Authors have vivid imaginations which is why I envision the rest of the story with my 6th great-grandfather, George Hume, the inspiration behind my new release A BOUND HEART. As I was researching and writing this story of my heart & heritage, I kept wondering what might have happened to me as a direct descendant if ‘Immigrant George’ as he is referred to by historians, had never been exiled from his beloved Scotland…
So many pieces of Grandfather George’s story intrigue me. His ancient castle along the very dangerous Scottish borders. The half dozen Hume sons called ‘the Spears of Wedderburn.’ The Hume women who lived in the castle (one was murdered by a servant). The fact that while many of his fellow Jacobites were drawn & quartered for acts of treason, he was simply banished. His kinship with the royal governor in colonial Virginia. His surveying with the young George Washington. His settling in Virginia and then journeying to Kentucky where his family – my family – lives today.
On a whimsical note, I’ve always wanted to be royalty since I was small. Even Lady Laura of Wedderburn Castle has a compelling ring to it:) Since I’m a sixth great-granddaughter, I have no idea where I’d be if George hadn’t lost his holdings in Scotland. His surviving letters to his family whom he would never see again are both a joy and a wrench to read. His was a hard life no matter on which side of the Atlantic he happened to be.
He was a family man. A man of faith. Maybe that faith sustained him as it does Magus and Lark in the novel. Maybe George’s legacy is foremost the faith that is still treasured by his Kentucky descendants today. So I’ll just sip my English tea and eat my Scottish tarts and enjoy my royal ornament and wonder what it might have been like if George had stayed in Scotland.
Hope you enjoy this Scottish-coming-to-America story inspired by George!
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So beautiful.
Life just suddenly slowed way down for me. Right in time for Christmas and a new release.
Keep your eyes on your snail mail. 😉
Oh, love that life has slowed just when it should for you! I envision you in your lovely, new place making it a home with my book not far 🙂 Thanks for the gift of your ongoing presence. Praying for you and your family and dear mom!
Isn’t it wonderful to know that the MOST important thing George left to his family was his faith? That truly is the best legacy anyone could pass along to their descendants, and because of it you have the promise of one day ‘meeting’ George in heaven and spending eternity with him and other long ago ancestors. But for the here and now, I look forward to read about them through your book.
Amy, You think along the same lines as I do – meeting those ancestors in another dimension entirely with none of the restraints of earth! Heaven will be incredible, truly. I hope and do think we will be able to see how all those seeds planted and legacies of faith passed down from generation to generation, something denied us on earth for the most part. Glad ‘through a glass darkly’ ceases to be! So hope you enjoy ABH. Thank you for being such a wonderful encouragement!
Learning of the faith of our ancestors is such a precious gift. So happy to be learning of yours, dear Laura. I’m so grateful that it led to a special novel!
Do you have those letters?! Amazing they’ve survived so long. And Lady Laura sounds perfect ~ it fits you. 🙂 Knowing about you ancestor will make every page of Bound Heart even sweeter. Though I imagine reading Liz’s books set during the Jacobites and Culloden must have pained you.
What a dear ornament. Blessed Christmas to you and yours!
Yes, such a mix of heartbreak, awe, and more for our ancestors and all they overcame to get here! Those letters by George were in the possession of the family until the turn of the century (1900) when they were lost. Thankfully, they were copied and exist today. I do hope they turn up. Sad to think they may have been thrown away or are lying in some forgotten place. By now the ink and paper are so old they might be unreadable? Yes, Liz’s books really bring that Scottish history to life in fresh ways. I so hope she writes another historical.
Thank you for being here. I always enjoy your insightful, thoughtful comments!
I just ordered and can’t wait until my book arrives! I can’t believe your ancestor surveyed with our precious George! 😃
Our precious George W., indeed! When I learned of that years ago I couldn’t believe it! Only the Lord could have done that 🙂 I just heard from a reader in the Washington, VA and Hume, VA area and they are near each other. I’ve not been there but it’s even delightful to know the place names are close. I wonder if my George kept in contact with our revered George later in life or what they thought about the other. Oh, the stories heaven will hopefully tell!