Doig Digest

Newsletter of The Doig Family Society

A Robert Fleming Doig born 20/2/1893 Torryburn Fife was killed by a tiger in India on 12th September 1971. Possibly the oldest image of a Doig is his father Rev. Thomas Doig of Torryburn which can be seen at the website George Eastman House , Hill & Adams series Page 1, 79:0012:0021 Circa 1845. Ken  Doig has the family file at ROBX1713

Latest : We now have a Doig in China working in Hong Kong. No Chinese Doig yet, at least with Scottish blood line that we know of.

Chairman's Report

2009 was a busy one for the Doig Family Society with our trip to the Whisky Heritage Centre and to The Homecoming event when we met cousins from around the world.

The International Gathering of the Clans, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh July 2009.
The 125 Chiefs who descended on the Scottish Capital with their Clans for this historic regrouping of exiles from all over the world, were encouraged to join the 21st Century and start using Facebook and Twitter to increase their ranks and membership. This message to members from the new World was to embrace modern forms of communication to reach different even wider groups of people.

We, the Doig Family Society, had our 3rd World Gathering to coincide with the above and it was so nice to see “well kent” faces and also new members including a Doig family from Peru! The never to be forgotten Clan Parade up the Royal Mile was quite awe inspiring and the farewell Doig Dinner organised by Treasurer lan who picked a perfect venue finished an amazing weekend.

It is with great excitement I announce our 4th World Doig Gathering to take place this year 2010 in Perth, Canada. For details go to www.doigclanreunion.net

I wish organiser Ian (Canada) Doig reidoig@gmail.com every success and hope to see you all there.

The priority this year is CANADA August 18TH -22ND 2010 in Perth Ontario which is being organized mainly by Ian(Canada) Doig of that town.
See his web site www.doigclanreunion.net

Try to arrive on Wednesday 18th August so that all those attending can meet & mingle. On Thursday and Friday Ian is organising speakers and aims to identify local items of interest. On Friday evening a Farewell Dinner is to be arranged. On the Saturday the North Lanark Highland Games at Almonte is being held ~ 46km away. If you think our Scottish Games are big events well you will be surprised.  If you can assist please contact Ian (Canada) at reidoig@gmail.com

NOTE:  - Now is the time to book your flights as August is peak season!

Please have a look and a listen to musician William Doig’s recording “The Tartan Army” a link to the site is at www.doig.net  Send it to all your friends!

Kerr wishes everyone all the very best for 2010 remembering our motto
Yield not to Adversity: Na gèill do chruaidh-chas

Thanks go to Steve Buchanan who connected the picture shown in the 2008 Digest in which the name John Doig appears in a bar in Edinburgh’s Leith Walk to the Estate of Alexander Doig, wine & spirit merchant of 1 and 3 Leith Walk, died 3/9/1878. One of the beneficiaries was Janet Doig & David Doig, Wine and spirit merchant of 5 Leith Walk. See http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dave1681&id=I99

Message from our beloved Genial Genealogist
Doak, Doig or Doeg?
By Ken Doig

The early Scottish records show our surname as Dog, from the Celtic gillie dog, or servant of St. Cadog or St. Cadoc. When the English, and their language, arrived north the spelling evolved into Doak, Doeg, Doig, and other variations that didn’t elicit the canine allusion. Doak became common in Ireland, but many remaining in Ayrshire changed it to Doig.  Doig became the common spelling in Scotland. What about Doeg?

In the 1901 Scotland census there were 159 Doak (many from Ireland), 1,747 Doig, and 49 Doeg. In 1901 England there were 73 Doak, 290 Doig, and 50 Doeg. In 1901 Canada there were 131 Doak, 185 Doig, 28 Doige, and 1 Doeg. And, in the 1900 US census 1,943 Doak, 446 Doig, and 59 Doeg. There are no censuses available for Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.

A pocket of Doeg remained in northern Perthshire (WILL1750). Another group of Doeg seafarers sailed from the Edinburgh area and settled at Newcastle, Northumberland, England (DAVE1681). The third Doeg group appears to have arrived in Whitby, Yorkshire, England from Denmark in about 1700 (PETE1630).

How did they get to Denmark? In 1494 James Dog (1449-1532) prepared for the Chancellor of Denmark's visit to the King of Scotland. His grandson is noted in a letter dated 20 Apr 1543, Edinburgh, from Arran, as governor, to Christian III expressing the fear that England thinks of reducing Scotland, and seeking facilities for his servant James Dog, who goes to Denmark for munitions and supplies. This was Capt. James Dog (1506-1555) on file DOIGK. [We are looking for a male Doeg to join our DNA project to confirm this link.] The only families found in Denmark are Henrich Jorgen DOEG, christened 3 April 1747 in Kobenhavn, Denmark, son of Hinrich David Doeg and Gunder Margrethe Nielsdr; and Peder Nielsen DOIG born about 1785 in Denmark.

