KERSHAW COAT OF ARMS
MY FAMILY TREE
through great-great-grandparents
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I have lived in California most of my life except for a few years each in Guam, Japan, Colorado and Maryland. I have visited almost the entire United States (including many times to Hawaii), Mexico (more than twenty times from Tijuana to Cancun) and Canada and the Caribbean. I am a US Federal retired person with time now to pursue my ancestry. Having been a Navy brat, having been in the USAF and having been a Federal employee, I have moved around a lot and I have enjoyed traveling.
My parents met each other in California during WWII due to his being in the Navy and her working in Defense plants in the San Francisco area. Some of her brothers and sisters had already come to California after having been raised on a Minnesota farm, and the Depression had made life hard there.
Here is a picture of my father, mother and sister, Sherri Ann born 1949, taken at our house in Richmond, California around the early 1950s.
1930 Census for my parent's Families
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Here is a picture of my father, mother and sister, Sherri Ann born 1949, taken at our house in Richmond, California around the early 1950s.
1930 Census for my parent's Families
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1940 Census for Kershaw family
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2011, I had drank two Guinnesses and had ate corned beef and cabbage. I was watching the TV news concerning President Obama’s Irish roots and that ancestry.com and others helped him get to his roots. It made me wonder since I have been told by my parents that I was part Irish as well as English and Swedish. I then began using ancestry.com and found it easy to use. I found out a lot of interesting things about my ancestry. My parents had tried to compile a family tree many years ago, but they did not get very far. I will try to finish what they started.
The coat of arms at the top is from the book they received to assist in making a family tree. It had lots of generic information, but really nothing for a specific family.
I have a baby book made after I was born with a family tree. This was the only family tree I had for over sixty years.
The coat of arms at the top is from the book they received to assist in making a family tree. It had lots of generic information, but really nothing for a specific family.
I have a baby book made after I was born with a family tree. This was the only family tree I had for over sixty years.
I originally wanted only two questions answered:
Was I of Irish descent?
My middle name is Patrick and we as a family celebrate St. Patrick’s day as my second birthday as is the tradition in Catholic countries as my Saint’s day based on my middle name. There are no St. Douglas days and St. Patrick’s day is already a fun day.
St. Patrick's Day, 2013
And the second question was how much of an immigrant family actually was my family.
I wondered about it because my wife emigrated from Mexico after marrying me.
And the second question was how much of an immigrant family actually was my family.
I wondered about it because my wife emigrated from Mexico after marrying me.
I have never really known these answers and many more facts about my ancestry.
My family tree was verified by ancestry.com documents that answered the questions really quickly and interestingly. The main documents verifying ancestry were census records which are just small snapshots of a family when the census was taken. I was surprised that the census records from 1850 through 1930 had immigration information. I have Googled for more information and have collected more documents and family trees. Family trees became important before 1850 since that was the only way to verify all information-luckily there were many for each name. Wikipedia has been very useful, also in providing a lot of information about a lot of my apparent common ancestors, especially the historic ones. Most of the time, I use Wikipedia as the arbiter of disputes or differences between the family trees.
(4/25/2013: I just recently received DNA results from ancestry.com as I was curious. According to their DNA testing, I am 72 % Scandinavian and 28 % Central European).
(10/20/2013-Ancestry.com redid my DNA ethnicity estimate and I am now: 100% European:
Scandinavian-30%; Western European-26%; Great Britain-24%; Ireland-17%; and others-
Finnish/Northern Russia region, Iberian Peninsula- 3%.:This seems more realistic since it is closer to my family tree.)
(In December 2018, I was notified by ancestry.com that my DNA estimate has been updated due to better tools for telling regions apart, especially closely related regions like Ireland and Great Britain. They also have 16,000 reference samples now instead of 3,000, which helps screen out less-likely regions.
I am now Norway16%Sweden4%Great Britain-(includes France, Germany, north west Europe) 65%; Ireland/Scottish/Wales-15%; Iberian Peninsula-3%.})
And as of now, my ancestry.com family tree has over 20,000 entries of which according to ancestry.com, my common ancestors are from the following countries:
USA 44%: England 40%; Sweden 10%; Ireland/Other 6%: (I have also common ancestors, all European nobility from over a thousand years ago who were from France/ Normandy/Brittany/Paris (a majority), Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Flanders, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Russia.)
The discrepancies are explained by ancestry.com which I will discuss in a later post.
USA 44%: England 40%; Sweden 10%; Ireland/Other 6%: (I have also common ancestors, all European nobility from over a thousand years ago who were from France/ Normandy/Brittany/Paris (a majority), Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Flanders, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Russia.)
The discrepancies are explained by ancestry.com which I will discuss in a later post.
So, the number one question was answered when I found out that I was Irish through my maternal grandmother whose maiden name was ironically Florence English (1888-1941) who had lived in Minnesota and whom I never knew because she died before I was born. Her grandfather, Philip English and grandmother Margaret Burke came from Ireland sometime before 1857 when her father, Michael English was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
According to his obituary posted below, Michael English was a railroad engineer for forty three years on the North Western Railroad. He had lived since he was fourteen on either side of the Minnesota border with Wisconsin, dying in Arcadia, Wisconsin. (And according to the 1920 census, he lived alone for some time with the Malmgren family in Parkers Prairie.) (After some research, I found out that he had divorced my great grandmother who remarried later.)
Here is a 1900 census for them as well a birth record for her father showing the grandparents Irish origins.
His obituary:
According to his obituary posted below, Michael English was a railroad engineer for forty three years on the North Western Railroad. He had lived since he was fourteen on either side of the Minnesota border with Wisconsin, dying in Arcadia, Wisconsin. (And according to the 1920 census, he lived alone for some time with the Malmgren family in Parkers Prairie.) (After some research, I found out that he had divorced my great grandmother who remarried later.)
Here is a 1900 census for them as well a birth record for her father showing the grandparents Irish origins.
