The Archibald Family History
“The surname Archibald is of patronymic origin, being derived from the first name of the father of the original bearer. Archibald is derived from the ancient German personal name Ercambald for which the literal translation is “precious-bold”. The surname Archibald simply signifies “son of” or “descendant of” Archibald. This surname is particularly associated with Scotland where one of the earliest records of the name is of Erchembaldus, Abbot of Dunfermelyne, circa 1180 A. D.
One Robert Archibald received a charter of the Hospital of Roxborough in 1390 from Robert III, King of Scotland. John Archibald was a witness in St. Andrews in 1545.
Notable bearers of the surname include Sir Adams George Archibald, Canadian jurist of Scottish descent. He held the positions of Solicitor-General, Lieutenant-Governor and Attorney-General in Nova Scotia. Adams George Archibald was also one of the Fathers of Confederation in Canada.”
The Historical Research Center, Dublin, 18 September, 1993.
In September 1993, we - Jean (Archibald) Babcock and William Babcock - visited Northern Ireland (Ulster) and found our way to Limavady where we spoke with two Presbyterian Church Ministers, Rev. William Mawhinney and Rev. Stanley Irwin who both assured us that all the families we mentioned were “Most certainly Ulster-Scots”. We talked by phone with a Douglas Archibald in Limavady and he too confirmed the Scots origin of the Archibald family. I also talked with Douglas’s brother, Robin Archibald, now a resident of Downsview, Ontario, and he said that the Archibalds settled near Coleraine, N. I., on land overlooking the River Bann. Then they traversed the Sperrin mountains by the way of the middle road, finding work near Limavady.
The following information pertinent to Jean’s ancestors is taken from the book “Surnames of Derry” by Brian Mitchell. The indication is that these families originated in Scotland, immigrated to Ulster, and established residence there before emigrating to Canada and the U.S.A. Having lived in Ulster and/or having been born there, it is only logical that the Archibalds and Jamiesons would refer to themselves as Irish.
FROM THE BOOK “SURNAMES OF DERRY”:
Archibald - This surname is derived from a Norman given name which was recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086. Archibald became a surname in Scotland and is recorded as early as the 12th century, and was especially common around Edinburgh. There also is a strong representation in Argyll.
McClements - As a brand of the Clan Lamont, McClements was one of the names adopted by members of that clan upon their break-up by Clan Campbell in the late 16th century. The McClements is an ancient clan which traces its ancestry to the O’Neills, Lords of Tyrone, and at one time, held extensive lands in Argyll.
Riddell (Riddel or Riddles) - Probably derived from either Ryedale in North Yorkshire or from the Norman given name Ridel. The Riddells establshed themselves in Roxburghshire, Scotland, mid-12th century.
Jamieson - The Jamiesons were a sept of the Clan Gunn; a sept of Clan Stuart on the Isle of Bute and were one of the smaller riding clans in the Scottish Borders. There is evidence of strong representation in Old Macher Parish, near Aberdeen. (see L.D.S. files).
McFadden - In Scotland, this sept of the Clan McLean was first recorded in Kintyre in 1304. On the Isle of Mull they were knorn as a race of goldsmiths. In Ireland, McFadden means son of Patrick.
McNeill - Scots-Gaelic, claiming descent from Niall, twenty-first in descent from the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages, this clan settled in Bara in the Outer Hebrides in 1049. In the 14th century McNeills came to Ulster as gallowglasses or mercenary soldiers, and settled in Counties Derry and Antrim. They were Lords of Clandeboy for a while before submitting to the O’Neills in the late 15th century.
Duff - Scots-Gaelic from Galloway where McIlduff was shortened to Duff. In Fife, Duff was a sept of Clan McDuff, and as such, had the privilege of crowning the Kings of Scotland. They also led the Scottish army to battle.
McCormick - Scots-Gaelic, meaning son of Cormac. The McCormicks were a prominent sept of the Clan MacLean on the Isle of Mull.
Hugh Riddel was Jean (Archibald) Babcock’s Great, Great Grandfather who married Margaret circa 1822. Their daughter Martha Riddel was born 1823. She was Jean’s Great Grandmother. John Archibald, Jean’s Great Grandfather, married Martha Riddel and they produced Hugh Archibald in 1851, and Robert Archibald in August 1861.
