A few months ago, I filled out a profile on one of those family tree websites. I started this process because I've never had a very strong sense of family and I kinda just wanted to know from what type of cloth I was cut. I got a response last week and because I've had some free time recently, I began using it to trace my genealogy. After visiting other websites, talking to family members and visiting the National Archives in Maryland and Washington, I've been able to go back seven paternal generations and eight on the maternal side of the tree.
As a black man, I was surprised by the number of white folks in my family. My third great grandfather, for example, is a decedent of English immigrants who settled in Connecticut and was a Captain in a Massachusetts Militia, during the War of 1812. A woman named Henrietta worked as a housekeeper and moved from Germany to the United States in 1882.
That probably explains why I'm so damn yellow.
This has been an incredibly humbling experience and I recommend that everyone embarks on this journey.Have any of you out there ever done the whole family tree thing?
10 comments:
You're surprised that u had white folks in ya tree, hunny as BRIGHT as u are, LOL =) j/k
no for real that is cool, what websites did u use, I've always been interested in things like that. I still need to send in my 100 bucks to participate in the geneology project going on at National Geographic
Surprised...? When I first met you I thought Henry the VIII was your uncle! LMAO.
Naw I've only thought about it but never really attempted to trace it. The most I know is that my Great Grandmother (My grandmothers mother on moms side) was from Italy. Don't know when she moved here but she married my Great grandfather and was officially disowned. Sucks cause they had dough too! LoL. Ay well.
~Damnit!
I don't have to go far to see the white folks in my family. I have two white great grandfathers. One on both sides and they married some dark skinned women. My cousins are every skin hue known to man. Some even have caramel skin and blue eyes.
I know my family tree too well.
I did this about a year ago. A nice woman with access to some info and a lot of time on her hands, helped me a lot. She was able to get my family info from the 1920 census and also from the 1930 census. Another woman came forward saying we were related and she claimed my Mom used to babysit her. No one in our family knew who she was. She asked for my address, I asked her if she thought I was a damn fool and I haven't been on there since.
That's pretty cool. I am not surprised by the white thing...We all probably have white in our blood line somewhere, that whole slave master rape thing don't you know. Oh, well. Good luck we your look down the tree and to the roots.
I've always wanted to trace my roots, but I just don't trust the reliablily of websites. Now what was this website?
I think almost all of us have white in our blood. Glad you found the experience to be a good one.
I did the family thing... mostly cuz i don't know much about them. Was planning to go the next level and do DNA.... but the cost... blah.
You know...I've never tried anything like this. I'm thinking though...I totally should.
now you know i love you like cheese eggs, but if this is your first moment thinking there were a few caucazoid branches on your family tree.... LOL
just kidding, you're still an amazing black man to me. and just about EVERY black person in America has some white blood in them. just look at the difference between us and Africans.
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