His obituary:
My maternal great-grandfather, Nels (Nils) Malmgren, (1837-1911) came from Sweden around 1872 to live in Minnesota.
Here is a 1895 census from Minnesota for him and family showing his Swedish roots.
Here is a copy of a web page of the History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota stating that “Nels Malmgren and Anna Malmgren were both born in Sweden, where they followed farming until 1872, when they emigrated to America stopping at Sauk Center, where they kept a boarding camp during their first summer in this country, in connection with which means of livelihood, Mr. Malmgren was employed on the railroad, and in the fall of that year, they came to Otter Tail County, and settled in Eastern township, where they took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which place is now owned by their son. Mr. Malmgren improved his home place and followed general farming and stock raising, spending the remainder of his life here. To Nels and Anna (Monson) Malmgren were born seven children, Johanna, Magnus. Alfred. Ida. Mary. Elof (my grandfather), and Selma M.”
Nils Malmgren is also mentioned as an original resident of Otter Tail County according to Otter Tail County Genealogy MnGenWeb page. The family lived in three very small towns in Otter Tail County according to the various census records- Parkers Prairie, Eastern, and Elmo townships which to this day have only three or four hundred residents each.
Nels and Anna Malmgren and childrern in the 1890s. My grandfather, Elof, is the youngest son on left front.
I assume life for the Malmgrens at that time was similar to the way of life depicted in the famous books and television series, "Little House on the Prairie", which took place in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, which was very near Parker's Prairie.
Coincidentally, about 15 years ago, my wife and I were eating at a famous restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It is next to a bridge and has a statue of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in front. It is called the "La Fuente Del Puente" ("The Fountain at the Bridge").
We began talking to some other diners who were there, also, on vacation as we were. It turned out that they were from Parker's Prairie, MN, but they did not know my family.
Here is a picture of my grandfather, Elof Malmgren and his sisters Selma and Mary.
August 2013, my cousin, who has been working on her family tree, sent me some pictures of my grandparents and great grandparents:
Grandparents Elof and Florence Malmgren sitting down in front of friends
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Great Grandmother Mary Mathilda English
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Great Grandfather Michael English
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My paternal great-grandfather Thomas A. Kershaw (1870-1930) came from England in 1885 to live in Cleveland, Ohio. Here is a 1900 census showing he was from England and when he emigrated.
Here is an 1892 Directory ad for him as a Laborer for the Cleveland Roll Mill Company.
Here is an 1892 Directory ad for him as a Laborer for the Cleveland Roll Mill Company.
I have not been able to find out any more about my great-grandfather Thomas A. Kershaw, but I believe he was from Manchester, England since apparently many Kershaws come from there. (In December 2017, I found out he was born at Littleborough, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England.)
So, the second answer was that I had some recent immigrants in my family tree. And so far, I have been able to follow their ancestry much further back, except the Swedish branches that ended with my great-great grandparents in Sweden.
(As of 4/24/2013, I have been able to follow back my fraternal great grandmother's (Emma Dugdale) family tree through her mother Mary Nutter)
I have the census records back to 1850 showing my family ancestry.
Ancestry.com tells you to keep following what they call hints as you fill out the family tree. Well some of the above family trees just stopped because I have not found a way to go back further in Europe for them.
So, the second answer was that I had some recent immigrants in my family tree. And so far, I have been able to follow their ancestry much further back, except the Swedish branches that ended with my great-great grandparents in Sweden.
(As of 4/24/2013, I have been able to follow back my fraternal great grandmother's (Emma Dugdale) family tree through her mother Mary Nutter)
I have the census records back to 1850 showing my family ancestry.
Ancestry.com tells you to keep following what they call hints as you fill out the family tree. Well some of the above family trees just stopped because I have not found a way to go back further in Europe for them.
But I did learn some new information about my family.
First: My paternal great-grandmother was named Emma Dugdale (1870-1907). (There is the same 1900 census record showing she came in 1888 from England and the Ship's record of her journey and a record of her marriage and death.)
Emma is the name of my eldest daughter's daughter. Her husband and she named my grand-daughter after his grandmother. So my daughter was excited to know this information since none of us had known her name until now. Her middle name is Marie/Maria/Mary after my wife (Ana Maria) and her mother (Maria Angeles). I have since discovered many Emmas in my family tree going back over a thousand years. As of August 2014, I have found about 70 Emmas in the family tree with some being Queens, Princesses, Duchesses and Countesses from over a thousand years ago in Germany, England, France, and Scandinavia.
Emma, Queen of Kent in the Sixth Century, my 42nd GGM. Emma, Queen of England, Norway, Denmark, of Normandy, my 28th GGM in the Eleventh Century. This is why we call my grand-daughter the Queen of her house. She likes playing princess, and can name Snow-white and Cinderella as her princesses.
Emma, Queen of Kent in the Sixth Century, my 42nd GGM. Emma, Queen of England, Norway, Denmark, of Normandy, my 28th GGM in the Eleventh Century. This is why we call my grand-daughter the Queen of her house. She likes playing princess, and can name Snow-white and Cinderella as her princesses.
Second: I learned the names of all of my grandparents and their dates of death and as seen by the family tree, and also many more names and dates of many more ancestors. Three of my grandparents had died either before I was born or when I was very young, so I did not know them personally nor know much about them.
Fifth: While following my family tree, I have learned how unimportant and inconsequential, exact dates and exact spelling of names are to family history. As of October 28, 2014, I have found over 15,000 names of ancestors with many having many different spellings of their names due mainly to language differences, and dates of birth and death differences due to many reasons which I discuss elsewhere.
I have noticed many publications, newspapers, magazines, etc. make a big deal of wrongs ages, dates and spellings of names-but really now. It is not important. I am happy to get a general idea of a common ancestor.
Also, this applies to relationships which the further back in time, the more confusing relationships are, but even in modern times, relationships can be tricky.
