Ancestry Connections
I remember my father talking about his grandmother, Mary Ellen Myers Peters, being German. He did not remember her. He was only 2 when she died. I think he was going entirely by her surname. If you follow my blog or read my books, you know my interest has mostly been in my Irish, Scottish, and very recently Welsh roots–all from my father’s side of the family, by the way.
But by following one of those green leaf hints on Ancestry.com I uncovered this photograph of this Myers family. I contacted the man who posted it (his name is Mike) and discovered that we are distant cousins and my great grandmother Mary Ellen is in this photograph (number 11), as is her husband seated in front of her. Because it was taken circa 1902, I realized that the child sitting on my great grandfather’s lap is my grandfather when he was about a year old.
Researching German Roots
So, I’m off on a new adventure. Mike will be sending me his files and photos on this family. (By the way, he does not know the identity of the man whose portrait is being held up by my great great grandfather. A mystery I’d love to solve!) Mike knows from where in Germany the family came, and that they
immigrated in the 18th century. It seems all of my lines I know of thus far have lived in this country before we were a country. I’m a deeply rooted American!
Where are they from? Voerstetten, Freiberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. I’m shaking my head. I know so little about that country and culture!
[bctt tweet=”Who else is on a German ancestry quest? ” username=”cindyswriting”]
Hi Cindy
As a matter of fact I am from Voerstetten, Germany.
In the 1850s many families from Voerstetten emigrated to the States. If you know Name and year of birth of your ancestor, I can send you a picture of the house they lived in. I have a book with historical owners of the Voerstetten houses. I can look up your ancestor.
Cheers!
Axel
Thanks so much! Can you email me cindyswriting @ gmail. com