were greased with pig or cow fat (anathema to Muslims and Hindus respectively) escalated into a major rebellion against the British Raj. When the fighting was over, the British undertook a major review of their administration of India. Out went the rule of the East India Company and in came official Government administration. Out went the purchase of commissions and in came open competition for the new Madras Civil Service.
      Young William took advantage of the opportunity this gave to bright but impecunious young men such as he and sat the new entrance exams for the MCS during his last year at university. He was successful and set off in 1862, at the tender age of 21, on the long passage to India as one of the first intake of 'competition wallahs' as their older colleagues snobbishly dubbed them.
     In his first ten years in the service, he held a number of posts, becoming Sub-Collector and Joint Magistrate of Malabar when he was just 26. In 1872 he returned to Scotland, like many of his kind, to find himself a wife, which he duly did, marrying Miss Anne Selby Burrell Wallace, daughter of an Edinburgh banker, in the December of that year. The following year, they returned to India where he was appointed Acting District and Sessions Judge of North Malabar. His first child, my grandmother Mary Ord Logan, was born there, in Tellicherry, in October 1873. Within a year he was transferred to South Malabar and the family moved to Calicut. In 1875, he became Collector and Magistrate of Malabar, a post he was to hold, with some interruptions, until he resigned from the service and returned to Scotland in 1888.
     But why is William Logan fondly remembered to this day in the country in which he made his career? The answer lies in two things.
     In 1881, he was appointed to head a Commission of Inquiry into disturbances among the Mappila people, Muslim cultivators in Malabar among whom there had been unrest for many years, culminating recently in the murder of a landlord. After a thorough investigation, Logan identified the cause of the unrest as an unfair land tenure system that discriminated in favour of the landlords. He recommended fundamental changes in the law that would secure tenants' rights and render them less liable to suffer economically at the hands of the largely Hindu landlords. This, he felt, would remove the root cause of their unrest.
     Logan's recommendations were too radical for the Government of his day and, in the words of a 1981 study entitled “William Logan – Agrarian Relations in Malabar” by Dr K.K.N.Kurup of the University of Calicut, “His report was shelved and given a safe burial. It was a political mistake on the part of the government”. Dr Kurup's study ends with the words: “William Logan was the pioneer to demand tenancy reform a century ago in Malabar society.” The Government of Kerala finally enacted the changes to the law he recommended in 1882 in 1980.
     The post of Collector was one of great responsibility, particularly in the larger Districts. Malabar in 1881 was a wide swathe of land on the southwest coast of India, 150 miles long with a population of 2.4 million. The Collector was the top-ranking administrator, with sweeping powers and responsibilities, one of which was to prepare a gazetteer or manual describing his district. The way in which this should be done was largely left to the Collector to decide. William Logan's response was to prepare a manual so comprehensive, so thorough and so carefully researched that it remains a fascinating document to this day. It was originally published in 1887 and has since been reprinted seven times. In 2000, a new edition with modern commentaries was published. You can find it easily on Google!
     Back in 1996, the former administrator with whom I had been travelling that dusty road in Maharashtra had told me that the Indian Administrative Staff College in Delhi was still using William Logan's Malabar Manual as a textbook. So William Logan is known throughout India as the epitome of an enlightened administrator deeply concerned with the interests of the people for whom he was responsible.
     I have a copy of the Malabar Manual lying on my desk as I write. On the fly leaf it says “Presented to Mr John Logan Marjoribanks by the Malabar Development Board and the Malabar Chamber of Commerce, Calicut, 14.5.'96”. But how that came to be given to me is another story...

Our Valour© Vol. 2, No. 4  -  Oct 2007

GOING HOME TO RAFFORD, MORAYSHIRE - Frank Logan, Dartmouth, NS, Canada

For our vacation, and anniversary this year we chose to go home. Home of course being the home of my ancestors; Morayshire, Scotland.

     In 2003 my wife and I were married at Dalhousie Castle. At that time I did not have all of the information I needed to track down the home of my progenitors, but I knew that someday I would. That someday came much sooner that I would have imagined.

     I was soon able to make a very complete paternal lineage back 10 generations to abt 1650. The stories I was able to glean from my Logan past were incredible. I needed to go home; now that I knew where home was. The oldest surviving grave marker for my family was my 6th Great Grandfather, Rev. Robert Logan, father of the man who founded my home town Sheet Harbour.

