The goal of this project is to trace each branch of the family tree back to the ancestor that immigrated to America. I go back another generation to capture multiple immigrant siblings on their parent’s page. There are also special jaunts back in time to Marcus Antonius, Charlemagne, Edward I and a few other knights and kings of note.
It’s fun to find a missing relative and fill in pieces of a puzzle. Ancestors from the early 1800′s are some of the hardest ones to find. My grandparent’s information about their grandparents was pretty complete, so that takes us to births 1817- 1849. Once you get to the mid 1700′s, there are lots of online records available. Ten kids per family will create a lot of potential researchers 200 years later.
The puzzle is part of the fun, but it’s most rewarding to get a glimpse of how we lived in the past. I’m particularly interested in the lives of those that left their country for a new life and pioneers who established new towns or farms in wilderness.
I like the stories rather than the scholarship and feel that fact by fact footnotes break up the narrative. I try to hyper-link to the source and include a list of links at the bottom in “Sources” I link to our ancestor’s findagrave memorial through their date-of-death. Many thanks to the researchers who have gone out into the field, found these headstones and footstones, taken pictures and shared what they found with their (very) extended family.
There’s a lot of religious drama in these lives. One famous and shocking story is of Mary Towne ESTEY (wife of Issac ESTEY) who was burned at the stake at the Salem witch trials and portrayed in stage and screen. See my series Puritans v. Quakers and Witch Trials. There are other important stories too, like Elder William BREWSTER who as the only university graduate, served as the Mayflower colonists first religious leader, Rev. Stephen BACHILER (c. 1561 - 1656) who was an early proponent of the separation of church and state in America, Rene REZEAU, a Huguenot who fled France in 1685, and Deacon Benjamin COLEMAN who fought against his slave-owning minister on the slavery issue and was suspended from his church in 1780 over slavery. For a more complete list of our more illustrious ancestors see my page Wikipedia Famous To qualify for this hall of fame, the ancestor or their child has to have a wikipedia page of their own.
It’s interesting to think about past, present and future. I can find family members, marriages, removals, lawsuits and wills. I wonder if anyone will be looking into our lives 100 (or even 200, 300 or 400) years in the future. I guess that all depends on Alex (lol). How permanent a record this will this WordPress site be? Will it last at least as long as my grandmother’s mimeographed sheets?
Each web page is titled by the dad and covers a family. It includes vital statistics of the couple, links to the grandparents and a table of the children’s birth, marriage(s) and departures with dates and locations. This record includes aunts and uncles, but not cousins. The names of direct ancestors are BOLD. This project is halfway between a strict pedigree and an entire history of a particular family name. Most of these immigrants were working people: butchers, bakers, wheelwrights and mostly yeoman farmers. While we have a few gentry in our lines, the Family coats of arms on these pages are used to identify the original immigrants. Most of these families did not really have a coat of arms in their time. The pictures and the stories are the fun parts to find.
For navigation, use “search”, click on BOLD Fathers, Sons or Sons-in-law to get to the next family. Use the categories on the right to search by generation or by special topic.
Check out the “Fun Stuff” Category. Silly fun pages include: College Graduates, 17th Century Premarital Sex, Famous Cousins, Twins and Unusual Names. Historical fun pages include: Crimes and Misdemeanors, Untimely Deaths, Public Office, and Great Migration.
I’ve started to document historical events where several of our ancestors came together in the “History” Category. Examples include: First Comers, Esopus Wars, Siege of Brookfield – Aug 1675 , The Great Swamp Fight, and Minutemen – April 19, 1775
The gravestone page headers are of the first Miners in America. Thomas and Grace MINER died three months apart in 1690 and are buried together in Stonington Connecticut’s Wequetequock Cemetery. Their grave covered by a “wolfstone”, consisting of a large granite slab which it is said Thomas selected for the purpose from his own field. On one side of the stone an inscription reads: “Here lyeth the body of Lieutenant Thomas Minor, aged 83 years. Departed 1690″. His wife, Grace is buried beside Thomas, the opposite side of the stone being inscribed for her .
Mark,
Wow, I’m amazed! How long have you been working on this project? You have a fantastic ancestry recorded here. I like your layout, too. Did you come up with this, or did you see it somewhere else? It really shows off the information in a logical yet easy to read manner. Great work!
