A handful of dust

Ancestry!
OK, I have completely lost myself in genealogy! I finally found my great-grandfather, Reginald Channing Davis, and from there I have found hundreds of ancestors, and even some living cousins I have never met! My great-great-grandfather was Colonel James Jekyll Lucius Davis, a very famous civil war colonel.

He wrote a book:

Davis, James Lucius. The trooper's manual: or, Tactics for light dragoons and mounted riflemen. Compiled, abridged and arranged, by Col. J. Lucius Davis, graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, formerly an officer of the United States Army; and for many years commander and instructor of volunteer cavalry. Richmond, Va. Published by A Morris. 1861.
UE 161.5 D26

I also found this about his book:

The Confederate War Department did not issue an official drill manual for the cavalry; however, The Trooper's Manual, written (48) by J. Lucius Davis, former instructor in Cavalry Tactics at West Point and subsequently colonel of the 10th Virginia Cavalry, and General Joseph Wheeler's Cavalry Tactics, (49) were in general use.

http://www.cincinnaticwrt.org/data/ccwrt_history/talks_text/starr_cavalry_tactics.html

He was quite a man, but I am so sad to learn that my ancestors were involved in the Confederate Army. The Colonel had six sons, J Lucius Jr., Lewellyn Catesby, Mervyn Bathurst, Frank Tudor, Reginald Channing, and Lodowick Kossuth. J Lucius and Lewellyn Catesby both died in the war, and possiby Frank Tudor as well. Lodowick Kossuth died in childhood. The Colonel survived the war, but his plantation was burned, and his wife never turns up after that, so I am assuming she died during that time. He lost everything he had, trying to hold onto it.

His other two sons, Reginald Channing (my great-grandfather) and Mervyn Bathurst, went to Texas, where Reginald was in the Cavalry and Mervyn was a Texas Ranger. Mervyn was also a well known journalist, and founded the Texas Humane Society and the Texas Audubon Society. I contacted his great grandson today, and he may be coming to my family reunion in July!!

After the war, my great-grandfather worked driving a mule-drawn streetcar in Waco. He was involved in an accident, which didn't hurt him, but a mule was pinned beneath the streetcar, and he spent several hours in severe weather working to free it. As a result, he developed pneumonia and died a few weeks later, leaving a grieving widow (Abbie) with four young children.

Here are some other famous people I am related to:

Jimmy Earl Carter (1924-)
39th President of the United States of America
President Carter sought to restore confidence in the American people after they had been deceived by President Nixon. The energy and inflation crises motivated him to set an example of how to conserve energy.
Relationship: 6th Cousin 4 times removed

Robert Morris (1734-1806)
Pennsylvania Representative
Prior to signing The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Articles of Confederation; Robert Morris borrowed money to pay Washington's troops during the Revolutionary War.
Relationship: Distant (26) Great Grandfather

Richard Lovelace (1618-1657)
English Poet
Richard Lovelace was an English Nobleman and poet. His "Lucasta" poems brought him fame.
Relationship: 3rd Cousin 5 times removed

Harriet Lane* (1830-1903)
First Lady
Harriet Lane was the niece of the bachelor President James Buchanon, and acted as First Lady for 4 years. She was so popular as a White House hostess that women copied her hair and clothes.
Relationship: 5th Cousin 2 times removed

Mark Twain (1835-1910) (MY FAVORITE!!!)
American Author
Samuel Langhorne Clemens thought of his pen name, "Mark Twain," while working on a riverboat. This humorist's works include Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Relationship: 5th Cousin 2 times removed

Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797)
Virginia Representative
Francis Lightfoot Lee was a radical patriot during the revolution. He worked with Patrick Henry to oppose the Stamp Act. He later signed the Declaration of Independence.
Relationship: 4th Cousin 4 times removed

Lillian Gish (1893-1993)
American Actress
Lillian Diana de Guiche, or Lillian Gish, is known as the "first lady of the silent screen" and starred in many silent films including The Birth of a Nation and The Scarlet Letter. Her career spanned over 75 years and countless television and film appearances.
Relationship: 5th Cousin 3 times removed

Isaac Newton (1643-1727)
Scientist, Mathematician
Isaac Newton is regarded as one of the greatest scientists and mathematicians in history. He described 3 laws of motion that also govern the entire earth and the celestial bodies surrounding it.
Relationship: 4th Cousin 5 times removed

Nancy Astor (1879-1964)
Viscountess of Britain
Nancy Witcher Astor was the first woman to serve in the British House of Commons.
Relationship: 5th Cousin 3 times removed

Thomas McKean (1734-1817)
Delaware Representative
A very prominent and active politician in the early days of the United States, Thomas McKean served as President of the Continental Congress, Governor of Pennsylvania, and Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. He also signed the Declaration of Independence.
Relationship: 6th Cousin 1 times removed

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
English Author
Often called the father of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer was an English author, poet, and courtier known especially for his "Canterbury Tales".
Relationship: 14th Great Grandfather

Benjamin Harrison (1726-1791)
Virginia Representative
Benjamin Harrison had politics in his blood. From a highly politically involved family, he served in the Continental Congress and also was governor of Virginia. His great-grandson became president.
Relationship: 1st Cousin 3 times removed

William Henry Harrison (1773-1841)
9th President of the United States of America
William Henry Harrison is famous for having the longest inauguration speech and shortest term of any president. He was the first president to die in office; he died of pneumonia only 30 days into his term.
Relationship: 2nd Cousin 2 times removed

Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901)
23rd President of the United States of America
Grandson of President William Henry Harrison, Benjamin Harrison was the 23 President of the United States. During his term 6 states joined the United States and the Sherman Antitrust Act, an act which prohibited monopolies, was passed.
Relationship: 4th Cousin

John C. Fremont (1813-1890)
American Explorer
John Charles Fremont led several surveying expeditions through the western United States including the Oregon Trail and the Sierra Nevadas.
Relationship: 5th Cousin

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)
English Author
Virginia Woolf was one of the forerunners of the literary "Modernist" movement and is considered one of the greatest novelists of the twentieth century. Besides her experimental writing style, Woolf is also remembered for her contributions to the feminist movement.
Relationship: 6th Cousin 2 times removed

Booker Taliaferro Washington (1856-1915)
American educator, political leader, author
Booker T. Washington was born as a slave but was freed at the age of 9. He received national attention as a spokesperson for African American citizens.
Relationship: 5th Cousin 4 times removed

Laurence Olivier (1907-1989)
British-born Actor, Director and Producer
Laurence Kerr Olivier was an Academy Award-winning actor, director, and producer. He acted in such films as Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, and Spartacus. Olivier also appeared in many plays throughout his career.
Relationship: 6th Cousin 3 times removed

Ruby Dee (1924-)
actress
Ruby Dee, born Ruby Ann Wallace, was an African American actress who starred in such films as A Raisin in the Sun and The Jackie Robinson Story. She was also heavily involved in the Civil Rights movement.
Relationship: 5th Cousin 5 times removed

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)
American Author
Francis Scott Fitzgerald is considered to be one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. He wrote "The Great Gatsby" and "This Side of Paradise".
Relationship: 6th Cousin 4 times removed

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
English Poet
England's Poet Laureate from 1843 through 1850, William Wordsworth began what is now referred to as the Romantic Age in literature. "The Prelude" is considered one of Wordsworth's most notable and applauded poems.
Relationship: 7th Cousin 2 times removed

Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968)
American author and activist
American author and activist
Relationship: 8th Cousin

Robert Hobart (1760-1816)
Politician
Robert Hobar, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire, was elected Member of Parliament in 1788 and served as Colonial Secretary from 1801-1804. Hobart, Tasmania is named for him.
Relationship: 7th Cousin 2 times removed

William Lamb (1779-1848)
Politician
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne served as prime minister in 1834 and 1835-1841. He was a mentor to Queen Victoria, and was noted for his ability to find the political middle ground. Melbourne, Australia is named for him.
Relationship: 8th Cousin 1 times removed

Mae West (1893-1980)
American Actress, Screenwriter, and Playwright
Mae West, born Mary Jane West, is considered one of the most controversial stars of the 1930's. Her scripts often endured huge amounts censorship, but also huge success with audiences. She wrote and starred in She Done Him Wrong and I'm No Angel.
Relationship: 8th Cousin 2 times removed

George Orwell (1903-1950)
British Author
Eric Arthur Blair is most commonly recognized by his pen name, George Orwell. His political commentary is a major theme in his most famous works: "1984", "Animal Farm", and "Down and Out in Paris and London".
Relationship: 10th Cousin

Elizabeth Browning (1806-1861)
English Author and poet
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. These famous words were penned by English poet and author Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most respected writers of the Victorian era.
Relationship: 11th Cousin

William Charles Wentworth (1790-1872)
Early Settler
Australian explorer, journalist, and politician William Wentworth was a leading figure of early New South Wales. He helped explore the Blue Mountains, founded a newspaper, and helped draft the New South Wales constitution.
Relationship: 11th Cousin 1 times removed

John Allerton (1591?-1620)
Mayflower Passenger
John Allerton came to North America with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, and signed the Mayflower Compact. He did not survive the first winter of the voyage.
Relationship: 12th Great Grand Uncle

Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (1831-1889)
First Lady
Lucy Ware Webb Hayes convinced her husband, Rutherford B. Hayes, to fight in the Union army and to oppose slavery. He later became an influential part of the abolitionist cause.
Relationship: 6th Cousin 4 times removed

Gore Vidal (1925-)
American Writer
Eugene Luther Gore Vidal is a versatile writer of screenplays, novels, and essays. His radical political views as often expressed in his controversial writings attributed to his fame.
Relationship: 6th Cousin 1 times removed

Laura Welch Bush (1946-) (EEWwwwwwwwwwww!!!)
First Lady
Present First lady Laura Bush has taken an interest in the effects of the September 11 attacks on children. She has revived the more traditional role of First Lady back to the White House.
Relationship: 9th Cousin

Bill Clinton (1946-)
42nd President of the United States of America
Bill Clinton's agenda included healthcare improvements on a national level, and expanding the Income Tax Credit. He was impeached for perjury regarding his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
Relationship: 9th Cousin

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
English Poet
““Ozymandias," "Ode to the West Wind," and "Mont Blanc" are famous poems written by Percy Shelley. He has been called one of the greatest lyric poets of all time. His wife, Mary Shelley, is the author of the classic novel Frankenstein.
Relationship: 5th Cousin 10 times removed

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
English Author
Rudyard Kipling was the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. He wrote the famous children's story The Jungle Book.
Relationship: 10th Cousin 1 times removed

I have had so much fun doing genealogy!!! I can't wait to find out more about my family!!

Current Mood: bouncy

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