OT: I'm Canadian! Sort of!

[pixburgher66]

I knew there was a good reason I loved hockey I've been addicted to ancestry.com (gosh it's addicting), and I've discovered I have a lot of roots in Canada and the Buffalo area, it's all the English and Scottish (little Irish too) in me

 

[apachef4]

It is addicting, isn't it? I went on for a while but had to stop so I could go on with my life. Interesting as hell seeing a lot of those old original censuses and documents, though. It gets hard, too, the further you go back. I wasn't always sure I was heading in the right direction...those damn census takers back then would never spell a name the same way twice!

 

[puckhead]

congratulations!!!

 

[forty_three]

I knew there was a good reason I loved hockey I've been addicted to ancestry.com (gosh it's addicting), and I've discovered I have a lot of roots in Canada and the Buffalo area, it's all the English and Scottish (little Irish too) in me

One of my cousins started tracing all of my family's history starting in the 90's and it was fascinating to see all the connections. He traced us all the way back to our family's namesake castle in County Westmeath, Ireland and the 900's. Yes, I said 900's.

We learned
- There as many of us in Canada as there are in the states. In fact, many of our family members fought against each other in the war of 1812.
- One particular branch settled in Michigan, eventually producing a madman. In the Motor City.
- In the 1000s, there was a slur based on the family name.
- The land that is now Clearwater Florida was once owned by my great great great grandfather's brother.
- Six of my southern relatives were hanged or otherwise disposed of due to involvement in the Underground Railroad. In fact, the house my father grew up in was once the first stop in Maryland (the free state) on one such branch.

And that's just Dad's side. Mom's side goes back to Lord Baltimore and the Calvert's (the Md flag has part of the family coat of arms) and the guy who owned Man O' War (who famously lost to Seabiscuit). One branch connects us to the Kennedys as well (by marriage).

I love that stuff.

 

[pixburgher66]

It is addicting, isn't it? I went on for a while but had to stop so I could go on with my life. Interesting as hell seeing a lot of those old original censuses and documents, though. It gets hard, too, the further you go back. I wasn't always sure I was heading in the right direction...those damn census takers back then would never spell a name the same way twice!

I KNOW! I hit a point where I'm at a crossroads and have to make a decision on who to choose. I've been good so far. I equate it to filling in a Sudoku puzzle...if you get one wrong, you're screwed. Still, seeing a picture of the marriage license of my great-great-great grandparents was awesome. Saw a few death certificates as well, interesting to see the cause of death given, etc. No famous people yet (although there was some distant relative named Rutherford Birch Hayes...but alas he was merely named after the then governor of Ohio where he was born), but a few Civil War soldiers! I got back to the 1500's on my Mom's side, and it's all Isle of Man England, Scotland, and some Ireland. Dad's side hasn't even been touched yet! Yeay for 14 day free trials!

 

[flyersfan4706]

I am too

*Thunder stolen*

 

[KillerVee]

I'm only able to trace like half of my side. My mom's mom was adopted and my mom's dad's records were destroyed in a fire. So....That sucks.

But my dad's side is well documented. I have distant cousins in Sicily that I talk to on Facebook. Met a few of them when they visited San Francisco recently. I also have a lot Sicilian-descendant relatives in the Pittsburgh area but I've never had any contact with them. Probably Penguins fans

 

[Darkstone42]

I know the Italian in me comes from Cuneo, Italy, that I'm more Irish than anything, and that my last name is because my family were coal miners in England or Wales, but that's about it. Perhaps someday I'll start looking up this sort of thing.

 

[SLY]

I'm assuming this costs money...

 

[IPostedWhat]

Yeay for 14 day free trials!

I'm assuming this costs money...

 

[SLY]

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

 

[SLY]

 

[flyersfan4706]

 

[Darkstone42]

 

[SLY]

 

[pixburgher66]

Well, after a few...hours of research (not proud people), I finally hit the jackpot. I'm the 11th great-granddaughter of John Turner, who died in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 after riding over on the Mayflower...that is after signing the Mayflower Compact. BOOM! AMERICA!

 

[Darkstone42]

Well, after a few...hours of research (not proud people), I finally hit the jackpot. I'm the 11th great-granddaughter of John Turner, who died in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 after riding over on the Mayflower...that is after signing the Mayflower Compact. BOOM! AMERICA!

Way to go, America!

 

[forty_three]

Well, after a few...hours of research (not proud people), I finally hit the jackpot. I'm the 11th great-granddaughter of John Turner, who died in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 after riding over on the Mayflower...that is after signing the Mayflower Compact. BOOM! AMERICA!

That is awesome.

 

[sbb122]

I will have to trace mine back if i get time. I did find out after my mother passed away that i am somehow related to this man on my mother's side of the family.

Pretty cool...

Alexander Hays - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia