The Vikings are Coming; The Vikings are Coming

Cathédrale Norte-Dame de Rouen, France
All Photos: Jennie Lambert

The fourth season of the Vikings, an Irish-Canadian historical drama TV series, begins on the History Channel starting Thursday, February 18^th, 10pm EST. More: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings_(TV_series) 

Although crucial viewing for our extended family, all history and genealogy buffs should find the series exciting and thought-provoking.

Few historical dramatizations are more pertinent to our Lambert-Bush family genealogy than this presentation of how a specific Viking clan, our Viking clan, lived, fought, settled, and influenced the course of Western European civilization during the “middle ages.” 

Using an historically accurate template, although at times truncated and laced with some “artistic license”, the series follows a clan of Vikings during the late 8^th  to early 10th^th centuries as they plunder and trade their way around England and Northeastern Europe. Early episodes in the series focus on the culture, and early saga-inspired adventures of a particular clan originating from the Denmark/Norway regions led by a legendary Viking, one Ragnar-Lothbrok, who evolves from a farmer-adventurer to Earl and eventually a King.  http://www.britannica.com/topic/Ragnar-Lothbrok .

It is his cinematic “brother” Rollo, however, that merits our genealogical attention. Rollo was an actual Noble Viking warrior who’s role in raids into NE Europe, up the Seine, and eventual siege and plunder of Paris are well documented. He has also been associated with the early establishment of Dublin, Ireland. The clan’s raids on Paris in the late 800s and early 900s are covered in gory detail in the last few episodes of season 3 of the Vikings. History tells us (and presumably season four of the Vikings will as well) that in 911 Rollo makes a deal with Charles III (The Simple), King of West Francia, to the effect that if he, Rollo, accepts the NW part of “France” (An area known as Neustria), agrees to defend it against other raiders, and gives fidelity to King Charles, the King will grant Rollo the land as a Duchy, and give his daughter Gisela in marriage as a part of the deal. Never mind that Rollo already had a wife of Frankish Nobility, Poppa of Bayeux. Rollo agreed, accepted Gisela as a consort (maybe??), converted to Christianity (sort of?) and became Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and thereby changed the course of Western civilization. More on Rollo:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollo

Over the years, through a number of marriages and relationships, Rollo becomes William’s 29X great grandfather (ggf) via his maternal line and Jennie’s 34X ggf via her paternal line. A pedigree listing is at the end of this blog, and reflects a previous, more extensive, listing on our French Connections at: http://williamandjennie.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=6 .

 

Nave, Cathedral d' Rouen 

Interesting story. Rollo made his headquarters at Rouen on the Seine. Rouen is home to a massive Gothic Cathedral that has its origins in Antiquity. Rollo was baptized there (c. 912/15) and interred therein in 931. Jennie and William visited Cathédrale Norte-Dame de Rouen and Rollo’s sarcophagus, September 2015. While stopping at Rollo’s tomb we come across a tour group (about 15-20 English speaking tourists from various countries). The tour guide was discussing the famous founder of Normandy and overheard our comments about our grandfather. The guide, momentarily distracted from her presentation, asked how that connection came about. She seemed to be impressed with our explanation. An Australian bloke asked if we would stand by Rollo’s sarcophagus for a picture, as he had never met such an ancestor. After a few photos we made our way to tombs of other ancestors also enshrined in the immense Cathedral, including Rollo’s wife Poppa (aka, great grandma), their sons/grandsons and our great X. . . . grand uncle, Richard the Lionheart. More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouen_Cathedral .

