Climbing the Family Tree

One of the more boring things I find absolutely fascinating is genealogy.  My parents have each done quite a bit of research on the subject, and I've taken over the project in the last several years and have added to what they knew.  The Internet, and particularly ancestry.com, has been immensely beneficial in this quest for knowledge of where I came from.  (And my grandmother used to tell me my mother found me under a rock.) 

I love hearing the stories of individual family members, and the range of extremes blows me away.  I grew up hearing the story of one great-grandparent who was so poor that there literally were not enough pants for each child to have his own pair.  It has always been assumed that whoever got up last each morning wore long underwear to school.

At the other extreme, I've found royalty in England, Scotland, and France.  Now you've seen the wildly inaccurate movie, Braveheart, haven't you?  OK, for those of you who are half my age, you've heard of the wildly inaccurate movie, Braveheart, haven't you?  Humor me. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braveheart#Historical_accuracy

One of the slightly more accurate parts of that movie was the relationship between arch enemies Edward the First of England, a.k.a. Longshanks, and Robert the First of Scotland, a.k.a. Robert the Bruce.  The two leaders battled for control of Scotland off and on for years.  When I found that I was descended from Longshanks on one side and Robert the Bruce on the other, well, I decided that accounted for absolutely any possible inner turmoil I might ever have about anything.  (Or at least I can use it as an excuse!)

So here are a couple of branches of my family tree.  Do you see any names from your own family tree here?  Maybe we're long lost cousins!

Edward I. of England                                                            Robert the Bruce (Robert I. of Scotland)

Princess Elizabeth Plantagenet                                                                       Princess Marjorie Bruce

Lady Eleanor de Bohun                                                                                         Robert II of Scotland

Lady Thomasine Dagworth                                                                                       Sir John Stewart

Baroness Joan de Furnival                                                                                       Sir James Stewart

Maude de Neville                                                                                                    Sir Ninian Stewart

Lady Katherine Talbot                                                                                             Sir Ninian Stewart

Louis Eaton                                                                                                              Sir James Stewart

Henry Eaton                                                                                                               Ninian Stewart

William Eaton                                                                                                            Charles Stewart

William Eaton                                                                                                           Margaret Stewart

Nicholas Eaton                                                                                                          James McCurdy

John Eaton                                                                                                                 David McCurdy

Mary Eaton                                                                                                                 John McCurdy

Rebecca Mason                                                                                                         Robert McCurdy     

Hannah Ockington                                                                                                      Robert McCurdy

Mindwell Holden                                                                                                     Sarah McCurdy Hall

Rebekah Farrington                                                                                                 James Somerville Hall

Josiah Everett                                                                                                             Great-Grandfather

Josiah Everett                                                                                                                Grandmother

Franklin Everett                                                                                                                  Mom

Great Grandmother

Grandmother

Dad

                                                                    Vegan Pagan (that's me!)

technorati tags: Longshanks, Edward I, Robert the Bruce