The Denmark Doeg line spread thinly from England to worldwide, but mostly to the US and South Africa.  Of particular note is John Hope Doeg, born 7 Dec 1908 in La Colorado, Sonora, Mexico. He moved north where he married twice. John was the U.S. Open Doubles Tennis Champion in 1929 and 1930, and the singles champion in 1930.  He became a US citizen in 1933. He was elected to the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1962.
He died in 1978 in California.

The Doeg’s of Newcastle have a notable seaman who transported Napoleon into exile at Elba in 1815. Stephen Doeg (1788-1844 Newcastle) married Jane Bowes in 1822, by whom he had children Margaret, John, and George. John married Mary Hunter, some of whose descendants moved to South Africa.

A 1988 letter by Henry Doeg of Pretoria, South Africa relates: "One member Thomas Doeg was taken by the Press Gang during the Napoleonic wars, served in Bellerophen and later Victory and was Nelson's coxswain; it was he who held Nelson's head in the famous picture "The Death of Nelson". After Nelson's death, he transferred to Royal Sovereign as coxswain for Lord Collingwood, a Northumbrian, and had the onerous task of taking Napoleon to St. Helena. He later retired from the navy taking up his freelage with the shipwrights company."

No confirmation has been found (by me) that a Thomas Doeg was present at the death of Nelson on 21 Oct 1805. Might that be Thomas in the white shirt? Or did the letter intend Stephen Doeg?

However Stephen Doeg was present when Napoleon surrendered on the HMS Bellerophon on 15 July 1815. There is a price money certificate No. 1592 which says: “This is to certify that Stephen Doeg has served as carpenter's mate on board of his majesty's ship "Bellerophon" under my command from the 9th day of April 1815 to the 15th day of September 1815 and signed by Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland.” In other documents Stephen is described as age 28, 5'8' high, and with a fair complexion.

Stephen is also reported to have been a background character in a painting of Napoleon’s surrender. Might that be him holding the rope in front of Napoleon?

The family story goes that Stephen was rewarded, and with his prize he purchased two boats, both of which sank uninsured.  
What will you do with your 15 minutes of fame?

Don’t forget to join our DNA project.
One small swab for Doig, a giant leap for Clan Doig.

This project so far has thrown up several very good links with the main link being the SCOTT lineage of which Henry Doig ( our Chieftain in waiting), Kerr our Chairman and Ken (Genial Genealogist) and others are linked. I, for my forefather’s sins, had a more adventurous origin being of Viking decent. Please contact the DNA Web site. Please note it is very secure and no details etc are passed on. See https://www.familytreedna.com

The basic test of 12 Y-DNA is a good start but when you find you have a possible link to someone the larger Y-DNA test of up to 37 is ideal.

We really do owe Ken our Genealogist a vote of thanks and our gratitude. Over the years Ken has spent many hours (days / months / years) building our web site (www.doig.net) and gathering information, a lot of which has cost a considerable amount of money. He wishes to carry on with the Web site cost as he has other material attached to it, so for now Ken is the sole Web Master however an assistant archivist Ian L (Glasgow) Doig has access to Ken’s Web should the need arise. Ian has kindly agreed to provide local support in Scotland to develop the Doig Website.

Our ambition to obtain Clan Status is progressing but slowly, Ian Doig in Australia, Henry Doig in Scotland, John R. Doig in New Zealand as well as Ian P. Doig in Edinburgh are all intent on obtaining Armiger status see Lord Lyons Den @ www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk for full scripts.  7 more men in total including the above mentioned are required to obtain Armiger status before we can become a clan. What is an Armiger?  : - A person who has petitioned and has been granted a Coat of Arms by the Lord Lyon of Scotland.  Why not spread the cost by asking family members to contribute?

Please look to your family to achieve this aim for more details and information. See www.doig.net

British Commonwealth. Anyone domiciled in Her Majesty’s overseas realms or the Commonwealth who has Scottish ancestry can apply. Foreign Countries. Anyone with Scottish ancestry can apply for a posthumous Grant of Arms to a Scottish ancestor.  Time Scale for an application. The cost of a Coat of Arms, it goes up every April each year, now New Grant of Armorial Bearings, including shield and crest and motto £1,926. New grant of Armorial Bearings, including shield alone £1,194.  Pay for it now before April, save money. It can take up to 18 months to obtain once submitted

Footnote from our Secretary: - I cannot become an armiger as I live in ENGLAND as I would have to apply to the English Court.

Doig Artefacts
No purchases of Doig memorabilia this year but if anyone wishes to donate Doig memorabilia then please send it to our Chairman Kerr Doig or just take it to the Stirling Smith Museum where our collection is held.

There is an official tartan site with our Doig tartan at http://tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails.aspx?ref=944.
Click on the tartan to enlarge to appreciate it in full
The web site to purchase the Doig Tartan is www.thekiltshop.co.uk

Edinburgh’s Whisky Heritage Centre
Right up near the Castle, on the right as one walks up to the Castle
This is a well worth while experience even for non drinkers. An intrepid group of Doigs had a very enjoyable escorted trip round the centre, the highlight being the references to Charles Chree Doig the architect, who was the inventor of the famous “Whisky Pagoda” chimney, which is seen on many distillery buildings.