Sixth: I learned a lot about my fraternal grandmother, Nellie Kershaw and her ancestors. She was the only grandparent I really knew since she died in 1976 which was strangely a month before my father died. They both died of cancer, also. I had seen her many times when she would visit us in California, while she had lived in Cleveland. (As of March 2013, I have been able to follow my fraternal grandmother's grand mother, Mary Nutter in England)
I saw my Grandfather, Henry James Kershaw once in 1954 on a memorable summer vacation car trip where my parents and my sister and I went to Minnesota and Cleveland, Ohio and saw many famous places like Mt. Rushmore and a Cleveland Indians baseball game . We visited many relatives in both States. A few years later my grandfather died. I did not know the date until now, and I had always thought he was Henry Richard like my father. (see my old family tree above) But he was Henry James.
Pictures of my grandparents Henry and Nellie Kershaw in October 1944
With my grandmother, Nellie Kershaw, in about the middle 1950's near Richmond California.
I have noticed many publications, newspapers, magazines, etc. make a big deal of wrongs ages, dates and spellings of names-but really now. It is not important. I am happy to get a general idea of a common ancestor.
Also, this applies to relationships which the further back in time, the more confusing relationships are, but even in modern times, relationships can be tricky.
Sixth: I learned a lot about my fraternal grandmother, Nellie Kershaw and her ancestors. She was the only grandparent I really knew since she died in 1976 which was strangely a month before my father died. They both died of cancer, also. I had seen her many times when she would visit us in California, while she had lived in Cleveland. (As of March 2013, I have been able to follow my fraternal grandmother's grand mother, Mary Nutter in England)
I saw my Grandfather, Henry James Kershaw once in 1954 on a memorable summer vacation car trip where my parents and my sister and I went to Minnesota and Cleveland, Ohio and saw many famous places like Mt. Rushmore and a Cleveland Indians baseball game . We visited many relatives in both States. A few years later my grandfather died. I did not know the date until now, and I had always thought he was Henry Richard like my father. (see my old family tree above) But he was Henry James.
Pictures of my grandparents Henry and Nellie Kershaw in October 1944
With my grandmother, Nellie Kershaw, in about the middle 1950's near Richmond California.
Well, it is my grandmother Nellie that provides all the fun and mystery of our family tree. She is the only one who is not from recent immigrants and her tree branches are just amazing. As I joked with my daughter while I was coming up with this information. This information and $4 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. My family is already very skeptical of this family tree stuff. It is becoming interesting again because of the royal wedding the week of April 29, 2011. Granted, skepticism is always best, but this was an amazing journey through the past: like being in a time machine. It was fun to put names to my ancestors whether they are right or not. And to find out about some of them, especially the more historical ones or interesting ones. I was a history major in college, and studied many different nations' histories. So I guess I have a natural curiosity. I learned a lot of local and national histories exploring my family tree.
My grandmother, Nellie, seems to have a had a different kind of childhood. I know of no stories from her or my parents. If the stories were told, I do not remember them.
The census records show all the working people in my family were laborers or farmers or salesmen or railroad workers as far back as the 1850 census which of course is before the Civil War.
Most of them lived in Minnesota and Ohio, and obviously missing being in the major conflicts of their days. Although my grandfather Henry James Kershaw was in WWI Army.
The census records show all the working people in my family were laborers or farmers or salesmen or railroad workers as far back as the 1850 census which of course is before the Civil War.
Most of them lived in Minnesota and Ohio, and obviously missing being in the major conflicts of their days. Although my grandfather Henry James Kershaw was in WWI Army.
Here is his record
My father was in WWII in the Navy. He retired in 1970. This picture of him is when he was stationed at Atsugi Naval Air Station, Japan in the mid-Sixties. (Third from the left in back)
I was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and my daughter was in the Army recently, but as far as I know, no one saw combat. Our family has survived wars, famines, diseases, recessions etc. in order for me to be here writing this. But unfortunately, I do not have the stories to tell, except mine which could be later.
But now, well, it is my grandmother’s mother is where all the interest lies following our family tree. The most interesting part of our family tree is that there are branches with common ancestors (related, distant cousins, etc. seem to be a uncool way of saying these things) that are well known people. Winston Churchill, Princess Di, Humphrey Bogart , William Holden, Mia Farrow, Gregory Peck, Cindy Crawford, Nancy Davis, Actress and widow of Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. President. Kings and Queens of England (possibly the current queen and Prince Charles as well as both Norman and Anglo-Saxon royalty), US Presidents George Washington, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Harrison, Millard Fillmore, Zachary Taylor, as well as at least two Puritan ship’s captains who came over to America in 1624 and 1633 from England, and even Vikings. As of December 2012, I have found common ancestors to George Washington, as well as many English, French and other European Nobles such as Dukes and Counts, and a King of Germany, King Henry the Fowler (876-936). Edwin Powell Hubble, (my 7th cousin) American Astronomer, John Pierpont Morgan Sr. (April 17, 1837 – March 31, 1913), an American financier and banker. All very interesting.
There were 102 Pilgrims on the Mayflower in 1620, but millions of Americans claim relatives from the Mayflower. My ancestor came in 1623. Another was a Puritan deacon who fought and was killed by Indians in the New World. Yet another ancestor, a second Lord Hungerford, was beheaded at a castle in Medieval England (1464). And another was a powerful English Noble known as "Red" Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford, 7th Earl of Gloucester (1243) who had many medieval castles, fought in battles, and died in 1295 at Monmouth Castle. There are many more who died cruelly at the executioner's blade or during battle.
My 23rd GGM, Aoife MacMurrough (c.1145–1188, Irish: Aoife Ní Diarmait), also known by later historians as Eva of Leinster, was the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough (c.1110-1171) (Irish: Diarmait Mac Murchada), King of Leinster, and his wife Mor O'Toole (c.1114-1191. She had two sons and a daughter with her husband Richard de Clare, and via their daughter, Isabel de Clare, within a few generations their descendants included much of the nobility of Europe including all the monarchs of Scotland since Robert I (1274-1329) and all those of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom since Henry IV (1367-1413); and, apart from Anne of Cleves, all the queen consorts of Henry VIII.
