My grandfather recently stated that his ancestors came over to America in 1620. Is this really possible? I know that Jamestown was established in 1607 and other colonies soon after, but is it likely that this is a family myth? If its true, then can I honestly say that that side of my family is the most American-southern family in the US, since they have lived on basically the same Louisiana and Mississippi since then?
2007-07-31 08:25:21 · 5 answers · asked by Star 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
It is extremely possible you are descended from one of the Jamestown colonist. There was a second supply to Jamestown in 1608, and other colonist began to come.
Louisiana and Mississippi weren't even U.S. territories then. So your ancestors weren't always in Louisiana and Mississippi, if your family has been around for quite awhile.
I have at least one ancestor, Raleigh (Rawley) Croshaw that was in the 2nd supply to Jamestown and then another sometime during the 1600s came to Virginia. I live in what is now called BaHa Louisiana (S.E. Texas).
In the South, English settlers settled on the coast line of the southern colonies. The English that came South were mostly a gentry class of people. Then the Scots, Scotch Irish, Germans (called Dutch in colonial days) and French Huguenots came. They settled the more western portion of the southern colonies. After they cleared the land and made it habitable, the English moved westward and eventually most of these people blended.
Also, we know in northern Louisiana a large portion of the people are proud to acknowledge that they are "redcoats." Their ancestors supported King George during the American Revolution. As an act of humanitarism, France gave safe haven into the Louisiana territory to the Loyalist colonists.
If you would like to trace your roots, there are lots of people on this board that can give you some great ideas. Just ask.
2007-07-31 08:40:25 · answer #1 · answered by Shirley T 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Mayflower landed in 1620; there is a Mayflower Genealogical Society. There are millions of Americans descended from one or more Mayflower passengers (I am one of them). Check some of the Mayflower websites; there are so many. Check the Massachusetts Genealogical Society. However, you mentioned a year, not a place, so check other early colonies as well.
The surest way to find out if this is a family myth or not is to work your way back through a paper trail. For my family, that is only about 10 generations.
2007-07-31 10:37:24 · answer #2 · answered by Nothingusefullearnedinschool 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Mayflower passengers landed in Massachusetts in 1620 and multiplied like rabbits. This was before TV was invented and there wasn't much to do after dark except procreate. There are hundreds of thousands of Mayflower descendants, some in the south.
Your forefathers may have come to Jamestown in 1620. Mine got there in 1623 on the good ship Anne.
If you have traced back to 1620, and you trust your sources, you can honestly say they were here in 1620. The Spaniards were in Florida by 1511 and there is a Hopi village that has been occupied since the 1100's. Don't give yourself airs. I don't. (grin)
2007-07-31 13:29:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Start with you, and USING DOCUMENTATION (birth/death certificates, so forth), work backwards. Even if you "know" the info, get into the habit of depending on records. This way, you are always certain that you are looking at/ for the right people, ones that are actually your ancestors. Your family *might* know, or they may have heard family stories.. which sometimes are not reliable. Assuming you are in the US, persons born before 1930 are normally findable in the census records. Starting in 1850, it lists the place of birth for that person, and from 1880 through 1930, it shows the place of birth for both that person AND his/ her parents (but not their names). Pre 1850 can be hard. If a person is 80 yrs old in the 1880 census, then they were born 1800.. and it will list the place where their parents were born. You cannot depend on a surname "origin" to prove where a family came from.. since many surnames are found in multiple places. Thus, the only way to know YOUR history is finding your individual ancestor.
2016-05-19 00:45:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The MAYFLOWER landed in Plymouth Rock, Cape Cod Massachusetts in 1620 and established the Plymouth Colony.
Every member of the Pilgrims on the MAYFLOWER is very well documented. Even those who returned back to England. Most of the Pilgrims, 55, died their very first winter in Massachusetts.
So go and check out the names.
2007-07-31 08:34:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