Friday, September 20, 2019

Rauch family from Switzerland

I was playing around on Ancestry today.  I decided to click on a shaky leaf for ....hmmmm....not sure exactly which ancestor I clicked on .....but I found an ancestry researcher who goes by wildpat.  Wildpat lives in Zurich.  And he had an entire branch to explore.  These are ancestors who were living in Switzerland for many generations.  I don't want to loose this thought....and here is a map of where these people lived.



And here is what the branch looks like:

I heard from wildpat, and his name is actually Patrick.  He has a wonderful website at:

https://www.glarusfamilytree.com/family-research-services


Sunday, September 8, 2019

Lacy family

I was looking for the blog post that I was almost certain that I had written fall 2018 when I visited Tom Lacy in his home neighborhood near Richmond.  I can't find anything in this blog site.  So I hope to remedy this situation by starting something in this spot.  It was a wonderful visit.  I will add photos and information as I have time.  But right now, I want to add information from Tom Lacy about two pieces of information that can be found on the web.  Shawna asked if the information that she was reading was correct.  And here is what Tom answered to those questions:


 I have two major research projects that have been dragging along for several years or more. 

One is the myth that Thomas Lacy II was instrumental in helping to catch Blackbeard the Pirate. Immediately upon becoming a member of the Huguenot Society I was told this story. When I was able to track Hazel down I found she was living in Richmond, VA in a retirement center near my home. Upon asking her why the story did not appear in her book as in another Lacy Genealogy she answered my question with a question. "Tom, have you checked the dates when Blackbeard was captured?" I was only able to speak to her by telephone. She explained that she was in extreme arthritic pain and not able to receive visitors. Shortly thereafter, before I could learn the true story, she passed away. 

In October 2013 I presented the true story to the Huguenot Society Annual Meeting. The primary ingredient to the story, however, is still missing. When or why did Thomas Lacy II join the British Navy. I have documentary  proof he received a reward as an AB Seaman in the amount of 5 months gratuity for the capture he was involved in. If I can fill in all the blanks I have a producer that will consider this story as a PBS Special. Thomas Lacy II assisted in capturing "the bloodiest pirate to sail in Virginia waters"..but not Blackbeard in 1718.

Second, Stephen Lacy is reported to have built the first Christian Meetinghouse in Hanover County, possibly in Virginia. Some researchers have said where they believed this 20 X 20 log meetinghouse was built, but the exact location has yet to be proven. Ancient maps show Thomas Lacy (believed to be Thomas Lacy II) lived in the present day vicinity of an existing house of worship that claims to have been connected to that first meetinghouse. But other known facts dispute their claims. 

Again, if I can tie all of this research together this too would be PBS worthy material. 

Do any of you, in your family histories, have any information regarding these to subjects? 

God bless. 

Cuzin" Tom  

I am fairly certain that Tom told me that after he joined the Huguenot society he found that the Lacy family were not really Huguenot.  I will get Tom to clarify this and finish this blog post.