Re: Wildgoose-Aberdeen/shire,Scotland
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In reply to:
Wildgoose-Aberdeen/shire,Scotland
Alexander Barclay 2/02/01
Honk if you hear a Wildgoose!
Have been off of the net for awhile this winter nesting in Florida. Saw your message about Aberdeen,Scotland.
A couple of years ago a friend in the Lower Delmarva Genealogy Society was working on the Scotish Immigration to the Americas and sent me the following;" "Surnames of Scotland", their meaning and History...George Black NY. City Library. Black, spent fifty years on this project before his first edition. WILDGOOSE: John Wildguse, Cannon of Aberdeen in 1366 (pg58)is probably the the Johannes Wylgus in record oray, c. 1391(REM.pg129)Andros Wilgues occupied the Subdeans croft and mains within the Cannory of Ross, c.1560(Ops ii, p415) and John Wilgus in Leyton was assistor on a witch trial in Aberdeen in 1612(NCM, x,p.110). Thomas Vilguis was admitted Burgess of Aberdeen in 1612(NSM,x, p.110) In 1613 Glibert Wilguis and Thomas Wilrdguiss bakers, "wer convicted for baking of weat reid against the statuits of the Burgh of Aberdeen(SCM, v, p.8) and Gilbert Wilguit most probably the person just named appears as a member of the council of the same burg in 1620(CRA, p.370)- There were tenants of ths name in N. Leask and Knaplask in 1696 and the "burriel ground of the Wildgooses" still remains in the parish of Stains. Probably Willgook, Which appears at the same time is another form of the name. It is still known in Buchan, particularly in the Peterbead District. three persons of this name were on an assize at Stable of Slains in 1597(Jemqse, ir, p.248) Searle gives Wilgils as an OE.personal name, and Barber has Wildgis which cannot find elsewhere."
So, to those who chase the elusive Wildgoose there is a definite Scotish connection. Given the state of the Scots in the early 1600's and the running out of Scotland and England rebels and ruffians our ancestors were probably shipped out to the new world as indentured or prisioners via the port of Liverpool the to Jamica where Wildgoos's served as soldiers thence to Virginia and Maryland. In other cases in the latter part of the 1660' Wildgooses came indentured by passage to Maryland and Virginia from Liverpool. Is there a French connection? Quite possible as many French escaped religious and political retribution by fleeing to Scotland. Hope this wets a research thirst for you, I'll be in NYC in two weeks and plan to have a look at Black's work for myself.
Gus Wilgus