Orville and Wilbur Wright - my cousins with dedication and drive

While not a direct relationship, I found through "Relative Finder" that I'm cousins with Orville and Wilbur Wright.  I also just finished reading David McCullough's book, "The Wright Brothers", which I would highly recommend.  I knew the short school version of their flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, but not much else.  These cousins were great examples of good throughout their lives.

10th Great Grandmother - Susanna White

In honor of Mother's Day, I offer this short story on my 10th Great Grandmother, Susanna Jackson White Winslow, who was a Mayflower passenger and had several "firsts" in her life -
                  -Mother of the first English-born child in America
                  -First bride at an English wedding in America
                  -The First Lady of the Plymouth Colony
                  -Mother of the first American-born governor of an American Colony

Here's the LINK to the Saturday Evening Post article I mentioned

https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2019/11/susanna-white-winslow-pilgrim-first-lady/

The Mayflower arrives in December 1620

Norman Day and Martha Ann Henderson Day - my Maternal Great-Great-Grandparents

Norman Day met Martha Ann Henderson at a dance in Kaysville, Utah about 1855.  That meeting prompted him to drop his plans of going to California and striking it rich mining for gold.  I think he made the right decision.

                                   Here's and undated photo of Grandpa and Grandma Day -

Randolph Scott - Western Movie Hero

While stuck at home, I've enjoyed watching old Western Movies on a TV station here called "Grit".  I just discovered one of my Western movie stars is a cousin of mine - Randolph Scott.  I now look forward to when his movies come on.  He's usually the one wearing the white hat (as all good guys do).

                           Here's a couple of old movie posters of Cousin Randolph's movies.......

Eliza Winter - and missing treasure?

Elizabeth "Eliza" Winter Olmstead Weir is my 4th Great Grandmother.  Her daughter Lucinda Jane is my 3rd Great Grandmother.  Here's an interesting story you should keep tucked away if you are ever in Annis, Idaho.......

Here's a photo of Grandma Lucinda Jane (standing) and Grandmother Eliza (seated) in front of a quilt made by Eliza - measuring 9 feet by 9 feet, it was used as a backdrop for many a photo in her day and is now hanging in the Pioneer Museum in Rigby, Idaho.

Peder Olaussen Johnson and the Bear

My Great-Great Grandfather came here from Norway and settled in Cache Valley, Utah.  I found this story about him this past week that I wanted to share.  Be careful when you play tricks on people who know how to use an axe!

Richard More - Mayflower passenger

My 8th Great Grandfather, Richard More, was a passenger on the Mayflower at the age of 6 years.  His story is kind of unique.  Rough beginnings don't always dictate the paths that must be followed.

Here's a photo of the Mayflower Passenger Manifest with Richard More listed in the household of the Brewster family.

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.

My 2nd Great Grandmother - Sarah Zurviah Southworth Burbank

My great-great grandmother, Sarah Burbank once wrote a letter to her granddaughter Sarah.  I have no date or other details about this letter, but am guessing she wrote it around the turn of the century.  Grandma Sarah was born in 1835 and passed in 1927.  Thanks to whatever cousin posted this on FamilySearch.org     I really got a kick out of it!

Richard Edwards - My 12th Great Grandfather

A short story about my 12th-Great-Grandfather, Richard Edwards.  He was a noted poet, playwright, composer and songwriter in the 1500's in England during the rule of King Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.    There is also a bit of controversy regarding his parentage.......

George Sexton - My 8th Great-Grandfather and first Irish Ancestor to come to America

Top o'the Morning to ya!  A short introduction to my 8th Great-Grandfather, George Sexton.  The first of my Irish heritage that came to America.  I didn't know about my Irish ties until just a couple of years ago.......now I look forward to St. Patrick's Day with new eyes!

Reverend John Rogers - Part 2 - Consequences of his efforts

This is Part 2 of the story of my 12th Great Grandfather, Reverend John Rogers.  After he published the Matthew's Bible, Queen Mary (aka "Bloody Mary") came to power and persecuted those involved with the Reformation.  John Rogers was burned at the stake for his faith.  A mighty legacy indeed.

Reverend John Rogers - Part 1 - The Coming Forth of a Complete English Language Bible

In 1537, the Matthew's Bible was published - being the first complete English language Bible with both the Old and New Testaments, along with a lot of other study and research helps.  The Reverend John Rogers, who worked under the pseudonym "Thomas Matthew" was the force behind this great work.  John Rogers is my 12th Great-Grandfather, and left behind a great legacy for all English speaking peoples.

Edward Bishop Jr and Sarah Wildes Bishop - my 7th Great-grandparents and Convicted Witches

Here's a fascinating story about my 7th Great-grandparents, Edward and Sarah Bishop.  Living and working in Salem, Massachusetts - they were tried and convicted of Witchcraft in the infamous Salem Witch Trials.......amazing!

My dad - Thomas Eugene Lewis - 1933-2017

My kind father, Thomas Eugene Lewis, passed away on 1 December 2017 in Pleasant View, Utah.  I wanted to include here the Obituary that appeared in the Ogden Standard-Examiner on Sunday, 3 December 2017 for the benefit of my kids and grandkids.  He was a kind and gracious man, and will be missed by us all.  I love you dad, and look forward to that glorious day when we'll all meet again.
I also found a few photos when I got home that I wanted to include here - these were photocopies of old photos with Grandma Uvada Lewis handwriting on them.  Not sure where the originals are......

The top one is my favorite!  Next is my mom pinning dad's 2nd LT bars on him at his commissioning at Utah State.  Next is dad in full band uniform with the clarinet we saw at the viewing!  Finally, the old jalopy dad won at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon "Jalopeny" in 1952.

An Original American Romance

The story of my 9th Great-Grandparents - a famous American Romance and the 3rd recorded marriage in the new American Colonies.  John Alden and Priscilla Mullins (with Captain Miles Standish thrown in to make it interesting).

Samuel Henderson - Part 2 - A Gospel Life

Part 2 of the life of my 4th Great-Grandfather, Samuel Henderson Sr.  He remarries, joins up with the Saints in Nauvoo and makes his way west.  A great tale of sacrifice and love of the Lord, and an example for me personally.

Samuel Henderson - Part 1 - Life in Missouri

Part 1 of 2 about my 4th Great-grandfather, Samuel Henderson.  Raising a family on the frontier of Missouri in the early 1800's brought some unique challenges for the Henderson's.  This is just a bit about the influences that surrounded them near the banks of the Mississippi at that time.