I have been researching my families genealogy on and off, for the last year or so. It's interesting and there is an incredible number of ancestors to look at. I have many lines of my ancestors, who can be traced back to the thousands. You have close to a billion potential ancestors a 1000 years ago. Most are of course the same people. There was not even a billion people alive back then. Many of my family lines have records back to the Battle of Hastings and to the First Crusade. Most of my further back relatives, that there are records of, are emperors, kings, dukes, barons, earls, clan chiefs, sheriffs, knights, lords or the female equivalents, probably because those were the people who records were kept on.
My research has found that I had dozens of ancestors in the US in the 1600s. The earliest I can find came in 1630, which is just 10 years after the pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock. At least 9 of my many great grandfathers fought in the Revolutionary War. Two more, who were Quakers, were recognized by the Daughters of Liberty, for donating large amounts of money to the Continental Army. I just started looking at the War of 1812 better and at least 3 of my many great grandfathers fought in it. At least one many great grandfather fought in both.
Last night, I was looking at the Beeson line of my family, who I am related to though by my maternal grandfather. Private Thomas Vandever Beason, one of my many great cousins, who is named for one of my many great grandfathers, died on the ramparts of Fort McHenry on 9/13/1814, defending the Star Spangled Banner as Francis Scott Key watched and was inspired to write the poem, that became Our National Anthem.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34422499/thomas-vandever-beesonKnowing that I had ancestors and relatives at important historical events, makes history much more interesting.
Do any of you like researching your genealogy too?
Keith
