Lyr Add: Sleep Weel My Bairnie (Murdoch Maclean)

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Sep 19 - 08:58 PM

Still a listing online for something that was just sold:

Is this what you are talking about?

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: Evertype
Date: 25 Sep 19 - 04:41 PM

Yes, that's the typescript I have; I'm the purchaser. I have been scanning it in the past two days and I have 54 pages to go. :-)

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Sep 19 - 05:39 PM

I find myself wondering if the author
left descendants/heirs behind,
but I suppose
if the writing was never published in the first place,
then the legal questions are simplified??

Still don't have the author's year of death,
nor where he died or was buried ...
much less, who might have survived him.

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: Evertype
Date: 25 Sep 19 - 06:15 PM

I am trying Ancestry.co.uk but not actually having much luck, either with the street address in Headingley or with Newcastle in the 20s and 30s.

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: Evertype
Date: 25 Sep 19 - 06:17 PM

As to the copyright to the manuscript it is certainly an "orphaned work" though I might put © Estate of MM. But we are presently doing diligence in finding him.

I couldn't find that Who's Who listing. Is it online?

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Sep 19 - 06:43 PM

Thanks, Evertype! My statement was misleading, and I'm sorry about that;
let me set the matter straight.

The information about Mr. Maclean's year of birth came from
Who's Who in Literature,
editor Mark Meredith,
Literary Year Books Press, 1924.
Page 258.
I found it through Google Books,
although it can only be glimpsed in
"snippet" form;
Google Books says the digital photocopy came from
a copy collected by Indiana University.

That 1924 publication also gives Mr. Maclean an address of some sort:

17, Hollingwood Lane,
Bradford,
Yorkshire

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: Evertype
Date: 26 Sep 19 - 02:53 PM

OK, I had seen that address on Ancestry. A wife and two lads. I'll get back with more information in due course.

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: GUEST,TheMelindaBeast
Date: 25 Jan 20 - 05:37 PM

Hi all! Literally just came across this thread. Murdoch Maclean is actually my great-great-grandfather! His grand-daughter was called Jean (who then changed her name to Jeanne), who was my father's mother.
This site won't let me upload photos to this post (as far as I can tell) but here's a link to the poem as it was actually printed in his book "From Croft and Clachan" from 1919:
https://twitter.com/TheMelindaBeast/status/1221157983725477889?s=20

I will try to find more information about him from my dad to verify the facts. It's just so cool that people outside my family are interested in learning more about him!!! :-D

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Jan 20 - 06:02 PM

Welcome, Melinda!
From what the link shows of your account,
you focus on the visual elements of dramas and stories.

This forum has a number of specialties.
Song lyrics attract a lot of people (like me) to this forum.
Music is important to nearly all of us members.

You should join us!
And yes,
we would be delighted to know
as much as you may disclose about Murdoch Maclean.

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Jan 20 - 04:31 PM

You know, I am beginning at last to have suspicions
about the "Newcastle" statement.
This statement was strictly hearsay,
reported during a reunion of Clan Macrae and
documented in the clan's newsletter.

The evidence gives Leeds ten times for every Newcastle statement,
where Murdoch Maclean is concerned.

Following the post from the great-great-granddaughter --
thank you, Melinda!! --
I did another search,
and as a result I believe
I have found where Murdoch Maclean and his wife are buried,
with the info engraved on the headstone.
It says:

Murdoch Maclean
1885 - 1956

Jeanne Maclean (identified as Murdoch's wife)
1888 - 1979    (long-lived!)

Lawnswood VW Cemetery
Leeds, Yorkshire, England

Subject: RE: Murdoch Maclean: Sleep Weel My Bairnie
From: GUEST,TheMelindaBeast
Date: 27 Jan 20 - 12:59 PM

Hi! Yes, I do enjoy the visual aspects of dramas and stories, but I also love lyrics. And especially the poems of Murdoch Maclean since he is my ancestor. I also play Scottish fiddle so I'm fairly plugged in with that music scene.

I got some information from my dad. Turns out I was incorrect with what I posted before: he's only my great-grandfather, he's my dad's grandfather. Here's what he said:

Murdoch was born in Strathcarron (I'm asking for the date). He became an orphan and grew up with his aunt and uncle. He spoke Gaelic. He went to Edinburgh University but possibly got kicked out for not attending classes. He couldn't serve in WWI because of a heart valve problem from scarlet fever as a kid. He was engaged to Jean Renwick (my dad's grandmother) for like 15 years before getting married. They moved south to Leeds in the 20's to find work. He worked as a clerk, probably in an insurance office. They had three kids: Murray, Donald, and Jean (my dad's mom - she changed her name to Jeanne in her 60s or 70s). Donald died in the mid-1970s. Murdoch died in 1956 probably from the heart valve issue he had. Apparently (according to my grandma/his daughter): he enjoyed the social life and played fiddle and didn't do much work haha. But he clearly did some because he published three books of poetry!

My dad thought Murdoch's wife was called Jean, but if her headstone says Jeanne then that is probably correct. I'm surprised there isn't more info online, especially from the Clan Maclean website/community. You'd think somewhere along the line someone would have done some genealogical research that connected to his branch of the family. Also, my dad says he might have some pictures of him somewhere and is going to get back to me when he finds them. Thanks for the gravestone information! That looks totally correct!