William Observes Rollo’s Sarcophagus

The Vikings were a lot more complex than the history channel drama depicts. Their military prowess, weapons and social organizations were prized and emulated. The term Viking is Old English for “Pirate”, but has other etymology as well. It is usually attached to the incursions of raiding parties from the northern European frontiers, collectively known as Scandinavia, including contemporary lands of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Viking raiders descended into Europe as Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals and others, as part of the Saxon/Germanic peoples. These groups often used the great rivers of both Eastern and Western Europe to engage their raiding, trading and settling. Russia and the Ukraine evolved from this process. They settled into Ireland, and the island complex known today as the United Kingdom. Vikings eventually raided, traded and mingled with peoples on the shores and islands of the Mediterranean, North Africa, middle East and the far East. They settled Iceland, Greenland and visited areas now within eastern Canada (500 years before Columbus). The Norman Vikings are a part of an immense cadre of nobility and royalty of greater Europa, both past and present. Through the "great migrations" of the 15th - 17th centuries, the vast majority of Anglo-European settlers in colonial North America were ancestors of Norman Vikings.

In the near future we will be posting additional Blogs about the French Normandy Vikings and how they further fit into our genealogy. As always, comments, questions and discussions are welcome. Meanwhile the following listings represent our ancestral ties to the vikings who founded Normandy, France.

William James Lambert, Jr. – Maternal (Havens) Calculated Pedigree Line through English/French Ancestors to Rollo, Robert I, 1^st Duke of Normandy

Rollo "The Wise" Ragnvaldsson~, (c. 830/46/64 – 931/32)

 [Viking – Scandinavia a.k.a. Denmark; Finland; Norway, Sweden]

   29th great grandfather 

William Longsword (900 - 943) son of Rollo "The Wise" Ragnvaldsson~,

Richard I "the Fearless" Duke of Normandy (933 - 996) son of William Longsword

Richard II 'The Good' Duke De Normandy (957 - 1027) son of Richard I "the Fearless" Duke of Normandy

Robert II Devil Magnificent Normandy (999 - 1038) son of Richard II 'The Good' Duke De Normandy

William II (1028 - 1087), son of Robert II Devil Magnificent Normandy (aka: Duke of Normandy; William the Conqueror; King William I of England) [William Lambert, Jr.’s 24X great grandfather]

Henry I Beauclerc King England (1068 - 1135) son of William the Conqueror

Matilda Countess D'Anjou Beauclerc Plantagenet  Planatagenet (1102 - 1169) daughter of Henry I Beauclerc King England

Henry II King of England (1133 - 1189) son of Matilda Countess D'Anjou Beauclerc Plantagenet Planatagenet

John Lackland King of England (1166 - 1216) son of Henry II King of England

Henry III Plantagenet (1207 - 1272) son of John Lackland King of England

Edward I Longshanks England Plantagenet (1239 - 1307) son of Henry III Plantagenet

Edward II King of England Plantagenet (1284 - 1327) son of Edward I Longshanks England Plantagenet

Edward III King of England Plantagenet (1312 - 1377) son of Edward II King of England Plantagenet

Thomas Plantagenet (1355 - 1397) son of Edward III King of England Plantagenet

Anne Plantagenet (1383 - 1438) daughter of Thomas Plantagenet

John Lord Berners Bouchier (1410 - 1474) son of Anne Plantagenet

Sir Humphrey Bourchier (1435 - 1471) son of John Lord Berners Bouchier

Lady Margaret (Baroness Bryan) Bourchier (1468 - 1552) daughter of Sir Humphrey Bourchier

Sir Francis Bryan, Lord Marshal of Ireland 'The Vicar of Hell' (1490 - 1550) son of Lady Margaret (Baroness Bryan) Bourchier

Sir Francis II Bryan (1549 - 1640)

son of Sir Francis Bryan, Lord Marshal of Ireland 'The Vicar of Hell'

Sir William Smith Bryan (Knight) (1600 - 1667) son of Sir Frances II Bryan

Francis III Bryan (1630 - 1694) son of Sir William Smith Bryan (Knight)