Our Valour© Vol. 2, No. 1  -  Jan 2007

CLAN LOGAN DNA RESEARCH - J.J. “Jim” Logan, McLean, VA, USA

In the last instalment, we described where DNA is found and the types of variations in DNA that are useful for genealogy. In this instalment we will concentrate on testing and reporting relative to the Y chromosome.  As described before, this type of testing, typically called Y-DNA testing, is applicable only to males and provides information about the strict paternal ancestry of that male. This is especially useful to genealogists in that the surname also follows the paternal ancestry.

     The primary markers for Y-DNA as used by genealogists are actually short tandem repeats (STRs) within the Y chromosome. Thus the test value associated with a marker is just a number that indicates the length of a segment of DNA; it is reported as a count of the number of repeats. A Y-DNA test report is thus just a list of the names of a set of markers and a numeric count associated with that marker. When testing a specific set of markers, we usually find that the report for a father and his son is identical. However, occasionally one or more markers have a higher or lower count. The rarity of such mutations is very useful to genealogists since descendants for a recent common ancestor will typically have reports that are very similar. However, the further back in time is the common ancestor, the more differences are found and thus we can distinguish families that do not have a common ancestry within the past few centuries.

     Five years ago, a typical Y-DNA report provided values for only twelve markers. If the report for two men was identical or differed by a single count on one or two markers, this was an indication of possible significant genetic relationships and warranted further research. If the reports were significantly different, this was a strong indication that there was not a close genetic relationship, either because the ancestry was two far distant in time or there was a break in the paternal line such as an adoption. The 12-marker test is still available as an entry level test as, for example, in the National Geneographic Project being sponsored jointly by National Geographic and IBM with financial support of the Wiatt foundation.

     However, the more markers tested, the better the inferences about common ancestry. Many of the members of the Logan DNA Project started with a 25-marker test. For this test a near match is a much stronger indication of recent common ancestry. The standard now is a 37-marker test and three-quarters of our members have been tested at this level either with the initial order or as an upgrade. The company doing our testing has recently offered a 67-marker test and seven of our members have been tested at this level.

     This closeness of Y-DNA results can be very significant in telling us what families with which to compare notes and get clues as to where to concentrate our research. But ‘negative’ reports can also be of significance. For example, if two families think their ancestry converge a few centuries back, a negative report suggests that they should go looking for an error in their reconstructed genealogy.  They may find a misidentified ancestor or an undocumented adoption.

     Comparison of Y-DNA reports with persons tested outside the surname project can also be helpful.  For example, we currently have a member whose surname is Logan and who traces that pedigree back to a family where his ancestor was apparently adopted; he does not know the name of family of the adoptee and is thus looking for DNA matches outside the project to find his biological ancestry. Conversely, we have a member whose surname is not Logan but whose DNA test is a near match for some of our Logans. He is thus looking within the Logans to find his biological ancestry.

     But what is the nature of these comparisons. As illustrated in the sample report below, the report simply gives a set of numeric values for the various markers tested. The relative closeness of match between two reports can be determined by comparing the respective values for each marker, and in turn, making note of any differences. For example, if two 37-marker test results are compared and they are found to match for each marker, then this is a very strong indication that the two persons tested have a common ancestor within a few generations back. A single mismatch is still a strong indication of a recent common ancestry but as the number of mismatches increases, the researcher may expect to find the ancestry further back in time.

     It should be noted, as described in the previous instalment, mutations are random occurrences, giving all our conclusions a statistical component.  There are no formulas for precisely computing how many generations back in time the common ancestor may be found.  Qualitative comparisons and development of relationship charts can be very informative. Formulas provide probability ranges that help us in interpreting the significance of near matches.

     Within the Logan DNA project, we now maintain charts that graphically show the genetic relationships between members tested.  These charts, based on 37-marker data, are available to members of the Pre1800Logans mailing list on Yahoo. These charts clearly show several clusters of families where the clustering is determined by nearness of match.  However, the overall charts can become quite complex as the size of the project grows. To illustrate a set of relationships, we look at only as small segment of one of our charts as shown below. This chart includes the results of thirteen tests, representing eleven different families. The larger ovals in this illustration represent the specific Y-DNA tests. For privacy reasons, the name of the person tested in not used but rather, the family is identified by his most distant ancestor. We use the first name of this ancestor (the common surname is Logan) and assign that ancestor a unique family number since we have multiple Davids, Johns, Williams, Thomases, etc. The number in parenthesis is a kit number uniquely identifying the test. If you follow connecting lines from one test indicator to another, the symbols on the lines are identifiers of which markers (if any) are different. For example, starting with test for a member of the family of David, #1009 (shown near the top and to the left) and moving along connecting lines down and to the right to the test for a member of family of Ezekiel #1012, then we find there is only a single difference and that occurs at marker DYS 439. The immediate inference is that there is recent common ancestor between the two families.  In fact, we believe there is a common ancestor for all the families represented here and some believe that the common ancestry can be traced back to the Sir Robert Logan, seventh Laird of Restalrig, Scotland, but most of us are not willing to accept the available data as proof.  We are still hoping for DNA participant who is a proven descendant of this Logan. This is the same Sir Robert Logan implicated in “The Gowrie Conspiracy” as described by Stephanie Logan Falls in her ongoing series in Our Valour.

