Genealogical conundrum

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

There is absolutely no reason -- traditional, legal, or moral-- that would prevent you from asserting membership in the clan into which your ancestress married, despite the birth status of her natural offspring from whom you descend.

When your ancestress married, her children-- whatever their last name-- became members of the clan by fosterage, an ancient Highland custom.

Your ancestress became part of a clan upon marriage, and transmitted that "right" of clan membership to all of her children. Legally the children of a marriage take precedence over natural children regardless of age, but all share equally in the parents estate, and that includes an equal share in clan membership.

Morally there can be no objection to any child -- regardless of the status of its birth -- enjoying the same natural rights to inherit property (and membership in a clan is a heritable right) as any other person.

That said, there is no impediment to your joining the appropriate clan or clan society. I would, however, suggest that with multiple clan choices you consider the clan to which you have the strongest connection (ie: the most recent ancestor of that name) as "your own", and consider the others as collateral "cousins", interesting, but not "your" clan.

[HeathBar]

Joining the clan societies is definitely an option, I do what I can to support and honor every part of my ancestry. My surname is very common and is either Welsh or German. I have not yet been able to dig far enough back to determine which one it is.

Not knowing the timeframe of the family in question, anytime a man marries a single mother and takes her child as his own, he is to be honored. And I am glad that you are honoring him by bringing his own heritage into your life. If I were you, I would pick one of the clan socieities to join. Then become active with that society. Participate and help out in the clan tent. That would be the best way to honor his memory. If you tried to join and honor all three, you could end up spreading yourself too thin and get burt out. You could still make a monetary donation to the other clans in his name to honor those sides.

[ThinBlueLine]

HeathBar,

I forgot to add the time frame, my mistake. The marriage was in 1843.

[St. Amish]

I don't think that most clan associations really care at all how tenuous one's connection to a "clan" is.

Ah, but then there are the ones that DO.

Clan Donald in California requires proof of heritage.

[skauwt]

Ah, but then there are the ones that DO.

Clan Donald in California requires proof of heritage.

same goes for the Chisholm clan they have three criteria that must be met before membership is allowed

[cajunscot]

same goes for the Chisholm clan they have three criteria that must be met before membership is allowed

A number of clan societies do. My clan society requires it.

T.

[sp00ky]

Interesting...

The Clan Mackenzie Society is open to..."all Mackenzies, their septs, or any of their descendants, as well as anyone who has an interest in the society.

Plus you have to have $20!

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

I like Mac Rath's reasoning on this. Your step-ancestor deserves to be honored.

[Riverkilt]

Just my thoughts - illegitimate or legitimate is a state function - has nothing to do with genetics or bloodline.

Obviously right and good to honor a clan who's members made your ancestor's life better back when.