A number of years ago I became interested in tracing the roots of my family tree. It is a process that I enjoy - the digging through old records to find mention of one of my ancestors. Some find this activity dry as dust, but I find it fascinating.
Growing up, I had heard stories from family members about the possible links to a couple of famous people in history. My Mother's side of the family claimed to be related to the famous sea captain, John Paul Jones. Try as I might, I have yet to find any relationship between him and my family. The only remote tie I found is that both John Paul Jones and my 8X Great Grandfather were born in Scotland.
My Dad's side of the family claimed to be related to our 15th President, James Buchanan. I have found this to be true. Although President Buchanan never married and never had children, he can be traced by a round about path to my ancestors. My Dad took considerable pride in having a president in his family history.
James Buchanan has been known to be the worst president in American history. His refusal or inability to deal with the question of secession prior to the Civil War and his alienation of both the North and South at that time were the major reasons for his title of Worst President. His love of alcohol and the epic parties he hosted at the White House in a time of crisis in our nation's history did little to endear him.
You might know that my only claim to fame within my family tree would be to a disgraced president. Perhaps that is one reason why I love finding the black sheep and scoundrels among my ancestors. They are much more fun than the rich and famous.
I am glad my Dad never found out the history of his source of family pride. He needn't have worried, however. I do believe the title of Worst President Ever has been passed on to the current holder of that office. Compared to Obama, Buchanan was a rank amateur.
Opus 2024-398: Living Difference
1 hour ago
My mom's family history turned up a horse thief (literally) and a riverboat gambler whose son died of pneumonia after being forced to stand outside all night in winter for some misbehavior or other.
ReplyDeleteBoth sides of the family fought in the War Between the States, and several moved to serve on the opposing forces from that of their brothers. Have Green Mountain ties on Dad's side, and Clinch River Volunteers on the other. It's a wonder we can all speak to each other at reunions. :)
Rev. Paul...I haven't found any horse thieves as yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if I did. I did find one who, during the Civil War, was court martialed for being drunk on guard duty. And another who was so unpleasant that his neighbors finally rode him out of town on a rail.
ReplyDeleteMost of my ancestors seem to have missed serving during the Civil War. Many were from New York and the surrounding states or Ohio and Indiana,1 but right at the end of the war, they turned up in places like Minnesota and North Dakota. Always seemed sort of suspicious to me. I can see where your family reunions might hold the possibility of being somewhat exciting. :)
I don't know if you've read it on my posts or not, Vicki, but there's about a 99% chance that I'm descended from a guy named Lauren Duyts, who came to New Amsterdam from Denmark 1637(to escape a noose, perhaps). He later married, tired of his wife, sold her, and married her sister. Peter Stuyvesant (yes, THAT one) banished him from the colony for life for his actions. However, once the British took over the place, and his first wife died, he moved back. I tell folks that I'm descended from FINE stock!
ReplyDeleteGorges...Sounds like your ancestor could have been a buddy of my ancestor. I never before heard of someone selling his wife because he was tired of her! Both our ancestors were run out of town, but I don't think mine was ever allowed to return. From court records I found that mine was fined for breach of the peace once and "Distemper with the wine" several times, and was set in the stocks for "profane swearing." Yep - FINE stock, both of us. :)
ReplyDeleteSome of my relatives would be aghast to think that our ancestor was less than an upright, God-fearing citizen. Me...I tend to seek out the scoundrels. Much more fun. Good thing you and I have working senses of humor.
Hind site is great. I should have had my grandma write down names and dates of births and deaths. Even my mom could have done the same. I tried to look back in time. I was fun, I hit roadblocks with names of some of the family. I could not find my grandpa's parents names first not last. Same with my grandmas family I guess I need to dig deeper for the info to be passed on to my kids.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Buchanan would have to surrender that title to Obama! ;-)
ReplyDeleteRob...I wish I had asked my parents more about their families before they died. I have hit some roadblocks, too, that I have yet to get through. I guess all we can do is just keep plugging away at it. Sometimes I have hit a motherlode of information where I least expect it. That's always fun, but doesn't happen very often.
ReplyDeleteHarry...Yep. And should the worst happen and Hillary wins, my ancestor will have the distinction of being the third worst president in history! :)
ReplyDeleteWorst or not, it is interesting nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteBW...I like to have all the dates and places and all of that, but sometimes the search uncovers a bit of information that is quite unexpected. It is fun to follow the trail, so to speak. Never know what might turn up. :)
ReplyDeleteI doubt there a family that is free of scoundrels or scandals. Mine is not!
ReplyDeleteLinda...You are right. Every family has their share of scoundrels. Most folks don't want to admit it, though. Not me. I set them out on the front porch and hand them a drink. They are so much more interesting than the prim and proper. :)
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