Redpath/Ridpath/Reidpath Family Newsletter
3Q August 2001
Table of Contents:
Editor's Corner
Family Announcements
Letters to the Editor
Meet the Family
Family Stories
Family History Mystery
Web Site News
Editor's Corner
The continued interest and support in the newsletter has
again broken all records. We have plenty of photos, stories, current
events, and looks at our collective past all rolled up into another great
newsletter. This is only possible due to the generous contribution
of articles by all our family members around the world. Please
continue to show your support by submitting your own items for our
quarterly newsletter today.
Since this newsletter is provided electronically, please feel free to
forward it to other family members or print it out for family members that
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You can also use this to change your email address or delete multiple mail
addresses.
Family Announcements
Norm Redpath, Ontario, Canada
GREETING FROM THE REDPATHS OF SIMCOE
COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA. On Sunday, June 10, 2001, the 48th Annual Reunion of the
Redpath Clan was held at the Memorial Hall in Nottawa, Ontario and was attended by 36 descendents
of James Redpath and Ann Lothian.
First of all, to orient you to our branch of the Family, James was
born January 4 1813, in Earlston, Berwickshire, Scotland, and the son of
Robert Redpath
He married Ann Lothian, daughter of Duncan Lothian and Anne McColl on
April 3, 1837. They immigrated to Canada in 1854 with their 5 children,
Thomas, Richard, James, Euphmia, and Agnes, and settled in Badjeroes,
Ontario.
In 1954, Mrs. John Redpath (Margaret), Mrs. Earl Redpath (Min) and
Mrs. Joy Burkholder nee Redpath, met and discussed a family gathering
and this resulted in the first Reunion held at the Devils Glen Park in
Aug. of that year. The reunion has been a yearly event since that time
and has been held in various locations and dates. It is now held on the
second Sunday in June each year.
The Reunion in 2002 will be held on that Sunday, at the First
Presbyterian Church in Collingwood. And an invite is hereby extended to
any and all Redpaths to attend.
In addition, plans are under way to plan the Reunion in 2003, our
fiftieth. And we of course want this to be the biggest and best. A
committee has been formed to organize and plan this reunion, and plans
for a family book are being formulated as well
To conclude, I would like to invite any family member, or friend, to
contact me with information on our family, or any who requires
information on our branch, via e or snail mail at the addresses below.
Norm Redpath
244 Robinson Street,
Collingwood, Ontario
Canada, L9Y 3M3.
Or unclenorm@sympatico.ca
For those of you, like me, who hate to write, 705-445-0635
The Redpath Family Reunion, June 10, 2001, Nottawa, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Norm Redpath
So until next time, yours in family, friendship and love
Norm Redpath
Letters to the Editor
Bob Rogers, England
I recently found the details of my Great Grand Parents
Wedding. I did this with the help of a researcher in Armagh,
Northern Ireland, a Mr. Eric Logan e-mail computerisedancestry@hotmail.com.
My information was that they were married somewhere in
Northern Ireland 1n 1862/1863. In fact Eric managed to find the details
of this wedding and supply a wedding certificate. The date of the
wedding was the 9th of Dec 1859,which was way out
from my original information. I would like to
recommend Eric to the Redpath family for his very
reasonable charges and the added information that he supplies without
charges.
Meet the Family
Linda Ridpath
I am married to the nephew of Herbert Ridpath, (who Steven Ridpath of
Bedford, (ex Brighton) mentions in the news letter.) It was my father in
law William Ridpath (his brother) who started it off and was able to
prove a few links between Scotland, Waltham Abbey and Brighton. He died
and it was left to his brother to finish.
My husband Ian was born and bred in Brighton (an only child who also
works for IBM) have now moved to Warwickshire and have two sons, Paul
and Alex who carry the name forward in the Midlands.
We have in our possession a full history of the family documented and
with the diagramatic family tree, with relevant photographs of the
family where possible.
Another interpretation of the family motto is "Take the Red Path
to Success" Good eh!
Nikki Mensen - Dubuque, Iowa, US
I am Nicole (Ridpath) Mensen. I prefer to be
called Nikki. My dad Richard (Rick), my step-mom Jill and myself
moved to Dubuque from Eldora, Iowa in 1994. My grandparents, Ray
and Alice Ridpath also reside in Eldora. Ray passed away January
10, 1999. My son Trevor James Mensen was born on September 3, 1999
in Dubuque, Iowa. My husband, (James P. Mensen) and I were married
on May 30, 2000 in the Dubuque County Courthouse by a magistrate.