     This cluster is our largest cluster and includes approximately one fifth of all Logans tested. We have other clusters, though not as large. The fact that there are several clusters with significant differences between clusters is an indication that there were multiple origins of the name Logan, since the 12th century when surnames first became common.

Our Valour© Vol. 1, No. 3  -  Jul 2006

CLOTH OF A NATION - Brian Wilton, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland

“It’s a great honour to be custodian of what must be the greatest international icon in the world.” says Brian Wilton, Director of Operations for the Scottish Tartans Authority.

     “There is no other textile design in existence which has the unique flexibility of tartan - its infinite design possibilities that can permutate up to six or more colours plucked from the spectrum and then lay them out in an equally infinite number of ways.

     There is no other textile design in the world which allows the wearer to celebrate and proudly proclaim that “I come from this country ; this is my family;  my clan; my city; district, company, regiment, college, football team; the list is almost endless!”

     Today’s guardians of the ‘cloth of a nation’ are the Scottish Tartans Authority — established in 1995 and funded by membership subscriptions, contributions from the tartan industry and fees for the range of services it offers. Its supporters and members range from Scotland’s largest weavers and retailers, to long-respected academics on both sides of the Atlantic and private individuals and small businesses around the globe.

     Its function in life? A bewilderingly wide range of tasks epitomised by its slogan of “Preserving the past, Promoting the Future”. One of its first projects was to establish an independent national archive of tartans. In electronic form it is a huge database – the International Tartan Index (ITI) – in which are safeguarded the patterns and histories of over 6,000 tartans stretching from the Takla Makan tartan of around 1200BC to a new school tartan designed in 2006AD - last week in fact! Supplementing that are thousands of woven samples that form the largest tartan cloth collection in the world. New tartans are added each week – recent additions have come from Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and of course the USA – and applicants line up to get their tartans Recorded (Registered) in the ITI and receive an illuminated certificate.

     The Authority also established its highly regarded website which now attracts up to 1500 visitors a day at times, the majority of them looking for their tartan. Letters, e-mails and phone calls besiege the Authority’s new Perthshire headquarters at times – asking a multitude of questions – “Where can we get this tartan? What should I wear to a Scottish Ball? Where can I buy tartan ribbon? Can you identify the tartan in this black and white photograph? Will you design a tartan for our company? Will you come and talk to our club?” 

     The dispensing of such free information and advice is a very large - and welcome - part of the Authority’s many tasks.  It’s particularly keen on education and has recently devised and delivered a programme for primary schools, which mixed history and craft to excellent effect with the end product being a new school tartan designed by the pupils.

     Dealing with the tartan industry and lobbying on its behalf is another extremely important task. With cheap tartan imports threatening jobs and jeopardising the whole high-quality image of Scotland’s Highland dress industry, there’s plenty work for the Authority to do. That includes not only fighting the tartan forgers from poorer developing countries but also highlighting the benefits of buying the ‘Real McCoy’ tartan, crafted in a Scottish mill and turned into valuable articles of heritage clothing in the hands of skilled sewers and kilt makers.

     A very pleasurably function in which an increasing part is played by the Authority in it’s new headquarters and showroom, is identifying and promoting small craft operators whose imagination and flair are using tartan in many innovative ways – hand-woven evening shawls to match a partner’s kilt or the revival of 18th century Mauchline jewellery. “In these days of the Internet,” explained Brian, “working from a croft in some isolated community is no bar to accessing an international market. Buyers are becoming much more discerning and are willing to pay a premium for products from the ‘old country’ that have that magic touch of individual craft skills. If we can help workers in those rural communities, then we will have performed a very useful role.”

