What started out to be a hobby, has completely taken over my life.I have compiled and documented over 10,000 members of my family tree, dating back to before 8th century in France, England, and Ireland.Much of my free time is spent in family history libraries, historical societies and travelling to cemeteries in search of just "one more bit of information".
I have found many interesting characters among the great mass of people to whom I've grown close in my study of their lives.Among them is Sacagawea, wife of one of my Charbonneau ancestors, Toussaint Charbonneau, who aided the Louis and Clark expedition as interpreters.Another family was in the court of Louis XIV, as his wine and food tasters,anotherhis nanny when he was a child.
Also included in this data, are my English ancestors.I have recently discovered that my 9th great grandfather, Richard Lyman is descended from three European Kings: Henry I, of England, Alfred the Great King of England, Donal-Bane, King of Scots, and and several ancestors of H.R.H. the Princess of Wales. I have discovered some lines that go back to the 8th century. (Did I mention that William the Conqueror is my 29th GGFather?) And me with no castle!
My father's side is French/Canadian, and Irish, my mother's side is English, and when you far enough back to the Battle of Hastings, I guess you would say some French there too.The names included in my database are much too numerous tomention here.Please feel free to browse around my beloved family and see if you bump into anyone you know!
HAVE FUN!!
MY LATEST PROJECT IS TO HONOR MY ANCESTORS WITH GRAVESTONES WHERE THEY DO NOT EXIST.I AM IN THE PROCESS OF PLACING A HEADSTONE ON THE GRAVE OF MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER ELLEN GIBLIN.I AM ALSO TRYING TO LOCATE THE GRAVE OF MY GRANDFATHER, WHO, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, HAS MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED.I HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION RELATING TO HIS DEATH AND BURIAL, BUT CEMETERY RECORDS HAVE SOMEHOW GONE MISSING.I WALKED THE ENTIRE CEMETERY WHERE HE HAS A PLOT PAID FOR OUT OF HIS ESTATE, AND THE FUNERAL HOME HAS A RECORD OF BURYING HIM THERE, BUT HE IS ELUDING US SOMEHOW.
I HAVE TRAVELED TO FRANCE SEVERAL TIMES LOOKING FOR EXTENDED RECORDS OF THE FAMILY.
MY NEXT TRIP IS TO LA ROCHELLE WHERE THE FAMILY PROGENETOR WAS A STAINED GLASS MAKER.
I have broken through a number of "road blocks" and traced further and further back.I am amazed at how much information flows after one breakthrough!!!I traced an ancestor on my English mom's side up to the same person on my French father's side.Jesse De Forest, a French Huegonaut came to America in the early 1600's and was a progenitor of the Warner family.His son was found in the 1600's married into one of my Acadian ancestors on my father's side.Wow, we really ARE our own cousin!!
Other illustrious ancestors:Charlemagne, Alfred the Great, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Alden Black (husband of Shirley Temple), Benedict Arnold, Humphrey Bogart, Harriet Beecher, the Mayflower Madame!!!, many Mayflower Pilgrims, and the list goes on.
I am compiling a book but it is taking forever because I have 10,000 + names in my data base.I am adding pictures, and little blurbs on each person as much as I can.Through a wonderful cousin, I have obtained pictures of my paternal great grandparents and grandfather.One missing piece of the puzzle is the set of pictures of my great grandparents given to me by my grandmother, but "mysteriously" found their way to another relative who has dishonestly staked her claim on them.I DO have many pictures of my maternal grandmother as a girl as well as her mother.If you have any questions or want info, just email me, as I will not publish any more information on this site.
Newest addition: President Stephen Grover Cleveland is my 6th cousin 3 times removed.We both descend from Moses Cleveland of Ipswich, England.Email me if you would like info on presidential genealogies.
|