On June 23, 2001 we reaffirmed our vows in a church ceremony at the
Grandview Avenue United Methodist Church in Dubuque, with the reception
to follow at the Midway Hotel/Hoffman House Restaurant. My husband and
our family moved to Dyersville, Iowa for about a year, and then moved
back to Dubuque.
I hope this info helps you. I am willing to help
someone preserve family history so that my son's generation will have a
better understanding of his ancestors, as I wish I did. Please
feel free to contact me with any questions.
Bryan Redpath,
Scotland -Captain
of the Bravehearts - Contributed by David Redpath, Australia
The name Redpath has thundered round the globe for
most of the last ten years as Scotland half back and sometime Captain as
Bryan Redpath has done his country proud on the Rugby Union paddock.
Born in Galashiels
on the 2nd of July 1971, Bryan made his debut for
Scotland in 1993 on a tour to New Zealand giving impetus to his
challenge to Scotland great Gary Armstrong for the half back spot.
Bryan has gone on to proudly wear Scotland's colours on 39
occassions.
Brought up in the
rugby mad Borders Region Bryan made his name playing for Melrose,
a town famous for its Abbey where the heart of legendary Scottish
King Robert the Bruce is buried.
Bryan played international rugby
at under-18 and under-21 levels, toured with Scotland to the South
Pacific in 1993 and Argentina 1994, and played in three of the four
matches in the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa in the team
captained by Scotland great Gavin Hastings.
Recently Bryan has fought his
way back into the Scottish team ousting his great rival Andy Nicol. He is presently recovering from surgery to a troublesome
hernia and is keen to return to the fray fully fit for the coming
season.
Captaincy sits easily with
Bryan, who is the youngest
of three rugby-playing brothers. He
led Melrose to a clean sweep in season 1996-97 and has since led
Scotland on several occassions.
Bryan captained Scotland in a
full international for the first time against South Africa in 1998,
having led the team in a non-cap match against New Zealand Maori the
previous week. He was also
captain in the World Cup qualifying matches against Portugal and
Spain. Unfortunately
injury forced him to miss the 1999 Five Nations Championship.
He made his Scotland comeback as
captain in the win over Northern Free State on the 1999 tour to South
Africa, when he appeared in three of the four matches, two as a
replacement.
He was previously vice-captain
of the Scotland team during the two Tests against Australia on the 1998
tour, having returned to international duty against Fiji. Earlier in
1998 he captained Scotland A to the first two legs of their Grand Slam -
the matches against the Irish and the French.
Bryan's importance to the
Scottish cause was clearly evident again last season when he was awarded
the captaincy against Ireland in the Six Nations and in May this year
for the Scotland v Barbarians encounter.
Having played for Edinburgh
Reivers Bryan spent time in France playing for Narbonne, before
returning to the UK to join Sale Sharks where he has recently been
honoured with the Captaincy of the Manchester based club.
William (Bill) Redpath, Virginia, USA - Candidate for Governor of
Virginia - re-printed from www.redpath2001.com
with permission.
Bill Redpath is a Vice President of Consulting for BIA
Financial Network, a financial consulting and valuation firm with an
expertise in the appraisal of broadcasting, cable, and
telecommunications properties and preparation of financial presentations
for communications clients. Prior to joining BIAfn in 1985, Mr. Redpath
was a Senior Financial Analyst with NBC in New York.
Bill earned his B.A. degree in Economics and Political Science from
Indiana University and his M.B.A. from The University of Chicago. He is
a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants, and the Virginia Society of CPA's. He is
also an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation with the
American Society of Appraisers and is a Chartered Financial Analyst
(CFA). He is also a member of the American Arbitration Association's
Roster of Neutrals.
Bill was Ballot Access Chair of the Libertarian Party of the United
States from 1990 until after the 1996 election. He led the LP's
successful ballot access efforts to place its presidential ticket for
the 1992 and 1996 elections on the ballot in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia. This was the first time that a minor political
party had achieved 50 state ballot status for its presidential ticket in
consecutive elections since the Socialist Party in 1912 and 1916.
Bill has run twice for the Virginia General Assembly: for the House of
Delegates in the general election of 1993 (34th District) and in a
special election for the Virginia Senate in 1998 (33rd District).
He served as a member of the Libertarian Party National Committee from
1989 to 1993 and held several offices in the Libertarian Party of
Virginia, including that of Chair.
