Doig Digests

A Scottish and Chinese Guid New Year to you all! We will celebrate the year of the Dog in August and it looks as though the Doig Gathering in August 2006 is to be a good one, with many cousins from around the Globe attending. We are currently planning the event in more detail. As more interest is shown it has become apparent that the venue of the Smith Museum in Stirling is too small and therefore another venue, just outside Stirling , the Village Hall at Thornhill, has been booked. This will give us room with capacity to spare. We were very reluctant to move from the Smiths but we will still have their support and that of the Kilmadock Society.

What a difference a year and a bit has made since our last Gathering. We must once again thank our Archivist Ken Doig in California who has been able to tie in some ancestor lines with the information received at the first International Doig Gathering at Stirling in 2004. Also thanks to Ken for the improved web pages that he has produced, which now have some photographs on. If you are willing to have photographs of any of your family, old or present, let Ken have e-mail copies. We must also thank Kerr, our Chairman, for pulling the Dog Cart along; he is / has delegated writing this Digest (thanks Kerr!) and is embarking on a book about the Doigs. Title to be decided but I think the “Big Dog Book” could be a best seller J . The book is to be a journal of Doig's, Dog's and Doige's past and present, famous and infamous.

If you have a story Kerr will be pleased to accept it along with any background information & evidence (newspaper cuttings etc) / photographs at GkerrDoig@aol.com

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The Doig Society in order to achieve Clan Status requires ten armigers to become a clan. At this point we have two, with one application in process by Kerr Doig . We really need others to follow suit and align these armigers via the Office of Lord Lyon. What is required is as follows: - This is for a Grandfather ancestor who lived in Scotland but applied for to Lord Lyon.

1a Your Marriage Certificate
1b    "      Father in Law's Marriage Certificate
1c/e      All the Children's Birth Certificates (eldest son first, then any daughters)
2a   Your Birth Certificate
2b    "      Fathers Marriage Certificate
3a    "      G/Fathers Birth Certificate
3b   "            "        Marriage Certificate

Cost is around £1000 but not paid up front.
Please look to your family to achieve this aim for more details and information see www.doig.net

At the end of 2005 Financial Year the Doig Family Society had a healthy £734 in its bank account after expenses had been paid. 2006 subscriptions to the Doig Family Society became due on the 1st of January, at the rate of £10 per person per year. Your financial support would be greatly appreciated to enable the Society to move towards its objective of achieving official Clan status through the Lord Lyon's Office. Society Members are requested to set up an ANNUAL Standing Order of which there is an example to use below. The Treasurer requests that when a subscription Standing Order is set up by a member that they let him know so that he will know who the subscription is from. An e-mail to our Treasurer ianpdoig@yahoo.com would be appreciated; this would save a lot of confusion and head scratching! Alternatively, subscriptions paid by cheque, payable to the “Doig Family Society” and sent to the Doig Family Society Treasurer”, 2E Gillsland Road , Edinburgh , EH10 5BW . The Treasurer is willing to answer any questions and provide further information (0131 228 2947). CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE STANDING ORDER FORM

Accounts are required to be audited and that this could be carried out at the Gathering, Ian P. Doig Treasurer

The Kilmadock Trust & Society :- The Kimadock Development Trust runs the Information and Heritage Centre at the Development Trust shop 52 Main Street , Doune, FK 16 6BW. It is involved in a wide range of activities, e.g. development of the Youth Project, interpretation boards on the path to the Doune Castle , runs walking festivals and provides a base and meeting place for a number of local groups. It also has two employees. Membership of the Trust is £1 life membership; one gets very little for this as it is a way to support the Trust. Membership forms can be obtained. Two newsletters have been produced since the Trust was formed.

The Kilmadock Society is composed of volunteers; and has an annual fee, £5 adults, £2 Senior Citizens (over 60yrs of age), and junior. There are talks and periodic news letters and again membership forms can be obtained. It is of note that the Society and the Development Trust are run in the main by the same people. If you have any “Doig memorabilia” it would be appreciated if paper copies were sent to the Kilmadock Heritage Centre who would be most grateful to receive them.