A couple more ancestor's that met medieval ends: Sir William de Warren died on 15 December 1286 at Croydon, Surrey, England, at age 30; Ambushed and slain by his rivals after a tournament.
Sir Edmund FitzAlan, 9th Earl Arundel, Chief Justice of North Camp; South Wales died on 17 November 1326 at Hereford, Hertfordshire England, at age 41; Beheaded without trial. Initially buried at the Franciscan church at Hereford, but eventually moved to Haughmond Abbey, Shropshire.
A more notorious common ancestor was King of England, Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327) who was the father of Edward III, even a more famous English King. Edward II was according to the closest chronicler to the scene in time and distance, Adam Murimuth , stated that it was 'popularly rumored' that he had been suffocated. The Lichfield chronicle, equally reflecting local opinion, stated that he had been strangled. Most chronicles did not offer a cause of death other than natural causes. But yet another popular story that the king was assassinated by having a red-hot poker thrust into his anus has no basis in accounts recorded by Edward's contemporaries. As well as, his notorious relationship with Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall (c. 1284 – 19 June 1312) who was an English nobleman of Gascon, the French Provence of Guyenne and Gascony, origin, and my 25th GGF. Both are portrayed in the movie, "Braveheart" as being gay, and both having bad endings as it were. He was killed because of his special relationship to the King.
Pendle witches
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of
the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and
were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at Lancaster Assizes
on 18–19 August 1612, along with the Samlesbury witches and others, in a series of trials that have become known
as the Lancashire witch trials. One was tried at York Assizes on 27 July 1612, and another died in prison. Of the
eleven who went to trial – nine women and two men – ten were found guilty and executed by hanging; one was
found not guilty.
the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and
were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at Lancaster Assizes
on 18–19 August 1612, along with the Samlesbury witches and others, in a series of trials that have become known
as the Lancashire witch trials. One was tried at York Assizes on 27 July 1612, and another died in prison. Of the
eleven who went to trial – nine women and two men – ten were found guilty and executed by hanging; one was
found not guilty.
The official publication of the proceedings by the clerk to the court, Thomas Potts, in his The Wonderfull Discoverie
of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster, and the number of witches hanged together – nine at Lancaster and one at
York – make the trials unusual for England at that time. It has been estimated that all of the English witch trials
between the early 15th and early 18th centuries resulted in fewer than 500 executions; this series of trials accounts
for more than two per cent of that total.
of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster, and the number of witches hanged together – nine at Lancaster and one at
York – make the trials unusual for England at that time. It has been estimated that all of the English witch trials
between the early 15th and early 18th centuries resulted in fewer than 500 executions; this series of trials accounts
for more than two per cent of that total.
Six of the Pendle witches came from one of two families, each at the time headed by a female in her eighties: Elizabeth
Southerns (aka Demdike), her daughter Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and Alizon Device; Anne
Whittle (aka Chattox), and her daughter Anne Redferne. The others accused were Jane Bulcock and her son John
Bulcock, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, Alice Gray, and Jennet Preston. The outbreaks of witchcraft in and around
Pendle may demonstrate the extent to which people could make a living by posing as witches. Many of the allegations
resulted from accusations that members of the Demdike and Chattox families made against each other, perhaps because
they were in competition, both trying to make a living from healing, begging, and extortion.
Southerns (aka Demdike), her daughter Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and Alizon Device; Anne
Whittle (aka Chattox), and her daughter Anne Redferne. The others accused were Jane Bulcock and her son John
Bulcock, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, Alice Gray, and Jennet Preston. The outbreaks of witchcraft in and around
Pendle may demonstrate the extent to which people could make a living by posing as witches. Many of the allegations
resulted from accusations that members of the Demdike and Chattox families made against each other, perhaps because
they were in competition, both trying to make a living from healing, begging, and extortion.
Alice Nutter was married to Richard Nutter (1537-1584) of Pendle, Lancashire, England who is my GGF through my
father's maternal 2nd GGM, Mary Nutter. There is a statue of her.
I have included an article discussing family ancestry and royalty. This one in particular discusses Brooke Shields’s
ancestry, but the general principles are the same for us all. We all can trace our family ancestors to similar
ancestors or the same ancestors. Also, it states that it is according to experts that it is virtually 100 percent that
we all are descended from one royal personage or another.
ancestry, but the general principles are the same for us all. We all can trace our family ancestors to similar
ancestors or the same ancestors. Also, it states that it is according to experts that it is virtually 100 percent that
we all are descended from one royal personage or another.
Here is a Wikipedia article discussing royal descent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_descent which gives another prospective on the issue.
And another discussion from another blog: http://humphrysfamilytree.com/famous.descents.html :
Ancestors and Descendants:
Some people think these kind of descents are contrived, in that, say, Elizabeth II is the "real" descendant of William the Conqueror, and all these are rather artificial descents. This betrays a lack of understanding of history. The House of Windsor is an arbitrary subset of the millions of proven, legitimate, direct descendants of William the Conqueror. The Royal line is the product of a long series of political decisions over the years, rather than the result of following any unvarying rule. (And there's nothing wrong with that. After all, it makes it more democratic.)
To make it clear, everyone on this page is a direct descendant of Charlemagne in the same sense that any member of modern royalty is. I only ever use "ancestor" or "descendant" to mean "direct ancestor" or "direct descendant". If someone is a brother or cousin of your direct ancestor, some people would call them a "collateral ancestor", or even just an "ancestor". To me they are not your ancestor at all, but just a blood relation.
I have written some more on What is the point of genealogy.
Gary Boyd Roberts has written on this:
- Why I Trace the Ancestry of Notable Figures. He does not focus on biography but rather on large-scale patterns: "I am sympathetic to genealogists who wish to memorialize their immediate families with lavish detail and documentation - I depend on the collective accuracy of thousands of such efforts - but my own passion is for the skeleton pedigree, 20 or more generations in length, that when combined with other such works suggests something new and interesting about the genealogical evolution of the Western world."
