Issue #29Winter 1999
Estella Yule Pryor, F.S.A. (Scot), 47 Thornton Ave., South Portland, ME 04106 USA
Please note change of address and new email: .Yulefamily@hotmail.com
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul
The half o' Winter's gane at YULE;
If Candlemas Day be fair and clear,
The half o' winter's to gang an' mair
Candlemas was on the 13th of February. Children would carry homemade candles to school. The type of day was an omen of what type of weather would follow for the next six weeks.
At the close of the eighteenth century, on the day before the Yule eve most women baked their YULE Eve bread and if a bannock happened to fall on the floor, it was regarded as an omen that she would not see in another YULE.
To ask for a light from a neighbor on New Year's Day was considered tantamount to taking his life. There are still many customs observed at New Year or Hogmanay such as brushing out the old year on the stroke of midnight and ushering in the New Year. The first person over the threshold should be a dark man bearing a piece of coal. It is still considered very unlucky if a person's first-foot at New Years is fair or is not someone bearing a gift. Housewives still like to see their houses clean and shining and all the inmates bathed and in fresh clothes to see the New Year in, lest they should be dirty for the rest of the year.
YORKSHIRE:
On Christmas Eve, the charred remains of last year's YULE log would be placed on the top of last year's cutting. New logs had always to be lighted by the old one, which had been carefully stored away.
The man of the house lighted the first YULE candle, which was lit from the blaze of the YULE log.
Nothing must be lighted from the YULE candle as that would bring bad luck to the household.
The lady of the house would scrape a cross on the top of uncut cheese and wishes all a "Merry Christmas" It is then diced and served with the YULE cakes along with mulled ale or hot elderberry wine.
Orkney:
Orkney Surnames: published 1978 by Paul Harris Publishing.
Chapter 6: Surnames, which originated outside Orkney, YULE
The surname stems from an old word YULE, meaning one born at Christmas and is found in Orkney in 1502 on the Island of Hoy. Yule is not a common surname in Orkney today: it is a family name generally associated with Kirkwall.
Robert and John YULE were ministers at the St. Macher Cathedral.
Query on ZUILL
I am looking for information on Robert ZUILL. He was from North Britain and arrived in Bermuda around 1713-1715. Mikewilcox@home.com
ZUILL Family who moved to Bermuda
Robert ZUILL and his wife Margaret had at least two children: Robert ZUILL who married Margaret and John ZUILL.
Robert ZUILL was a merchant and died around 1837-47. Robert Zuill served on the "Committee of Conference" which met at his house. After Robert's death the committee continued to meet at the house of Mrs. Margaret ZUILL, widow, (so it is presumably that the ZUILLS provided refreshments). When Mrs ZUILL died in 1757 and she had been a widow for over 20 years.
(from information sent by Brian ZUILL)
This family is mentioned in a number of sources in Bermuda: Wills and Records; Bermuda Historical Quarterly.
William ZUILL wrote Bermuda Journey A Leisurely Guide Book published in 1946
William J.S. ZUILL was the publisher of the Royal Gazette of Bermuda
It has been suggested that Robert could have been related to the YUILL family of Dumbarton. Alexander and Marie (McDONALD YUILL did have a son Robert born 16 February 1678 Bonhill Parish, Dumbarton. We do not have anything further on this Robert. His brother Thomas had a number of his family who were merchants. George YUILL was one Tobacco Merchants in Glasgow, John died in Williamsburg, Virginia and a grandson was a merchant in New Orleans, LA.
ZUILL Family who moved to North East, USA.
Alexander ZUILL was a merchant who left Scotland in 1751 and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.
Alexander ZUILL married 20 January 1759, Stratford, CT to Frances Rush
All children born Stratford Vermont.
i. Margaret Elizabeth ZUILL b. 1 February 1761
ii Alexander Robert ZUILL b. 10 October 1764: died 19 March 1843 Grafton, Vermont.
iii Frances Jane ZUILL b. 12 August 1768
iv Elizabeth
v John
vi Lydia
vii James
viii Thomas
Alexander B. ZUEL married Hannah
Nathan Adams ZUEL b. 26 March 1800 Grafton Twp, Windham, Vermont
Sophia ZUEL b.28 September 1798, Grafton Twp, Windham, Vermont.
