February 27, 2008

Since 1999, I’ve been researching my family roots. And piece by piece, bit by bit, I’ve mapped out a chart that - to read, would require a wall 1-mile long and 1/2 mile high. Each piece of information has been validated, some revalidated.

It’s been an interesting journey to uncover my kinfolk. And yeah, I’ve even communicated with a few of my newfound, long-long cousins.

Deliverance may be a good way to start this tree out.

Some of my luminary ancestors include:

Hatfields. That’s right. THE Hatfields. NOT the McCoys. We fought over a pig. Go figure.

Remember learning about the drummer boy and fife in US History class? The drummer boy was Simeon Justice. Yep, him too. Got a LONG line of Justices in that tree!

Mr. Anheuser swindled business away from my Denny clan. The Denny’s have never forgiven those beer people, and refuse to serve ANY of their lagers/brews at any of their establishments, which are quite many. That feud is just as famous to the Denny clan as the Hatfield and McCoys.

Old Man Bumpass was supposed to sail on the Mayflower, but missed it and came over on the Good Ship Fortune instead. He still managed to settle in with the Mayflower country club, though.

There’s also a distant link to Thomas Edison and the Roosevelt family, too. (Did you know that Eleanor and Franklin D. were cousins?)

And, get this - Olive Branch, and her daughter Olive Weed. No, I’m NOT kidding (check the picture).  I was half expecting Olive Oil’s name to pop up.  It didn’t.

And now you may bow unto me and my blueblood line. I have the majority of the kings and queens of England in my lineage, and some in France, Germany, and Scotland, too. At least up until the point when they were all exiled to other countries/continents. See those tiny crisscrossing lines? Yes - that would in inbreeding. (the horror!)

Finally, there’s the Nordic water gods who only had first names - like Gorr, and Heiti.

While I’ve only hinted here with a random sampling, it’s just the tip of the iceberg that I’ve uncovered. So far, I’ve not uncovered any serial murderers or other truly unsavories. But I haven’t given up hope, yet. And who knows, at some point, I may find the link that connects me to you, and you - and heck, maybe even you, too.

Well, I hope you enjoyed that little bit of trivia. Just reminds you that, yes - it is a small world. Imagine that!

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