- Roberts notes that we are all remarkably close cousins: "Except for some remarkable kinships through the Byzantine marriages of earlier medieval kings, 20th to 25th cousins are probably as distant as traceable European lineages extend. Anthropologists claim everyone on earth is a 40th cousin."
- Roberts estimates that 100 million Americans can be got onto one family tree, with relationships to over 500 famous people: "a large quantity of my research concerns the 'New England family' - probably 100 million contemporary Americans descended from 5000 - 8000 Great Migration immigrants of 1620-50. If you have 50 or more sets (husbands and wives) of Great Migration immigrant forebears, you are probably related to almost all of the 100 million, within the range of 8th-12th cousins. The probability of kinship to notables is fully 100 percent, and the number of such 'household name' distant kin probably surpasses 500, possibly 1000."
Also, I just saw the story of why this ancestry search is very important. 12 of one ancestor’s relatives just became very rich. It is the story of Wellington R. Burt. (See following story)
I have now followed the family tree through my grandmother’s mother, Etta May Hubbell (1870-1925) back to 1050 Normandy, France with the same branch as Winston Churchill’s family tree, and even further back in time with other branches of the Hubbell family. (Not everyone has a high opinion of Winston:"Winston Churchill, Hollywood rewards a mass murderer" https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/03/10/in-winston-churchill-hollywood-rewards-a-mass-murderer/?utm_term=.acb75478d4f0)
Here is a copy of another family's tree linking my common ancestor with PM Churchill and Lady Diana's:
Another branch of hers through the Noble, Goodman, White families took me to 1328 England. Yet, another one led me to the Kings and Queens of England during the Normandy invasion which means also Charlemagne, and also Danish and Swedish kings and queens and Vikings . Another one goes back to Lady Godiva and Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens to at least the Seventh Century, apparently through illegitimate children. I found another that leads me back to the Viking invasions of England in the Tenth Century.
Again, it seems that all family trees advise that the information may not be certain. It is all problematic. I found some differences in names and dates on many family trees like the one above making William Churchill one person, but it was really father and son that lived 98 years. Family trees are only half of the puzzle of one’s ancestry with the other half of verification is based upon DNA. (I now have my DNA results.)
All information before 1760's is based on other family trees from New England and England which are probably the most well known places for family trees. Each ancestor had about 10 or 20 other family trees on ancestry.com to confirm them. Some of the family trees I found on Google had some basis of the information and other family trees with some other kinds of verification. One of the main sources of information is the genealogy records collected by LDS (Mormons). I have an issue with their records since they follow all of their family trees to 6000 years ago to the biblical Eve, so I question their accuracy and sincerity since I consider the bible to have the same accuracy as fairy tales. (The Bible and Fairy tales have basis in realities of their times, but have no accuracy value.)
These are the main family trees on Google which are very vast and can be confusing. They are supposedly based on the same sources which are vast genealogical tables of European origins. I.e. Europäische Stammtafeln by Wilhelm Karl, Prinz zu Isenburg; 40000 Ancestors of the Counts of Paris; Some Early English Pedigrees, by Vernon M. Norr, and the big one, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom, by George Edward Cokayne, (love the name) and many others.
http://fabpedigree.com/pedstart.htm,
http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/index.htm;
http://www.ourfamilyhistories.org/index.php;
http://www.geni.com
These are the main family trees on Google which are very vast and can be confusing. They are supposedly based on the same sources which are vast genealogical tables of European origins. I.e. Europäische Stammtafeln by Wilhelm Karl, Prinz zu Isenburg; 40000 Ancestors of the Counts of Paris; Some Early English Pedigrees, by Vernon M. Norr, and the big one, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom, by George Edward Cokayne, (love the name) and many others.
http://fabpedigree.com/pedstart.htm,
http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/index.htm;
http://www.ourfamilyhistories.org/index.php;
http://www.geni.com
Many family trees including the ones above have different dates and or no dates for birth and death and some have different places also. (I used the best guesstimate for some of them) Some information is clearly wrong, as I already stated. Again, most of the time, I used Wikipedia as the arbiter of disputes or differences between the family trees.
One of the William Churchill’s has a date of birth from 1501 to 1599 for death or he lived 98 years; there were actually two William Churchill’s (father and son). Another ancestor, Johannes John White, supposedly lived from 1328-1433 or 105 years, during the middle ages when I am sure life spans were much shorter; another chronicler mentions an ancestor dying in the French-Indian War but gave the date of death 60 years before the war.
One of the William Churchill’s has a date of birth from 1501 to 1599 for death or he lived 98 years; there were actually two William Churchill’s (father and son). Another ancestor, Johannes John White, supposedly lived from 1328-1433 or 105 years, during the middle ages when I am sure life spans were much shorter; another chronicler mentions an ancestor dying in the French-Indian War but gave the date of death 60 years before the war.
Another point: I just saw the movie “Braveheart" and have seen other period movies that show that humans through the years have children from someone other than the married spouse, so again it is best to be skeptical. In Scotland it was called "Prima Nocturna" (first night) and perpetrated by the English to the Scottish women on their (virginal) wedding night as shown in “Braveheart”. But I also found information that Droit du seigneur ( /ˈdrɑː də seɪnˈjɜr/; French pronunciation: [dʁwa dy sɛɲœʁ]) is a term now popularly used to describe an alleged legal right allowing the lord of an estate to take the virginity of his serfs' maiden daughters. Little or no historical evidence has been unearthed from the Middle Ages to support the idea that such a right ever actually existed.
And sometimes the family trees give parent's as father or son's or even uncles, and wives and concubines or combinations such as William the Conqueror who was also called William the Bastard.
After twenty or thirty generations and over a thousand years, it appears that a lot of family trees fall into myth. Also, apparently families have been lying about their family trees since Egyptian times in order to give them a higher ranking in society to match their economic ranking in society or improve their Noble or Royal ranking. Many times I have found the comment that a family tree member is false due to that reason.
