The Children of Francis West from Duxbury

I haven't posted in awhile.  The Thomas West story has taken a back seat it seems.  But such is life and dealing with real family issues and things that need full attention spans.  Nothing personal, readers.  Though at this early stage of my blog, it doesn't look like I have ANY readers, come to think of it. Prompting me to write today is the desire to have the phrase "Courtesy of the Kevin Thomas West Family Collection" put on the internet.  Something searchable, hopefully.  I gave some family photos to  THIS  site recently and they are now asking how I want them credited.  The photos are not mine specifically, belonging to both me and my aunt, but I wanted my full name used so that I will be the one who is contacted, in case someone wants to do so.  I've seen some amazing finds happen by just putting direct information out there on the internet.  And that's what I want to do and have happen. The website I gave to, LangdonRoad....

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...

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.

Still working on that Thomas West story.  They are now in West Gwillimbury, Ontario, Canada and it's about 1830.  They've been there for 11 years.  And now the challenging part... finding information, facts, and records.  Do I write about what I know is in front of me, or do I wait and search for additional records, continuing later?   Or, is this a work in progress, writing what I know and easily changed when new information surfaces?  That's the challenge right now.  Because I really want this to be good, but know it's only as good as the information inside. I've taken 4 big family history trips in my life.  Michigan, Kansas, Vermont, and West Virginia.  At each  place I learned things never before uncovered.  It literally took going to those places to find out.  Not everything is found on the internet.  Especially when it comes to old plat maps, property and court records.  Additionally, those places had cousins ...

I have a fantastic attention span.  Generally speaking.  Where was I? Oh, yes.  But for whatever reason, when it comes to family history work, I'm like a child holding car keys, a xylophone, and the remote control.  I go from one thing to another at speeds that have no scientific measure. It's exasperating.  Poor uncle Joseph from Wichita is getting all my attention, when I spot another name from that 1910 census record, and decide I should follow that lead for fear of forgetting the thought.  The next thing I know, I'm searching Wikipedia for information on beheadings during the reign of Czar whoever.  What's really worse is, by the time I have a cognisant thought, I can't remember where I started.  And then poor uncle Joseph gets lost in time again.  Well, until I'm reminded of him later, while I peruse party dresses of the 16th century on oldpartydresses.com.

Years ago I came across  this website  with a story about  Francis West  and his wife Margery.  I just ate it up.  The story, and especially the way Curtis West weaved a sweet narrative.  I've used the idea of it the last few weeks in writing the biography of Thomas West.  Wanting my story of him to be both informative and interesting, a good read, I've tried to come outside the story a few times and add my own thoughts, ideas, and humor.   But I'm finding it tough at times, as the private detective in me wants to know more facts, with proof, and not a bunch of guesses and jokes.  But I'm trying to keep it light, imagining the moment a distant cousin discovers my story and eats it up as well.  Thomas lived from 1774 to 1865.  It's taken me about three weeks to reach 1820.  Here's to the next forty-five years!

So, as I'm in the middle of all this internet research tonight, checking the possible routes Thomas West could have taken to Ohio in 1809, looking at google maps, calculating mileage, wondering why the hell he left Montpelier, etc., I come across a book entitled "A Journey to Ohio in 1810:  As Recorded in the Journal of Margaret Van Horn Dwight."  And I'm like... come on, are you kidding me!?  So I read a few pages and I'm enthralled.  She notes on one stop through Connecticut, "The house is very small and very dirty - it serves for a tavern, a store and I should imagine hog's pen stable and everything else.  The air is so impure I has scarcely been able to swallow since I entered the house-  The landlady is a fat, dirty, ugly looking creature, yet I must confess very obliging-"  Is that priceless or what?  So though time consuming to read and research, I think this little Thomas West biography might end up quite good.