Some time ago, I became curious about my family tree... My Dad had a sister, Aunt Winnie, who supposedly did a great deal of work. She told us that we were directly related to the Infamous Pirate of New Orleans, Jean Laffitte.
Jean Lafitte
I have not found that connection yet... I get close... but not yet.
When I was a little pair of red shoes... Dad would take us to the Battlefield down at Vicksburg, MS... and we would spend what I felt was WAY too much time at the Illinois Memorial looking at the names of the soldiers from Illinois who fought at Vicksburg.
Illinois Memorial
Vicksburg, Mississippi
He finally found the name he was looking for, but I do remember that last name being 'Brockett.' The people I have found are on my Grandmother Brown's side of the family.
I would like to introduce you to a long lost (to me anyway) family member.
This is my great grand uncle, Sergeant Joseph Garrison Coles...
He was a member of the 87th Illinois Infantry.
I have found his military group... they have their own Face Book page. I especially like that I found this photo of him in what appears to be his daily uniform.
I have another great grand uncle that was also at Vicksburg, William F. Hoskins, who was also a member of the 87th Illinois Infantry.
Now, I need to get back to Vicksburg... Hell, I may go tomorrow... I need to spend some time at the Illinois Memorial and find their names.
I have been so insanely busy with school... too much to do... horrible students this semester... but, I've made it.
One more week of exams and determining grades... and I think I'm gonna look for my Travelin' Shoes.
I have places to go...
~shoes~
This is such a wonderful post for a minx currently hooked on both the Aussie and British versions of Who Do You Think You Are? Your family tree is incredible!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Cheeky Minx! I've learned so much about who I am... where I've come from. My Great Grand Father on my Mother's side of the family was born in Frankfurt, Germany... on my Dad's side, we come from Holland and England. Some of the relationships and names that come up are amazing! Another part of the family is among the 'First Families of Virginia.' Just so much to learn!!
DeleteI hope all is well with you! ;o)
~shoes~
You do that, Shoes. Put on them travellin' shoes! I'm drowning in test papers myself, though officially I'm entitled to a holiday...
ReplyDeleteP.S. Check out THIS rant and say something in my defence ;)
Mr. Grumpster!
DeleteTest papers and pain-in-the-ass students!!! I would give my interest in Hell for a few classes of the young people I met in Germany and Holland!
I did check out the rant, and I did reply!!
I hope all is well for and with you!!
~shoes~
That's quite some reply, Shoes!
DeleteI'm doing just fine. Dirty-minded and as blue as ever. It's called mid-life crisis. I think.
You've got pain-in-the-butt-hole students? Send them to me and I send them back after half a month as tame as spring-time kittens. ;)
Wow, talk about a historical family tree! It'll be interesting to see what else you're able to find out. Does this mean you're eligible to join the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution? (NSSAR)
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Princess!!
DeleteI have learned SO much!! I will have to come up with some posts about it all.
The two men I mentioned in this post served in the American Civil War, not the American Revolution... but I have found quite a few distant relatives that DID serve and fight during the American Revolution, so the answer to your question is 'YES!'
I hope you've had a wonderful weekend!
~shoes~
LOL the blue guy is contracting out now? So sad haha I guess we never know what we will find on ancestors when we have a look.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Pat. 'Contracting out' sounds somewhat harsh. I prefer 'recruiting!'
DeleteYes, we have to look to see what's back there... sometimes, it's quite scary!!
~shoes~
Shoes, the Cat is always harsh
DeleteLike a beaver ranting in a marsh. ;)
LMBO!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's strictly coincidence that I have my arms cross similar to that in the image of Lafitte!!!
:op
~shoes~
Glad to hear you are going on a road trip. I just got to go yesterday on one. I went to Indy to see two artist at the Indy 500 free concert. Jon McLaughlin and Gavin Degraw played. I got to stand second row, center stage! Can't beat that for a free concert.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing old photographs
Hi there, Liz... you saw Jon McLaughlin? I bet that was a good show! And center stage, no less!!
DeleteI like finding those old photos, Liz.
~shoes~
So, Travelin' Man, have you decided where you are going to go? So many exciting places to go and see. I am interested to hear where you are going to go exploring.
ReplyDeleteMy mom spent some researching on Ancestry.com until she ran out of leads. I know she enjoyed it. You have really made headway in tracing back the family tree. Good for you! Even though you haven't found any pirates yet, you have made some fascinating discoveries!
Good afternoon, Robin. I'm kinda jonesing to go to the Florida Keys.. Key Largo, Marathon... places like those. I've never been, and I did see 'Key Largo' a while back. I've heard great things about it.
DeleteI've also thought about going to Utah... to the Moab area... Arches National Park, Zion National Park... I've never been to either.
I've applied to attend a two-week seminar on Japan and Japanese Culture to be held in San Diego in June, so I need to wait to hear as to whether or not I've been accepted for that program of study.
