The Hume family seat today, Wedderburn Castle, was designed and constructed between 1771 and 1775 by the famous architect brothers Robert and James Adam and is located near Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland. Still in the family, today it is a popular wedding venue.
The man in the painting is our ancestor, Sir George Hume, 10th Baron of Wedderburn (1667-1720).
I will not attempt to give a history lesson here, but this line of descent is VERY well documented going way, way, back, including most of the maternal lines which I will not delve into here either. This family and its members can be googled if further information is desired. They lived at a very volatile time in history and were involved in many battles and wars, often losing thier lives. These were some of the most important and influential families in Scottish history and their deeds, good and bad, have filled many books. Reading about these ancestors is like taking a crash course in the history of Scotland.
The family name was originally Home. Some branches still use that old Scottish version and other branches have evolved to Hume. However, in both versions the name is ALWAYS pronounced Hume, with a long /u/ sound. Apparently the English had trouble pronouncing the Scottish "Home" correctly.
Sir George Hume, 10th Baron Wedderburn: He and his son took part in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 to support the exiled Scottish King James III in his efforts to take the throne of Scotland away from King George I of England. When the Scots were defeated by the English, the Humes were stripped of their power and made to pay for supporting the losing side. Sir George's son, George Hume the immigrant, came to the colonies as a political prisoner after the rebellion failed. Sir George's wife was a cousin, Margaret Hume, daughter of Sir Patrick Hume of Lumsden.
Sir George Hume's son, also named George Hume, is our immigrant ancestor in the Hume line.
An uncle of George the immigrant, Sir Francis Hume, was banished to the colonies in 1715, where he died a few years later. After capture by English, George was originally scheduled to be executed, but the sentence was changed to "transportation to Virginia," a term used when sending convict labor to the colonies. George served two years in prison and then joined his uncle in Virginia in 1721 after his freedom had been purchased by Capt. Dandridge, an ancestor of Martha Washington.
George's cousin was the Colonial Governor Alexander Spottswood in Williamsburg. Governor Spottswood had been sent to the colonies as a sentence for an uprising against Queen Anne, but had remained loyal to the Crown during the 1715 uprising. George Hume was placed under his care.
George had studied mathematics in Scotland, and so was sent to the College of William and Mary and was accredited by it as a surveyor. In 1723, George was appointed as a royal surveyor. He later taught the trade to George Washington and surveyed much of the colony of Virginia.
George had studied mathematics in Scotland, and so was sent to the College of William and Mary and was accredited by it as a surveyor. In 1723, George was appointed as a royal surveyor. He later taught the trade to George Washington and surveyed much of the colony of Virginia.
To read more about George Hume's life, including his relationship with George Washington:
The Humes have several royal Scottish descents, both legitimately and illegitimately, having intermarried with the Stewarts and their descendants.
Our descent from Sir George Hume, 10th Baron of Wedderburn, is as follows:
George Hume, the immigrant (1698-1760) m. Elizabeth Proctor
George Hume (1729-1802) m. Jane Stanton (sometimes spelled Staunton)
Rev. George Hume (1755-1821) m. Elizabeth Proctor (his cousin)
Anna Hume (1782-1855) m. Edward Stephens (1780-1840)
Nathaniel Stephens (1801-?) m. Bridget McKinsey
Martin Van Buren Stephens (1837-1887) m. Dorcas Jane Finch
Franklin Pierce Stephens (1868-1949) m. Lillie May Gaston
Helen May Stephens (1894-1986) m. Arthur Hughes
More on Wedderburn Castle:
1 comment:
Here is the link to an interesting article on George Hume & George Washington:
http://clan-home.org/UserFiles/File/contents/history/emigrant.htm
Enjoy!
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