Colonel Nathan A. ZUIL
Nathan A. ZUILL
Louisa M ZUILL, PARK
Sylvia ZUILL
(This family shows in record as Guel, Juel; Sewel; Zwill) Issue 29 p. 2
1850 US Census
ZUEL John; Windham County VT #079
ZUEL John; Oneida co New York
ZUEL Henry; New York City 1st ward
ZUEL John O; Brooklyn, Kings County, NY
ZUEL Thomas; Petersburg, Virginia
ZUALE James; Middlebury, Genesseo, NY
ZUILL Family who moved to Wisconsin in 1844.
William ZUILL married 14 January 1815 Drymen, Stirlingshire to Mary Miller. They had eight children all born in Kippen Parish.
John ZUILL b. 19 October 1817; d. 1898 Johnstown, WI. He married Elizabeth PURVIS
Jean ZUILL b. 19 Aug 1821 d. 1901 Sparta, WI. She married John McLAY.
William ZUILL b. 8 January 1826; d. 1860 Janesville, WI. He married Elizabeth MORE
One really cannot assume that all with the ZUILL surname are related. Since the spelling of any YULE surname can change form generation to generation as well as area to area.
Merchant Navy Tickets:
Samuel ZUIL from Bermuda: ticket number 601542
James ZUILL from Ramsey, England: ticket number 587834
Hy ZUIL from Bermuda: ticket number 353368
Glasgow, Lanark City directory 1885-86
J. F. ZUILL; stationer, 258 Saracen Street: house Bank House, Lambhill.
1851 Census Balfron Parish; Stirlingshire
ZUILL Andrew age 68 born: Drymen
ZUILL Jean age 53 born: Dumbarton, Dumbartonshire
ZUILL Andrew age 14 born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Ivan age 12 born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL John age 18m born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Agnes age 53 born: Barony, Lanarkshire
ZUILL James age 43 born: Killearn, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Margaret age 72 born: Kilmuir, Renfrewshire
ZUILL Margaret age 43 born: Killearn, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Moses age 50 born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Isabella age 17 born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL John age 15 born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Margaret age 13 born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Moses age 10 born: Balfron, Stirlingshire
ZUILL John age 38 born: Killearn, Stirlingshire
ZUILL Jean age 30 born: Barony, Lanarkshire
ZUILL James age 5 born: Kippen, Stirlingshire
Issue 29 P. 3
Marriages:
April 30, 1880, The Parish church, Poplar, Middlesex, England
Robert YULE of age, bachelor, Ship's carpenter; father Robert YULE Mariner
Annie BONNER of age, Spinster, father James BONNER
Witnesses: Robert McHARDY, Ellen MURRISON and Robert YULE Sr.
Note:
Robert is probably the son of Robert YULE and Catherine MURRAY of Peterhead, Aberdeen.
Canada:
William YUILL became a member of the Winnipeg Free Press, November 9, 1873. William YUILL was a Canadian and had served under Colonel Wolsley and did not take his discharge from the Ontario Rifles in May 1872. The Ontario Rifles went to Manitoba early 1870 to suppress the second Reil Rebellion.
Saskatchewan, Obituary:
BIRNIE - On Friday, January 7, 2000, Beatrice BIRNIE, late of Parkside Extendicare Nursing Home, Regina, Saskatchewan passed away peacefully at the age of 84 years. Mamie was predeceased by her husband Willlliam YULE Birnie; one son Robert; one great grandson, Ryan, one brother and one sister. She is survived by her children: Donald (Ann), Helen (Delbert) GRAINGER, Shirley (John) GOODMAN, Elaine BIRNIE, Thelma (Harold) BRINKWORTH, Gail (Bob) MIDDLETON, Glen (LORETTA), Dennis (Wanda), David (Marilyn), Donna (Phil) CULLEN and Brenda BIRNIEp; daughter-in-law Jean BIRNIE; twenty-eight grandchildren; twenty-two great grandchildren; three brothers and two sisters; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, January 11,2000 at 1:00pm. Interment will follow in Regina Memorial Gardens.
From Robert PITTENDRIGH:
William YULE BIRNIE's grandfather was a tall thin man of boundless energy and cheerfulness who worked for my grandfather, (another Robert Pittendrigh) on the farm of Newseat in the parish of Tyrie. He married a woman, whom my uncle, (another Robert Pittendrigh) described as the largest person he had ever seen. William YULE BIRNIE's sister Helen URQUHART also was a huge person before she died of heart problems. Both, wonderfully cheerful and full of good humor. They are all tall good looking people with black hair and ruddy complexions.
PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS:
Copies of all sources available from the editor.