To Record The Echoes Of The Past Enriches One's Present And Is A Loving 
Gift To The Future 



“Cead Mile Failte” (one hundred thousand welcomes)
from the Mhic Dhu Ghaill Family
~Dark Stranger~




Lewis McDowell lived to be just shy of one hundred years old. He recently
passed away in his longtime home at age 97. Genealogy was one part of his
lifes works. In his lifetime he spoke to us of his Grand-father,
 Thomas McDowell, who had always told that our family was from Scotland. In
his research he found evidence of our Scotts-Irish or Ulster Irish family
back to Michael McDowell born 1747 believed to be in
 Ulster,Northern Ireland. I am making an attempt to carry on his work.
Despite the fact that Uncle Lewis would never have dreamed of owning a 
computer, I hope this website serves as a fitting tribute. 
Many, many precious memories ! 
These pages are what he left for us......

"Alba gu Bràth" 

My Uncle Lewis gathered together the bulk of the information here. I have
simply put all his data at this website as a 'Labor of Love' at his most
recent passing. Since that time his wife Willis Mae McDowell nee Minton has
passed away as well. So, for the both of them. When Uncle Lewis gave me my
notebooks he wrote on the inside cover-For Carolyn Faye McDowell and
From Lewis McDowell. Just under that he wrote-You will find many mistakes
here. 
~smiles~  
 
So, there ya go Folks !

You will find many here too.


 I will always be updating this website so 
stop back often. I will try to make it more complete and accurate with
every update. You can help me by letting me know when you come across 
mistakes on these pages and by sharing new information you uncover. 
 


The backdrop here is 'Dunollie Castle' in Oban, Scotland
 * It is a bit slow to load *


 This is my country,
The land that begat me,
These windy spaces
Are surely my own.
And those who toil here
In the sweat of their faces
Are flesh of my flesh
And bone of my bone. 



Dunollie Castle is a small ruin located on a hill north of the town of
Oban, on the west coast Scotland. It commands a view of the town, 
harbour and, outlying isles. The ruin is accessible by a short, steep
path. There is no entrance fee.

There was a fortification on this high promontory (Dun Ollaigh) in the
days of the kingdom of Dál Riata which was the royal centre of the
Cenél Loairn.

Ewan MacDougall, the third chief of the MacDougalls, probably built a
castle there in the 13th century. The existing castle ruins date from
the 15th century.

The MacDougalls, the Lords of Lorne, were direct descendants of Somerled,
Lord of the Isles, at a time when the Western Isles were part of Norway.
Dougall, Somerled’s son held most of Argyll and also the islands of Mull,
Lismore, Jura, Tiree, Coll and many others in the 12th century.

The MacDougalls lost the land after siding with MacDougall kinsmen,
the Comyns, and fighting against Robert the Bruce. John Stewart of
Lorne returned the estates to the clan.

The Marquis of Argyll captured the castle in 1644, but it was
returned to the MacDougalls in 1661. In 1746, the MacDougalls 
abandoned Dunollie Castle and built Dunollie House just downhill from the castle ruins.

The poetic historian of the Bruce, tells how the king was guarding the rear of his 
retreating company when, as he passed through a narrow way between the river and the 
hill, three of the MacDougal clansmen made a special effort to capture him. One seized 
his bridle, but the king dealt him a stroke that severed his shoulder and arm. Another 
thrust his hand between the king’s foot and stirrup, hoping to drag him from the 
saddle; but the king, feeling the hand there, stood firmly up and struck his spur into 
the steed, so that it dashed forward and the man lost his footing. At that moment the 
third assailant leapt from the steep hillside upon the horse behind Bruce, and tried 
to garrotte the king. Bruce, however, bent suddenly forward, pitching this man over 
his head, and cleft his skull with his sword. Then he slew the man at his stirrup with 
a third stroke. Though he had slain his assailants, however, Bruce was not free, for 
one of them held the king’s plaid in his death grip, and it was only by undoing his 
brooch and letting the plaid go that Bruce got rid of his burden.

This brooch, known as the brooch of Lorne, remains in possession of the MacDougals to 
the present day, and is the last tangible evidence of the ancient greatness of their 
house.


This Clan is one of the oldest in Scotland and takes its name from Dugall, son of King 
Somerled a warrior from a Norse royal house who held sway over a large portion of 
western Scotland and who controlled an impressive navy.

Over the years numerous castles were established and many still remain,
the Clan seat is Dunollie, Oban, Scotland.


Brooch of Lorne







'Vivit Post Funera Virtus'


McDowell Family
Coat of Arms





Clan Shield for the 
MacDowell Scottish Clan






"BON ACCORD" 




Please sign my guest book AND thank you for dropping by ! 
            
