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.

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!

Levi Roark Campbell

On this day, 18 November 1925, Levi Roark Campbell passed away. He was my 3rd great-grandfather.

Levi Roark Campbell was born on 16 April 1844, in Russellville, Cole County, Missouri. He was the third known child of Abraham Campbell and Sena Roark, joining sister Clemency Jane Campbell (born in 1841) and brother James Gray Campbell (born 1842).

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.

Sancha of Léon

On this day, 7 November 1067, Sancha of Léon passed away. She was my 29th great-grandmother through her granddaughter Urraca di León y Castile and my 30th great-grandmother through her granddaughter Teresa of Léon.

Born circa 1018, Sancha de Léon was the daughter of Alfonso V of León by his first wife, Elvira Menéndez. She joined brother Bermudo III of León, born a year earlier.