I Missed Our Time Together

Sitting glamorously on a beach near Malibu in 1930 is my sunglasses wearing grandmother, Julia West. This photo was taken long before I met her. Some 35+ years to be exact. The later version would give me Fritos on every family visit. I've never forgotten that sweet little habit. But curiously, old family photos like these cause me to miss something else. I think it's the time, the era. And though I wasn't around, it feels like I missed an opportunity. Like in this one, to come walking into the photo, plop down on the beach with my towel, and share stories of our time here on this planet, at these ages.

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The Reeves/Reaves Family of Plymouth Colony

Francis West marries Margery Reeves in early 1639 in Duxbury. She is said to be from England, the Isle of Wright specifically. But there's no proof. Early writings about her say she may have come over as a servant of some family, as an unattached woman in the Colony would be unheard of. Additionally, in one writing, Carlton Prince West goes on to say, "no Reeves family, including the possible variants of Reaves and Rives, has been found in the area of southeastern Massachusetts." So she cannot be placed. But I'm confused. It's clear there is another Reaves family (different spelling) living very close by to our Francis and Margery. Not only that, but this other Reaves family has a daughter named Mary Margaret Reaves that marries James Skiffe in 1637 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony. Though I guess this is suspect too, as Sandwich doesn't appear to be settled until 1639. But what's a few years in early American history? So this James ...

Finally, the Thomas West Story

So I decided to post this long story about the life of my 4th great grandfather, Thomas West. On the one hand I'm pretty proud of it, the amount of research and thoroughness. But on the other hand it's a dry as hell read. Kinda boring really. Catch 22? It's also going to change as more information comes my way. But here it is, for the world to enjoy.... The Life of Thomas West: Post Colonial America (1774 - 1865) Thomas West was born at the end of Colonial America in what is thought to be the most important time in American history. Thomas probably knew a thing or two about history, having descended from Mayflower passenger Richard Warren of Plymouth Colony. These kinds of things were not lost on the families of that time. And though Rochester, Massachusetts was not the hub of Revolutionary America like Boston, or Philadelphia for that matter, it was close enough to these free thinking societies to have made an impact on him. A sixth generatio...

1928 West Family Reunion in Michigan

I'm sure this photo started me on the path to crazy. Crazy genealogy detective. I received it in about 2005 from the Stoutenburg family of Sandusky, Michigan. I could easily spot my great grandfather, seated in the middle row to the far left, my grandfather, with the Harold Lloyd glasses standing in the back row between the two ladies, my great great grandmother, seated smack in the middle row with an air of knowing, and my great grandmother and other close relatives. It's obviously marked "West Clan," so one thing is clear, these were my people. But who? Who the hell were the rest of these alleged "West" family members? And why were they all gathered on this day? What were they doing and why were they doing it?! I needed answers. Now! But you know how genealogy detective work goes. Slow. It took a series of meetings, introductions, emails, and phone calls over the next 8 years to even begin to scratch the...

The Children of Francis West from Duxbury

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