Doug
This is the first time, in any of the genealogies, that I have seen Maria Adriaens, (whom married Jan Juriaensen Becker), parents names. Could you please let me know where you found this information?
Thanks, Marilyn
The OneWorldTree on Ancestry.com shows this relationship.
http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=154877187
OneWorldTree is an automatic compilation. However, in this case there was only one source being compiled.
I am really curious about the photo at the head of your blog. We have several mutual ancestors particularly GATES, BENJAMIN, WOODWARD. Wondering if that could a picture of one of my ancestor’s markers?
Hi Carolyn,
The page headers are front and back shots of the gravestone of the first Miners in America which is especially relevant to me since I’m a Miner too. Thomas and Grace Miner died three months apart in 1690 and are buried together in Stonington Connecticut’s Wequetequock Cemetery. Their grave covered by a “wolfstone”, consisting of a large granite slab which it is said Thomas selected for the purpose from his own field. On one side of the stone an inscription reads: “Here lyeth the body of Lieutenant Thomas Minor, aged 83 years. Departed 1690″. His wife, Grace is buried beside Thomas, the opposite side of the stone being inscribed for her
I found pictures of Stephen Gates II and Stephen Gates IV grave markers. Here is the url of IV: http://minerdescent.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/stephen-gates/
You found pictures of Stephen Gates II and Stephen Gates IV grave markers? Do you mean the gravestones seen in the picture of the Pachogue River near Preston? Do you think those gravestones could still be there?
LOVE YOUR website. You have really done a lot of work. My GATES one-line is:
Stephen I – Anne Veare, 9th great grandparents
Stephen II – Sarah Woodward, 8th great grandparents
Stephen III – Jemima Benjamin, 7th great grandparents
Thankful GATES – Daniel Woodward, 6th great grandparents, (and so on)
Thank you for your web site! I’m currently tracing back the Foster family history! The take On John Foster is quite confusing, I was wondering if you can shed any more light on John Foster of Salem b. 1618? Some records have him coming to America on The Hopewell in 1635 but the passenger lists reads Jo. Forten age 14 which doesn’t line up with any other info! I would love to solve this mystery . I have direct lineage to John and would like to find out if he is a true Foster related to the Fosters of Norththumberland as we know Reginald Foster is.
Robert,
I agree that the Hopewell or True Love passages for John Foster are not well documented. All we know for sure about his origins are affidavits late in John’s life. The thing I like most about genealogy are the stories. I’ve updated his page to better reflect the uncertainty.
http://minerdescent.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/john-foster-sr/
Thanks for your post, Mark
Hi Mark! I was wondering where you got some of the photos (specifically the Miller family photos) featured on your site, and if you’d be willing to share some? George Miller and Mary Estey Miller are my 3rd great grandparents, and we have the original of the photo you have of George! I had no idea other copies were made of it. I also have another photo (it’s a photo of a photo, I think my cousin has the original) of Mary Estey Miller.
I’d love to chat with you. I’ve traced Thomas Minor & Grace Palmer back in my tree on my mother’s side, but George & Mary are on my father’s side. Looks like my parents’ families mixed a long time ago…!
Thanks!
-Diane
This is an amazing website! I have a family bible that has been passed down through generations. The earliest family record reads “Samuel Parker married Sarah Homan or Holman of Dedham, married 1658 or before.” I am a 10th generation direct- decedent of Sarah Holman & Samuel Parker. I was searching for additional information that would confirm a 1635 passenger manifest that I came across for the “Hoeman” family, and happened upon your website. I’ve only just skimmed over a few of your pages, but can’t wait to read more. Looks like you have more information than I ever hoped to find. If you have any interest going forward from that Sarah Holman/Samuel Parker line, please let me know. – Rhonda
Phenomenal website!! I have multiple descents from Francis Cooke and my 3rd great grandmother is a descendent of Philip de Lannoy/Delano. I am on a similar quest but pale in comparison to the work you’ve done. Looks like you may have taken trips overseas? Anyway, great work! If you run out of puzzles to solve, you can have a few of mine! LOL
Best Regards,
A Very Distant Cousin
Jan
THE best genealogy website I have EVER seen! Everything about it I like. I am a Smallwood family member and do lots of 1600s research so I understand the problems of researching so many generations. I appreciate the source notes. I love the photos. Hope your family appreciates this excellent labor of love.