PLEASE COPY THE POSTER BELOW AND PLACE IT IN YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
(CLICK ON POSTER TO OPEN IN NEW WINDOW)

The Stirling Castle Ball c.16th Century: - Did Jame Dog collect this football for King James IV which is now lying in the Smiths Art Gallery and Museum?
When workmen found this small leather ball hidden within the Queen's Chamber at Stirling Castle in the 1970s, little interest was stirred. With its dried up bladder still inside the casing, the ball was merely classified under 'leather goods' and deposited in the Smith museum. More recent research by the Scottish Football Museum , however, suggests that it may be of considerable historic significance. The ball's age may partly be deduced from the location of its concealment, behind a wall erected as part of James V's reconstruction of the castle between 1537-42. From the Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer during the reign of James IV, dated 11 April 1497, we also find an order from Stirling , 'giffin to Jame Dog to by fut ballis to the King.' So might this ball be one of Mr Dog's? Football was certainly being played at this time in Scotland , at least by the brave (as depicted below). Sir David Lindsay, a satirist in the court of James V, listed 'futeball' among the pursuits of his protagonist Squyer Meldrum, while during Mary Queen of Scots' imprisonment at Carlisle in 1568, according to a letter from Francis Knollys, `20 of her retinue played at football before her for two hours very strongly, nimbly, and skilfully...' 'Theyr fairer play,' wrote Knollys, was owing to `the smalness of theyr balle'. But it is the very smallness of the Stirling ball which has led the National Museum of Scotland to suggest that it was not used for football, but for pallone, a tennis-like game in which players strike the ball with wooden sheaths attached to their forearms. Popular at European courts in the 16th century and still played in Italy today, Pallone- the Italian for ball or balloon - uses a bladder-inflated ball similar in size to the Stirling example. If this is a pallone it adds intriguing evidence to what is already known of Scotland 's close ties with European fashion during the Stewart period. But if it is indeed a football, it is, as far as we know, the oldest surviving example in the world.

Kilmadock Graveyard update : - Stirling Council have awarded a £15,000 funding for repairs and upkeep of the Kilmadock graveyard , which has close links with our Doig ancestors. There will be a new access map to the graveyard and it is hoped this will be available for our August 2006 Gathering.

DOIG INTERNATIONAL GATHERING 2006: - OUR VENUES and PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Stirling, 4 th and 5 th August 2006 Commencing at 10.30 each day at THORNHILL in the village hall, starting with mix and mingle / lunch / speakers - finishing around 4.30. We will welcome both “kent faces” and new Doig cousins attending for the first time.

On the Friday there will be an “Evening Soiree” with entertainment from two bands - our own Wullie Doig 's band and “The Twa Daves” with singers including Katie Costello.

“STRIKEBOUND” the only Doig Feature film in the world will be will be available Friday and Saturday.

On the Saturday a similar format during the day, (the speakers are yet to be finalised together with times). We will vote for our “Clan Chief”. Look forward to the 2008 venue requesting input / format and also to the 2010 gathering in Canada?

In the evening at Thornhill near Stirling , 5 th August. 7.30pm , “The Doig Doo” Our Ceilidh Dance, to be held in the Thornhill village hall, dance until midnight, definitely not to be missed! Space is limited to 120 so please apply for your tickets early. PLEASE, bring a raffle prize with you to the Gathering. Grand draw at the “Doig Doo”

Bridge of Allan 6 th August . Come with us to the world famous Bridge of Allan Highland Games one of Scotland 's premier events attracting crowds of between 10,000 and 15,000. The games field is situated in a spectacular setting nestled between Stirling Castle , the Ochil Hills and the Wallace Monument and Bannockburn Battlefield, made famous by the blockbuster movie Braveheart. The games themselves offer a full athletic programme including the crowd pleasing heavyweight competitions, nearly 200 highland dancers, approx 1500 pipers, wrestling, tug-of-war, cycling, over 40 Exhibition and trade stands, food stalls, bars and a huge fun fair. It is renowned for the large number of pipe bands attending. See http://www.bofagames.i12.com

If you would like to represent the Doigs in any of the competitions please feel free to do so.

