On my mother's side, there are amazing records going back all the way to the 1500's.
She's originally from Dutch stock. Can you believe it? As soon as the Netherlands popped up on the history chart, I started praying to about 30 different Gods that the name "deThouars" didn't pop up. I'd have to kill myself for the shame of it all.
On my dad's side, it's a little different.
We have some unbelievable names in the Edmonds clan. I thought I was being original by spelling my name with an "E" - My ancestors would have probably laughed at this. I found a guy named Indianna Edmonds (No, I didn't misspell it - That was how he spelled it). Pammiela, Thos, Esom, Geo Hy Hy, Hepzibah, Jno - It goes on.
My Great-Grandfather opened up a glass plant in Shanghai for what used to be "Standard Oil", and ran it for a dozen years or so. Apparently, I'm not the only Edmonds with yellow fever...!
He sailed on the S.S. Monteagle, which I found a photo of on a website for the ship's company:
The first Edmonds of my line in America was William, in 1778. He was a pressed hand on the HMS Thames, built in 1758. Since there was a war going on between England and America at the time, I can only assume he jumped ship and ran for it as soon as he got within sight of land. They sure as hell wouldn't just let him off, especially at the height of the American Revolution.
No records exist of what happened exactly, other than the ships crew manifests which indicate he was "bondage" on the Thames, and suddenly disappeared.
A Great Uncle x4, Daniel Edmonds was captured as a spy during the war of 1812 - And paroled afterwards. No existing records of what he did then.
Catherine Edmonds was my Great Aunt x7 - She got transportation in the 1700's (prison ship). What her crime was, I don't know. The only record of her existence was as a prisoner on the "Indispensable", convicted in the Old Bailey in 1784.
Walter D. Edmonds (author of "Drums Along the Mohawk") is my Great-Uncle. Apparently, writing runs in the family as well. Damn, I guess the glove is in front of me there, huh?
There's lots of places where the line just runs dead - They didn't keep the most accurate records during the time of the colonies, and a lot of names simply end up listed on a birth certificate or a grave somewhere as "Edmonds" or "Male Edmonds" - "Female Edmonds". There's no telling who these people were, or what role they played in the events of that time.
I don't know how far I'm going to keep looking - but it's an amazing thing to actually see those who went before you, and what events transpired throughout history to bring you to this time and place.
I kinda have to smile at all this history, and how much my family did. The ones I could trace, anyway.
So this is what pride in your family feels like.
3 comments:
Its kind of addictive. I've done a lot with ours over the years. My wife and I have quite a few Dutch ancestors...and a little bit of everything else, too. Including those famous de Thouars, back in the early Middle Ages, I'm afraid. We've got the infamous British Hanging Judge, and Admiral Hawkins, Secretary of the British Navy and first Englishman to crash the slave trade. A Transylvanian princess, and the dumbass Indian chief who helped the Pilrims through that first winter. Got about every war covered. An undertaker back in the 19th century who sure seemed to go through a lot of wives. A fellow in Illinois who raised animals for Barnum & Bailey and was a huge character (my mother has pics from when she was a kid). Its interesting. I go back every so often and do more.
very cool stuff - next time you are here we can dig out the reams of information I have collected.
Interesting stuff - for one, I have an ancestor who fought William Wallace mano y mano and lost.
Glad you are enjoying it and yeah, it's addictive.
Good for you bud.
It's nice to know where you came from. It's not that it limits or pigeon-holes you into a destiny but removes part of life's enigma. Easier to focus on the present when the past is focused and classified.
You just jettisoned a little bit of cargo to increase the speed of the ship. Nothing wrong with that.
Post a Comment