Hello Cousin! I see Alex and I are related via Simon Hoyt (I am a descendant of Walter and his offspring). You have done some wonderful work. Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m very happy to have discovered your amazing blog!
Dear Friends,
Not much I can add to all the well-deserved praise of this website. It’s a thing of great beauty.
I have made my pilgrimage to Wequetequock Cem. and recognize the “wolf stones” of your banner photo. I believe I descend from fellow Stonington (and Hartford) founder Thom. Stanton. A fifth grt-grdmthr was Prudence Stanton (b. 1734; m. Elder Robt. Fargo, Montville, Conn.) and a dau. of a Thom. S. of Groton. Many have attached her, for convenience, I suppose, to the wrong Thomas Stanton. Alas, I cannot prove my descent. beyond Prudence and her father.
I am also a descendant of Simon Hoyt of Charlestown and Fairfield Co., Conn.
I also have roots in New Netherlands — from Pieter Casparsze, called van Naerden, in Nieuw Amsterdam by 1647. I descend from his son Caspar Pietersze. Another son, Jan Pietersze, moved to Schenectady and then to the Woestyna, upriver, at Rotterdam Jct. He purchased the house (built c. 1680) that is now owned by Schen. Hist. Soc. (SCHIST), on the Mohawk., in 1708. This family adopted various forms of “Mabie” when forced to take surnames.
Thanks for the great pleasure and information.
Jon v. Briesen
Forked River NJ
I too am a decendant of John Wing I and his son Stephen. All of the information that I have complies with yours, plus you have so much more. Wonderful web site!
Another – I think – descendant of Simon Hoyt here.
I agree that details regarding ancestors around the early 1800s are difficult to find. Determining with any certainty the lineage of my great-grandfather, George P. Hoit – who later changed the spelling back to Hoyt – has been difficult. I believe his father was Jonathan Hoit, and if I am correct, Simon is my 8th great-grandfather.
I have question regarding the information about Simon and Deborah Stowe. It is said here that he did not marry Deborah, but rather one Jane Stoodly. But then a list of children is attributed to Simon and Deborah, as well as a mention of Susannah, whom Simon married after Deborah died. What am I missing?
herbanlifestyle, I have located members of your family through a chance encounter sometime around 2000. These folks are also the descendants of Walter Hoyt. I have a copy of a traditional, hand-written tree that was passed down to Mary Tower of British Columbia, mailed to me by Mary. It was a marvelous find . . .
Hi Jeff,
From what I have found, Simon had 3 wives. According to Ancestry.com, he married Deborah Stowers on Dec 2, 1612 and she died in 1635, and they parented Walter and John Hoyt III.
When I moved to the DC area a few years ago, I visited the Daughters of the American Revolution headquarters, and found that they offer genealogical research, often at no cost. They may be able to help you fill in some of the missing pieces.
And that is very cool that you met some fellow descendants of Walter Hoyt. I would love to obtain a copy of the hand-written tree, if you wouldn’t mind sharing it.
Mary Hoyt Kearns
My apologies, Mary.
I don’t check my email very often, and obviously I missed the notice that you had posted this.
I will certainly pursue the service the Daughter’s provide. Currently, I am waiting for a DNA kit that will determine if we are, in fact, related to Simon.
Meantime, I will put a reminder in my phone to bring the tree with me to work. There is a place nearby that we use to make copies of large sheets. I’ll get several of them made and send one to you. I’ll need your address, but there’s still the problem of me not checking my email very often, but here’s a suggestion – if you have a Facebook account, search for “The Search for the Hoyt Brothers”. You can ask to join the group, or click on my page and send me a message with your address. Either of those will likely get my attention much quicker, although I will endeavor to check my email more often now that I know you may be trying to reach me.
The search continues!
Thank you for making all this information available to other researchers. I stumbled across it searching for source material for surname info of Sarah ______ wife of Lt Andrew Newcomb. Your site states “Sarah Young was born about 1642 in Kittery, Maine. Sarah died about 1674 in Kittery, Maine.” Then goes on to quote the Newcomb Genealogy which does not give a surname. Can you tell me where the information on Sarah Young came from? Is it verified or speculative?
