Understanding roots

Erica, have you read the book, "Bristol Registers"? It shows that the port of Bristol was a little known port of departure.

http://www.amazon.com/Bristol-Registers-Servants-Plantation-1654-16...

http://www.virtualjamestown.org/indentures/bristol_origin.html

Good question, EH. Mine primarily came from East Anglia or surrounding counties, some from Wales and some Huguenots came through Scotland / Ireland and England. It looks like the 1620 - 1640 crew came mostly from the southeast.

I did see that Bristol was an embarkation point - particularly for Wales! Hmmm ....

There's a lot to be said about Bristol! The Merchants of Bristol were very influential. They made their port one of the major one's in the triangular trade with Africa and the Americas. I've been writing the names down of the leading merchant families. It's a whole topic by itself.

Perhaps have a look at my document... http://www.geni.com/documents/view/6000000009895495819?doc_id=60000...
It's a about the slave trade, but on page 5 it gives some pointers about the Bristol merchants.

Hello Erica,

Is there anything specific that you are after as your link and list is a pretty current affair. I live in Sussex and can advise that you may need to conisder the area called Wessex for Wiltshire as you have Saxons in your table and Cornwall has considered itself an independent area for a long time - previously Dumnonia and has its own language which the current Cornish people are very proud of and some are looking to resurrect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_language

This is exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. I know a bit about Yorkshire and that area as this is what "tradition" has said my family descent is. But my knowledge of Wiltshire, Kent and Cornwall is lacking. King Arthur was Cornish, correct?

Guy van Heusen

Thank you for Cornish language article. I'm wondering if we should get a subproject going for Cornwall. I don't understand Cornish migration patterns to the Americas at all, and the history and language are fascinating.

The Cornish are traditionally miners, correct? It looks like their skills were instrumental in "the Gold Rush" period of American history.

http://www.darylburkhard.com/cornishminers.html

Erica and Guy, I'm related to the Rowe family. They are gold- and silver-smiths. They have ended up in the West Indies and in South America, carrying their skills with them!

I'd love to be part of the Cornwall project. That place has always fascinated me in fables, fantasies and novels.

http://www.selectsurnames2.com/rowe.html

Cornwall is an unusual county in that it has lots of minerals that the rest of the country was unable to mine such as tin, copper, lead and zinc so yes there would have been quite a few miners. This website can give you some pointers for further reading:

http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/mines.htm

The county has an unusual costline with many coves and small beaches in remote areas which allowed it to become synonymous with smugglers. Jamaica Inn has a museum for smuggling which I have visited (I go to Cornwall most years) and was of great interest.

This might also have implications for illegal immigrants but that's another line!

Here's the Jamiaca Inn Wikipedia link I meant to add:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Inn

Kenneth Kwame Welsh, (C) I am beginning to think that you, like me, are related to everybody!

Kenneth Kwame Welsh, (C)

This John Rowe is a direct-ish ancestor to me. One of his descendant's wives was an indicted witch of Ipswitch in the Salem Witch trials of 1692. I will send you the link to "the immigrant" and see if we can connect him to yours - more likely the link is further back in Devon, though.

America.   Two John Rowes from Devon came to Massachusetts during the early days of the colony.  The first, the son of an old established family, arrived in the 1640's.  He settled in a desolate part of Gloucester known as the Farms.  One of his descendants, also called John, fought for Washington in the Revolutionary War. 

Does Anyone know where Hillshire England is ???? I have Ancestor that was suppose to be married there. Wondered was county type area that in.

Hannah Jarvis

Billie