When I started tracing my mother’s family tree, I had no idea where it would lead. As it turned out, it took me a long way back. I started by looking at my grandfather’s story with a focus on the Victorian and Western Australian goldfields.
But it quickly took me much further back in time. I found myself in the mystical world of dragons, and started to research the early Frankish name, de Vere which became a forerunner to Weir.
From there, I found myself in the Norman Conquest of England, and my ancestor was fighting alongside William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings. The story then moved to Scotland and that is where it got interesting. Not only did the de Veres become Weirs, but became one of the most respected names in Scotland for nearly 700 years.
However, I was surprised to discover that the Weir family name was intertwined with the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. Around 18,000 Covenanters were martyred in Scotland at a time when being Presbyterian was a crime. I found myself reading story after story of these martyrs. I’ve only included a few of these stories that related directly to the Weirs.
I’d encourage you to grab a coffee and read the book. I found it fascinating and I’m you will too.
INSPIRE NEWSCAST 