Governor George Wyllys - my 9th Great-Grandfather

George Wyllys served as a Colonial Governor in what is now Hartford, Connecticut in 1642.  He played a role in developing the first penal code in Connecticut and laying out what constituted a capital crime - and the punishments were quite severe by today's standards.  Interestingly, there are no known likenesses or portraits of Grandpa George that exist today.  But I think it's neat we have a link to Colonial history here in this country.  Stay safe!

Norwegian Pioneer Song - Kan Du Glemme Gamle Norge?

Olaus and Karen Johnson are my Great-Great-Great Grandparents.  They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Norway and made their way to Logan, Utah as Handcart Pioneers. 

                        

 I found that one of the songs many Norwegian Saints sang on the prairie was a called "Kan Du Glemme Gamle Norge?"  In English, "How Can You Forget Old Norway?"  

Enjoy!  The link  below will take you to a pretty nice rendition in Norwegian.....

Kan Du Glemme Gamle Norge?

Anne Marbury Hutchinson

In honor of Women's History Month, I share a great story about my 11th Great Grandmother - Anne Marbury Hutchinson.  She was the first to stand for civil liberty and religious toleration in America.

Her statue (above) stands today at the Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts.  Banished and excommunicated for sharing her religious views, she was officially pardoned by Governor Michael Dukakis in 1987.  She is a great example of standing up for her beliefs and not backing down.  She was murdered in 1643 after living a life of kindness and commitment to serving others.