"Anything that's
peaceful" - Authorized by William Redpath
Robert Redpath, Manchester, England
I live in Manchester but was born in Dunfermline, Scotland. I have
traced my family back to an Alexander Redpath and have a copy of
his wedding certificate from 1834 in the Parish of Stow (in the
Borders). I have undocumented information that he was descended from
James Redpath born in 1775. I have a record of primary ancestors from
that date. Alexander Redpath is described as a servant at Stagehall
and he married Mary Dalgleish, a servant at Muirhouse. They then
travelled up the East Coast periodically having children before
settling near Dunfermline.
I have also visited the village of Redpath and have a few photographs
which I can send to anyone interested. They are not all that great as
they were taken late in the evening on a dull day but still give an
idea of what the village is like.
I have relatives across the UK and in South Africa.
Family Stories
Jean Redpath, Cape Town, South Africa.
Trooper Stuart J. Redpath of the Ambulance Corps, Natal Carbineers,
served in the Anglo-Boer War (also known as the Boer War or South
African War) of 1899-1902. He received the D.C.M (Distinguished Conduct
Medal) for his part in rescuing wounded men under fire at Caesars
Hill (Broken Hill) during the 118-day siege of Ladysmith.
The following letter written by Trooper Redpath during the siege was
received in England early in the year 1900:
W. Redpath Esq.
12 Court R.
West Norwood, London, England
Will the magistrate at Estcourt please enclose in envelope &
forward to above address.
Ladysmith Camp, Natal Mounted Rifles, December 28/29.
Dear Mother and Father and all of you.
Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive and safe, but not
in a very good condition of health (three lines censored). Im not
very fat, you see. I spent a very rotten Christmas, and some pudding we
tried to make made me ill next day. The heat in this hole is dreadful,
and all the water has to be boiled; yet then there is a very large
percentage of mud in it. I have had a lot of narrow escapes and hitherto
have avoided fever (two lines censored). Our hospital is full, and we
had to erect a field hospital on some neutral ground. The place is above
three miles from Ladysmith, so they are not shelled at all. Funny thing
happened this morning. The Dutch shot a shell into the town, and it was
picked up by someone, who found it contained plum pudding and the
compliments of the season scratched on it. Yesterday I had a clean wash,
the first clean water I have had for two months. It was some rain water
I got hold of. We are all very sick of the siege, and hope for relief,
but it is a long time coming. If you are in communication with Willie,
let him know where I am. Hoping you are well and safe. This letter is to
be censored, so I must not tell you anything. Will write a longer letter
with details when the line is open. Good-bye.
Your affectionate son,
Stuart J. Redpath
Write to (O. Dossing? illegible). C/o Claudius Ash & Son where I
am and what I am doing.
A 1961 South African newspaper clipping reads:
S.A. WAR HERO DIES AT 85
Staff reporter
A SOUTH AFRICAN pioneer, Mr. Stuart James Redpath, who was decorated
for rescuing wounded at the siege of Ladysmith and whose family were the
oldest registered chemists in England died on his farm in the Free State
last week.
Born at Norwood, England, in 1876, he followed the family tradition
and trained at Guys Hospital. He set up practice as a pharmacist in
Johannesburg in 1896, but moved to Bloemfontein the following year.
DECORATED
At the outbreak of the South African War he joined the Royal Natal
Carbineers as a trooper, receiving the D.C.M. for his part in rescuing
wounded men under fire at Broken Hill during the siege of Ladysmith.
After the war he returned to Bloemfontein and married Mary Alice McLean
Oelrich.
Mr. Redpath leaves his widow and two sons, Mr.H.F. Redpath, who is on
the staff of the Deputy Attorney-General in Johannesburg, and Mr. W.S.
Redpath, who farms at Modderpoort.
Thomas Pakenham, in his book The Boer War, writes of the siege
of Ladysmith:
They had been forced in on themselves, these British officers,
just as they had been forced inwards to the auburn rock and clay of
Ladysmith. It was a civilized war: a war of the Red Cross and the
other chivalries of the Geneva Convention. And it was proving a great
education. The longer the siege goes on, wrote John Gough, the
more I wonder where is the fun and glory of soldiering. Of course, he
was not joking. There had been fun and glory for British officers in
those savage wars. Now they had to look their profession in the
face, and they did not like what they saw.
A siege is a war in microcosm, expressed in heightened, theatrical
form. Boredom, discomfort, anxiety, funk, bravery, hope, humiliation
above all discomfort and boredom. These were the fluctuating rhythms of
the siege of Ladysmith as they are, of course, of most real wars.
The town itself was encircled by Boer artillery. Here they were squeezed
between the iron fingers of Jouberts army. And the defenders
had not only to keep control of the town. They had to fight a war of
attrition, supported by little polo, cricket or champagne, against their
own emotions.
