Family Research

The Family Research (genealogy) results provided on this site will be of particular interest to those who are descendants of people with the surnames listed below:

Friday, Bolton, James, Coogan, Porter, Kearns (Kerns), Thorburn, Britt, Robinson, Henderson, Hutichinson, Underwood, Bromilow, Miller, Tetley & McMahan

These ancestors hail from Switzerland , England, Ireland, Nova Scotia Canada and Scotland as well as these states in the US:
Maine, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, TEXAS, Massachusetts, Georgia and South Carolina

Join my Journey with My Dead People

It began when I learned of my father’s passing.  My parents had divorced when I was small, and typical of most divorces, my sisters and I were not allowed the opportunity to get to know our father. 

Having learned of his passing, I realized there was a great void in my life.  Not only did I not know my father, but my children did not know him.  I knew I had to remedy this but was unsure of how to proceed.

So the journey began.  I decided to find him, learn about him, teach my children about him, and I became consumed.  The pain I once felt because of not knowing him has been replaced with a deep love and passion of all that he was.  He has taught me more through his death than anyone could ever teach in life. 

My father still teaches me to this day.  I guess this is more about him than me.  This is my tribute to my father. 

My journey has taken me to places I never would have gone to.  It has given me an understanding of who I am.  It has taught me about the importance of family and acceptance.  Most importantly, my journey has taught me about love.

Most of us go through life trying to make things better for our children, trying to give them the things we did not have, trying to leave to them all that we have become and have gathered in our lives, but missing one of the most important aspects of life itself….who we are.

This journey has enabled me to give to my children and all my family, siblings, cousins, grand children, the knowledge of who we are and where we came from.  A living history of our beginnings, the appreciation of our parents, grand parents and so on.  My journey has given my family a glimpse into the past, a feeling of knowing people we have never met, and a strong sense of love for all of them before us. 

I have learned much through this research.  I have met many cousins, both close and distant, and I have visited the places where my father was born, where his family lived much of their lives, and cemetery’s where my ancestors were lovingly laid to rest, some with markers, many without.   I have learned to appreciate the simple things in life that most of us take for granted, including myself for many years, and to show love to all those around me, but most importantly, I have learned that my family, past, present and future are my everything in life.  They are my reason for being. 

If I can leave anything in this life, it would be to give to my children and grand children and all my family members their living history.  A sense of pride within themselves from the knowledge of the humble beginnings and struggles of our ancestors, and the great love of family they all shared.