FAREWELL DINNER : - on Sunday the 6 th August we will have a farewell dinner. If you are interested in the dinner please notify the Chairman, as dependent upon numbers, the venue may have to be changed. GkerrDoig@aol.com

RICHARD “TARTAN” DOIG IS ATTENDING on all days and will have a stall at the Bridge of Allan Games . Doig Tartan goods will be available, ties, scarves, plaids, etc. Order your Doig Tartan Kilt see www.thekiltshop.co.uk

DOIG SPEAKERS ARE STILL WANTED; DOIG PIONEER STORIES, OR SCOTTISH TOPICS, ALSO SINGERS / ENTERTAINERS FOR THE EVENING SOIREE. Please e-mail John. john.doig@tiscali.co.uk

BOOK : - THORNHILL AND ITS ENVIRONS : - A Social History by Stuart J. McCulloch. This short history of Thornhill and the parish community of Norreiston is a must for all Doigs to have in their home library. It is a bountiful guide to the local history that surrounded the Doigs of the area, 9 pages where they are mentioned. The Society has obtained all the copies currently in print and they are available at £10 incl. p&p and will be available at the Gathering .

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The only Doig Gathering DVD film in the World!
First International Gathering DVD's are still available.
£10 incl. p&p in UK , $20 US outside UK.
Contact Secretary John Doig for copies.
It is intended to video the Gathering again in 2006. So start saving now :-)

Sorry if you missed the First Doig International Gathering? ; be there at the SECOND!
Contact our Kennel Master John Doig Liverpool. August 2006 is less than 7 months away!

I would be grateful if you would please register indicating THE DAYS / DATES YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT we do need to plan our meals / snack etc.
No later than 30 th June 2006 to ensure your booking for the Ceilidh

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Stirling , Scotland . – For those of you who wish to know more about the area including places to visit,/ accommodation please see http://www.visitscottishheartlands.com
More available accommodation at http://www.upmystreet.com search Hotels in the village of Deanston & Doune close to Stirling and Thornhill.

Maps of the Stirling – Thornhill: - a distance of about 7.5mls from Stirling and 11 minutes travel by car.

SEARCHING FOR DOIGS
by Kenneth Frank Doig
Doig Family Society Genealogist

I purchased my first computer genealogy program in 1991. My name was the first, and I added from there. I currently have about 75,000 names up on the internet , of which about 60,000 are Doigs or their spouses' (about 15,000 are my wife Linda's).

I was a purchasing agent and had the opportunity to travel. Many flights had arranged stopovers in Salt Lake City where much of my earlier research was done. Besides the US and Canada , I have also researched at many places in Scotland and England . I have braved the book mites in the Vatican Library in Rome , the Registry House in Sydney , NSW, Australia, and the Library in Christchurch , New Zealand . I have exchanged reams of paper by snail mail and more recently many thousands of emails.

When I first signed on to the Internet, the search engine for “DOIG” yielded 286 results. Today that search on Google is 1,860,000. At the top is our website www.doig.net. I used to keep up with the new e-mail addresses and websites, but had to give that up. The Internet has made the search much easier to do from home, but I get dozens of email enquiries each week that take additional research.

Where can you see some of the results of the Doig quest? Go to www.doig.net and try your name in the search engine. If you can't find yourself send me an e-mail at ken@doig.net with a bit of ancestry. Most of the files have been updated down to recent. If you want to browse our earliest records check out http://www.doig.net/DOIGK.htm.

Besides the text files there are GEDCOM (linked) files at http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi. (The site is free, but I hope you have a pop-up blocker) This program removes info on living persons after 1930. Here you can do a specialized search. Try only the name “Doig” and Birth Place of “Kinnettles.” You will get 70 results just from this small parish near Forfar.

When you find yourself, please send any corrections or additions to me at ken@doig.net. Also send photo scans for inclusion with the text files. To see how these enhance your family history check out my pics at http://www.doig.net/ANDX1776.html. Click on the photos to enlarge. Please contribute your smiling face and your ancestors to share with your cousins.