Thomas Pakenham on the aftermath of the 6 January Caesars
Hill battle:
Next morning, there was an armistice to collect up the dead and
wounded. The search proved unusually macabre. The Boer dead
were so
mangled by shrapnel that many had to be buried there and then
Captain
Gough counted 52 dead Boers
the total number of Boer dead was
believed to be a good deal higher. On the British side, the losses were
known precisely: 424
Captain Steavenson looked at the horrors and
wrote in his diary, Civilized war isawful.
Trooper Redpath kept a diary of the siege, which his family
published privately in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, in 1900. On page
15:
Learnt that the Boers had gained the end of Caesars Hill,
driving our men back. I rode out with the doctor. Our route lay across
the flat, and it wasnecessary for us to pass between the fire of the
artillery and just where the Boer shells were falling a bit short we
had to pass. Shall we wait, says the doctor, till they have
fired the next shell, and then gallop across? Do as you like, I
said. We continued, however, and just half way their big gun spoke. Now
for a buster, says I. A horrible shrieking and whistling suddenly was
heard, and then a loud explosion from a 100lb shell. The dirt flew up
all over us, frightening the horses so much that they flew for a while.
We agreed that was a near squeak.
We reached the others, and tethered our horses, and commenced binding
up. The first man had his left ankle smashed. Saw to some others, and
then had a long run across the plain to the hill, bullets whistling
round us the Boers spotting us, and letting drive all the way. My spur
nearly sent me flying down a donga. Doctor thought I was hit. Reaching
the top of the hills we entered a rain of bullets. Saw a man dying in
awful agony. Couldnt do anything except give him a drink. A
lieutenant was shot in the chest, a soldier told us, and we began to go
on our hands and knees, doctor leading. I got tired of that mode of
procedure, so got up and walked to the man, and got there as soon as the
doctor. Get down, you fool, he said, and take cover. I didnt
reply; but I didnt want to dirty my tunic, crawling along on my
stomach.
Well, we fixed him up, and the doctor left me to finish him and went
to attend a Highlander four yards away. Whilst crawling over though he
was shot in the hip. Suddenly, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, was heard
in the distance. That was the dreaded pom-pom. After a few seconds the
shells reached us. One burst over my head a few feet, another went into
the ground with a hiss about two yards away. They are as near as
possible 6in long and weigh a pound; the nose is sharply pointed, meant
for piercing. I next saw to a Highlander who was shot in the breast. On
leaving, I asked one of his pals to stay by him. He went, and returned
ten minutes later, saying it was too hot a place for him.
Contribution by Jean Redpath, Cape Town, South Africa.
Daughter of William Stuart Mortimer Redpath, granddaughter of William
Stuart Redpath, great-granddaughter of Stuart James Redpath.
The Redpath excerpts are drawn from an original handwritten siege
letter and printed diary, dated 1900, both in my possession.
Family History Mystery
Ken Watson, Denver, Colorado, US
I am researching a branch of the Redpath family in
Scotland - primarily East Lothian. I have traced:
James Redpath b. 1799 East Salton, East Lothian
son of George Redpath (b 1776 Salton) and Ann Wilson (b
1777 East Salton). Ann's parents are Andrew Wilson (b 1749 Salton) and Janet
Turner (b 1752 Haddington, East Lothian) George's parents are James Redpath and Katherine Acheson
(m 1768 East Salton). My mystery is thatI can't find the birth of James Redpath. It is
possible the family moved to East Salton ... I'm guessing from Roxburgh
... but I don't have any evidence. Is anyone
researching this line or has any suggestions? Cheers.
Web Site News
Well, the good news is the web site is up and running at
full capacity again. The bad news is that due to problems with our web
hosting provider at the end of July 2001, member usernames and passwords
were deleted. If you previously registered as a member, please just re-register
to gain access to the Members Only Area - which, by the way, still doesn't
have much to offer yet, but soon will. All other functions and areas
of the website are now back to normal, so please report any difficulties you
encounter to the Webmaster.
The Message
Forum is a popular way to communicate with other family members
between newsletters. The Links
Page has recently been updated with quite a few more links to
Redpath, Ridpath, and Reidpath family sites, mailing lists, and forums
on the internet. You can also suggest your own links to add as
well. And the JavaGED family tree database continues to grow with the addition of many
contributions from our cousins around the world.
Thanks for your continued interest and contribution of
information to the newsletter and to our family web site at http://www.redpath.org
, http://www.ridpath.org ,
and http://www.reidpath.org
.
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