Pedigree genealogy is
the tracing and documenting of one’s familial lineage, sometimes referred to as
a “family tree.” It documents hereditary lines of ancestry, relying on
verifiable records. DNA analysis may be used to augment or substantiate some pedigree
genealogy. But, it is probably not going to satisfy the way a well-constructed
pedigree chart can, complete with names, personal stories and historical
context.
In Part I we
discussed a number of reasons to get involved in genealogy. Among these were family
history, proving heredity, being accepted into genealogical societies (e.g., DAR,
SAR, Mayflower, Augustan), participating in surname projects or a tie-in to
historical personages and/or events, etc.
In Part II, we looked at various understandings
about the idea that we are all related. Our conclusion was that, indeed, we are
all connected. This holds whether one decides to take the faith-based or various
scientific approaches. We also acknowledged that this kind of “proof” of connectedness
does not do much for satisfying the reasons why most people engage in genealogy.
Now, in part III, we
are going to examine the idea that while we may all be related at some esoteric
level, this may not be explicit at the pedigree level. Also, while many people are
undoubtedly connected to amazing “others”, both presently and throughout
history, proving it could be a bit
problematic – albeit adventurous.
When Jennie and William
assert they have an unusual intertwined genealogy they are primarily speaking
about verifiable lineage, or verifiable pedigree genealogy.
However, this is not a claim of exclusivity. Undoubtedly, many others, even
millions, can have similar pedigree lines. What we do claim, however, is that
our pedigree search continues to reveal uncommon ancestry relationships and
elaborate interconnected associations that are not only unusual, but that these
lines crisscross throughout several historical periods and events. Moreover,
these lines appear to be traceable through multiple pedigree lineages to
considerable historical depth. It is exciting enough when someone has a single parent
that can provide a special linage. When that same person has both parents providing
a portal of lineages it raises the genealogical ante to “unusual.” When the
other half of a couple has both parents providing a portal to the same
historical framework, then the statistics enter into the “distinctive” range. We
appear to have the latter genealogical pattern. Our combined offspring,
therefore, face an interesting genealogical journey, should they choose to participate
in it.
If ancestors on both our
sides had not been at the right place at the right time, where pedigree was a
matter of survival and procreation, where keeping heraldic and other records
was an obsession, we would not be able to validate the lineages we have to this
point. In fact, we probably would not be here at all – and neither would the
relatives reading this blog. So, before we go any further we need to take a
moment to get some perspective on how all of this came about.
A Genealogical Excursion: For
the first few thousand years of “recorded” history humans conveyed the story of
their lives and clans mainly by verbal story-telling, augmented by hieroglyphs
and cave paintings. From the beginning of the great civilizations, some 6000
years ago, until the start of the Common Era (CE, or 0 AD), if one’s ancestors
were of noble lineage they probably left some sort of record of their
achievements, demise and burial. Likewise, in Ireland, England, and greater
Europe, ancient clans, tribes and kings were documenting their turfs and
leaving a genealogical trail. However, the rest of humanity (99.99+%), those
who toiled the fields, built structures, served in the military, were servants
or slaves, anonymously returned to their earthly origins, leaving scarce
records of existence. One notable example during the latter half of this period,
and still used as a genealogical reference, is the Jewish-Hebrew genealogic
archives within the Old Testament Bible and linked documents. However, this, too, was essentially a record of nobles.
Life in those early times was
harsh and short. Disease, famine, conflict and other threats conspired to keep
the average life expectancy to less than 35 years. Childbirth claimed an
extravagant number of women, many in their early teens. Providing infants survived
childbirth, between 50% and 70% of children would die within five years; most
within the first year. These numbers did not significantly improve for ordinary
people until near the 20th century, and then primarily for those
with ways and means to ensure their survival. Several centuries of plagues wiped
out 1/4th to 3/4ths of the population in Europe and
elsewhere. These events, and centuries of “total war” during the medieval and
Reformation periods removed countless millions more from the reproductive pool,
and destroyed related records. The Age of exploration (1400s-1700s) brought mass
genocide of native and culturally “different” peoples, as well as the enigmas
of actual slavery and religious
inquisitions. Many millions, including children, died in the filth, squalor and
slave-like conditions of the early industrial revolution (1700s-1800s). In the
USA, a result of these events was hundreds of thousands of “orphan” children,
sometimes shipped by the trainload, to work sites and foster/adoptive parents in
the Midwest and beyond (1850s-1920s). Untold thousands lost their identify and
pedigree. Through all of the above, the rich and powerful had the ways and
means to protect themselves and significant others; to thrive, procreate and to
keep records.
