July 9, 2011 Cumming/Duncan Family Reunion
Presque Isle, Maine
Family and friends of the Cumming and Duncan families gathered at the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club’s spacious new facility near Aroostook State Park at noon on Saturday July 9, 2011 for their annual clan reunion and pot-luck lunch. Chieftain Richard Duncan, great-grandson of William Duncan and Elizabeth Linton Duncan, greeted the attendees as they signed the guest book.
Several tables were filled with a variety of dishes for the meal including haggis, mashed turnips, and potatoes. Jeff Griffiths, nephew of the chieftain, gave a special reading, “ode to the haggis.” Cousins renewed old acquaintances and lots of new friends were made. Guests traveled especially for the reunion from many far-off places such as Texas, Florida, New Brunswick, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Hampshire, as well as from many parts of Maine.
After lunch, the chieftain conducted a brief business meeting. Greetings were read from some unable to come to the reunion. A moment of silence was observed for those who are no longer with us. A collection was taken to defray costs of the reunion. Cheryl Clark Cumming, great granddaughter of William Spence Cumming and Annie Rae Duncan Cumming, will be the 2012 chieftain. Hollie Umphrey, great granddaughter of David Linton Duncan and Catherine Chapman Duncan, will be the 2013 chieftain.
Miss Kimiye Gamblin, age 14, entertained the clan with her wonderful fiddle music. She will be traveling to France later in the summer with the group called Celtic Discovery.
The clan was privileged to hear Darlene Morton play the bagpipes for us. She recalled that she had played for the clan picnic more than twenty years ago. She remembered that her baby daughter played near her in the grass as she played at Melvin Barclay’s farm in Kintore, New Brunswick.
The meeting closed with the clan singing “Auld Lang Syne” accompanied by the fiddle.