Thanks,
Nanette
Hi Nanette,
The only thing that I’ve seen with an attributed source is that Andrew Newcomb married someone named Sarah in 1661. (Gen. Column of the ” Boston Transcript”. 1906-1941.( The greatest single source of material for gen. Data for the N.E. area and for the period 1600-1800. Completely indexed in the Index.): 22 May 1916, 5567; 8 Jul 1918, 1892).
The name Sarah Young is reprinted on lots of ancestry.com genealogies, but you’re right, it’s not documented,
Here’s more speculation: Sarah’s parents were John Young (b. 1625 in Wallasey, Cheshire, England; d. 16 Dec 1672. or 16 May 1680 in Boston, Mass.) and Sarah [__?__] or Sarah Skinner (Sarah Skinner b. 1625; d. 1680 in Charlestown, Mass) o
Her grandparents may have been Rowland Young (1603 – 1685) and Barbara Ockol or
Rowland Young (1603 – 1648) and Joanna Knight (1625 – 1698) or Rowland Young (1603 – 1685) and Joane Clerk (1603 – 1648)
Thanks for such a quick reply. I too had noted all the Ancestry.com postings. Unfortunately, many Ancestry.com users copy postings without looking for source material assuming that if it is posted, it is true. Many, many times it is not.
Then, the fact that so many copy and post the info begins to give credibility to the info in and of itself – just by virtue of it being stated so many times. It is a vicious cycle. I fear that we are losing as much as we are gaining with the advance of technology to assist us.
I would urge all who post genealogy information to include their sources or state that material has not been proven. A word about where the info was found, or the rational behind it’s connection might lead others to find the proof or refute it in the future.
Nanette
Bravo, Nanette. I’ve been the victim of what you describe, and try not to pass along the effects.
I want to thank you for sharing your incredible work. It has been so very helpful! My husband also descends from several of the same people – Richard Currier, Thomas Bernard, Anthony Colby, John Hoyt, William Barnes and William Sargent.
Well done!
Pingback: Favorite Posts 2011 | Miner Descent
Checked the Cheney line on your site. Picked up a few missing born and died dates etc. For my husbands (Cheeney) chart. Thanks for a great site! Very impressive.
Hello:
I am writing the biography of a cartoonist named George Herriman, who created “Krazy Kat.” In April 1925 Herriman gave a cartoon to “Sonny Miner.” Most, but not all, of the people with whom Herriman associated were in cartooning, journalism, film, or sports. In 1935, he possibly associated with these people from Brawley: Kent White, Elmer Weik, Wiley Bird, Jim Ryan, Blackie Bell, W.H. Modum, Joe Hood and J.L. McDonald. Do you have any idea if this Sonny Miner could be from your family, or do any of those names from 1935 ring any bells? Thank you! My email is below.
–Michael Tisserand michaeltisserand@yahoo.com
My dad was born in 1929, so a different Sonny Miner must have received the Krazy Kat Kartoon
Mark is this your site?
How far are we intertwined?
Thomas Miner Minor (1608 – 1690) is your 10th great grandfather
Clement Miner (1639 – 1700) Son of Thomas
William Miner (1670 – 1725) Son of Clement
Samuel Miner (1708 – 1745) Son of William
William Miner (1741 – ) Son of Samuel
William Miner (1768 – ) Son of William
William Miner (1792 – 1869) Son of William
John Durbin Miner (1824 – 1868) Son of William
William White Miner (1854 – 1926) Son of John Durbin
Charles Henry Miner (1882 – 1959) Son of William White
Vern H Miner (1913 – 1985) Son of Charles Henry
Ronald Vern Miner Sr (1939 – ) Son of Vern H
John Patrick Miner You are the son of Ronald Vern
Can I talk to you about Alexander Johnston of Crawford County, PA?
Hi Marke
I am researching the Call Family and have started deciphering e. Zanne’s comments about Philip Call. Any chance you could we could talk if I give you my e-mail address or phone number.
I am in the New England area.
Fred
Hi Fred, email works best for me as the Call family tree is tough for me to unravel on the fly. My email is markeminer@gmail.com