ANCESTORS & ROOTS

[chickdiver]

Wow- I am the ubiquitous American mutt. My mother's family is from Central Alabama (Wetumpka for anyone who knows anything about the area) and is of Scots/Irish and Cherokee Indian descent Scots part we know the most about, and they have been here since the mid-1700's. My great grandparents used to go out "honky- tonkin" (my Ma- ma's term) with Hank Williams. That would be Hank Williams, Sr., THE Hank Williams.

My Dad's family is English and German. Supposedly my surname is English, and there is a town by the same name somewhere, but damned if I have ever been able to find it. My great great grandparents settled in Nebraska, and my great grandparents moved (with a couple of other families) from Nebraska to Gulfport, Mississippi around 1920. They went to farm satsumas (they're kinda like little oranges) but that didn't work out so well. They stayed anyway. My Nanny (great grandmother) used to tell us stories about when she was a child in Nebraska and the Indians would come knocking on the door of their sod house begging for food (she was in her 90's when she died, in 1988).

So that's me- typical American I guess.

 

[simbrooks]

My Canadian Grandmother use to tell me that if I stayed on the outhouse too long the fairies and pixies would bite my bottom. We had a two seater. I also took baths in a little tub and didn't have indoor plumbing until I moved out at 18.

The reason your grandma told you that is so that you wouldnt be overcome by methane from the soak away septic tank

We had one when i was little too, that was in the late 70's although we also had indoor plumbing it was for use when out in the large garden and didnt want to bother coming in - kind of a relic from a bygone era.

 

[cobaltbabe]

The reason your grandma told you that is so that you wouldnt be overcome by methane from the soak away septic tank

We had one when i was little too, that was in the late 70's although we also had indoor plumbing it was for use when out in the large garden and didnt want to bother coming in - kind of a relic from a bygone era.

My Grandmother in Canada told me that they would get my bum and my Grandmother in England use to tell me not to go into the woods because the fairies and imps would get me. I think it was the muggers she was worried about. You know that if you tell a child enough times that there are fairies they start to see them? I saw them in England and my children saw them in the cherry tree when we lived in BC. It's wonderful when they come in with big eyes and tell you they saw purple and pink and orange and black fairies. I just laughed.

 

[simbrooks]

Wow- I am the ubiquitous American mutt.

Dont be so hard on yourself, the picture on your avatar must have been taken in poor lighting But yes its strange how broad the roots are of some Americans i know - all sorts of stuff in there, like the UN in one person.

Supposedly my surname is English, and there is a town by the same name somewhere, but damned if I have ever been able to find it.

If you dont mind, what would that surname be? Some of us ex-pats and other people who still live in the UK might know it.

 

[chickdiver]

Choate (well, my family dropped the "e", but that's the correct spelling).

 

[simbrooks]

My Grandmother in Canada told me that they would get my bum and my Grandmother in England use to tell me not to go into the woods because the fairies and imps would get me. I think it was the muggers she was worried about. You know that if you tell a child enough times that there are fairies they start to see them? I saw them in England and my children saw them in the cherry tree when we lived in BC. It's wonderful when they come in with big eyes and tell you they saw purple and pink and orange and black fairies. I just laughed.

What drugs did your parents give you to see multi-coloured fairies???

Actually growing up in the country, i had no fears about the forests etc, nowadays i wouldnt let kids go near the scrublands near most built up areas for fear of nasty types - however actual woodlands, middle of nowhere, state park like stuff i would be fine with - strange how a few mugging, murders, sexual assaults etc that have occured (or at least reported about) in the last few decades have changed the "safety" factor in such places. Whatever happened to being able to leave your door unlocked all day and night???

 

[cobaltbabe]

Whatever happened to being able to leave your door unlocked all day and night???

I never lock my doors to my house. I don't lock my car either, not during the day or the night. Is that strange?

As for drugs, believe it or not, I tried them once and didn't like them and don't take anything. I don't even like taking aspirin.

 

[simbrooks]

Choate (well, my family dropped the "e", but that's the correct spelling).

No idea, sorry, couldnt find it in the uk, the only ref is a public school in CT and a few other things with people of the same surname. Only UK places are Chatto or Coate.

Personally my surname means "one who dwells by a brook or stream" - which is kind of weird as my entire family enjoys the water and have tried to live as close to a watercourse as possible - good swimmers, some of us are divers too etc.

 

[chickdiver]

YEa, I've looked and looked and looked. I think it's a family myth. Oh- and Choate- the school- is actually a presitgious private prep school. People always ask me if I am connected to it- somewhere down the line probably so, but it's pretty far back. I've often thought of trying to get a T shirt or something fromt he school, I think it would be funny (I know, warped sense of humor).

 

[cdiver2]

Kracken Priceless if you did not wet your pants I just have. I know all about the outhouse the guzzunder (the bed) and the zinc tub