This is a remarkable genealogical story. What I write here is based on facts as far I can establish them.

If these facts are proven I can claim descent from Robert the Bruce, other Scottish kings, Henry II of England and even Fergus of Ireland and Scotland.

I registered at www.ancestry.com.au this morning. I hit the usual dead ends trying to dig deeper on the Gorey side in Ireland. I switched to my mother’s side and followed some maternal lines, some taking me back to the 1600s in the Netherlands and Germany. That was interesting and I will revisit that.

I then moved to my paternal grandmother’s family. She was a Sutherland and I knew that her grandparents came from Scotland; that her grandmother was Mary Ferguson from the Isle of Bute.

I was able to establish that Mary Ferguson married Archibald Sutherland on 28 February 1837.

Their names were recorded in the 1851 census, taken on 30 March that year, with the names of their four children, including my great-grandfather Archibald Sutherland, who was three years old at the time.

Mary Ferguson was 38 when the census was taken. Thanks to the web site Scotland’s People that enabled me to establish her birth as being on 24 October 1812.

Mary’s parents were Duncan Ferguson and Margaret McConachy. That’s where it starts to become interesting.

On www.ancestry.com.au Mary was listed as a dead branch in the OneWorldTree. This is a summary of her pedigree:

Duncan Ferguson’s father was Duncan Ferguson. He was born 20 November 1734 and he married Mary Mackirdy, also on Bute.

Duncan’s father was Dougald Ferguson, born in 1694. He married Mary Campbell. That diverted my attention because I knew the Campbells were a famous clan. The Ferguson line ran out in the tree near that point, so I followed Mary Campbell’s line instead.

Postscript note: Since originally writing this I have found information which suggests the Mary Campbell who married Dougald Ferguson was not the daughter of Patrick Campbell, instead being the daughter of an Archibald Campbell, which almost certainly skews the rest of this post (the joy of research) …

Mary’s (possible) father Patrick Campbell was born at Ardbeg, Rothesay, in 1677 and he married Agnes Bannatyne. The next few steps in the male line are:

• Alexander Campbell, born 1648;
• John Campbell, born at Kinloch, Meigle, Perth, 1620;
• Patrick Campbell 1592 at Barcaldine, Ardchattan, Argyllshire;
• Duncan Campbell, born 1550 at Glenorchy. His second wife Elizabeth Sinclair was my ancestor. She was descended from the Douglas and Stewart families and was of royal blood. In fact, through her, I can claim that Robert Bruce is my ancestor.

Back to the Campbells, Duncan’s father was Colin Campbell, born 1515. He married Margaret Stewart who was a descendant of James I of Scotland.Colin Campbell’s father was another Colin Campbell, born about 1480. He also married a royal Stewart, Marjorie. Through her the tree reconnects with the Sutherlands.

Colin’s father Duncan was born in 1455. Duncan’s father Colin was born in 1425. He married Janet Stewart, whose mother Florence MacDonald was descended from Angus Og Macdonald, Lord of the Isles and friend of Robert the Bruce.

Colin’s father was Duncan Na Adh Campbell, born 1390 in Argyllshire. He married Marjorie Stewart, who was also descended from the Bruce. I’ll skip a few Campbells now, otherwise this will read like the Book of Genesis.

The first to bear the Campbell name was Archibald, born about 1041 in Normandy, France. His father was Malcolm Macduibhn, born about 1020.

He married Cambus Bellus Beauchamp who was descended from Henry II. I guess that means I’m related to the Queen!

Malcolm’s grandfather was Diarmid MacDuibhn, born about 942 in Dumbartonshire. He married Grain O Niel and, according to one reference I’ve seen, he was a forebear of George I.

The branches look a little thin and untested beyond that point, but Grain O Niel was claimed to be descended from The Treacherous Gabran, born about 525, and said himself to be the grandson of Fergus Mor Mac Earca, who in 424 left Ireland and became the first King of the Scots.

I know this all sounds a little far fetched and I’m having trouble accepting some of it myself. However, it’s perfectly rational when you think about it. Most people probably have royal ancestors given the profligacy of the nobility and the multiplication factor over dozens of generations.

In many cases there just isn’t evidence to prove these links. Thank the Scots for their clan records.

I admit my evidence is untested. I have a collaborative, unverified family tree on a (reputable) web site. I have established that my great-great grandmother appears in that tree, which might be news to my cousin Roger who has researched more of this than me. I think he would have had Mary’s birth a few years later than 1812, but I’m confident of the earlier date given the census record and birth registration I obtained.

There was another Mary Ferguson born in Rothesay in 1813, but she was 37 years old when the census was taken. Chances are she was Mary’s cousin anyway.

Someone might well disprove my claim to be descended from the Bruce. Just give me a few days to ponder it all please.