And sometimes the family trees give parent's as father or son's or even uncles, and wives and concubines or combinations such as William the Conqueror who was also called William the Bastard.
After twenty or thirty generations and over a thousand years, it appears that a lot of family trees fall into myth. Also, apparently families have been lying about their family trees since Egyptian times in order to give them a higher ranking in society to match their economic ranking in society or improve their Noble or Royal ranking. Many times I have found the comment that a family tree member is false due to that reason.
So now, my grandmother Nellie apparently was born out of wedlock to Etta May Hubbell in 1895 according to the 1900 census where they were living with my grandmother Nellie’s grandmother Alzora Kerstetter Hubbell (1849-1916).
My grandmother’s name in 1900 was Nellie B Hamilton, but Nellie Brooks on the 1910 census. In fact all four of the grandchildren of Alzora have different last names.
Kerstetter is an interesting name since it is close to Kershaw. I could not trace Alzora Kerstetter Hubbell paternal family past her father, a Benjamin Kerstetter or Karstater. He was apparently from Pennsylvania and with his name and the common ancestors of Pennsylvanians being German. I may have German common ancestors, also. (2021, I have found some from 17th century Germany. an 8th GGF, Johann Lenker born 1690 from Hess, Germany)
In December 2011, I now discovered that I have Scottish and Viking ancestors through the Lucy Noble branch which led to Henry de Hede Harrison (1325-1374) who apparently started the Harrison name and is a direct relative of the Vikings that invaded England in the Tenth Century. The same branches from Lucy Noble led to a Fifteenth Century Scot named Daniel Watson and another Scot named James Wallace born in 1525 in Scotland (maybe) James Wallace may have been born in England according to another family tree and he may or not be related to aforementioned famous Scot William "Braveheart" Wallace.
If my common ancestors were Normans which I have now found many and they go back to Charlemagne, then I am part French, also. The same branches have more Scandinavian roots (Norway and Danish and Swedish) back over a thousand years ago.
I am Caucasian, but I always say that I am a mutt.
I remember a long time ago that I did tell anybody who brought up the subject of my ancestry that I was part English, Swedish, Irish, Scottish, German and French. I do not remember why except maybe my parents told me or I was just trying to be a smart ass. But apparently I was right back then.
And back in the day, a long time ago, I was told by various people that I looked like: Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Or. Was I Jewish?, and many other similar questions. So, with my varied ancestry, I could look like anyone.
1850 census for Alzora Kerstetter Hubbell. Wow, before the Civil War.
Now the 1910 census shows that my grandmother as Nellie Brooks and was living with her sisters and brothers, all with different last names, and grandmother Alzora Hubbell, not mother Etta May.
It took a while, but I found a marriage record for Etta May Hubbell in 1908 to James Clark Winfield. On the marriage record it shows that she had no other marriages. A death record for February 12, 1925, shows Etta May Winfield born February 12, 1870 residing in Bedford, Ohio.
My grandmother Nellie’s marriage certificate in 1917 shows her maiden name as Nellie Brooks.
There is mention of a Fred Brooks being my grandmother Nellie’s father, but I could find nothing about him nor could I find her birth certificate to verify her father. There seems to be a good short story or novel here or maybe not. In comparison with today’s reality TV and everyone’s life being an open book on the Internet, probably not.
My grandmother’s name in 1900 was Nellie B Hamilton, but Nellie Brooks on the 1910 census. In fact all four of the grandchildren of Alzora have different last names.
Kerstetter is an interesting name since it is close to Kershaw. I could not trace Alzora Kerstetter Hubbell paternal family past her father, a Benjamin Kerstetter or Karstater. He was apparently from Pennsylvania and with his name and the common ancestors of Pennsylvanians being German. I may have German common ancestors, also. (2021, I have found some from 17th century Germany. an 8th GGF, Johann Lenker born 1690 from Hess, Germany)
In December 2011, I now discovered that I have Scottish and Viking ancestors through the Lucy Noble branch which led to Henry de Hede Harrison (1325-1374) who apparently started the Harrison name and is a direct relative of the Vikings that invaded England in the Tenth Century. The same branches from Lucy Noble led to a Fifteenth Century Scot named Daniel Watson and another Scot named James Wallace born in 1525 in Scotland (maybe) James Wallace may have been born in England according to another family tree and he may or not be related to aforementioned famous Scot William "Braveheart" Wallace.
If my common ancestors were Normans which I have now found many and they go back to Charlemagne, then I am part French, also. The same branches have more Scandinavian roots (Norway and Danish and Swedish) back over a thousand years ago.
I am Caucasian, but I always say that I am a mutt.
I remember a long time ago that I did tell anybody who brought up the subject of my ancestry that I was part English, Swedish, Irish, Scottish, German and French. I do not remember why except maybe my parents told me or I was just trying to be a smart ass. But apparently I was right back then.
And back in the day, a long time ago, I was told by various people that I looked like: Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Or. Was I Jewish?, and many other similar questions. So, with my varied ancestry, I could look like anyone.
1850 census for Alzora Kerstetter Hubbell. Wow, before the Civil War.
Now the 1910 census shows that my grandmother as Nellie Brooks and was living with her sisters and brothers, all with different last names, and grandmother Alzora Hubbell, not mother Etta May.
It took a while, but I found a marriage record for Etta May Hubbell in 1908 to James Clark Winfield. On the marriage record it shows that she had no other marriages. A death record for February 12, 1925, shows Etta May Winfield born February 12, 1870 residing in Bedford, Ohio.
My grandmother Nellie’s marriage certificate in 1917 shows her maiden name as Nellie Brooks.
There is mention of a Fred Brooks being my grandmother Nellie’s father, but I could find nothing about him nor could I find her birth certificate to verify her father. There seems to be a good short story or novel here or maybe not. In comparison with today’s reality TV and everyone’s life being an open book on the Internet, probably not.
