I’ve been captivated by the stories and photos of my family since I was a little girl. My paternal grandparents affectionately called me the “family genealogist” back then, but my interest didn’t deepen until I began creating a spiritual practice. Suddenly, understanding who my ancestors were and where they came from took on more importance.
What began as a simple search for names and birth dates turned into a profound exploration into my lineage and who I am, not just as an individual, but as a result of centuries of lives lived before me.
My formal foray into ancestry research began years ago with an Ancestry.com account and, over the last four years, I’ve expanded my research to include genetic testing services like 23andMe, hoping to uncover a more scientific history.
I was also fortunate to have been given research by several distant relatives… While their work offered valuable insights, their genealogical charts could only take me so far, particularly since my focus is on direct lineage. There was a family bible that may have provided answers, but it was stolen, along with many other personal effects and heirlooms; casualties of a complex family battle after the deaths of my paternal grandparents.
One of the most striking revelations has been the depth of my family’s roots in the United States. My ancestors arrived during colonial times, settling primarily in Virginia and North Carolina. Astonishingly, most of my family has continued to remain in these regions, with very few exceptions.
Equally striking were the discoveries that contradicted family lore. Having been told most of my life we were of decidedly German decent, DNA results revealed an entirely different truth… My strongest ties lie in Northeastern England, Cornwall and Wales, alongside smaller, unexpected connections to Northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and West Asia.
Exploring this history has also been of tremendous influence to my spiritual practice. As I delved deeper into my ancestry, my great-grandparents, and the greats before them, started to feel present in a way I can’t fully describe; Venerating those who came before me became a meaningful, daily ritual.
Not all discoveries have been easy to process, however. I learned several of my ancestors owned slaves and that realization took the breath from my body, for a moment. This wasn’t some distant connection but a direct link to one of humanity’s darkest chapters. The weight of this truth deepened as I uncovered records of relatives who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War – one executed for desertion, another lost in battle.
Reconciling these truths has been challenging. I’m still learning how to confront my family’s role in these atrocities with the seriousness and respect it both demands and deserves. By facing these difficult truths, I hope to uncover the full story of my family – not just the parts that are fun, exciting, or easy to accept.
This undertaking has been a humbling realization on the complexities of identity. My intent, moving forward, is to continue to explore who the members of my family were and actively work to amend our collective generational sin along the way.
Safeguarding and passing down a full, accurate history of my lineage may be one of the most important things I ever do. I want my daughter to understand they’re part of something ancient and enduring, holding close the knowledge that we’re part of an unbroken thread, stretching and connecting us all through time.
I want them to feel empowered and protected as they grow into themselves and, as the last one standing, it’s up to me to honor my ancestors while paving a thoughtful path for the next generation.