Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Houston House, Houston, Renfrewshire, Scotland--Wordless Wednesday




     NEVER WORDLESS!!! This my ancestral home in Renfrewshire, Scotland located in the small conservation village of Houston (pronounced House-ton in the states and Whos-ton in Scotland). 

     The large mansion was built in 1872 on the original site of the Houston castle. In 1994 the mansion was converted into six separate houses. The ivy covered building in the front, called the west wing, was for sale when we visited in 2005. This wing incorporates the original northern section of the 13 century castle. 

     To say I was totally blown away when I first stood in front of this building would be an understatement. Just think, I could have purchased a piece of my history for a mere 375,000 pounds!!!

31 comments:

  1. Hello, Linda!

    You don't know what it means to me to see your pictures of the estate above - I've been trying to study my family's genealogy for some time now, and I've made head-way studying the U.S. ancestors as well as the traditional history (hugh de paduinian)but this is the first time I've seen pictures of the town and the castle! Many thanks for sharing your work and your passion...

    Sincerely,

    Matthew D. Huston

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  2. Hello Linda,
    Thank you for sharing your pictures of Houston House. I am also a decendent of the Houston's of Hugh's town. :) I found the connection through Ancestry.com.
    This is new research for me, the Houston line has some interesting characters.
    Blessings,
    Amy Sanders McCament
    Grand daughter of
    Emma Estella Houston

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  3. Hello Linda,

    I am also a Huston and visited Houston, Scotland in 2005. It's such a gorgeous village with the old House, church in front and the Fox & Hound Pub. I didn't want to come home. The highlight is the House though, especially the fact you cannot see it from the road, but when you enter the grounds, it does blow you away.

    I did a lot of extensive research into the Houstons / Hustons before I went. If your interested, visit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Knights_Templar
    Then click on name : Sir Hugh de Paduinan

    His surname in various records has different variations of the spelling, but are all the same person. Depends if it was a Gaelic, French or English document.

    Also Renfrewshire has a community website which has some good history on Houston too.

    Regards,
    Sarah Huston
    Auckland, New Zealand

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  4. I'm another Houston researcher and really appreciate the photos, Linda. Thank you so much for sharing them with all of us. Can you, or anyone help with a link I'm looking for. My 4th great grandmother is Polly Houston whose parents were Robert Houston (1730-1794) and Ann Owens. I'm looking for a more concrete connection between Polly and her parents. Can anyone help?

    Diane Bland
    Goldsboro, North Carolina

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    Replies
    1. Shoot me an email! I’ve got a Houston family tree book! agallison24@gmail.com

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    2. Hi I am looking for a connection to John Huston born in Ulster Ireland in 1737/1738 died in 1794 in Lancaster Pennsylvania. He was married to Mary Esther Watson. We have reached a dead end in Ulster Ireland to this Huston line. You mentioned having a book. Any information you might have would be much appreciated.

      thank you,
      Joanne Huston Morgan

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  5. hi there, i am not a researcher but used to play in 'the big hoos' with mary maitland when i was just 10 yrs old...40 yrs ago,,and it has not changed a bit.good to see.say hello to josephine the french maid ghost we used to see there.

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    1. In 1977 my husband and I took my mother, a Houston, and it must have been “Mary” that answered the door.
      She said her father was out riding, and she graciously listened to my mother’s family history connection with the area. The house was still a private residence. Beautiful setting.

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  6. Bill Houston Bartlett, TennesseeJuly 5, 2012 at 3:58 PM

    Hi.. I am also a Houston and had the opportunity to visit the town and Houston House this past week. It was more than I had expected.. Also was able to have a pint of Houston Ale in the Fox & Hounds pub and see the Mercat cross..

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    1. I'm sitting here reading this page of Houstons across the world and low an behold I see Bartlett, TN! I, Walt Houston, was born, raised, and currently in Bartlett (Appling Rd). I know this is a really old post but I'm thinking of going to visit Scotland and would love some advice .Small world!

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  7. This house is interesting, I rented one of the Appartments in Houston House and lived there with my wife for 5 years until the appartments where sold.
    It was a great experiance, including the exitement to live with a ghost (one of the offsprings of Hugh de Paduinans also named Hugh who jumped off the tower or was pushed down- who knows in 1726)
    I am Austrian and worked for IBM in their nearby Greenock factory as a customer support director for Europe.

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  8. Going to Houston tomorrow found out about it on Wikipedia in Edinburgh the last two days and none of the shops have heard of the clan... hoping to find some stuff there

    A Houston - Seattle

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  9. Hi Linda,

    Thanks for the photos. I am a Houston Decendant, Christopher-Robert-Christopher-James-Alfred-Naomi, was my paternal grandmother. Would love to visit there.

