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Kings, Queens, Scientists, Poets and Grandfather Thorndike?
Today marks the 350th anniversary of the burial of John Thorndike, my 9th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. On November 3, 1668, John was buried in …
Geoffrey Plantagenet, his son King Henry II and grandson King John I (l-r) For more than 330 years Plantagenet monarchs ruled over England. The chart…
Its not much, but this little death announcement confirmed something that I believed. This is the obituary of my 3rd-great grandmother, Helena Grupp (Garrison side).…
Helena Grupp: Mystery Solved
Its not much, but this little death announcement confirmed something that I believed. This is the obituary of my 3rd-great grandmother, Helena Grupp (Garrison side).
Arrival of My Folk in North America
Below are some tables showing when my ancestors arrived in America. I was surprised to see that the 17th century belonged exclusively to my Crosby …
When Up is the Only Way To Go
Biles Island. Even the name sounds wretched. It sounds like a fictional place from a Dashiell Hammett novel; a metaphor for living at rock bottom. …
Deireadh na Tòiseachaidh — The End of the Beginning
Saint Margaret of Scotland is a small Catholic church in River Denys, Nova Scotia. Built in 1841 by settlers from the Scottish highlands, some of …
Because I am her mother.
On June 21, 1914 my maternal grandmother, Leona Gertrude Westell, was born. Anybody who knew her knows this information is wrong. But this was her …
John Rosse at Dunbar, 1650
John Rosse was my 8th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. In 1650, during the Third English Civil War, John Rosse fought at the Battle of …
The Mayflower Ancestors of Roy Crosby
Roy Crosby, my grandfather, marks the joining of multiple Mayflower lines. His father was descended from eight Mayflower passengers; his mother was descended from …
Nova Scotian Pioneers
Sealed Landers was my 5th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. And, if you travel to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, you will find “Sealed Landers Park” and …
The Languages of My Ancestors
During the exploration of my genealogy I have encountered ancestors whose primary language was not mine. Of course most genealogists expect to find ancestors that …
Mason Garrison of Clearfield, PA – Update
Although I wish I has good news to report about Mason Garrison, that is not the case. There has been no breakthrough in the brick-wall …
William Hoar: A Life Under a Black Cloud
William Hoar is my 8th-Great Grandfather on the Crosby side. William lived his life under the black cloud that followed his wife. But it is …
Puzzle Solved: Joanna Morton
Joanna Morton is my 7th-Great Grandmother on the Crosby side and until recently, she was the end of a branch. With a single bit of …
Chasing My Tail: My Tale of Chasing Abigail Wallis
Abigail Wallis is definitely my 7th-Great Grandmother on the Crosby side. Okay, she probably is. Well she possibly is. Oh hell, it’s not likely that …
My Father’s Fathers: The Crosby Line, 1440-1954
In July of 1635 my 8th-great grandfather, Simon Crosby, arrived in Boston, from England. But thanks to a book, written by Eleanor Davis Crosby, Simon’s …
Matrilineal Mother’s Day — Six Generations
To mark Mother’s day this year, I decided to write a little about my matrilineal line. Simply put, this line follows my mother’s, mother’s mother, …
The Will of Janett Crosbye, November 1568
A transcription of Janett Crosby’s last will and testament. Written November 5, 1568 and probated May 9, 1569. She was my 11th-Great Grandmother.
Black Sheep Sunday: John Billington & The Noose
John Billington is my 10th-Great Grandfather on the Crosby side. John was born about 1580 in Lincolnshire, England and arrived in the New World, in …
Amanuensis Monday & Another Mayflower Puzzle Solved
The last will and testament of William Clements, my 3rd-great grandfather on the Crosby side, arrived yesterday. The will provided the key piece of information …
Mayflower Roll Call
Last month I discovered the names of another set of great grandparents, and another Mayflower line, on the Crosby side. With a little research it …
Taking Inventory: Bare Spots in the Family Tree
Sometimes there is nothing more sobering than seeing a heap of data presented in a visual way. This was the case when I completed a …
Mitt, Clint and Me?
John Lothropp (1584-1653) was my 9th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. He emigrated from England in 1639 and it is estimated that he now has …
The Legends of Augustine and Mary Bearse
Augustine and Mary (Hyanno) Bearse were my 8th-great grandparents on the Crosby side. Augustine was a full-blooded Gypsy and Mary was a full-blooded Wampanoag Indian …
Edward Tinkham: Patriot
The Crosby side of my tree has their first Patriot! Edward Tinkham’s patriotic service to the American cause during the revolution was confirmed and my …
“Lo! Where this silent marble weeps…” — Tombstone Tuesday
Here lie the remains of Mrs. MARGARET KELLEY Wife of James Kelley, Esq.
Edward Tinkham: Nova Scotia citizen, American patriot.
Edward Tinkham is my 5th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. He was born in Massachusetts and moved to Nova Scotia years before the American Revolution; …
Capt. James Kelley: Pioneer, Patriot & Progenitor of Sea Captains.
Captain James Kelley was my 5th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. He was born January 27, 1740/41 in Manchester, MA and died January 16, 1807 …
1940 Census: All Garrisons & Crosbys Accounted For
On April 2, 2012 the National Archives published the 1940 Census on-line. With a little digging I was able to find all of the census …
Mason Garrison of Clearfield County, PA
Mason Garrison is my 3rd-great grandfather and he represents a brick-wall in my family genealogy. Mason was most likely born during the mid-1790s and died …
Gertrude Wigley Still Eludes Me
Gertrude Wigley is my great grandmother on the Garrison side. I have been trying for some time to confirm Gertrude’s birthday, but haven’t had much …
Newest Mayflower Ancestor
Elder William Brewster (≈1566-1644) is my 10th-Great Grandfather on the Crosby side and he is, by far, the most famous ancestor I have discovered.
Blacksheep Sunday: Grandma Dorcas, Part I – Burglary Ring
Dorcas Galley was my 8th-Great Grandmother on the Crosby side. She was born in late 1635 or early 1636 in the town of Beverly, Essex …
Random Photo: Wigley Men
Robert Wigley is my 2nd-Great Grandfather on the Garrison side. He was the father of Gertrude Dix.
House of Plantagenet Descent of Roy Crosby
For more than 330 years Plantagenet monarchs ruled over England. The chart below shows Roy Crosby’s descent from Geoffrey Plantagenet. Recently (Feb. 2021) I discovered …
Crosby Ancestors in Prime Time
Eleanor Billington: “The matriarch of one of America’s most troublesome first families.” Well, National Geographic Channel is going to be putting some of my family’s …
Featured Posts
John Daub, Bugler: Union Cavalry
John Daub, the oldest child of Johannes and Lydia (Wenger) Daub, was born June 6,…
Black Sheep Sunday: Grandma Dorcas, Part 2 — Capital Crime
Dorcas (Galley) Hoar was my 8th-Great Grandmother on the Crosby side. In 1692 she lived…
1635: Simon Crosby Comes to America
Simon and Anne (Brigham) Crosby were my 8th Great Grandparents. (more…)
John Lothropp’s Descent Into Hell
John Lothropp was my 9th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. He was a pious man;…
Mason Garrison of Clearfield County, PA
Mason Garrison is my 3rd-great grandfather and he represents a brick-wall in my family genealogy.…
Capt. James Kelley: Pioneer, Patriot & Progenitor of Sea Captains.
Captain James Kelley was my 5th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. He was born January…