Morgan Bryan (1671 - 1763) son of Francis III Bryan

William Bryan (1734 - 1780) son of Morgan Bryan

William Christopher Bryant (1760 - 1834) son of William Bryan

Hiram (Hurum) Bryant Senior (1792 - 1836) son of William Christopher Bryant

Huram (Hiram) Bryant (1827 - 1875) son of Hiram (Hurum) Bryant Senior

Lourena R Bryant (1855 - 1924) daughter of Huram (Hiram) Bryant

John Havens (1882 - 1960) son of Lourena R Bryant

Fern Lucille Havens (1925 - 1994) daughter of John Havens

William James Lambert, Jr (1942 - ) son of Fern Lucille Havens

Jennie Joann (Bush) Lambert – Calculated Pedigree Ties to French Nobility / English Royalty

through her Paternal (Bush) Line (Partial Listing Only)

Rollo "The Wise" Ragnvaldsson~, (830/46 – 931/32)

[Viking – Scandinavia a.k.a. Denmark; Finland; Norway, Sweden]

34th great grandfather

William Longsword (900 - 943) son of Rollo "The Wise" Ragnvaldsson~,

Richard I "the Fearless" Duke of Normandy (933 - 996) son of William Longsword

Richard II 'The Good' Duke De Normandy (957 - 1027) son of Richard I "the Fearless" Duke of Normandy

Robert II Devil Magnificent Normandy (999 - 1035)

Jennie’s 30th great grandfather

William the Conqueror (1028 - 1087)

son of Robert II Devil Magnificent Normandy

Henry I Beauclerc King England (1068 - 1135)

son of William the Conqueror

Matilda Countess D'Anjou BeauclercPlantagenet Planatagenet (1102 - 1169)

daughter of Henry I Beauclerc King England

Henry II King of England "Curt Mantel" Plantagenet (1133 - 1189)

son of Matilda Countess D'Anjou BeauclercPlantagenet Planatagenet

John Lackland King of England (1166 - 1216)

son of Henry II King of England "Curt Mantel" Plantagenet

Henry III Plantagenet (1207 - 1272)

son of John Lackland King of England

Edward I Longshanks England Plantagenet (1239 - 1307)

son of Henry III Plantagenet

Edward II King of England Plantagenet (1284 - 1327)

son of Edward I Longshanks England Plantagenet

Edward III Plantagenet (1312 - 1377)

son of Edward II King of England Plantagenet

John Gaunt Plantagenet (1340 - 1399)

son of Edward III Plantagenet

Henry England Plantagenet (1367 - 1413)

son of John Gaunt Plantagenet

Thomas Clarence deLancaster (1387 - 1421)

son of Henry England Plantagenet

Margaret DeLancaster (1410 - 1474)

daughter of Thomas Clarence deLancaster

William Whitfield (1426 - 1482)

son of Margaret DeLancaster

William Whitfield (1446 - 1492)

son of William Whitfield

Richard Whitfield (1460 - )

son of William Whitfield

Myles Whitfield (1480 - )

son of Richard Whitfield

Robert Whitfield (1492 - 1541)

son of Myles Whitfield

Robert Whitfield (1518 - 1597)

son of Robert Whitfield

Thomas Whitfield (1545 - 1629)

son of Robert Whitfield

Henry Whitfield (1591 - 1657)

son of Thomas Whitfield

Abigail Whitfield (1622 - 1659)

daughter of Henry Whitfield

James (Major) Fitch (1649 - 1727)

son of Abigail Whitfield

Lucy Fitch (1699 - 1762)

daughter of James (Major) Fitch

William Cleveland (1719 - 1792)

son of Lucy Fitch

Jedediah Cleveland (1758 - 1831)

son of William Cleveland

Clarissa "Clara" Cleveland (1786 - 1860)

daughter of Jedediah Cleveland

Jedidiah Cleveland Parsons (1805 - 1889)

son of Clarissa "Clara" Cleveland

Mary Parsons (1855 - 1916)

daughter of Jedidiah Cleveland Parsons

Jennie S. Wheeler (1887 - 1942)

daughter of Mary Parsons

Robert William Bush (1920 - 1999)

son of Jennie S. Wheeler
Jennie Joann Bush (Lambert)
daughter of Robert Bush

Veteran Ancestors: A Call to Arms (Revised: Ancestors Added 9-11-17)

