Researching your family is an exciting adventure! You are able to learn a lesson in history with a personal twist. Through my research I've learned about the Swedish colony that was the first Pennsylvania settlement (pre-William Penn, the other early settlements in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey & New York. I've been able to trace several ancestor's participation in the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and WWI. I'm just beginning to learn a little about the various countries our ancestors came from, the historical backround of thier lives and changes in thier lives that made them want to find a different life in a new country or territory. The challenge now is finding historical records of thier lives in those countries.
I have already found out something about my Scotch-Irish, German, & English ancestors, and a little about came to settle in the United States. The research into the basic outline of history on my side of the family through the last 200 years has been relatively easy due to the fact that most of my ancestors came to and stayed in the state of Pennsylvania for several generations and because I live in Pennsylvania I have easier access to the available records than many researchers. However, the interesting part is finding the small details and personal stories of thier lives.I always enjoy getting in touch with newly discovered "cousins" and sharing the personal information and research we both have on our family.
My husband's family, however, presents more of a challenge due to the fact that they were mostly pioneers who were not afraid to brave new and relatively unsettled parts of the country. They settled in the eastern states in the 1600-1700s but then went on to homestead land in such states as Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, & Oklahoma. His ancestors mostly are of Swedish, English, French, and Welsh descent.
This family history then, is a combination of family stories passed down to the next generations and as much documentation as possible to back it up. I'm always looking to add to it and welcome anyone who is willing to share.
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- John Styles Rex (123 KB)
John Rex, Wintersville, Jefferson Co., OH, late 1800s - Thomas Hellier & Tom Field (314 KB)
Thomas Hellier with grandson Tom Field, in Mustard, Allegheny Co., PA - Scott Rex (55 KB)
Scott Rex, son of John Styles and Rachel (Scott) Rex
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