So assuming my grandmother really is Etta May's daughter, the family tree gets more interesting going back in Etta May’s branches which begin with her father John Niles Hubbell (1849-1900) and mother Alzora who always lived in Ohio. His father was Noble Bates Hubbell (1816-1863) who also lived in Ohio as a farmer. I was happy to get this far back. They are considered a Cleveland Ohio pioneer family according to:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcuyah3/newburg.html
History of Newburg, Ohio now part of Cleveland.
"In the northeast, one of the pioneers was Jedediah Hubbell. His house was burned to the ground on Sunday, in 1822, while he was at church. The next morning his townsmen gathered in force, put up a new house for him and moved his family into it before nightfall. That is an example of how people used to help each other in the "good old days."
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcuyah3/newburg.html
History of Newburg, Ohio now part of Cleveland.
In the A HISTORY OF THE MILL CREEK WATERFALL BY: DAN F. OSTROWSKI http://www.slavicvillagehistory.org/CAPSULE%20HISTORIES/PAGES/history%20mill%20creek.htm
Shows the Hubbells in Cleveland as follows: In 1811 Huntington sold to Ephraim and Jedediah Hubbell all of Lot 464 lying south of Mill Creek "including mills, vessels, buildings and implements standing or in anywise pertaining thereof" for $2437.50.
1812 Noble Bates took charge of the mill and acted as a miller for the proprietors of the gristmill. He put up a carding machine, and then another sawmill on the same stream. Then he undertook to start a silk industry. Mulberry trees were planted and silk worms procured, but the climate was not appropriate and the enterprise failed.
In 1818 Jedediah Hubbell sold by quitclaim all of his right and title to Ephraim Hubbell for $1218.50.
In 1824 the grist mill, saw mill, and carding machine were for sale by Ephraim Hubbell.
In 1826 Ephraim conveyed to his sons Jason and Benoni for a consideration of $6000 all of the mill lot and its appurtenances excepting for himself the privileges of water and stone on the land.
In 1828 Benoni for a consideration of $3000 quit claimed his undivided one half in the property to his brother Jason.
In 1829 Jason for a consideration of $6000 sold back to his father Ephraim. In 1835 Ephraim sold the property back to Jason for $3000.
The Hubbell family became involved in a law suit with the result that the property went to a firm named Webb & Averil.
In 1841 Webb & Averil sold to Listenard Stewart.
Cleveland was named in 1796 by surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company after their leader, General Moses Cleveland. They laid out Connecticut's Western Reserve into townships and a capital city which was incorporated in 1814.
Cleveland was named in 1796 by surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company after their leader, General Moses Cleveland. They laid out Connecticut's Western Reserve into townships and a capital city which was incorporated in 1814.
The 1850 census shows that Noble Hubbell and John Niles were living with Noble’s 76 year old father from Connecticut
1880 census for John Niles Hubbell, Alzora and Etta May
The father's name was Jedediah Hubbell who was born March 26, 1773 in Kent, Connecticut according to typed out Kent Vital record that I found on ancestry.com. This was even more exciting that I had a ancestor born before the American Revolutionary War.
It is Jedediah’s branches that led me further back in time and may or may not connect me to the aforementioned famous people. His father was also Jedediah Hubbell (1731-1813). They all lived in Connecticut back to the Seventeenth Century. The Hubbell branch went from Jedediah to Captain Ephraim Hubbell (1694-1780) and Samuel Hubbell (1657-1713) (the 5th great-grandfather of Edwin Hubble) to Richard Hubbell (1626-1699) who was born in England. His wife was Elizabeth Meigg (1631-1665) who was the daughter of John Meigg (1612-1671) who was born in England. His father was Vincent Meigg (1583-1658) who was born in Dorset, England and married in England, but came to the New World around 1635 and died in Connecticut.
I found the complete as far as possible History of the Hubbell family here:
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/walter-hubbell/history-of-the-hubbell-family--containing-genealogical-records-of-the-ancestors-bbu/1-history-of-the-hubbell-family--containing-genealogical-records-of-the-ancestors-bbu.shtml
Another family tree similar to mine for the Hubbels:
The Hubbels were active in early Colony politics:
This is where the roller coaster begins. Vincent Meigg was married to Elizabeth Ann Churchill (1587-1634) in 1608 in Weymouth, Dorset, England. Elizabeth Ann was born and died in Weymouth, Dorset, England. (see the Family History Group Sheet from New England Families) This is based on various records and sources according to this document.
(As of March, 2014, I have re-discovered a controversy regarding Vincent Meigg which is mentioned in the following document. It appears that a certain Vincent Meigg, Megg, etc.was actually married to a Emma Strong, not Elizabeth Ann Churchill- the controversy being that there may be two Vincent Meiggs from the same area of Devon, who had different fathers and wives, and only one Vincent Meigg moved to America and be my ancestor along with many others-but apparently both sides of the debate have their arguments-so I am not changing my tree just because some one on the internet tells me too, Imagine? I'll go over this in my next blog for St. Patrick's Day)
Elizabeth’s father was William Churchill (1557-1615) who lived in Dorset, England. He turned out to be a 10th generation great grandfather to Humphrey Bogart. He is also the brother to Roger Churchill and son of William Churchill (1531-1599) who were direct ancestors of Winston Churchill Spencer and Lady Diana Spencer. His mother was Mary Cruese (Cruse) (1535-1588) They all lived in Dorset, England or Devon, England which are Shires that are together in Southern England. (See Pedigree of William Churchill which has erroneous dates for the William Churchill. Other family trees I have reviewed had problems also with these William Churchills)
Another confusing family tree:
According to the following family tree document, the Churchill family tree is based on myth and legends somewhere after Thomas Churchill (1475-1532)
The other lengthy branch begins with Stephen Noble (1710-1794), the maternal grandfather of Jedidiah Hubbell. His daughter was Lucy Noble (1734-1813). They all lived in Connecticut. His father was Stephen Noble (1686-1755) who was born in Massachusetts. His parents and grandparents also were born in Massachusetts and died in Connecticut. His great-grandfather, Thomas Noble (1606-1632) was born in London, England and died in Massachusetts.