William & Jennie -  1991
CDR Lambert's Ret. Photo

Veterans Day is the day set aside in the US to recognize and honor all who have, or are serving in, the US military and adjunct services. This should not be confused with “Memorial Day”, which is the day in May set aside to honor those who have died while in service to our country. Memorial Day arose following the US Civil War. Veterans Day was established following the end of WW I (November 11, 1918) to recognize the horrendous sacrifices of Americans associated with the “Great War.” Since then, we have come to realize that the “Great War”, unfortunately, really was not “the war to end all wars”; far from it. Since then, Veterans Day has morphed into a day to recognize the seemingly perpetual fusillade of wars and those who attend them, or provide a buffer against them, more or less. The term now embraces all those who have served to establish this country as well as those who continue to ensure its existence. It essentially covers the period of the North American Colonial War for Independence (“American Revolutionary War”) (1775-1783) through today… and tomorrow. (Note: we also have ancestors in the “Seven Years War” [French & Indian in N. America] 1754-1763), and most likely in “King Phillip’s War” 1675-78; however, these and other conflicts are outside the definition set for “American" (US) Veterans. However, some of those earlier ancester "veterans" are listed below as well).

Our ancestor search for those who have served as "Veterans" in the US Armed Forces/ Uniformed Services from colonial times to present, while plentiful, is far from complete. We need your help. Thus, our blog title, a call to arms. Here is what we need, to the extend known, or comfort in sharing: Name of Veteran; service entity/component; rank/rate, period(s) of service (specific as possible), location of service; if deceased, location and/or information of resting place; known/ calculated relationship to our genealogical family; or, any other info you wish to provide, such as KIA, MIA, special honors, photographs, etc.  You can get the info to us by US mail, email, phone ....

If things go well, by next Veterans Day we should have a much better understanding of the depth and array of our ancestral and serving veterans.

Meanwhile, here are some examples of Veterans in our Genealogy:

William James Lambert, Jr. Commander, Medical Service Corps, Navy Retired, 1960-1991. Served with all components of the Uniformed Services and Office of the Secretary of Defense.

William James Lambert, Army, Sgt. WW II Era. Deceased, Mem. Zanesville, OH [William’s father]

Nicole A. (Lambert) Bull, Army JROTC, 1980s [Wm & Jennie’s daughter]

Reagan Bull, Army JROTC, 1980s, [Wm & Jennie’s son-in-law]

Janelle R. (Lambert) Wright, Army JROTC,1980s [Wm & Jennie’s daughter]

Robert Bush [Sr.]. Army, PFC, WW II Era/European Theater, 1940s.  Awarded two Bronze Stars; three Purple Hearts, deceased, Mem. Canton, OH [Jennie’s father]

Robert Bush, [Jr.]. Army, Vietnam Era/Germany, 1960s [Jennie’s brother]

Raymond Bush. Navy, Petty Officer, Vietnam Era/Southeast Asia, [Jennie’s brother]

Kellen Bush. USAF, Staff Sgt. [Jennie’s Nephew]

Rolland Havens. US Army, Tech 5 (Cpl.). WWII, Asiatic-Pacific Theater (Guadalcanal, Solomons and Philippines). Deceased. Buried, Wadsworth, OH. [William's Maternal Uncle]

L. Clayton Hines. Navy, WWII Era. 1944, Lost at Sea [Jennie’s Maternal Uncle]

Morton E. Hines. US Coast Guard, 1940s. Deceased. Mem. FL [Jennie’s Uncle]

Dennis Wertheimer. Army Reserve Retired, Master Sgt. Deceased, Mem. Western Reserve Military Cemetery, Rittman, OH [Wm’s Brother-in-Law]

Phillip Lambert. Continental Army, Pvt., War of Independence. 1770s-80s [Wm’s 5X Pat. ggf]

Noah Lambert. Pvt., 16th Regiment,VA Calvary, CSA, US Civil War.  [William's 4X Pat. ggf]

Noah May, US Army, Pvt. US Civil War, 1860s. Died in service. Mem. Civil War Military Section, Lexington, KY, Cemetery. [Wm’s 5X Maternal ggf]

Squire Boone. War of Independence; DAR Recognized. Mem. Mocksville, NC [Wm’s 6X ggf].

