It is interesting to inquire whether the family of Calbraith is still in existence. An examination of the directory of the city of Philadelphia during the years 1882, 1883, 1884 recalls no name of Calbraith, and but one of Calbreath, though fifty-two of Galbraith are down in the lists. The spelling of the name with a C is exceedingly rare, the name Galbraith, however, is common in North Ireland and in Scotland. Arthur, the father of our late president of the same name, in his “Derivation of Family Names,” says it is composed of two Gaelic words Gall and Bhreatan; that is “strange Breton,” or “Low Country Breton.” The Galbraiths in the Gaelic are called Breatannich, or Clanna Breatannich, that is “the Britons,” or “the children of Britons,” and were once reckoned a great clan in Scotland, according to the following lines:—
“Galbraiths from the Red Tower,
Noblest of Scottish surnames.”
The Falla dhearg, or Red Tower was probably Dumbarton, that is the Dun Bhreatan, or stronghold of the Britons, whence it is said the Galbraiths came.
Of one of the unlucky bearers of the name Galbraith, a private of our army in Mexico, Longfellow has written in his poem of “Dennis Galbraith.” In his “History of Japan,” Mr. Francis Ottiwell Adams, an English author, naturally falls into the habit of writing Matthew G. Perry. The Rev. Calbraith B. Perry of Baltimore, nephew of Matthew C. Perry, suggests that the initial letter of the name is merely the softening of the Scotch G.
IV.
THE FAMILY OF M. C. PERRY.
Of Matthew C. Perry, born in Newport, April 10, 1794, and Jane Slidell born in New York, February 29, 1797, who were married in New York, October 24, 1814, there were born four sons and six daughters:—
John Slidell Perry, died March 24, 1817.
Sarah Perry (Mrs. Robert S. Rodgers.)