2015

Do you have ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War? On this day in 1741, infamous American Revolutionary War General Benedict Arnold was born in Connecticut. Before the war, Benedict Arnold was a successful business man. He joined the Continental Army as soon as the war broke out and was distinguished for his bravery and skill as a leader. Despite his successes, Arnold was passed over for promotion by the Continental Congress. His growing… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Patrick Dempsey! Today the Grey’s Anatomy star turns 49. Dempsey was born in Lewiston, Maine on January 13, 1966. An adept juggler, Dempsey once tied for second place in a national juggling competition. He discovered a love for acting at a young age and by the late 1980s, Dempsey was a star. With hits like the romantic comedies, Heaven Help Us and Loverboy, Dempsey became a teen heartthrob. He later transitioned to television, and found a resurgence of… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays! Now read up on some fantastic articles you may have missed! Image: Coins, newspapers found as time capsule is opened / The Boston Globe The Genealogy Sphere The Edwardian Sartorialist (Mashable) – Take a look at fashion trends from the streets of London c. 1905-1908 Japanese family who tended Briton’s grave for 140 years finally learn his identity (The Guardian) – For 140 years, a Japanese… Read the full story

Do you remember watching All in the Family? On this day in 1971, the classic sitcom premiered on television. Staring Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, the groundbreaking show tacked many controversial issues including racism, women’s liberation and the Vietnam War. For five consecutive seasons, All in the Family was the #1 watched show on television. Throughout it’s run, the show won multiple awards and was the first sitcom to have all of its lead actors win Emmys. Today,… Read the full story

What’s behind a name? Typically, surnames are passed down through many generations, creating a web of connected family members. The use of surnames is common in most countries around the world, but did you know they didn’t always exist? During the 13th and 14th centuries in Britain, hereditary surnames were adopted, first amongst the aristocracy and then eventually everyone. These early surnames were often derived from patronymics, places, personal characteristics and occupations. Because of this, surnames can give… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Nicolas Cage! Today the actor turns 51. Born Nicolas Kim Coppola in Long Beach, California, Nicolas is the son of literature professor August Floyd Coppola and Joy Vogelsang, a dancer and choreographer. Nicolas discovered his love for acting at 15 after attending a summer class at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. The nephew of iconic director Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas changed his name to forge his own identity separate from his famous pedigree…. Read the full story

Best-selling author A.J. Jacobs is organizing the largest family reunion in history and he’s inviting all 7 billion of his cousins to the party! During this holiday season, the Global Family Reunion team is holding a fun holiday photo contest. Winners will receive some amazing prizes! AJ Jacobs Entering the contest is easy. All you need to do is submit a photo holding an “I am a Cousin” sign by January 9, 2015 to info@worldfamily.us. There are six categories to… Read the full story