It is right that a word should be added as to orthography of the name to which both Fergussons who require two s's and Fergusons who are satisfied with one are nowadays generally sensitive. In the past however the form is found varying in the same families, and instances exist at the present day in which one form is used by one brother and the other by another. The family of Dunfallandy seem to have consistently maintained the spelling "Fergusson" which appears to be the oldest and represents most accurately the translation of the Gaelic. It cannot however be said that either form is wrong, or that the presence or absence of the second & settles descent and it may be urged that the pronunciation is better indicated by the form "Ferguson" and that Professor Adam Ferguson committed no crime when he dropped his Father's second 8 on the ground that it was unnecessary and therefore unworthy a philosopher.

THE TARTAN OF THE CLAN.

The tartan of the clan is the most beautiful of all the Scottish tartans, the set being a dark purple blue traversed by black and green bands and upon the green a sprainge or white stripe edged with black and two red stripes one on either side of the white.

The Suaicheantus or badge given by the books is the little sun-flower (or rock rose). Helianthymum marifolium or in Gaelic Ros-greine. It has however been said that the poplar and also the bog-myrtle was used as a badge.

The Arms which are always given as those of the clan are azure, a buckle argent between three boars heads couped, or.

PETER FERGUSON.

Peter Ferguson, the father of John Ferguson who was the original settler of his branch in America, must have been one of the sons of Lawrence and Janet Ferguson and a brother of Rev. Adam Ferguson, the minister of Logierait. He must have been born in Perthshire about the year 1670. He early entered the army and served in the Scots' Grays under the Duke of Marlborough all through Queen Anne's wars. At the close of the war he married, and, with his wife Isabel, settled in Duns, Berwickshire. They had a family of several daughters and two sons Adam and John. Adam was born in 1730 and John, July 18th, 1736. John was but three years old when his father died. From the circumstance of Peter Ferguson having been so long away from his father's family and dying in the Lowlands while his own family was young and dependent, they were cut off from intercourse with their father's family, which in those days was difficult and infrequent. In after years the brothers, Adam and John Ferguson, removed to America and settled in Newport, Rhode Island. There they found a Capt. Robert Ferguson who had formerly been commander of an English East Indiaman, a brother of Professor Adam Ferguson, the historian, who proved to be their own cousin. This fact identified their father, Peter Ferguson, as one of the sons of Lawrence and Janet Ferguson, who lived in the parish of Moulin in Athol, and a brother of Rev. Adam Ferguson, the minister of Craithie who was born Aug. 4, 1672. In a letter written by Sir Adam Ferguson, son of Prof. Adam Ferguson, in 1840 he states that his grandfather (the Rev. Adam Ferguson) "the minister of Logierait" was a younger son of the Laird of Dunfallandy (styled Baron Ferguson) also in Athole.

JOHN FERGUSON.

JOHN FERGUSON1. Original settler was the son of Peter and Isabel Ferguson and was born July 18, 1736 in Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland. Duns was the birthplace of Boston, the author of "The Four-fold State", McCrie, the historian of Knox, and other distinguished men of modern times; not to mention the more notable John Duns Scotus, who derived his named from this place. It is the largest and most important town in the county of Berwick. A part of Duns Castle, in the vicinity, is said to have been built by Randolph, Earl of Murray, in the time of Robert Bruce.

John Ferguson married Anne Sandlins of Scotland, April 26, 1767, in London, England, probably just before his first emigration to America. She died April 4, 1772 in Newport, Rhode Island, aged 33 years, without children. He married (second) Anne Green of Rhode Island, Jan. 1st, 1775. She died Oct. 16th, 1775, leaving an infant son who lived but seven weeks. She was 24 years old. He married (third) Anne Briggs Tabor, Apr. 18th, 1776 in Newport, Rhode Island. She was the daughter of John and Margaret Briggs and was born Sept. 17, 1747 in Little Compton, Rhode Island. She married (first) David Taber and they had several children. David Taber and the children all died. She died Feb. 13, 1829 in Newport, Rhode Island.

John Ferguson and his brother Adam emigrated to America and settled in Newport, R. I. several years before the Revolutionary war and there engaged in the tobacco and snuff business and became proprietors of Bissell's Mills in Narragansett. Adam Ferguson was married in Newport, June 10, 1776 to Mercy Hix. They had several

daughters, but no sons. After the breaking out of hostilities John Ferguson decided to return with his family to Scotland. He left Newport for New York, Oct. 25, 1779 and was followed by his wife and two children May 17, 1780. His infant son died while they were in New York. On the 31st Aug., they went on board a sailing vessel, Capt. Andrew Sandlins, commander, and sailed from Sandy Hook for London, Sept. 4, 1780. They arrived in Ireland the 9th of Oct. and at London the 16th of Oct. They sailed from London on board the Almy the 27th Nov. and arrived at Berwick, Dec. 8, 1780. He removed from Berwick to Duns May 31, 1781. Here he was engaged in business as a tobacco merchant and here most of his children were born. After a residence here of nearly twenty-six years, war again caused him to emigrate to America the second time. His cousin, Capt. Robert Ferguson had returned to Scotland and his property in Newport had been confiscated during the Revolutionary War. His brother Adam, whom he left in Newport, when he returned to Scotland had died. He left Duns with his family Mar. 24, 1806, arriving in Glasgow, Mar. 26. He left there Apr. 24, arriving at Grenoch the 25th and sailed for New York, on board the ship Fanney, Capt. Tayler, May 2, 1806, arriving at New York May 26th. He left New York July 5th reaching Newport the next day and went to Providence to live on Sept. 12th, 1806. He died in Newport, Nov. 20, 1820.

The children of John and Anne (Briggs) Ferguson

2. Anne2 born Feb. 14, 1777 in Newport, R. I., died Sept. 28, 1846, in Brattleboro, Vt.

3. Peter2, born Dec. 4, 1778 in Newport, R. I. died June 17, 1780 in New York, N. Y.

4. Margaret born May 6, 1781 in Berwick, Scotland, died Apr. 18,

1814 in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.