After consolidation of the
early Roman Catholic Church in Europe (Circ. 300 CE) some common folk got a
break. Births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials were “religiously”
recorded by parish affiliation. Didn’t belong to a parish? Born outside of
marriage? Not baptized? Scant “paper trail” there. Moreover, during the first 18
centuries, CE, millions of church and public records were lost due to wars,
fires, plagues, and natural disasters. Overwhelming numbers of deaths, mass
burials cremations and a lack of scribes also took their toll on genealogical
records. Around 600-800 CE surnames began to emerge, usually connected to
nobility, landmarks, or trades. However, surnames resembling anything close to
modern usage did not develop until after the age of discovery (1400s). Census
and tax rolls helped document existence, but primarily for the few with
property. The vast majority of common people (e.g., serfs, slaves and transients)
weren’t considered worth the effort. Numbers sometimes; names, almost never. Females
were especially degraded in significance, even among nobility they were often
little more than economic-political chattel, except for a few royals.
About 500 years ago, world-wide
massive dispersions of populations began. During the next several centuries
millions would travel to “new worlds” and a mingling of culture would begin on
a previously unthinkable scale. Expanded shipping and commerce manifests and
census records offered documentation for additional people. Although genealogy
was largely limited to nobility and the people and things they cared about. Notable
families, especially in New England, maintained their heritage and kept records
for their part of this “Great Migration.” In the 1800s photographs gave
tangible evidence of existence. (Most didn’t include dates, places or names
back then either!).
The bottom line of this short
genealogical assessment of record keeping is humbling. If you’re genealogical
linage was directly tied into European and Middle Eastern nobility (including
kings, queens, nobles, church leaders and their close relatives) you probably have a
pedigree portal that goes back 1-2 thousand years or more. Once a person finds
themselves firmly linked to that spiraling heritage trek the connections are accessible
and revealing. Conversely, if close ancestors were not part of a royal or noble
lineage, being able to trace a pedigree line much beyond 300-400 years is difficult to unlikely.
So who do we think we are?
Well, so far the journey suggests the following: Our
ancestors reveal direct pedigree links to the kings, queens, dukes, earls, bishops,
and their immediate relatives in what are now Ireland, Great Britain (N.
Ireland; England; Scotland; Wales), France, Germany, Italy, Eastern Europe, Northern
Europe, Middle East, Northern Africa, and other geographical venues. One way this
happens is that nearly all of these people were “family.” They married,
intermarried and left a clear trail of who was related to whom, why, and what
of it. Once one is firmly tied into these records the “rest is history.” However,
discovering those pedigree lines has not been easy. The genealogy pathway is
strewn with road blocks, dead ends, misdirections, etc. As well as occasional
ambivalence, on our part as well as others. So far, it has taken almost five
decades of work, especially intense during the past decade, as well as several
DNA tests and participating in a number of genealogical societies, settings and
resources. Building on pedigree lines at home, we linked to genealogical roots
abroad. Relatives of those “old” world notables came to the “new world” as part
of the adventurous great migrations of the 1500s-1700s. Our ancestors were
among the first waves to settle the “new world,” and included royalty,
nobility, “pilgrims”, inn-keepers, traders, political leaders and titled farmers,
as well as a few rouges and convicts. Fortunately, by this time good public
records were being kept, such as crime and punishment, licenses, land grants, estate
tax, wills, etc. Nevertheless,
it appears a number of lesser known relatives simply vanished.
After establishing themselves
in eastern North American seaboard colonies, our ancestor “pioneers” moved
deeper into New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and other areas, occasionally crisscrossing
paths. They were awarded land grants for service in the early English colonial-Native
American wars, French-English Wars, American Revolutionary and the so-called
War of 1812. They were among the first to settle areas in Virginia and current
West Virginia, Ohio Western Reserve, Kentucky, and other areas. Others moved on
and played early roles in settling the Midwest and Deep South.
Reflections III – Epilog. Crucial to our premise
about an unusual genealogical pedigree, is that the relationships expressed may
be distinctive, but certainly are not exclusive. Through time, millions of
essential, albeit unknown, people had offspring. Today their ancestors number
in the hundreds of millions. However, they cannot link their DNA or pedigree records
beyond a limited number (5-10) of generations. A small number might get back
another few generations. The records and reference data simply doesn’t exist beyond
this for the vast majority. For reasons previously noted, we are fairly
confident it does for both of us. We find our ancestors living, working with
and related to the nobility of Europe for some 1400 years. The ties and records
appear to be substantive. Moreover, we tie into a number of “gateway” ancestors.
(These are key figures in history where genealogical linkages converge, and/or
serve as springboards to an array of historical pedigrees, such as, John Gaunt,
Olive Welby, Duke of Normandy [aka, King William I, England], and Charlemagne.)
We have discovered this through a mixture of genealogical tools, such as
hereditary records, genealogy consultations, and DNA analysis. An interesting
aspect of genealogy research is that the more information one has, the more
doors are opened in a cascading fashion. It helps that World-wide data bases
are rapidly coming on line.
--
William
Our next
Blog will look at some less “reflective” aspects of our “tangled” family tree.
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