Daniel Boone’s father. Squire Boone’s daughter, Mary, married William Bryant (aka Bryan), linking to Havens.

William Bryan, Army, Captain, Frontier Forces, War of Independence, 1770s. Killed during forging party, defense of Bryan Station [Fort], KY. Mem. Bryan Station Cemetery, Lexington, KY. [Wm’s 5X maternal ggf].

William Thomas Street. US Army, OH Reg., Pvt., US Civil War, 1861-65. [Jennie’s 2X ggf]

George Ball, Capt., War of Independence. [Wm's ancester]

James Ball, Lieutenant, War of Independence [Jennie's ancester]

Joseph Ball. KY 17th Calvary (Union), US Civil War.

Joshua Cecil. Continental Army, Pvt., War of Independence. SAR recognized [Jennie’s 5X ggf]

Gideon Parson, Sgt. MA Militia, War of Independence. SAR recognized [Jennie’s 4X ggf]

James Rice. War of Independence. VA 7th Regiment. Served: 1775 - ?. [Wm's ancester]

Henry Cleveland. Continental Army/Northern Army, Pvt., War of Independence. [Jennie’s 6X ggf]

Jebediah Cleveland. Continental Army. Sgt., War of Independence. DAR recognized.

[Jennie’s 4X ggf]

William Cleveland, Captain, French & Indian War. War of Independence Parent & Mayflower direct Decendent of William Bradford. SAR recognized. [Jennie's 5X ggf]

Elis Merrell (1812-1744). West Point Regiment. [Jennie's Paternial. 5X ggf]

Abraham Crabtree (1750-1838). Lord Dunmore's [Indian] War, 1774.

William & Jennie

E/M: drlambert-1@sbcglobal.net

Halloween – A Time to Remember Departed Ancestors - Witches Be Brewing; Saints Preserve US

Sainte-Chapelle - Paris
Photo by Jennie Lambert 

As this blog will reveal, there is actually an association between “Halloween” and genealogy. Without knowledge of one’s ancestors, their existence and our acknowledgement of that existence, “Halloween” loses its original purpose.

In 2015 an estimated $ 7 Billion will be spent on “Halloween” activities in the USA. That’s a lot of amusements, sweets and bizarre behavior. But, like so many contemporary festive occasions, the origin and purpose of “Halloween”, has been “hijacked” from the original intent. One would not know it in the USA, with “Madison Avenue” and Hollywood’s versions of witches, zombies and a host of bizarre activities, but Halloween is a deeply religious event as well, based on solid genealogical connections.

“Halloween”, as a modern notion, was born centuries ago out of a Catholic Church process for recognizing and venerating Saints and the blessing of departed Souls. It is derived from All Hallows Eve (October 31), followed by All Saints Eve (November 1), and All Souls Day (November 2). Today, these dates, and the religious observations associated with them are an integral part of the religious convictions and practices of billions of people throughout the world within a number of religious bodies and different cultures.

Since ancient times (think many thousands of years), across all people worldwide, belief systems and religious customs evolved to honor, respect, remember, and sometimes dread, departed kin (ancestors). Most cultures around the world long ago honed these events into deeply ingrained rituals. The mass migrations of people during the past 2000-3000 years aided the blending of these customs. The Celtic Druids of Ireland had a number of customs during Samhain (Sow-in) that look a bit like Halloween in present day North America. The Ancient Aztecs (presently Mexico and Central America) had elaborate rituals for celebrating the departed and communicating with them. Following the Spanish conquest these early rituals were incorporated with the Catholic religion and the celebration of Saints/Souls became Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Throughout the World, wherever Christian Conquistadors and Colonials went they tried to get locals to abandon their “pagan” rituals honoring the departed and adopt the Christian Catholic/Anglican versions, with some Lutheran and other Christian variations participating. With few exceptions they failed, and frequently adjusted Christian religious holidays to coincide with those of local customs. For example, a Catholic oriented Hispanic community in Texas, where we had our B&B, turned the local cemetery into a colorful, flower strewn, candle-light, all-night vigil during “Halloween” to celebrate and communicate with the dearly departed on Dia de los Muertos. Our local Lutheran Church, on this occasion has traditionally encouraged members to bring photos/mementos of the departed to Church to participate in special prayers and remembrances.