     Part of the Authority’s archives is an extensive library of rare books on tartan, Highland dress and clan history — an extremely valuable resource for researchers and historians. There is still much research to be undertaken according to the Authority and one of the fruitful areas is North America. “When the Scots emigrated,” said Brian Wilton, “they would take their tartans with them. Settled, far away from home, those tartans assumed a much greater significance and would be viewed with nostalgia. That resulted in many of them being stored away in chests and attics, and to this day they’re still re-appearing. Some of them have never been seen by modern eyes and tartan history has often has to be re-written as a result.”

     One of the Authority’s major goals, yet to be accomplished, is the establishment of a national tartan centre. “It always amazes folk,” explained Brian, “but we have official museums for this, that and the next thing, but no such facility for tartan and Highland dress. There are tartan artifacts, fabric collections and costumes dotted across Scotland in large and small museums, but more often than not, they’re in storage and hidden from view. Our aim is to attract sufficient government and private sector funding to create a major museum and interpretative centre where all those could be housed. Unfortunately, the Scots themselves have not always been the first to understand the importance of tartan’s history and heritage and it’s been left to that great family of ‘overseas’ Scots to fully appreciate the value of this ‘cloth of a nation.’

If you’re interested in the Scottish Tartans Authority then have a look at the website www.tartansauthority.com. If you have questions or found an old tartan in your attic, then e-mail them at admin@tartansauthority.com .

Copyright© Scottish tartans Authority

Our Valour© Vol. 1, No. 2 - Apr 2006

SCOTLAND HAS A QUEEN - Kenny Logan, Largs, Scotland

The small seaside town of Largs on the west of Scotland is very famous for its Viking connections. The Battle Of Largs was fought in 1263 when the Scots defeated King Haco of Norway's troops on the shore of Largs, after 160 long ships were caught in a storm.

     Every year there are various festivals, which take place in and around Largs. One of which is The Brisbane Queen Festival, held annually to commemorate the town's connection to Brisbane, Australia. Sir Thomas Makdougall (the “k” being an old Scottish spelling originating from the borders) Brisbane, born in Largs, went on to become the 6th Governor of New South Wales, and the town of Brisbane was named for him.

     Beginning as a Glasgow Fair attraction in 1934 and 1935, the Queen was crowned the Carnival Queen, but in 1936 the name of Brisbane Queen was first used, and Ena Baird was the lucky girl. The Government of Queensland presented the Queen’s regalia to Largs.

     This year's Queen was, like every year, selected from the local schools, as were her attendants. And this years reigning queen crowned on July 2nd 2005, was none other than Miss Carly Logan, who became the 60th Brisbane Queen.

     Amid glorious sunshine, Carly was presented with her scepter by Albert Kello, London representative for the Queensland Government, to rapturous applause on the seafront esplanade.

     The sides of the marquee were pulled aside to give the big crowds a close view of the ceremony. The grand parade left amid much fanfare and journeyed down Main Street towards the prom. The Brisbane Queen and her attendants were taken by limousine accompanied by Pipe Bands from both Largs and Millport, and members of Largs Youth Theatre, Robert Sorrell School of Highland Dance, and the Royal British Legion who brought an impressive Spitfire model for display.

     As part of her royal duties, Queen Carly along with Lady-in-Waiting Stephanie Dow and entourage of three junior attendants will attend a full calendar of engagements. The girls visited the Largs Historical Society and were subsequently invited to Kelburn Castle as guests of Lord and Lady Glasgow.

     The Queen was also invited to strengthen and maintain the historical and cultural links between Brisbane and Largs by visiting the Queensland Government Trade and Investment Office in London accompanied by Lady in Waiting Stephanie. A future date has been arranged which will see Queen Carly visit the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh.

Our Valour© Vol. 1, No. 1 - Jan 2006

SOCIETY PRESIDENTS ADDRESS - Vernon Logan, Clemmons, NC, USA

Dear Members

     The New Year is upon us and we have some great plans for 2006. We will try to attend as many Scottish Festivals as possible and hope to meet a lot of you there. We will also try to get out a newsletter every quarter.

     Congratulations to Frank Logan of Canada who is now the Chief Organizer and Vice President of the Clan Logan Society. He has done an excellent job for us and we need to give him our continued support.

     I would like to double our membership in the coming year, and you can help, by telling friends and family about the Society. We will be going to a new online format in 2006 and will keep you informed with updates throughout the year.

I hope you all have a prosperous and Happy New Year!!!

Sincerely,

Vernon Logan