From: Tetof@aot.com [SMTP:Tetof@aol.com] 
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 1997 1:32 AM 
To:   GERMANNA_COLONIES-L@rootsweb.com 
Subject:     Rector Family & Buzz Aldrin Connection 

Marc Wheat emailed me, saying he'd had the honor of meeting Buzz Aldrin last year, but didn't know then they were cousins. He asked if I could post his ancestry, so I'll give it a try, beginning one generation earlier than the Rector connection: 

WM. ROSS I and wife (Lady?) ARMINELLA WHITESIDE(S) came from British Isles 1757-8 and settled on Goose Creek near Rectortown, VA and had 8 children, all born on Goose creek. Wm. I was born Dublin Ireland ca 1702; Arminella about 1706, England; she died after her husband (who was burned at stake by Indians). I have copy of his will. 

Of the 8 children (Lawrence, John, Robert, William II, Tavenor, Hannah, 
Elizabeth and Arminella), Lawrence is ancestor of Lawrence Sullivan Ross of Texas fame. 

WM. II married WINNEFORD/WINIFRED RECTOR on March 3,1777. He was born 1739-49 (tombstone does not match other records) in Fauquier co., VA and died May 14,1834 in Tremont City, Ohio. She was born March 6,1756 in Rectorville, VA; died Sept. 13, 1849, Tremont City, OH. She was daughter of Daniel Rector and his wife Ann      . Daniel was born ca 1738. Wm. & Winneford had 10 children (Lawrence, William, Nancy, Elizabeth, Elijah, Presley, John, Mariah, Charles & Susan, twins.) 

ELIJAH ROSS was born July 6,1788 Blue Licks, KY. He died Aug. 11, 1837 Piqua, OH. Married on Mar. 22,1816 at Miami County, OH to MARY LAWS HOUSTON, dau. of Joseph and Nancy Fisher Houston. Mary Laws died May I 1, 1869 Logan Co., OH. Elijah & Mary Laws had 13 children: Wm. Laws, Eliza 

Jane, Emeline Winafred, James Houston, Mary Elizabeth, Joseph Presley, Robert Emery, Landon Everett, Albert Elijah, Nancy Adeline Helen, and 3 who died in infancy.) 

LANSON EVERETT ROSS was born June 15,1832 in Piqua OH, died Oct. 1918 in Joliet IL. He married on Nov 13, 1856 in Livingston Co., IL (1) ESTHER THOMPSON, who was born December 12,1839 in Dwight, IL. She died Nov. 14, 1887 in Dwight. They had 7 children: Mary Leathy, Alma Esther, Frank Houston, Marian Gaddis, Lanson Edgar, Robert William, Jesse Elizabeth. 

On Sept. 5,1889 in Marseilles, IL, Lanson married (2) LE VANCHE GARDNER, who was born July 1, 1843 in Amboy, IL. She died March 7, 1917. There were no children of this marriage. 



JESSE ELIZABETH ROSS was born Nov. 9,1873 in Joliet, IL; she died 
April 14,1960 in Florida. On Sept. 10, 1902, she married REV. FAYE ARNOLD 
MOON, a Methodist Minister. She was a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Faye was born March 12, 1877 in Tuscola, Michigan, and died March 28?? 1928 at Fort Riley, KS. Their children were: Marion, Madeline and Robert Bruce. 

MARION GADDYS MOON married EDWIN EUGENE ALDRIN, an aide to General Billy Mitchell and later an executive with Standard Oil of New Jersey; they had three children: Madeline, Fay Ann and Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. Madeline married      Sternberg. (Fay Ann was 1 1/2 years old when he was born and tried to say "Brother" which turned into "Buzzer" and from there to "Buzz.") 

BUZZ ALDRIN was born January 30,1930 in a Glen Ridge NJ hospital, although the family resided in Montclair, NJ. He married (1) JOAN ARCHER, 
dau. of    and Evelyn _ Archer on Dec. 29, 1954 in Ho-Ho-Kus NJ. They had three children: James Michael, Sept. 2, 1955; Janice Rose, Aug. 16, 1957; and Andrew John, June 17, 1958. 

The above information was taken from "The Descendants of William Ross" by Harriet Liljegren Ross, 1977, and "Return to Earth" by Buzz Aldrin with Wayne Warga, Random House, 1973, in which he discusses his early life, education at West Point, his Dr. of Science degree from MIT, as well as his adventures in space, culminating in his being the second man to walk on the face of the moon. He also discusses the stress of an astronaut's life, and how it affected him; his nervous breakdown, and marital problems, and his work for the National Assn. for Mental Health. He has also been technical advisor for a TV show about astronauts, the name of which escapes me (it's 12:20 AM here) but maybe "The Cape"???? that stars "Arnie" from L.A. Law. 

He has written a second book, which I have, but did not take time to consult for the writing of the above information. I have written the outline for a family saga beginning with make-believe characters similar to Wm. I and Arminella Ross, and moving forward to the time of NASA and all that has happened in the space program, with an ancestor of Wm. I being an astronaut; title will include the word "Moon" ; hope to have time to complete it one of these days and see it published. From my DAR opening ritual "Yea, I have a goodly heritage." 
Dorthy Ross, Compass Point Farm, 9333 Buckhart Road, Rochester, IL 62563.