So, “Halloween” may indeed be a time to visit cemeteries, but to decorate and remember, not to desecrate and disrespect. After all, this “hallowed ground.”

OK, fans of the Bush (Hines) – Lambert (Havens) progeny lines, you knew this blog had to descend into some haunted aspect of genealogy. So here it is. We have already established that witches hung out in Jennie’s New England family tree. (Check it out: http://williamandjennie.blogspot.com/2013_10_01_archive.html ).

It may now surprise you to learn that both of us have Saints in our genealogy repertoire as well. Time to remember some of them.

Saint Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093), Jennie’s 29^th great grandmother (ggm) and William’s 24^th ggm.  In 1250 Margaret was canonized by Pope Innocent IV, and her remains were reinterred in a shrine at Dunfermline Abbey, Fife, Scotland. She had an incredible life; her influence on Scottish culture was legendary. She is a pivotal ancestor to our eastern European, English and Scottish Ancestry.  Her son, King David I of Scotland, was also canonized. More about St. Margaret: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=304  and at:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=SA&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GScntry=50&GSsr=1&GRid=8385477&

Another Saint on the family tree is Louis lX Capet (1214-1270), King of France, (1226-1270), He is

Jennie’s 25^th great grandfather and William’s 20^th ggf. The only French King officially designated as a Catholic Saint, Louis IX has been characterized as an “exemplary Christian prince . . . reinforced by religious zeal.” He built the Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel"), located in the center of  Paris. 

The Sainte Chapelle, was erected as a shrine for the “Crown of Thorns”, and a fragment of the “True Cross”, relics of the “Passion of Jesus,” which Louis purchased 1239–41 from Emperor Baldwin II, then Latin Emperor of Constantinople (another ancestor).

During our recent visit to Paris we toured Sainte Chapelle. It is indeed an exquisite gothic masterpiece. The long flights of tightly wound stone stairs to the upper Chapel just about did both of us in. Those people did not live in a handicapped accessible world (still don’t). Pilgrimage was required, however, because this was also the Chapel that French King Louis XlV received a funeral oration in 1715 from Bishop Jean-Baptiste Massillon, alleged to be the greatest theologian orator of his time, and for whom our hometown of Massillon, Ohio, is named.

Isabel [Elizabeth] of France (1225-1270). Saint Isabel is a great, great … Aunt to both of us, she being the daughter of Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile (French/Spain). She was a younger sister of King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) and of Alfonso, Count of Poitiers (Fr.), and an older sister of King Charles I of Sicily. In 1256, she founded the Poor Clare Monastery of Longchamp, west of Paris. She is honored as a saint by the Franciscan Order.

That’s it for now.

William & Jennie

A French Wedding Day – A Genealogical Occasion

What better way to introduce an extension of the Lambert-Bush genealogy than through the occasion of the marriage of our son William III and Céleste Wackenhut, a beautiful young lady with deep French roots. Céleste’s grandparents are life-long Parisians. Her parents live in Atlanta, GA, USA, Her mother Françoise is Parisian and her father Bernie is German. Thus, the genealogical enrichment continues unabated.