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  10. JULIE BURKHOLDER ,UTAH AUGUST 18 2013 HELLO I AM A DESCENDANT OF THE ORIGINAL FAMILY I AM THROUGH THE THIRD SON THE FIRST SON RECIEVED THE TITLE BUT THE LAST LAIRD CAME TO THE UNITED STATES TO GEORGIA AND WAS PART OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS BUT SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE THE SECOND COUSIN WAS GIVEN THE TITLES AND THEY WERE DROPPED IN THE LATE 1700'S AND NO ONE HAS HELD THE TITLE OF CHEIF OF THE HOUSTOUN'S SINCE THE 1700'S I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO LOCATE ANY FAMILY FROM THE SECOND COUSIN WHO RECIEVED THE TITLES TO START PROCEEDINGS TO PICK UP THE TITLE TO SO THERE CAN BE A WORLD WIDE CLAN HOUSTOUN.AND IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL CONTACT ME AT LADYHOUSTON@LIVE.COM WE WOULD FINALLY BE RECOGNIZED AS A CLAN AGAIN BY THE STANDING COUNCIL OF CHIEFS IN SCOTLAND WE ARE NOT UNDER CLAN MACDONALD WE WERE BIG ENOUGH TO BE OUR OWN CLAN!"EN TIEMPRE" "IN TIME"

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  11. I'm sarah Huston 6th generation of Hustons in America. I have done research into our family history I can be of help. There is tons of us Hustons who would love to be involved. :-)

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  12. Wheres the templar gold its in this area templars built lots about here and a templar tomb in grave yard of old inchinnan church built by templars behind glasgow airport runway with maybe your descendent as he was most famous templar in area

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  13. Hello There! I'm a Houston/Houstoun descendant as well. My line is Sir Patrick Houstoun and he was married to Margaret Colquhoun... I have been researching this for many years! I have a book on the Houston(toun) Family. I would love to help anyone! My email is ashalli24@icloud.com
    Give me a shout if anyone needs any help!!

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    Replies
    1. I am also a descendant of Houston, John Young Houston (my 3rd great-grandfather (paternal))- is the earliest descendant we have found so far. I would Love to know and learn more about my family heritage. We have a huge picture of this castle that was brought to one of our family reunions, but I am not sure who is in possession of it at the moment. I am eager to learn more!

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  14. How exciting! My sister-in-law has been researching the family history and found that they're descendants of Hugh-Hugh-John-Robert-Anne (who married a Barnes, then a Barnes eventually married a Welch). It would be great to get to know more of everyone.

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  15. Hello! I'm a descendant of the Houstons of Renfrewshire. Loved finding this! I dream of a trip to the ancestral home. Cheers!

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  16. My grandfather was D F Houston, a descendant of John Houston to BlueRidge VA can 1742. Found much info on Scottish internet. Glad you sent photo of ancestral home!

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  17. I am also a descendant through the Rev Joseph Houston (1692-1740). I know the research is not clear on my line, but I have numerous DNA connections To Esther Houston Montgomery (daughter of John Houston/Margaret Cunningham) as well as other Houston descendants.

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    1. Edward Scofield - we actually are related through james franklin houston and elizabeth ann houstons daughter Mary rebecca (houston) scofield. Lived in texas - mary rebeccas parents are buried in the scofield cemetary in hill co tx . the cemetary is in a corn field just off of the highway. I hope we can communicate. melody passportt@comcast.net

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  18. Hi:
    I am a Huston from Wisconsin and just returned from Scotland last week I visited
    the castle in Edinburgh and found the history of Houston's killed in WW 1 U WW11.
    It was amazing that 50-60 Houston's died in
    battle in those two wars. Wished I have had
    more time to visit the Houston house in Renfrewshire. Next Time. I know there is a
    lot of research that has already been done.
    I have enjoyed reading it. I am the daughter
    of Leo J. Huston of Wisconsin clan.
    cdwontor@yahoo.com 262-419-9284

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  19. Dear Folks

    How interesting to come across your comments!

    We live in Houston, just across from Houston House. The rocks used in this house, were, I am told, from the old Houston Castle - demolished around 1790 - and used to build the cottages in North and South Street.

    Fantastic village to have lived in for the last 25 (!! - that went fast..) years.

    Now we are off to Dunbar, and will be sad to sell this place and move away from our wonderful neighbours. If any of you are visiting and we are in, pop by for a cup of tea: Burnside Cottage, Kirk Road. Tel:01505 690112 - Lennox& Clemency

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  20. My third great maternal grandfather is John C Houston the first settler in the town I live in in Florida. His third great-grandfather was John C Houston the first and a captain in the American Revolution. My great-grandmother was Mamie Houston Carter and taught me everything about our family. We have traced our family tree. To Clan Houston and I did my DNA on Ancestry and I am 47% Scottish and 7% Irish from my mother. My father is family is from Spain hence my last name. I have always wanted to go to Scotland more than any other country and absolutely love all these pictures thank you so much for sharing. I also love all the replies:-)

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  21. Hello, I am a Houston in Utah. I am a decendant of John H Houston. He was born in Glasgow May 2, 1832. His father is John Houston 1806-1921, and his mother is Helen Wilson 1801-1885. This is where I get stuck. I would love to make more connections in that family line. Any help would be super. Thank you. All the best to you all.

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  22. Hi!
    I am so excited to visit Scotland with my daughter in June! We will definitely be spending time in Houston! I am a Huston my 4th great grandfather was John Huston private in Captian Lacys Company,Bucks county militia in 1775 during the revolutionary war. He was born in ulster county Ireland in 1737 and died in Lancaster Pennsylvania in 1794 He married Mary Wattson. Any information on the a connection to this John Huston in Ulster Ireland would be much appreciated.

    Thank you!

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  23. Hi my dad was a gardener at houstoun house we used to live in one of the cottages i was 5 at the time

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  24. Hello
    My Mother's Family name is Houston origianlly from Pennsylvania and prior from Scotland Ireland. We believe we are related to those Houston's who settled/established Houston Refrewshire Scotland.
    I've been doing my family's geneology (intermittently) and I'd like information about the families who left for America. Thank you for your hard work.
    Margaret Perkins Christensen

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