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The Shaw's of Kells do not have a tartan. Anyone who invents one for us is an imposter.
The northern Shaws are a clan and they have a tartan that they will sell to you. The Shaws of Kells originated at least 300 years before the Clan Shaw. We know exactly how Clan Shaw came to be formed, but we know much less about how the southern, terretorial Shaws came to be established.
From several places around the world came reports that there is a Shaw sense of humour. Some say it is particularly associated with the males. Of course it is hard to define, but whatever it is there are aspects that are obscure to others and it is in some sense "excessively dry". The sense of humour seems to be associated with a general disposition of character.
Many of the Shaws are intensely religious in a conventional way. This is the case in Kells, Ayrshire, and New Zealand. Others like the present writer have the dimension in a non-conventional manner, as might shown by his writing a thesis on Martin Heidegger. One thing is universal about the Shaws however - they are modest and underplay every game. There is little point in asking a Shaw how much money he has in the bank, for you will never get a straight answer. Great deeds in the world wars are nodded off with "I went along with many others". Only did I discover this by looking at the war records for Leonard Shaw who was much loved by everyone and died of wounds in France. People wrote about him, and he had written to his fiance. His character, a sunny disposition, outstanding sports person, hard working, and so on, seems to set out the general run of Shaws.
Shaw's have been known to describe their vast farmlands saying "I run some cows". Deaf Shaws invent hearing ear dogs. When you look carefully at the history of Glen Murrary you see many surnames on landmarks but the first school was started by a female Shaw aged 17, the bridges were built by Shaws (presumably with skills from Aryshire), and the grave of John Shaw has a rough marker with a reference to a Shaw who was buried overseas. The grave is in an unkept part of the wee cemetary, but it was there long before most of the other graves. No one seems to be able to say how the vast wetlands came to be called Clatteringshaws, the clattering is however the sound of the water over the rocks - but the shaws? Is it the family or is it the woods? Or both might be the same. One other aspect of Shaws is there common interest in education and practical innovation. Teachers are very common. Innovation in farming (including racehorses in New Zealand) is common all the way from Kells.
Hi Robert,
I feel I know you now, You have definitely got it!! THE SHAW SENSE OF HUMOUR:- Comical, Fun Loving, and Happy! now hows that for an explanation. I pride myself with inheriting my Mothers SHAW sense of humour, alot of our side of the family have it, most people don't understand it, but those on the same "wave length" appreciate it. Now I hope that this explains the GREAT FAMILY DRY SENSE OF HUMOUR - that is worth the world-- Speak soon from the Little cog in the wheel!!----Original Message-------
From: Robert Shaw Date: 08/13/05 00:27:33 To: dorothy semple Subject: Re: ah, a very dry sense of humour you say - tell me more, what do we mean by dry, not the same as obscure presumably, or perhaps it is, tell me more please, what is the Shaw sense of humour? r
Margaret (Wright) Shaw
Hi Robert,
My Uncle John Shaw (1895 - 1963) epitomised all that you have written about the characteristics of the Shaw's. I attach a photograph of him (below) taken during WW1 when he served with gallantry in France . Afterwards he never mentioned it. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a kind word for everyone - as well as a rather wicked sense of humour aimed at those who he felt were "loud" or too brash. I would say he was a great man and it would be fitting if he were given a "spot" on your website. Uniform of the Black Watch. Royal Highlanders Regiment (His number 6943). His brothers, William ( Grenadier Guards WW1 ), James (Royal Artillery WW2), David (Tank Regiment WW2), George (South Staffs Regiment - between wars ). Due to their English birth the brothers could not enlist in Scottish Regiments - all had similar sense of humour as well as a wonderful modesty - however as I have often said "one should never confuse politeness with weakness".
Regards
David
Shaw
Cambridge
John Shaw (1895 - 1963)