  

The ceremony occurred on Sunday, September 20, 2015. The setting was in the splendid 25 hectare (62 acre) garden of the Luxembourg Palace, Paris, France, currently the seat of the national French Senate. (More about the palace in a moment). The garden wedding was attended by close family members. Céleste wore a wedding dress of her own design. The abundant fall flowers and trees in the garden provided an exquisite setting, which fully met expectations of a place originally designed by a French Queen to rival those of the most opulent estates of 17^th century Europe. The non-denominational ceremony was performed by Father Jim, a priest from San Antonio, TX, and a dear personal friend of the newlyweds. Following, the ceremony Céleste’s parents, Françoise and Bernie Wackenhut treated all to a splendid luncheon at the Bouillon Racine, a nearby ranked historical French restaurant. See details at: http://www.bouillon-racine.com/en/  and (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTw0jYr5fQk&app=desktop).

After a honeymoon in France the couple returned home to San Antonio, where William resumes his duties as Director of their architect/design business, and Céleste pursues her duties and interests as Director/Curator of their French & Michigan Art Gallery.

Returning to the Palace de Luxembourg, and 17^th century royalty: (See one discussion at:  http://www.senat.fr/lng/en/the_luxembourg_palace/a_princely_residence.html.)  The Palace de Luxembourg (a.k.a., Palace d’Orleans, a.k.a. Medici Palace), was begun as a place of her own in 1615 by Marie di Medici, the spouse of French King Henry IV. Missing her palace in Florence, Italy, and having grown tired of living at the Louvre Palace (after all, she was a Medici, and Henry kept bringing his mistresses home for dinner, etc.), she procured the land and begun the gardens, which she pursued enthusiastically following Henry’s assassination (1610), and she became Regent of France, pending her son’s maturity and ascent to the throne. Her daughter, Henriette Maria married Charles I, and thus became the Queen Consort of England, Scotland and Ireland.

All of this about the location becomes interesting because the newlyweds have an ancestral connection to the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens. This connection derives through Jennie's Scottish/Stewart lineage, wherein she is connected to Queen Henriette, and thus to the Marie de Medici/King Henry IV pedigree.
    

Visit Jennie’s Flicker account for photos of the wedding, palace and gardens, and luncheon at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jjlambert/sets/72157659784245348 

William & Jennie 

Genealogy Blog Reboot

So much has happened since our last blog entry. Time to reboot. 2015 has been full of adventure, but we’re been slackers on documentation. Seems we get so busy with tedious detective work that we don’t often incorporate this into a meaningful post.

We have been on numerous treks to places far and near in search of ancestors, both living and dead. Some ancestors may be hidden in plain sight (just under one’s feet, so to speak), some hidden between the lines of historical documents, and some just plain hidden. During the past year we have traveled thousands of miles through the eastern and southern states and overseas in our quest.

All this traveling and research has not allowed a lot of time to organize and document our findings, and the stacks of papers around the house offer testimony. Thus we hereby resolve to get some of this recorded before we forget about who did what to whom, when, where, and why.

Instead of following a logical time-event process we are going to start with one of the most recent events (still fresh on our minds and bodies). So, first up will be the recent wedding of our son William and Céleste Wackenhut. This event took us to Paris, France. Please read the wedding blog on this occasion, coming soon to this very internet address. This will be followed by exploring some of our genealogical roots in Paris and other areas of France.

Back in the “new world” we will relate some of the adventures over the past year as we trace the paths of some of the earliest emigrants and settlers into Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and other places along the way.  (We’ve already posted several blogs concerning New England ancestors in CT and MA, but, eventually, there will be more on those areas as well.)

During our adventures, we have discovered, or verified, two interesting aspects of modern genealogy. First, we met a number of people who may be classified as genealogy tourists. That is, they are travelling primarily for the purpose of doing genealogy research. In Northern France we met people on the trail of English, Scottish, Irish and other ancestors. We also met a number of such tourists in the USA. For example, imagine our surprise when talking to someone at a library table, a total stranger, even from another state, and suddenly realizing they are a cousin researching the same person or family.

