Deflection

Today seems like a typical November Day here in Wisconsin, with it being over cast and trying to rain from time to time and the temperature is 47 degrees. Basically, it is not a very nice day.

As for my family, Thanksgiving is a special day and I am not sure that my family members know why. But, from both sides of the family, our heritage links back to the Mayflower on both sides of the family. How about the for a coincidence?

Dad’s Family – Abraham and Bridget Shaw was on board the Mayflower and they are my ninth great grand parents.

Mom’s Family – Resolved and Judith White on the Mayflower and they my seventh great grand parents.

With the Mayflower crossing the Atlantic ocean in 1620, or 402 years ago, it is comprehendible that that there would be many descendants at this time. But, located here in Wisconsin and Illinois, it seems unlikely that my that this family would come together 1953 (the year of my parent’s marriage).

It seems almost incomprehensible that anyone would have link to the Mayflower here in southern Wisconsin, since it does seem like it is on the other side of the Great Lakes. But this is what happened. In 1853, Isaac Ralph, my second great grandfather moved from Vermont to Fort Atkinson. and he set up a general store. Apparently, the country was running out of crop land in the East and moving to Wisconsin.

The Ralphs did attend the Congregational Church and this makes sense, since the puritans became Congregationalist. My great grandfather, Ben Ralph, was dedicated to the Church.

On Dad’s family, it seems like there was a direct line if migration from Massachusetts to Fulton County, Illinois.

Therefore, my family is one of the oldest in the United States, excluding the natives. This is kind of mind boggling. To try to put this in perspective, my family was here 156 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. From another point of view, we have lived under the US Constitution for 246 years. With this type of background, it like we should have a voice in our government.

For Thanksgiving, my sister, her husband, and son came for supper. I filled my sister in that we have Mayflower dependents from both sides of the family. I have been extremely tired today. So, hopefully I will feel like doing more things tomorrow.

Roger