(Click on picture to see larger image)Many of you who follow this blog know that I vacationed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island this past July. One of the reasons for my trip to Cape Cod was that is the site where one of my ancestors landed in America long ago. This ancestor (my many-great-grandfather William Nickerson) Arrived at Salem in 1637 with his wife Anne and his older children. More children were to be born in this wild country.
They had sailed from Yarmouth, England, and he soon settled on the Cape, with some other families. They called that place Yarmouth as well. A few years later he moved his family a little further East, to the "elbow" of Cape Cod and eventually owned most of the land in the area that is now the city of Chatham. His original house has been rehabilitated and still stands (picture below). The above monument is in the yard.
William was my 8th-great-grandfather (I think - it's hard to keep it counted right that far back). One of his decendents, a girl by the name of Chloe Nickerson (1782-1861), met one Sturgis Osburn (1773-1837) in New York and the rest is history.
I mean me. I am Sturgis' and Chloe's (several greats) grandson.
I am also descended from British stock through the above Sturgis Osburn, whose first American ancestor was one Capt. Richard Osborn, who landed in Connecticut in 1636, from London, England, (embarking from Southhampton) by way of Barbados. The bones of his descendent Capt. John Osborn rest in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Okay - so I have never set foot in England. But don't tell me I'm not FROM there!
Click on picture to see larger image(Both photos by my cousin Carl Osburn.)
I've always thought it must be wonderful to know your history reaching back so far. Did you do the research yourself, or was it your cousin? And is it ongoing? There must be so many strands once you go back a few generations that it could no doubt be a lifetime's work.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, I've also been able to trace my British ancestry. My great grandfather x 9, John Ingoldsby of Buckingham, arrived in Boston in 1640. The story goes his ship was reported lost at sea when in fact he was escaping service for the Civil War that was going on at that time, where John's older brother Richard played a bigger role and escaped hanging when the Restoration came around some 20 years later. Some of John's other siblings emigrated to Ireland. I'm not sure which port he sailed out of.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that you know your ancestry that far back. I know a little about mine, but only that one of my great grandfathers was General Stonewall Jackson. I never went any further than that.
ReplyDeleteYou into Genealogy or what? That's about the only way I could think that you could learn about all that. Pretty interesting stuff ain't it? I'm from New England, and from there, I haven't a clue. Even though I did genealogy with my mother, but that was waaay to long ago.
ReplyDeletea., yes it is interesting. I haven't contributed nearly as much as my extended cousins have. I have gotten as much right now as I really care about - only wanted to go back as far as the immigrants, and I have done that now.
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redbeard, that's great! It's really interesting to find things like that out, I think.
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ettarose, that's very interesting, don't you think? Lee's right arm, Lee called him. Died on a Sunday not long before Gettysburg. Rather a loon. Much like you. I believe you. :)
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chica, yes, sort of interested. I started out just trying to find my great grandparents and stuff like that. Got hooked. But I mostly steal stuff from my sisters and cousins and pretend I was the one who dug it up. Kinda like how I steal stuff from your blog all the time. :)
Well I'm impressed, especially as a genealogist. I would love to know that sort of information.
ReplyDeleteDoes that mean Ettarose sucks on lemons and walks around with her arm raised like her great grandfather Stonewall did? He was most definitely a colorful character of the Civil War!
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you know so much about your family genealogy and even have a picture of the old family homestead. I can trace back my Mom's side pretty well but when it comes to my Dad's ... ugh! With my Mom's side I'm almost entirely British but with my Dad's, Lord only knows what I am! And no comments from the Peanut Gallery, thank you very much!
Huzzah! Let us break open the tea and crumpets in honour of your ancestry!
ReplyDeleteWhen abroad myself, I often like to ask the ladies I meet if they have any English in them. If they reply no, I then ask if they would like some in them. Never fails to work.
Also, I must take issue with the rather unimaginative naming of places that these Brits came up with when arriving in the New World. Just giving a place the same name as the one you left is rather dull, in my mind.
I would have called it 'Likelytopia' or 'Sexy Land', myself.
Hi Alison. Yes, but what if you keep digging and discover that you are related to me? Then what? Can you imagine your humiliation? Some things are better left unknown. :)
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Linda! What happened to "Big Eyes Linda"? (I like it.)
Yes, I can speak for Ettarose. She sucks lemons. Eggs, too.
And, yes, I know what you are all right. Delightful. And an historian, to boot! - I'd forgotten. :)
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Milord. How nice to see you again! I vote for "LikelyLand". It has a better ring to it. Like DisneyWorld or DollyWood. Fits.
Keep your English in your pants, milord. :)