They were amongst the founding fathers of New Milford:
http://www.newmilford.org/content/3090/3100/3824.aspx
Time-Line History of New Milford
The Webmasters begin their time-line History of New Milford with the 18th Century. Credit is due to a commemorative booklet published by the Town of New Milford on the celebration, in 1957, of its 250th Anniversary and to Orcutt, Samuel History of the Towns of New Milford and Bridgewater, Connecticut 1703-1882, Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Company, Hartford, 1882. The Webmasters welcome comments, corrections and suggestions.
1702: Deed of "A Certain Tract of Land called Weeantenock" from 14 Indians to the "Proprietors of New Milford" (109 people). The purchase price? "Sixty pounds Current money of this Colony of Connecticut and Twenty pounds in Goods." This deed is recorded in the Town Records at Volume 9, page 269 and in Hartford. New Milford was called a Plantation until 1712.
1703: The legislative title to the land called a "Patent" was granted to New Milford by an act of the General Court (the Governor and his assistants) on October 22.
1705: Indians leave their Fort Hill land, where they had a large settlement and a Fort.
1706: Zachariah Ferriss arrives in New Milford and plows a plot of land near today's Town Hall. It is believed to be the first such work done here by a Caucasian.
1707: The earliest settlers: John Noble and John Noble, Jr. from Westfield, Massachusetts; John Bostwick from Stratford, Connecticut. John Noble, Sr. builds a house.
1708: Birth of Daniel Bostwick, the first male child born in New Milford.
1710: Birth of Sarah Ferriss, the first female child born in New Milford.
1711: The first sermon preached in New Milford by John Read. New Milford population: 70 (twelve families). Residents petition the General Assembly (it replaced the General Court) for the rights and privileges of a town and thus to levy taxes and hire a "ministry of ye gospel".
1712: Upon the petition of its inhabitants, the General Assembly grants New Milford the rights and privileges of a Town. The first highways laid out: Aspetuck Avenue and Elkington Road. Ensign William Gaylord arrives from Windsor. Jonathan Law is the Town Clerk for the Town's first year.
1713: John Noble, Sr., chosen as Jonathan Law's successor as Town Clerk. Zachariah Ferriss, Samuel Brownson and Samuel Hitchcock chosen Selectmen. Mr. Daniel Boardman is given land and a house on the condition that he become New Milford's "minister of the place" for 20 years. John Bostwick is chosen as constable.
1714: Vote to fence the Common Field. John Noble, Sr. dies and is the first adult to be buried in Center Cemetery. More highways laid out: Main Street, Bridge Street, Elm Street and Bennitt Street.
1715: Highway from lower end of Indian Field to Danbury laid out. First military company organized with Captain Stephen Noble in command.
1716: "First Church of Christ" (Congregational) organized by eight men and five women with Reverend Daniel Boardman as pastor.
Thomas married Rachel Gardner (1608-1632) whose father, Thomas Gardner, (1565-1635) came to Salem, Massachusetts in 1624, only four years after the Pilgrims. We were close, but no cigar. See a Family ancestor notice of the Gardner's and other family trees with one stating he was a great-grandparent of John Quincy Adams.
I have now been able to follow Thomas Gardner’s branches. These are also very fascinating. Apparently, he and his son Thomas Gardiner also, were the main branch of a lot of New Englanders (including Presidents of the US John Adams and John Quincy Adams) and it is no surprise. I have followed their ancestors back to King Henry I and II, Kings Edward, I, II, III, William the Conqueror, and Charlemagne. I have also followed branches through to Anglo-Saxon Kings like Alfred the Great (849-899) also, back to a king of Wessex (644-709) in the Seventh Century.
Vincent Meigg's family branches also go back to King Henry I and II, William the Conqueror, and Charlemagne, and further.
http://members.localnet.com/~delehman/family/58768.html Thomas Gardner, KnightTHOMAS GARDNER, KNIGHT was born Dorchester, Dorset, England and died 1635 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married ELIZABETH WHITE.Children of THOMAS GARDNER, KNIGHT and ELIZABETH WHITE:
- THOMAS GARDNER, SR.
- JOSEPH GARDNER, b. 1601, England; d. 1679, Kings County, Rhode Island.
- RACHEL GARDNER, 1608; m. THOMAS NOBLE 1620; b. 1606.
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- Ancestors of Humphrey Bogart, Actor; Nancy Davis, Actress and widow of Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. President.
Notes of interest for RACHEL GARDNER and THOMAS NOBLE:
-
Thomas Gardner lived in a seacoast town of Lymington, England and was a sea captain. He was married to Elizabeth White (1552-1648). Her branch of the ancestors goes all the way back to Johanis John White (1328-1433)
Another interesting branch begins with the mother of Stephen Noble, Mary Goodman (1665-1717) who lived in New England and was married to John Noble (1662-1714). Her father, Richard Goodman (1609-1691), a Puritan, came to Massachusetts from England in 1633. Information regarding his life, Mary’s and her mother, Mary Terry, is enclosed in a document called Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33. One of the notes in the document state: “Deacon Richard Goodman being slain by Indians was buried April 3d 1676 at Hadley.”
Another common ancestor was a French noble who was cruel as well as his wife. Roger "the Great" de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (1018-1094) and his wife Mabel, Mabilia de Dame de Alençon, de Séez, and Bellême, Countess of Shrewsbury and Lady of Arnudel (1024-1079) were favorites of William the Conqueror, but both had strong enemies with Mabel being beheaded in her bed.
Finally, apparently, our common ancestors are the same as the British Royal family and either now or when Prince William becomes KING OF ENGLAND, we will be related. So will millions of others.
The rest of the family tree and more information will be posted to another post.
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