I was fortunate enough to have a great-grandmother who was into tracing our family’s tree when I was maybe in my mid-teens. She eventually lived to be 103 and her stories of her family going west, which was basically the Ohio Territory at that time, fascinated me. I’d always sorta like history as a school subject, so guess it was a natural extension of an interest I already had.
Although I’ve documented some of the lines more than others, pretty solid evidence and/or documents that trace my lineage back to the Pilgrims in America, ie John Alden and Priscilla Mullens primarily. Did you know one of their sons, an ancestor of mine, was accused of witchcraft during the witch mania in Salem. Fortunately, he had friends in high places and was finally released from jail without trial if I recall correctly. Another ancestor of mine, however, was hanged as a witch. Like most, the basic story of the Salem Witchcraft trials was part of the history I studied as a kid tho’ had no clue at the time how much of a personal involvement I had with it or, for that matter, with the Pilgrims.
One thing I’ve discovered, common sense obviously, is that once you have found the connection to early settlers in “the New World”, you’re going to find out that not only are you related to many “famous” folks but many of us can claim the same ancestors. I’ve gone back further in time than the Pilgrims but given the sheer magnitude of numbers of ancestors that gradually builds up have decided to focus on the first 10–12 generations mostly, although if memory serves, I’ve gone back with pretty solid confidence to the Tudor era. One thing I’ve always known but only found names/dates recently was of a Confederate soldier that was with Morgan’s Raiders when they crossed into Ohio and died and was buried on the edge of what became my families farm in Ohio. That fact may have played into my eventually getting so into the family tree tracing.
In any case, haven’t worked on it much of late but was obsessed for awhile. Then it got rather overwhelming with all the sheer numbers of ancestors, many with names I couldn’t even come close to pronouncing or remembering, tho’ it has been fascinating to discover the stories behind the names. They range from historical figures, often some I’d rather just as not claim, presidents, and such. Heck, I discovered I’m even distantly related to a cousin who was “Born in the USA”. Bet most of you can figure out who that cousin however many time removed is. Ha