What people are included?

There is no information about living persons on this website.

Each family starts with a home person, and the people who are included are all in the home person’s direct line. His parents, grandparents, great grandparents … so far as my research has allowed.

What is a lineage?

A document that shows the relationship between a person and one of his ancestors is called a lineage. There must be one person of each generation, and the genealogist must prove that there is a link between each person and his parent. I’ve shown a few lineages. Many others are possible.

I’m adopted. Should I care about this?

Maybe or maybe not. Whatever interest you might have is fine. You might be interested to learn more about your grandparents, if you remember them. Were they rich or poor? Did they live through war? What was their childhood like? Does any of that help to explain my quirky parents? Or perhaps you have a spouse and would like to see the data on that family. (If I’m being insensitive, please let me know. I do it without even trying sometimes.)

Are there people I might not like in the family tree?

Yes. Like all families, these have some people whose behavior would be unacceptable today, seen through our 21st Century eyes. I’m thinking of the slaveholders I’ve identified. If you have roots in Virginia in the 18th Century, it is highly likely you have a slaveholder ancestor. This is proved by wills, very often, and it is quite shocking to read those wills.

What about the family stories I’ve heard?

If there is evidence that supports a family story, I present it. The stories I remember from my own family I have not been able to confirm.