Our Plymouth Forefathers

Recently, I came across a surprising connection to the Mayflower Pilgrims. Surprising since I've been collecting family group sheets since 1970 and this is the first I had heard of it. Judah Bowerman (1723) is the grandfather of Alpheus Gifford (1793). His mother had been listed as Jane Harby (with no further links). Using the internet, however the mother seems to be Jane Clefton as the wife of Thomas Bowerman. That marriage is still a little iffy in my documentation but if she holds up as Judah's mother, then the connection extends back to William Brewster as our 11th Great Grandfather. This picture is a painting of him in the US Capitol. (On the male side of the Bowerman line, we connect back to Anthony Annable who came to Plymouth on the third wave that landed in 1623 via the ship 'Anne'). So regardless we have connections to the Pilgrims in Plymouth.
While there are many things that can be said about the settlement in the new world, the thing that struck me most was the account of their escape from England to Holland that took place in about 1608. Google Books has a digitized copy of 'Our Plymouth Forefathers' and chapter 2 mentions William Brewster and describes the religious and political situation leading to their desire to leave England. I found the escape attempts very exciting and hope you'll enjoy the link, especially at this time of Thanksgiving. Let's appreciate what our forefathers endured to create the society we now enjoy.

Solon Huff McGee: 1st Great Grand Father

Solon Huff McGee, our Great Grandfather was born 26 Nov 1853. He married his wife Emily Lucretia Robinson in 1876 when he was 22 and she was 20. This picture of him is labeled age 23. They lived in Missouri where their first 6 boys and one girl were born. Soon after 1890 they moved to Oklahoma. The next boy died at about 6 months. They completed the family with two more girls. A year after the last child was born, they joined the church in Oklahoma and then moved west to New Mexico. I showed the kids before. Here is a photo of them at their home in Kirtland New Mexico, dated 1903.

Azar Nash born 24 Nov 1780

Azar Nash is our 4th great grandfather. He was the father of Anna Nash who married Alpheus Gifford. There is ambiguity in the records about who his parents were. And his name is recorded in various ways as Azar, Azor, Ezor. Perhaps there were multiple Azor Nash's near the same time and place. Using the internet, it is a lot easier to track these old records. if someone is interested in following up on this issue, let me know and I'll help you get started. You might learn some interesting history along the way.

William Fitz-Robert : 24th Greatgrandfather

William Fitz-Robert 2nd Earl of Gloucester was born 23 Nov 1116 and is a 24th great grandfather. He was a great grandson of William the Conqueror. We come through his daughter Armice who married into the de Clare dynasty. Her grandson is Richard de Clare. William died on his birthday in 1183 at age 67.

Family Time

With no family birthdays to highlight for several days now, I've come across some old pictures from the 1950's. This picture is from near Thanksgiving in 1959 (assuming Linda is around 4 months old). Enjoy.

Joseph Knight Family Event: Privatized

Subject: Uninvite to Knight Cane Event

Correction!
It has become necessary to rescind the invitation to the general Knight family to attend the Knight cane donation ceremony
at the Church Museum on 11 December 2008. We have been corrected that it was to be a private event according to Charmaine Higbee and Jill Vance-Droubay.


Please forward this email to other Knight family members who may have had interest to attend.


Joseph Knight is our 4th Great Grandfather. Here is an announcement from the Knight Family organization:

Through the remarkable efforts of Knight relatives Vicky Knight, James Knight and Julie Snetley,the original cane given to Joseph Knight, Sr., by Joseph Smith, Jr., on the streets of Nauvoo, has been secured and will be donated to the LDS Church in a special PRIVATE presentation in the auditorium of the Church's Historical Museum in Salt Lake City.

This historical donation of the Prophet's cane has been a long-awaited dream of the Knight Family Organization.

We recognize again the tremendous efforts of Vicky Knight, James Knight and Julie Snetley for making this all possible.

We are hoping to have the event written up in the Church News.

Haloween Pictures

Here are some pictures of Haloween. we went to Adam and Betsy's for haloween.

Here is Jasmine (Fairy) Alex (fireman) and i am holding daniel

This is a guy who dressed up at Hagrid The kids thought he was a monster and so we had to get a picture of them together (He is actually Betsy and Adams Bishop). Jasmine wouldn't stand there without me holding her.Jasmine saw this other girl dressed as a fairy and was really intrigued by her.Betsy gave Daniel a sucker and he opened it so she just let him have it.Here is another picture of Jasmine.