As for pirates, I have found one. Back on my Grandmother Brown's side of the family (she was a Coles), there was a Samuel Coles who was a colleague of Oliver Cromwell. When Cromwell lost power, Samuel Coles had a reward placed on his head by the new king of England.
Samuel Coles was a tea merchant and had a fleet of ships. It is said that he left England and waged war on British Commerce in the Gulf of Mexico. If he was pirating in the Gulf of Mexico, he almost certainly had to be sailing for/under Lafitte. That's as close as I've come to that relationship.
I hope all is well with you!
~shoes~
Anytime you would like to exchange student stories, let me know. As for family tree, I have no problem at all. I'm Italian. My family hunted in packs.
ReplyDelete"My family hunted in packs."
DeleteHahahaha...
JJ... When I finish this stupid semester, I am no longer talking about students... at least for a while anyway...
~shoes~
If go there make sure to visit Goldy's BBQ!
ReplyDeleteHi there, Ryan... that's at Key West??
Delete~shoes~
No, Goldie's in Vicksburg
Deletehttp://goldiestrailbbq.com/
oh my, I only know as far back as my great grandparents and just names... it is real nice to have a piece of history like that... I had the chance to read my grandmother's diary and that was an amazing thing to be able to do.
ReplyDeleteAna... I think that there is something special about knowing their names... Of some of the people that I have discovered and have been fortunate enough to find their photos, I like looking at the photos and saying their names.
DeleteEspecially that of my Grand Mother Brown... there is some connection there that I can't explain.
~shoes~
You should be spending more time in the present and less time in the past... I think.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Bathwater...
DeleteI just read a poem on Phoenix's blog that I am going to use to reply to your comment:
What
do sad people have in
common?
It seems
they have all built a shrine
to the past
And often go there
to do a strange wail and
worship.
What is the beginning of
happiness?
It is to stop being
so religious
like that.
by Hafez
That says basically what you just said.
~shoes~
My mom is obsessed with Ancestry.com for this very reason. I keep renewing it for her because she keeps finding more stuff. I highly recommend it if you have some time and a little money. It'll help you track down a lot of people. :)
ReplyDeleteHi there, Phoenix!! How's married Life treating you?? I have used Ancestry... it has helped with some information... I am chasing one family lineage, using a table that I found in a history book for a distant relative... unfortunately, I found an error in THEIR tree that is wrong... but I am trying to suss it out...
DeleteI hope all is great with you!!
~shoes~
I wish I had the "pep" to do the research on my ancestry. My brother has it though and he keeps sending me updates about people we may be related to, etc. Good for you for doing this!
ReplyDeleteHi there Yvonne... how are you?? If your brother is doing all of this, you should ask him for documentation of everything you are finding!
DeleteThis is great!!
~shoes~
P.S. You may have places to go, but we'd better not spot you at this Blue Master Sex Boot Camp. Um.... Unless you really have a thing for boots.
ReplyDeleteI went... read... AND commented!!!
Delete~shoes~
Hi Shoes =)
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I've done a lot of family history hunting and have finally traced ourselves back to the American Revolution with enough documentation to prove it so we can join the DAR (not that we ever will). We've actually gone a lot further thanks to very old family bibles and records. History is very interesting and digging up one's family can be truly fascinating if one is not afraid of what they might find.
I've been pondering mankinds history lately and what I'll leave behind for others to find one day. I have no idea how I'll be remembered or even if I will be and although that used to disturb me a bit, as I've gotten older and worked with seniors, I've decided that it doesn't really matter any more. Right now is the only moment that does. Guess that's why I'm always telling folks to live in the moment, not for the moment! Enjoy your day!
Hi there, DixieBelle! Being able to trace your family back to the Revolution! What an exciting find and time!! There is an old family Bible that I SO hope to be able to get a hold of... it is a treasure trove of information!!!
DeleteRe: Your second paragraph... I wrote about that not long ago.. 'footprints'... will anything I have done really matter.. what will my family in years to come think??
I agree... living in the moment is good for our soul!!! We shouldn't worry too much about the past....
Thank you for your comment!
~shoes~
I love history. I was dreaming the other day of being a History Professor sitting at my old timey office with my pup underneath the desk snoozing away while a thunderstorm was brewing outside and I was helping a student. I am sure that is not what happens but it is what I would want to happen.
ReplyDeleteHistory is my passion especially southern history and the Civil War. I read as much as I can about it when I can squeeze in the time. And, of course, I would love to travel and see the sites surrounding our history.
How awesome u might have a pirate in the family!!! I think that is wonderful. The stories he would have been able to tell u.
And it is quite strange that u and ur family member are holding ur arms the same way.
And how about finding a relative in all those pictures. That in itself is amazing.
History can consume me at times. I love it.