 Another thing we have had reinforced is that genealogy can be a slow process. As one of our astute cousins recently put it, “we are like a couple of genealogical archeologists,” sifting through debris and dirt for precious gems. In order to get those few prized nuggets one has to “pan” a lot of personal and historical rubbish. Modern technology (DNA; computers), and a growing “pop” culture of genealogy has stimulated great interest and revealed vast amounts of information, along with a fair amount of speculation and confusion. Unfortunately, perhaps in a rush to link ancestors (i.e., find treasures), some people may accept and post questionable information. It looks like the real thing, contains aspects of real, but just does not qualify. When people post tenuous findings or errors, even under the most innocent circumstances, these take on a life of their own. Debunking and defragging genealogy files can be tedious and frustrating. Adding to the mix is a growing number of genealogical “entrepreneurs” who seem ready, willing and able to entice people to let them help find demised ancestors. While we should all be thankful for the “new age” access, we are reminded to also practice another American tradition – caveat emptor (let the buyer or consumer beware).

During our travels this past summer we became acquainted with court houses, cemeteries (lots of those), libraries, historical societies, historical road signs, war and event memorials, government records, pioneer homesteads, and other people, places and things. One clue often leads to another, questions arise, dead ends surface, the quest continues….

In summary, we’re beginning to learn something about where our (your) ancestors came from and why. What they did, how they relate to one another, and where they are now residing. So, spelling variation notwithstanding, you are on our ”hit list” if your family surname is associated with:

Adams, Amyx, Anderson, Andrews, Austin, Ball, Bacon, Baltimore, Banzin, Bartram, Bates, Beaufort, Birdall, Blair, Bliss, Bohun, Boleyn, Boone, Bourchier, Bowman, Boyd, Bradford, Brandon, Brill, Brown, Bruce, Bryant, (Bryan/Brian), Bulkeley, Burns, Bush, Butler, Cables, Capet, Carter, Carpenter, Casebolt, Castile, Caudill, Cecil, Chads, Chaucer, Christian, Clark, Clarkston, Clason, Cleveland, Cleves, Colbille, Coleman, Colton, Coley (Cooley), Cook(e), Cooper, Coplin, Cox, Crabtree, Crow, Culpepper, Davis, Debusk, Delaware, Dickinson, Doyle, Duncan, Dunham, Estep, Evans, Farwell, Feathers, Field, Fiske, Fitch, Fitzgerald, Ford, Fowler, Furguson, Gaunt, Gilbert, Gittings, Gray, Grizzle, Green, Hainault, Haines (Haynes) Hairston, Hannum, Hartsough, Havens, Havilland, Heckathorn, Henthorn, Higginbotham, Hines, Howard, Huff, Hurt, Jacobs, Jenken, Johnson, Jones, Jung, LaPort (Layport/e), Laidlaw, Lambert, Lancaster, Lang, LeMaster, Lesie, LeTaverner, Little, Littlejohn, Longwell, Lovejoy, Manning, Mansur, Marshall, May, Meredith, Merrill, McCaslin, McCormac, McMahan, Morgan, Mounts, Mullins, Nimn, Nelly, Neville, Oldfield, Paine, Parson, Pennoyen/r, Plantagenet, Patrick, Parsons, Pennington, Petty, Pierce, Powell, Priest, Raincrow, Rau, Readon, Reibel, Rice, Rich, Richards, Riggs, Roet, Rombeau, Schert, Sheets, Smith, Somer/Sommer, Snyder, Spence, Spaulding, Sprigg, Stanley, Stebbins, Steele, Stevens, Stiles, Stilwell, Stratton, Street, Strode, Strong, Summers, Thomas, Thornton Throckmorton, Tudor, Tunnel, Turner, Tyng, Varner, Walker, Warner, Washington, Watson, Webb, Welby, West, Wilcoxin, Williams, Wilson, Winn, Witten, Wheeler, Whitfield, Wolcott, Wolterton, Wright, Yarborough,  . . . and a few others.  

As we try to put some of our recent findings into perspective, bear with us. Ask questions, make contributions and share some of the fantastic historical legacy left by our ancestors as they contributed to this nation’s development. Some of this is solid stuff, some is well-reasoned and seasoned inference, based on the most reliable information available. Occasionally, even professional genealogists differ on a matter. We’ll try to adjust as new facts come to light.

William & Jennie