Hugh Archibald, Jean’s Grandfather, married Margaret McClements, daughter of one David McClements. Margaret gave birth to a daughter and a son in the Townland of Glenkeen, District of Limavady, Co. Derry, Ulster. In September of 1993, we visited Limavady and were directed to Glenkeen House farm. We were welcomed into the living room by Dorothy Gault, wife of the owner Roy Gault. The living room was part of the original farmhouse which is over 150 years old. We left our information and our questions with Mrs. Gault and later talked with Roy Gault by phone. Their “Granny” was still living and Roy said, “Granny remembers being told of Archibalds who lived in one of the two labourers’ cottages which had been situated on the farm.” “Granny” is Mary Gault, born 1904 - Cahery House Farm, Co. Derry, N. I.
When asked about Elizabeth McFarland who appears on Jean’s father’s birth certificate as witness, he said, “Well now, in 1906, my Grandfather, John Gault, bought this farm, 75 acres, from Elizabeth McFarland for 600 pounds.” Similar information appears on Elizabeth Jane McFarlane Archibald’s birth certificate as first borne daughter of Hugh and Margaret. In fact, the child was named after Elizabeth McFarland. We became convinced that we had found the actual farm on which Hugh Archibald worked as a labourer and where daughter Elizabeth was born 29 May 1880, and where son John, Jean’s father, was born 10 June 1881.
Hugh Archibald, wife Margaret, Elizabeth age 2, John age 1, Hugh’s mother Martha Archibald, and Hugh’s brother Robert Archibald emigrated to Canada, probably in the Spring of 1882, since a third child, Robert, was born in King Twp., Ontario, Canada, 22 September 1882.
We visited the Ulster-American Folk Park near Omagh, N.I. and there was a replica mock-up of a ship used to transport emigrants to the New World. The bunks were 3-tiered and each 3’ x 6’ bunk was designed to hold 2 people. Food was prepared by a cook on deck and was sent below to be served at a communal table. I asked the attendant what the fare would be and she replied, “3 to 5 pounds.” Would a farm labourer be able to accumulate the necessary 18 to 30 pounds to pay passage for a family group of six persons? She felt that he could easily have done so by “selling up their non-transportable possessions.”
Hugh Archibald was born 1852 in Ulster, died 5 November 1917 on the family farm, Kettleby, Ontario. His wife Margaret McClements was born 1854 in Ulster, died 17 June 1918; cause of death is listed as “neuritis”. They had eight children:
Elizabeth Jane McFarlane Archibald, born 29 May 1880, Glenkeen House farm, Limavady, Co. Derry, Ulster, died 23 April 1951, Toronto, Ont.
John (Jack) Archibald, born 10 June 1881, Glenkeen House farm, District of Limavady, Co. Derry, Ulster, died 20 Jan. 1963, Aurora, York Co., Ont.
Robert Archibald, born 22 September 1882, Kettleby, York Co., died 11 June 1954, Arris, Ont. Auto accident.
Martha Archibald, born 25 June 1884, Kettleby, York Co., died 12 December 1961, Toronto, Ont.
James Archibald, born 11 September 1885, Kettleby, Ont., died 22 September 1887, age 1 yr., 7 mos., 11 days.**
Mary Anna Archibald, born 25 June 1887, Kettleby, Ont., died 23 August 1951, Toronto, Ont.
Margaret Archibald, born 9 May 1889, Kettleby, Ont., died 9 June 1968, Milton, Ont.
James Archibald, born 17 November 1890, Kettleby, Ont., died 16 January 1975, Elora, Ont.
John Archibald married Martha Rosetta Jamieson on September 10, 1919, at the Jamieson family farm, located on the 18th Sideroad, King Twp. with Reverend Robert Bryden officiating. Helen Procter and Dorothy Jamieson were flower-girls. At the time of their marriage, “Jack” was a thresher, and owned a George White steam engine and a George White wooden thresher. He bought a Sawyer-Massey tractor powered by gasoline around 1926, and then around 1930 bought a new George White thresher made of steel. According to Russ Somerville of Glenville, Jack invented the first grain elevator on the thresher. He did not patent it and the next year all the companies has Jack’s grain elevator on their threshing machines. In order to cover the cost of making this elevator Jack persuaded his customers to pay him a little more since they did not require as much manual labour. Travelling from farm to farm during the fall doing the threshing seemed to suit Jack. Their first daughter Margaret Jean was born 16 May 1926 at Grace Hospital, Toronto. Their second daughter Marion Elizabeth was born 30 November 1930 at home in Kettleby.