If you have a website please do list it in my guest book !






The 6th April 1998 was declared
 National Tartan Day in the USA
 for the first time.


Alternative tartan which may be worn by myself or any
other County Antrim McDowell. This tartan was sent to me
from a McDowell family member living in Belfast today.






MacDougall/MacDowell Clan 
of Scotland
Tartan
 
I have heard it told by some researchers that the 2 underscores that our
family makes under our c is to replace the 'a' in MacDowell. It is also
told by some that the 2 underscores denote some royalty in our bloodline
that goes back to the days of the Kingdom of Dál Riata. 
Mac in MacDowell translates as 'Son of' Dowell. 
~Dark Stranger/Foriegner~ tells that our family came from somewhere
other than Ireland which would be Scotland. Dark is for the black
chain mail the McDowells wore as armor in battles.
See my link "Clan Macdowell"

Septs of Clan MacDougall: Conacher, Cowan, Dougall, Dowall, MacConacher,
MacCoul, MacCulloch, MacDowall, MacDowell, MacDulothe, MacHowell,
MacKichan, MacLucas, MacLugash, MacLulich.
 







I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ASSISTED
ME IN THE GATHERING OF SOME OF THE INFORMATION HERE, SENDING PHOTOS,
TARTANS, GIVING FACTS AND MEMORIES. WITHOUT THEIR GENEROUS ASSISTANCE,
THIS PROJECT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH.


SPECIAL THANKS TO Scott@pulaskispast.com 
 http://www.pulaskispast.com
for photographing Blue John Cemetery !

Also, Great Thanks to author Audrey Denny Lambert for giving me the
first two LINKS on my McDowell family from her homepage.
http://ajlambert.com   -her website has a wealth of information.
She has written many more works. I have recently found out Audrey
is related to our family through Annie Meador,
Thomas Shirley Anderson, Bartlett, Denny and McDowells. 
Elizabeth Fisher married Wilson Denny. She has also rewritten the 
Fisher stories published by Margaret and Betty Fisher Cox.
{{{{{So Kudos to Audrey}}}}} 

  







        
   "Remember Me" Rose Grown in Scotland Official Flower of this Website  
                                                             

National Flower of Scotland "Thistle"
Celtic symbol of nobility of character as well as of birth, for the wounding or 
provocation of a thistle yields punishment. For this reason the thistle is the symbol 
of the Order of the Thistle, a high chivalric order of Scotland.

 
Shamrocks are said to bring good luck.The four-leaf clover is often confused with the 
shamrock. While the four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck, the three-leafed 
shamrock is mainly an Irish Christian symbol of the Holy Trinity and has a different 
significance.






             




MY AWARDS







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All rights reserved – not to be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written 
consent of copyright holder(s);. This website and contents within are the express 
copyright of Carolyn McDowell Bilyeu and direct family members (McDowells by birth 
only) mentioned within. I have spent a  considerable amount of time and artistic 
energy to create this website. It is not ment to be used as public domain.

 
  


***
AS A SECURITY MEASURE THE SETTINGS ON MY WEBSITE 'DO NOT' GIVE PERSONAL 
INFORMATION ON FAMILY MEMBERS STILL LIVING. I HAVE CHOSE TO HAVE THIS
WEBSITE WITHOUT EXCLUSIVE INVITATION OR PASSWORD. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT
CHOSE TO - I DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THAT AT ANYTIME. WOULD BE A SHAME
IF SOMEONE FORCED ME TO DO SO. PERSONAL INFORMATION 'WILL NOT' BE GIVEN 
HERE SO PLEASE 'DO NOT' ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION !
PLEASE RESPECT OUR FAMILY'S PRIVACY !
IF YOU TAKE ISSUE OF THIS STATEMENT YOU SHOULD USE A DIFFERENT FORUM
TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS !
*** 





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SINCE July 10th, 2008



Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is an organization whose 
membership is limited to women who "can prove lineal, blood line descent from 
an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence." Goals of the DAR 
are patriotism, education and historic preservation. MICHAEL McDOWELL Claiborne 
County, Tennessee Private, Virginia Line, $30.00 Annual Allowance $90.00 Amount 
Received September 20 1833 Pension Started Age 87 (1835 TN Pension Roll) Court 
documents are at his name under photos. 

John Fisher born 1756 died 1837 DAR marker at gravesite in Old Fisher Cemetery
in Dekalb Co.,TN Revolutionary War pension claim W25580.



Please check at the bottom of this page to see our - List of Last 
Names - our - Links Area - and the four ways to - Get Around - this 
site.