This page is dedicated to the Carmichael, and Pomeroy families.

Picture and information from the following site:

The Fenton Tower's History:

Fenton Tower's location was originally chosen because it afforded views in every direction, so that you would have early warning of an attack, while also being sheltered from the elements on the side of Kingston Hill.

There has been a fortified tower on this site since the 11th century. To the north of Fenton Tower there is a medieval burial site and the remains of the foundations of one of the earliest Christian chapels in Scotland.

Patrick Whytelaw, son of Lord Ruthven, constructed the current building around 1550, a typical fortified tower of the time. But in 1587, ownership of the tower was forfeited to Sir John Carmichael. No doubt Fenton Tower was the reward for being the Scottish Ambassador to Denmark and a loyal subject of the crown.

In 1591, King James VI of Scotland, son of Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Henry Darnley, was surrounded by a rebel army in Fife, north of Edinburgh. Fortunately the local townspeople rallied to his support and helped him to escape. James took the ferry across the Firth of Forth to North Berwick and took refuge with the Carmichaels at Fenton Tower.

James VI later became James I of England and Scotland, and upon the death of Carmichael he granted Fenton Tower to Sir Thomas Erskine who became Lord Dirleton, Viscount Fenton and later Earl of Kellie.

In 1631, the Tower passed to Sir John Maxwell of Innerwick, who became Earl of Dirleton in 1646. However his enjoyment of the castle was shortlived. In 1650, Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland and he sacked Fenton Tower along with the nearby Dirleton Castle. With Fenton Tower now just a ruin, the surrounding land passed to Sir John Nisbet in 1663. In the 1850s the land and ruins passed to the Simpson family.

Ian Simpson and his life-long friend John Macaskill, decided to start the Tower’s restoration in 1998. As it is a listed ancient monument and a Category A-listed building, Historic Scotland supervised the meticulous restoration. Fenton Tower has been two years in the planning and two years in restoration. It has opened its doors once again as a great Scottish house.

Lusk:

The Lusk line is still questionable. Is Christina Benson's maiden name Lusk? Until I figure this out, I can't progress any further.  

The Benson Line I received from Marisa Benson, and am very greatful she is kind enough to share. She has researched it quite extensively.

The Lindsey's I haven't really investigated as of yet. It's still on my "to do" list.

Mary Melissa Benson's maiden name is also in question. Is it Sliffend or Shepherd?; Most of the family believes Shepherd. My aunt did research about 30 yrs ago, and believes it to be Sliffend. I will leave it as such until I see proof otherwise.


 

Picture and information from the following website:

Ghosts and Hauntings in Britain

History
The lands around the present castle were originally bestowed upon Ralph de Pomeroy by William the Conqueror, as reward for his loyalty and support during the Norman invasion, and the subsequent battle of Hastings. The Norman structure, still seen in the gatehouse of the present ruin, dates from the end of the 13th Century, when Henry de Pomeroy (the 9th generation of Pomeroy's) started the construction of the castle. The structure had been completed by Henry's death in 1305.

The castle remained in Pomeroy hands until the late 1540's, when the castle was bought or acquired by other means by the influential Sir Edward Seymour. Edward was the Lord Protector, and the brother of Jayne Seymour, third wife to Henry VIII. Edward commissioned the building of a mansion house within the confines of the Norman castle, creating the resultant mixture of architecture seen today.

Edward Seymour made a lot of enemies as Lord Protector, and he was ousted by the Earl of Warwick and imprisoned in the Tower of London in October 1549. With 29 charges against him he was sentenced to death and executed on January 22nd 1552.

Somehow the castle remained in Seymour hands, and continued to be occupied by them up until 1688, when it was abandoned as an abode. There is some evidence that a proportion of the rooms remained inhabitable up until the reign of George the IV, and the castle has remained in guardianship of the Seymours, currently the 19th Earl of Somerset. In 1977 English Heritage took over the maintenance of the castle, and have continued to carry out restorations to the present day.

The CARMICHAEL surname can be traced to 1702 SCOTLAND. My Carmichael Ancestors migrated to the colonies by the 1760's, then settled in the Pennsylvania area, and later moved to Tennessee.

Taken from the pages of Calvin Dorris

Notes for John Carmichael:
About 1760 John and his brothers James and Daniel settled about 30 miles north of Chamberburg in Wayne Townhip Pennsylvania. Settlers later had to flee the area because of Indian Attacks, but soon returned. John and his first wife lost two sons to indian attacks.

Charles Beatty, a Presbyterian Minister recorded in his journal on August 27, 1766 that he had preached at John Carmichaels home and had baptised four children.

In 1767 John was taxed for 100acres, four horses and four cows.

The 5th Battalion of Cumberland County Pennsylvania Militia was organized on July 31, 1777 under Colonel Arthur Buchanan . John served as a Lieutnant in fighting off the indians.

John had moved his family to Washington Co., NC in the early 1790's and this part later became Tennessee.

His will is recorded in Washington Co., Tn on February 27, 1799 and was probated in May of 1799.

The Carmichaels Covered Bridge was listed on June 22, 1979 in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Pomeroy surname can be traced back to 1650 in Ireland. The original roots of the name stem through two significant surname changes, ie HOLMES to HOLMES-POMEROY to POMEROY.

George Pomeroy migrated to America, from Ireland, about 1730, first settling in Nottingham twp Chester Co. Pa..  George and other Irish colonist later moved to Cumberland Valley near Roxbury Pa.
George was a farmer until his death in 1776.

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