John Fitzgerald Kennedy Remembered: An Irish Family Ancestry Connection

This past week we have been stirred with reminders that November 22 is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the 35^th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. For us, it conjures memory of the magic and calamity associated with an ancestor. Fascination with this foul deed continues to impact people around the world for many reasons, among friend and foe alike (JFK). John Kennedy’s tenure as president was a life altering event for many millions. He challenged people throughout the world to believe in possibilities for the future of humanity, to believe that human annihilation by war was not inevitable, and that because our problems were caused by mankind they could be fixed by mankind (JFK). His assassination was wrought with paralyses of spirit  that still tinges the world psyche.

On a bleak 1969 December day Jennie and I entered an elevator in our hotel in Leningrad, USSR. The elevator was right out of the 1890s; hand operated and “managed” by a stern babushka-like lady (elderly grandmother). Clearly, the elevator was her domain, complete with a small table and overly comfortable chair. Prized photographs and memorabilia were evident. Besides the obligatory photo of the current Soviet General Secretary, there were photos of the USSR Cosmonauts and the United States Astronauts. Oh, yes, and a photo of the late President Kennedy. We remarked about her Cosmonauts and our Astronauts. She smiled. We noted the Kennedy photo. She beamed. I took out a Kennedy half-dollar and handed it to her. Her eyes glistened with tears. No need to show floor or room pass. The magic was still there. We were now “kindred spirits.” Wherever we traveled in Europe in the mid-60s the affect was the same.

June 28, 1963, then President Kennedy was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Michael Tierney, K.S.G., M.A., D.Litt., Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Ireland. Presented below are selections from his remarks. The entire presentation is available at: http://www.nui.ie/college/docs/citations/pre_2002/JFK_Citation.pdf

Today we are proud beyond words to be the medium through which theIrish people pay honour to the head of the greatest of all free nations, the nationto which the free world owes it freedom. All Irishmen are truly proud that their ancient race has contributed so much to the making of a great American. Our joy and pride are overflowing when the President is not alone the head of the world’s greatest nation, but can trace his lineage back to two of the noblest and most historic Irish families. Mr. Kennedy… is descended from the Dál gCais of Thomond and from the great family who were lords of Ormond from the eleventh to the sixteenth century. The Father of the original Cinnéidigh was Donnchuan, elder brother of Brían Bórú, most renowned of all Irish Kings and his name is still commemorated in that of the parish of Killokennedy in East Clare. On his mother’s side the President is descended from perhaps the greatest of the Norman families [a.k.a., Butlers] who settled in North Kerry and Limerick in the thirteenth century and held an extensive palatine lordship as the Fitzgerald Earls of Desmond.  In course of time they were the rulers of all Norman Ireland as the King’s Deputies. 

Both Jennie and William have genealogical ties to President Kennedy through our Irish ancestry. This lineage covers many centuries, entwining several different family lines. William has a direct linage to the Fitzgerald line. Jennie’s linage includes the Butlers, as noted above, under the greatest of the Norman families. In our St. Patrick’s Day Blog we intend to flesh out the Irish connections a wee bit more.

William

"Howdy Pilgrims" (With apologies to distant cousin John Wayne)

Failing to reach their intended destination in Northern Virginia the Mayflower travelers first anchored off Cape Cod near present day Provincetown. About forty of the estimated 150 or so passengers were so-called religious “Pilgrims”, others being adventurers, craftsmen, ship’s crew, etc.  Among the Pilgrims was one O. William Bradford, whose likeness appears to the left. Much of what we know of the crossing and early life at the Plymouth Colony was from Bradford. As noted below, Bradford is my 9^th ggf. Eventually he would be elected governor of the “New” Plymouth Colony five times. His first wife, Dorothy (May) Bradford died from falling into the cold waters from the Mayflower while it was anchored in the Cape Code Harbor. His second wife, Alice (Carpenter) Southworth became my 9^th ggm. 

VA and FL were both settled before Plymouth. Although this has given rise to dibs for the “first Thanksgiving”, they do not have the Mayflower Compact (MC) on their side. This document represents one of mankind’s’ early efforts to acknowledge the necessity and pragmatism of common governance. Or, to paraphrase old Ben Franklin, we must strive to hang together, or alone we will surely perish. Thus, the MC is considered a founding pillar of the unique democratic governance process “brought forth upon this continent” (A. Lincoln). I therefore take some measure of pride that I join the millions of others who share a genealogical stake as decedents of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. In reality, however, our thanksgiving should be, in part, that we are here at all.

Arriving in December, 1620, that winter at Plymouth Colony was devastating. Unprepared, many died. The rest barely survived. The arrival of spring brought new hope, crops planted, agreements made, and as autumn came crops were harvested. The Colony chose to share their bounty with the natives who had taught them planting techniques, and who in turn brought venison to the harvest celebration. Prayers most likely were offered. However, the event was not like the fasting days of religious thanks-givings found in some European communities at the time. It most certainly was not in the style of a “Rockwell” family gathering. Neither was it the communist cabal envisioned by Rush Limbaugh in his efforts to disparage the beneficence of the Pilgrims toward one another and their native benefactors. More likely, the “thanks” would have been for having simply survived by supporting one another, receiving assistance from the native population, and coming to grips with the cold, hard life of a new and strange world.

William Bradford shares his version of the first Thanksgiving story as follows:

"They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; For as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want.  And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees).  And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion.  Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their friends in England, which were not fained, but true reports."

 Edward Winslow, also a governor of the Plymouth Colony, made contribution as well:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie."

My pedigree to O. William & Alice Bradford is:

O. William Bradford (1590 - 1657), my 9th great grandfather on father's side

William Bradford (1624 - 1703) son of O. William Bradford

Alice Bradford (1661 - 1745) daughter of William Bradford

Lucy Fitch (1699 - 1762) daughter of Alice Bradford

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 Sadie Wheeler (1887 - 1942) daughter of Mary Parsons

Robert William Bush (1920 - 1999) son of Jennie Sadie Wheeler

Jennie Joann Bush  - daughter of Robert William Bush

One of the reasons I decided to do this blog was to pass along some of the things I have learned about our family.  Very few stories were passed along besides our history in Johnstown, OH, or Grandma Litten's early life.  Why don't we pass these tales along?  Did our ancestors feel it was "bragging" or being self-righteous when they did not tell their children or grandchildren.  I heard very little about family heritage except derogatory, ethnically loaded statements which, of course, have been proven wrong. Just the way many people viewed those different than themselves. Unfortunately, these traits are still all to much a part of human culture.

How different our family trips may have been had we known.  We lived in the Boston Area for 18 months and made numerous trips to the cape, Provincetown, and Plymouth. It would have been great to have known that our ancestors walked these lands, and drank from this spring.

  

                          In 1973 a young Nicole examines the spring where it is believed the pilgrims
                                   first found fresh water on Cape Cod, while her mother looks on.

  -- Jennie