Now a question for our Canadian Doigs. Who is this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Doig

The Scottish Genealogy Society: - Promotes research into Scottish History encouraging the collection, exchange and publication of material relating to genealogy and family history. E-mail; info@scotsgenealogy.com and web www.scotsgenealogy.com they reside at 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh , EH1 2JL 0131 220 3677

They produce a quarterly journal “The Scottish Genealogist” and recently in L11 Vol 2 had a 7 page spread written by Kenneth Frank Doig, (our Genealogist California ) Dr Suzanne Mary Doig (NZ) & George Kerr Doig our Chairman.

For details on subscriptions etc please see the above contacts.

DOIG DNA
Some progress is being made as to setting up a DOIG DNA database.
An American site has been found which will assist with this aim. http://www.familytreedna.com/

The intention is to obtain volunteers from several Doig lines and submit for a test which will cost $102. Costs will have to be met by the individual unfortunately. So if you are willing to volunteer please let the Society know via - ken@doig.net A mouth swab is all it takes. We already have two volunteers so watch this space you may find that you do not have a Doig Genealogist or Secretary soon :-)

REPRESENTATIVE REQUIRED IN EACH COUNTRY
ARE YOU WILLING TO VOLUNTEER?

If we are to have an International Gathering in Canada in 2010 we will require some organisation.

Ian Doig reidoig@perth.igs.net has agreed to become the Canadian representative. Ian lives in Perth Ontario and we will require those other Doig's in Canada to come out of the woods and assist. Please contact Ian, we need to look at a venue and will require star attractions / ideas. Ian Doig in Sydney Australia has also agreed to become the Auzzie representative, these duties entail the rustling up of Doig descendents, encouragement to join the Society, assisting to becoming a Clan and if the country hosts a Gathering to act as a key role in the organization.

TALK FOR FREE ON SKYPE (NOW WITH A VIDEO LINK)

SO FAR THERE ARE NEARLY 100 DOIGS ON SKYPE!
I JUST WISH THEY ALL WOULD LET ME TALK TO THEM :-)

IF YOU ARE ON SKYPE MY SKYPE NAME IS doigjohna PLEASE CALL!

Do you know of a location or a street near you named after the Doig Family? Please let us know.

Canada

Contact e-mails

Ken is at - www.doig.net
Archivist & Web Master

Kerr - GkerrDoig@aol.com
Hon Chairman

John - john.doig@tiscali.co.uk
Hon Secretary

Ian - ianpdoig@yahoo.com
Hon Treasurer

Henry - sunnysidehouse@hotmail.com
Lineage

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THE DOIG SOCIETY EXTENDS TO YOU ALL A WISH FOR
PEACE, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN 2006 AND BEYOND.

Doig Digests

Newsletter of The Doig Family Society

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CLAN REGISTRATION

PLEASE COPY THE POSTER BELOW AND PLACE IT IN YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
(CLICK ON POSTER TO OPEN IN NEW WINDOW)

DOIG INTERNATIONAL GATHERING 2006: - OUR VENUES and PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

* BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW *

* BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION EARLY :- LIKE NOW *

* BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW *

Doig Digests

Newsletter of The Doig Family Society

DOIG INTERNATIONAL GATHERING 2006 : - OUR VENUES

Join the Doig Family Society today!

Membership £10 or equivalent per person / per annum,
Transfer money direct to our account in Scotland using the form below

Wanted!

Doig Digests

Newsletter of The Doig Family Society

*** BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW ***

CLAN REGISTRATION

PLEASE COPY THE POSTER BELOW AND PLACE IT IN YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY (CLICK ON POSTER TO OPEN IN NEW WINDOW)

DOIG INTERNATIONAL GATHERING 2006: - OUR VENUES and PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

*** BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW ***

*** BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION EARLY :- LIKE NOW ***

*** BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW ***

Doig Digests

Newsletter of The Doig Family Society

DOIG INTERNATIONAL GATHERING 2006 : - OUR VENUES

Join the Doig Family Society today!

Membership £10 or equivalent per person / per annum, Transfer money direct to our account in Scotland using the form below

Wanted!

* BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW *

PLEASE COPY THE POSTER BELOW AND PLACE IT IN YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
(CLICK ON POSTER TO OPEN IN NEW WINDOW)

* BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW *

* BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION EARLY :- LIKE NOW *

* BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW *

Membership £10 or equivalent per person / per annum,
Transfer money direct to our account in Scotland using the form below