52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Long Line

It is week three in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge. This week’s prompt is titled Long Line.

I immediately thought of the many lines I have traced back through history the farthest. A few years ago, I became fascinated with identifying and proving lineage for several “gateway ancestors,” colonial immigrants whose ancestry can be traced to Old World gentry, nobility, or royalty. So far, I have determined that the following ancestors are direct descendants of Charlemagne: Edward Foulke (1651-1741) of Pennsylvania, my spouse’s 8th great-grandfather; Lawrence Smith (1629–1700) of Virginia, my 10th great-grandfather; Edmund Hawes (1612–1693) of Massachusetts, my 11th great-grandfather; and Peter Worden (1569-1639) of Massachusetts, my 12th great-grandfather.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Favorite Photo

It is week two in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Week’s writing challenge. This week’s prompt is Favorite Photo.

“That’s should be easy,” I thought, “as I have tons of pictures. With 3,649 images in my family tree, there’s bound to be a photo or two that would qualify as a favorite.”

Thomas Lynde

On this day, 30 December 1671, Thomas Lynde (my 11th great-grandfather) passed away in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Born on 11 January 1594, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England, Thomas was the son of Nathan Lynde, Jr. and Elizabeth Digby. He joined brothers Enoch and Richard Lynde.

From Our Families to Yours…

On behalf of my Cole-Marriner family, some of the original 1600s settlers of New Jersey’s Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties, I would like to wish you Happy Holidays!

Speaking for my Watts-Stark family, early settlers of Virginia and South Carolina who, generations later, joined other pioneers venturing west, eventually settling in Cole, Moniteau, and Miller Counties, Missouri, I say Season’s Greetings!

Genealogy Poetry Challenge: Scotland

For 11 years, Bill West, a retired bookseller with a computer and an interest in genealogy and history, has hosted an annual genealogy poetry challenge.

Anyone is welcome to join the challenge. All you have to do is blog a poem or song (or in my case, both) about the region in which at least one of your predecessors resided. Within the post, share how that poem/song relates to your ancestors’ lives.