Heritage

[easternstar]

I'd like to know members' heritage, for any who don't mind discussing it. I think it's a fascinating topic.

My grandparents were emigrants to the USA from the tiny country of Andorra, and their parents emigrated there from Eastern Europe. So, my ancestors were both Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. But my parents became Baptists in their youth and remained so for the rest of their lives. So, I have quite diverse influences because of that.

 

[OLD SARGE]

Everyone in my family circle has Germanic names so I figured I was 99% German. I had my DNA done because I had people thinking I was of Hebrew ancestry. Sadly, no, but I am 66% UK. I did see a lad with my surname was on a WWII UK destroyer. I can imagine he woke up every day hearing, "Aye, get up lad! Let's go unalive some Hienies!"

 

[xlsdraw]

My American heritage goes back to the very early colonial days, including the Mayflower. You have to go all the way back to some of my 5th and 6th great grandparents to find anyone that was not born here. Almost all trace back to what we now call Great Britain. A couple from Germany.

I'm related to almost all of our Presidents and the British Royalty. As well as a multitude of other famous and infamous people with American and/or British Heritage.

For example, I'm related to King James which sanctioned what is called the King James Bible. Yet I'm also related to Charles Darwin.

American Heritage is foundationally British.

 

[Van]

I think it is useful to consider the cultural influence our parents, grandparents and even our great grandparents had upon our understanding of God and His world.

My mother was born in Colorado, my father in Kansas. My DNA says I am mostly western European, and my history points to Netherlands, Ireland, and England.

Significant, to my family, are these four historical events:

1) One paternal name line has a Revolutionary War veteran. (from England)
2) One paternal name line has a person mortally wounded at Tippecanoe. (from England)
3) One maternal name line has a person who worked for A. Lincoln, and served under Adm. Farragut (From Ireland)
4) One maternal name line has a farmer from Wisconsin. (from Netherlands)

My family members served on the Union side during the Civil War, with my Great-Grreat-Grandfather being listed on a monument on the lawn of the Colorado State Capital Building. He died serving his country.

As far as I can tell, all the contributors to my upbringing were committed Christians. Praise God.

 

[OLD SARGE]

I think it is useful to consider the cultural influence our parents, grandparents and even our great grandparents had upon our understanding of God and His world.

My mother was born in Colorado, my father in Kansas. My DNA says I am mostly western European, and my history points to Netherlands, Ireland, and England.

Significant, to my family, are these four historical events:

1) One paternal name line has a Revolutionary War veteran. (from England)
2) One paternal name line has a person mortally wounded at Tippecanoe. (from England)
3) One maternal name line has a person who worked for A. Lincoln, and served under Adm. Farragut (From Ireland)
4) One maternal name line has a farmer from Wisconsin. (from Netherlands)

My family members served on the Union side during the Civil War, with my Great-Grreat-Grandfather being listed on a monument on the lawn of the Colorado State Capital Building. He died serving his country.

As far as I can tell, all the contributors to my upbringing were committed Christians. Praise God.

I had relatives on both side of the War Between The States, the actual name in the Congressional Record since it does not fit the definition of a Civil War. A civil war is two factions fighting for control of the same territory or be the central government. The South just wanted to leave as did the colonists from the King. Technically, the Revolutionary War was a civil war as both sides wanted to control the same territory and be the central government.

Among, the Southern side, one died as a flag bearer, one lost an arm and went to home to become a jailer. One rose through the ranks and was a 1st LT in the NC Sharpshooters. I do not know much about the Yam Dankee side. ;-)

I have not done a deep dive into my genealogy as I figure some branches of my tree died on a branch. ;-) Plus, there are so many variations of my name it is hard to tell if the person is related or not. My aunt married a man with the same surname as my Dad. They only lived about 20 miles away from each other, but my uncle denied that he was any relation to my Dad. My guess there was some bad blood a couple of generations back and neither side spoke of the other. A town here in Texas could have been named for a relative because if you use a heavy guttural accent it could sound like my name and they spelled it like they heard it instead of how it is spelled. My surname does not have a c in it. Yet, in a birth record in Germany from the 1600s Heinrich and Gertude was listed with my spelling, but their daughter has the c in it. Makes it a bit hard to be sure.

 

[Van]

I had relatives on both side of the War Between The States, the actual name in the Congressional Record since it does not fit the definition of a Civil War. A civil war is two factions fighting for control of the same territory or be the central government. The South just wanted to leave as did the colonists from the King. Technically, the Revolutionary War was a civil war as both sides wanted to control the same territory and be the central government.

Among, the Southern side, one died as a flag bearer, one lost an arm and went to home to become a jailer. One rose through the ranks and was a 1st LT in the NC Sharpshooters. I do not know much about the Yam Dankee side. ;-)

I have not done a deep dive into my genealogy as I figure some branches of my tree died on a branch. ;-) Plus, there are so many variations of my name it is hard to tell if the person is related or not. My aunt married a man with the same surname as my Dad. They only lived about 20 miles away from each other, but my uncle denied that he was any relation to my Dad. My guess there was some bad blood a couple of generations back and neither side spoke of the other. A town here in Texas could have been named for a relative because if you use a heavy guttural accent it could sound like my name and they spelled it like they heard it instead of how it is spelled. My surname does not have a c in it. Yet, in a birth record in Germany from the 1600s Heinrich and Gertude was listed with my spelling, but their daughter has the c in it. Makes it a bit hard to be sure.

Yes, many on the Southern side refer to the war as "between the states."

In searching one of my family names, I too, found a spelling change, before the war with two names, they spelled it with an "e" but afterward, they spelled it without the "e."

I am sure you have heard the phrase "Damn the Torpedoes, full speed ahead." My Irish relative was on the second sailing ship in the line, the first sailing ship, not a monitor, to follow the Admiral into the mine field.

I found history comes alive when you find your family members engaged in the actions described.