A Pagoda is on display in the tasting room along with an explanation of Charles’s architectural achievements. A plaque will be presented at a later date.

Note: a Doig concessionary tour is reduced from £11.50 to £8.50 available to Doig visitors. James and Ann Gibb were present for the tour, James being a direct descendent of Charles. See photo below

Ian, Kerr, Ann, Wendy, Henry, Mary, John and James (related to Charles)

Want a DOIG number plate? PDOIG as well as others see mrbikeuk@hotmail.com

The 3rd International Doig Gathering @ Edinburgh 2009

The International Doig Gathering took place in 2009 and linked up with Scotland’s Year of The Homecoming.   The Homecoming was a year long programme of events, which culminated in the largest highland games on the Saturday and Sunday.  The highlight on the Saturday evening was the Grand March of the Clans (see photo above): A contingent of over 20 Doigs, from Scotland, England, Wales, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Peru joined other Clans and Societies in the Grand March from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle accompanied by clan banners and numerous pipe bands to the delight of thousands of spectators.  The March was followed by a Historical Pageant at the Castle, attended by people of Scots Decent from all over the world.

A sound DVD of the event can be obtained from www.thegathering2009.com and click on shop. (This is the current website).

A very enjoyable Doigs’ day and evening was spent at St John’s Church Hall in Princes Street, Edinburgh on the Friday.  Our thanks go to Wendy Doig (John’s wife) for organisation and food. As was mentioned in the AGM report, several members of the Society have purchased Life Memberships and were presented with inscribed certificates: -

Kenneth Doig (California) was presented with his certificate with special recognition for all the outstanding and painstaking work Ken has done over many years on tracing the Doigs’ genealogy and in the setting up of the Doigs’ Web Site.  Also thanks are due to Kens wife, Linda Doig (California) who was unable to accompany Ken on this visit.  To our Founder & Chairman G. Kerr Doig, also to his wife Maureen Doig (Dunfermline).  To Dr. Henry Doig, who was appointed as our Chieftain-in-Waiting, and his wife Dr. Mary Doig. (East Kilbride) Also John K Doig and Margaret Doig (East Kilbride), Geoffrey Watson  Doig (Crewe),  John R Doig and Susan Doig (NZ). Ian B Doig and Susan C Doig (AUS), Ian P Doig our Treasurer (Edinburgh),  John A Doig our Secretary and Wendy H Doig (Liverpool). Finally Alison Garabedian-Doig of Switzerland.

I have lost contact with Alison as her E-mail address no longer works which reminds me to plead to you all if you change your E-mail address PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

 
Some of the Doigs who marched under the Doigs’ Banner and attended the Pageant
Note: Sue Doig, wife if Ian Doig Sydney Australia, is to make us a permanent needlework Doig Banner. This would be terrific and put us in good stead for the future.

Treasurer's Report
Our busy Treasurer Ian P. Doig will finalize the Society’s 2009 accounts shortly and informs us that the Society has accumulated funds of £3000 in the bank.  Ian hopes to set up an arrangement with PayPal shortly to enable subscriptions and life membership fees to be transacted more efficiently and/ or to create a downloadable PDF Membership Subscription Form.

If you would like to purchase Life Membership of the Doig Family Society or pay your annual subscription please do so, as outlined below...

Membership of the Doig Family Society is a yearly subscription of £10. Subscriptions for financial year 2010 are now due, so please send payment to the Treasurer, as the Society does not have admin. resources to issue individual invoices to each member. Alternatively, the committee have introduced a new option of Founder Life Membership for a (very reasonable) one off payment of £50.   Founder/Life members will be given a pride of place on the Doig Family Website www.doig.net If you have already paid your £10 for 2009 you can convert to Founder/Life Membership for an additional one off £40, payable via our Treasurer: - (Please email Ian to advise when and what you do, so that Ian can identify your subs on the bank statement – Ian can then acknowledge receipt by email).

Treasurers contact info: Ian P. Doig, Hon Treasurer, Doig Family Society.  Tel: 0131 228 2947  Mobile: 07970 765649.  ianpdoig@yahoo.com

• Payment Option 1 – for individual payments of £10 subscription, the account information & the transfer codes to use to transfer subscriptions through the banking system (including international payments) to the Doig Family Society bank account is:

Please contact treasurer or secretary for bank details

• Option 2 – Our preferred method for collecting subscriptions with minimum admin. is by setting up a standing order with your bank. See mandate form attached here

• Option 3 – Alternatively, you can send always send a cheque in pounds sterling, payable to the ‘Doig Family Society’ to the Treasurer.

It is with sadness that I report the untimely death David Ross (2nd Jan 2010) our prime guest speaker at all our Doig Gatherings. May he rest in peace.
( I have DVD’s of the last talk by David at our Gathering if anyone wants one let me know by e-mail )

ST CADOC’S DAY: - We Doigs remember it on the 24TH January

Have a good year, health wealth and happiness to all.
Best Wishes
John Doig Hon Secretary

john@doigsden.co.uk for Doig Family Society news and re my famous  grandfather Ned Doig.