As mentioned previously, I had initially started to
design a genealogical site for my paternal side of the Clan MacLennan,
starting from my father, John William MacLennan who was born in Caledonia Springs, Prescott County, in Eastern Ontario. I had originally wanted to link our
family line to others throughout Canada. It was going to be a big
undertaking as I had little information to go with and was a strict
'novice' in all its meaning when it came to genealogy.
I learned very quickly that if you don't have legitimate
documents, your assumptions (if wrong) can throw you off for weeks, months
or even years. After year #l, the concept of the MacLinks Site evolved.
It was created for the sole purpose of gathering information not only from MacLennan Clansmen for the MacLennan Clan but the many researchers on the web, in the hopes of eliminating some of the frustrating problems of ancestral research. THE FAMILY CONNECTION WAS ON!
The first of the many that I have to thank for their
encouragement and assistance are actually a pair of fellow clansmen and
gentlemen. Jim Mclennan and Doug MacLennan were the first to introduce
themselves and to praise me on my token efforts with the Original MacLennan
Glengarry site. Shortly after, I surfed right into Diane MacKenzie's web site. Not only does Diane
present a very creative site with all sorts of wonderful things to see; she
has a wealth of genealogical research information within her huge family
lines.
With Jim and Mary (McLennan)
Davidson working together to create the Western MacLennan Web Site,
my mind was now made up. It was here that I decided to leave my individual
quest of frustration and try to get others to help me by sharing their
knowledge and information with and for all of the clan members.
Although a slow and tedious job, my research has become a
journey of pleasure and enjoyment. I have already met a number of very
worthwhile friends that have been a tremendous assistance to me. Besides
Jim, Mary, Doug and Diane, I have had the pleasure of meeting a genius at
finding information at what appears to be just in the drop of a hat. Rhonda Houston has added more to our genealogical
pages and general information than is realized.
MacLinks continues to grow more and more each week. This
has not been accomplished solely by myself but rather as a family effort. My
oldest brother John and his wife Irene, along with their encouragement have supplied, and continue to do so, the family pictures and whatever other artifacts or information that may be important in verifying ancestral documentation. The old saying, "Two heads are better than one", has never been so true as it has been with our family research. Through discussion and good old fashion footwork, John and I have been able to travel back to the 1700's to validate ideas and the direction of our research by obtaining the ever elusive, legitimate documentation.
My dear sister Catherine and brother Frank's efforts have placed the family on my mother's side back to the Duke and Duchess of Kent. John's son - my nephew Ken and Ken's wife - Cristy my niece, are continually working at editing pages, sharing ideas and links. Along with Matt, Mike, Dan - my sons and my dear wife, Ruth, deserve a big thank you for their patience and understanding in allowing the computer and I to be lost for hours on this archive, that layout, more editing and so on. Each of these individuals have become a vital part to the backbone of this project with their continued persistence, support and enthusiasm.
Our work on the heritage of the clan and the culture of
Scotland is never ending. With the help of Joanne
Mackenzie-Winters, Jamie and Vicki (Trudell) Seisler, Douglas Macgowan and
Robert Gunn, the information continues to grow to the benefit of
all. Thanks to their work; the overall goal of extending our Scottish
Heritage to many more clansmen is being achieved slowly but surely.
The success of this project will be determined not only by
the information set forth but how it is presented. I am, obviously very
proud of my heritage. Along with Diane MacKenzie's creative ideas and very
positive direction and support, I have found and become friends with Beth Trainer. Their graphic presentations, layout
ideas and information origins have been a vital aspect towards developing
this web site. You may see both of their sites at the top of the creative
links list as it develops.
To date, MacLinks has grown from a simple links website to its present size
- 5 megs of server memory. The files of MacLinks now include; 107
hypertext pages, 16 000 plus surnames, 13 registered family connections, 3
000 plus genealogical resource links and 42 interactive genealogy
information pages - ALL of which would not be here if it weren't for the
motivation, daily assistance and guidance from our amazing friend Rhonda.
It goes without saying that "Our
MacLinks' Mail List" is a very important beginning for making the
FAMILY CONNECTION. There are 52 individuals on this list now who are
sharing the information for others to expand their research. It is hoped
that this list will continue to grow for as it develops so does MacLinks.
With just a few more valid documents, my contemporary
family, will be in the position to know the time our line of MacLennans
left Scotland, arrived in Canada, who they were and where my great
grandfather's siblings went when they left Dalkeith and much more. Without
the assistance of all of the above, this position would not have been
fulfilled. A family has evolved that is working together to help others
and themselves.
When I started this quest there was only "1" involved
bumping his "empty head" against obstacle after obstacle. NOW! - there are
almost 100 making the bumping into obstacles much less painful and the
rewards far greater.
Caesar once said; after dealing one of many fatal blows to
the northern Celts millenniums ago, - "I came, I saw, I conquered!"
Although the MacLinks Web Site can't be compared to Caesar or his
conquests, the individuals within its workings, "Have come, Are
contributing and Will enlighten all." Thank you for deciding to work on
the MacLinks site or are here just for a visit.
Most sincerely;
David Maclennan - MacLizard of MacLinks' Family Connections
