"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
Sooner or later, most of us begin the hunt for our immigrant colonial ancestors. Upon identifying the native country, we may even hope for a connection to the royalty of Europe. Unless the researcher is aware of early colonial history, critical mistakes can occur. For instance, Scottish researchers often do not realize that Scots pioneers established settlements in the Middle Colonies of America before the 1660s when the English came to live in the region. Finding early immigrants with thick wallets warrants a search for possible royal and noble ancestry. A couple of new publications help with this study.
Did your Scottish ancestors come to America early in the 17th century and settle with the Dutch of New Netherland, the Swedish colonists living along the Delaware, or were they a part of the 150,000 to arrive in the colonial period between the French and Indian Wars and the Revolutionary War?
The Scots from all over Scotland established settlements in the Middle Colonies, albeit on a small scale and somewhat sporadic except for Quakers and Covenanters settling in East New Jersey in the 1680s. During the first half of the 18th century the Highlanders, led by Captain Lauchlan Campbell, began arriving in New York.
The Gaelic-speaking Highlanders who settled the frontier tended to move in groups. Finding it necessary to leave the colonies after taking up arms in support of the Loyalist cause, many moved into Canada. Conversely, the Lowland Scots integrated into established settlements and became an integral part of the community. Some of these are found in the Carolinas, Georgia, Chesapeake Bay area and in New England.
The Original Scots Colonists of Early America 1612-1783 by David Dobson should help you in your hunt for the early Scottish family. Dobson used every known source in Great Britain to complete this project. He even found documents to identify the ship and destination of the emigrant. It is available through Genealogical Publishing Company for $28.50 plus $3.50 shipping and handling. Order by phone from 1-800-296-6687 or over the Internet at www.genealogical.com.
Royal Families, Americans of Royal and Noble Ancestry of Governor Thomas Dudley through Five Generations by Marston Watson is the first volume in a projected multi-volume series whose subject deals with Americans and their royal connections.
In a modified format of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Watson takes Governor Dudley s ancestors through five generations with complete citations based on vital records and approved family histories. At the beginning is a chart taking the governor back 19 generations to William I the Conqueror and his wife Matilda Countess of Flanders. The book is nicely done and includes a seven-page bibliography in small type and finishes with an every-name index. Lucky are those with connections to this early Massachusetts leader.
Order Royal Families from Genealogical Publishing Company for $35 plus $3.50 shipping and handling. Add $1.50 for each additional book. It is item number 6161. Order by phone from 1-800-296-6687 or over the Internet at www.genealogical.com.
7 Daughters of Eve DNA Lecture for Saturday:
Leo Baca will be back at the Genealogy Friends Saturday Seminar to discuss DNA and haplotypes again, following through on the "Seven Daughters of Eve" program from last month. Baca will be discussing some members results from Oxford Ancestors in England. Baca made a series of transparencies that go through the process of what to do once you get your DNA results back. It covers both mtDNA and Y chromosome test results. It's within that context that he will review and discuss the information provided by Oxford. After that, Leo will do individual analyses for members. He will answer questions just like last month. The Seminar will be at Harrington Library, 1501 18th Street. Doors open at 9:10 a.m. The program begins at 9:30 and goes until noon.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
