This site has been created by Archibald John Campbell who following upon his maternal Grandfather's comments in his written Memorabilia dated January 1930, feels that the information recorded by him in respect to his forebears should be made available to all who share a common bloodline and history. He in turn was probably motivated by a remark made to him in a letter dated 6th July 1928 by Niall Diarmid Campbell. 10th. Duke of Argyll, who says, inter alia, " What you say about the fading away of links with the past, when a family passes to a far off land, and settles there, is only too true; and the remedy is for its representative, before it is too late, to set the record (straight) of where they originated from as to district, and as to actual blood descent".
This core of information has been greatly enlarged thanks to the contributions received and acknowledged further down this page. The data is probably not as well documented as it might have been had it originated after the creation of the World-Wide Web which every budding genealogist must recognise as an invaluable tool for making searches infinitely easier than was possible in the days of snail mail. In my attempt I just hope that I have not fallen into the trap outlined by Alastair Campbell of Airds , Unicorn Pursuivant, in an interview reported by ElectricScotland.com of becoming "one of the people around disseminating sheer nonsense under the guise of 'fact'."
As can be seen the family has spread from Scotland around the world. Destinations selected include Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia The West Indies,South Africa, Spain, United States of North America and Uruguay.
I have had considerable assistance from numerous relatives and also from their connections. First among these I must mention
Walter Dawson Campbell whose contacts with George Campbell, 8th. Duke of Argyll early in the last quarter of the 1800's and with his grandson the aforementioned 10th. Duke circa 1928, and his communications with Lt. Cnel. Kenneth J. Campbell, of Strachur, served as the basis for this exercise. Thereafter and in no special order I have to acknowledge the assistance obtained from:
David Niall MacArthur Campbell of Strachur, 25th. Chief.
The Heraldry of The Campbells by G. Harvey Johnston - 2nd Edition 1977 which my close friend and erstwhile business partner Merrik K. Burrell came upon many years ago and most thoughtfully presented to me.
Graeme Wall and his site www.greywall.demon.co.uk/genealogy.rob.html/. John Nicholas William Scott and his site "The Cleaver family world wide". Dr. David George Robertson Campbell.
Ian Scott Campbell for his update in 1993.
Olive Cleaver's written notes.
John Cleaver's notes to his son John Martin Cleaver dated 1913. John Allan Macdonald.
Robert Allan Duncan Macdonald.
Who's Who.
Burke's Peerage.
Cora Squire.
Norma Campbell.
The Standard (Published in Buenos Aires) of 13/5/1952.
Genes Reunited and through them: Pamela Oddy, James Carr, and Ruth Parker among others.
I may have omitted others who have kindly helped and would hope to be excused for such vagaries of memory as might be afflicting a now older member of the family.
I welcome any changes, updates, omissions, comments, etc. which will be incorporated.
The accuracy of any information contained in this database is not guaranteed although I have tried to use only reasonable and presumed correct information. Where information has been given freely by family members please remember it is destined only for family members so please do not copy or distribute any information without discussion first.
You will see the website has the capability of holding photographs and I would welcome any sent to me for inclusion. Although initially I only attempted to include such photographs as have come to me from the past, or such as I have seen fit to publish from pictures taken by myself or by visitors to us in France I am hopeful that through circulation and increasing interest among viewers their number will be increased.
Finally, instigated by a comment made by my daughter Roxanne, and after understanding the extent of possibilities within the site, it is my intention to add to the data normally incorporated, such anecdotal stories of my early life which might be of interest to my immediate descendants or have, perhaps, a mild curiosity value for those unaware of the extraordinary difference between life in the 1930's and 1940's in what was then still faraway Argentina compared to the relative modernity of what I assume to be life there today.
Archibald John Campbell
France, 2009