Westover Family History on the Mayflower

Jeff Westover 17th Century, Family History, Journey of Discovery January 12, 2020January 12, 2020 0 Comment

The year 2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower. No doubt we will be hearing a lot of history related to this anniversary. The pilgrim story of the Mayflower began in the summer of 1620. But after several false starts the actual voyage of the Mayflower did not get underway until September 6th. It took 66 days or until November 9th for the Mayflower to arrive. Plymouth was never intended to be their destination. But given their late departure and the rough seas along the Atlantic coast of the New World they ended up deciding, on Christmas Day 1620,Click to continue…

Mapping Our Family History

Jeff Westover Family History January 10, 2020January 10, 2020family map, timeline 0 Comment

Despite my inability to spend as much time as I wanted on family history last year it still was a productive time and one that helped to make solid family connections. I am thrilled to have established new contacts with Westovers in Canada, Minnesota, Michigan and North Carolina in the past year. Some of the most consistent feedback I get is that there needs to be a better way to tell the family story in a concise manner. It is nearly a universal desire to have a quickly accessible family tree online. It is my desire to see as manyClick to continue…

Gathering Edwin’s Family

Jeff Westover 19th Century, Family History October 21, 2019 0 Comment

Earlier this year I was contacted by an individual working on a project related to the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike associated with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Her goal was to share the history of residents local to Cache Valley who worked the railroad after it was completed. One such individual was John Henry Westover, son of Ann Findley and Edwin R. Westover, and a brother to my grandfather William. I was very familiar with John Henry. He’s one of my family history dead ends. This man is buried here locally and I was able to findClick to continue…

King Bluetooth of Denmark

Jeff Westover Family History July 14, 2019July 14, 2019King Harald Bluetooth 1 Comment

I am about to change your life. Hence forth, every time you pair an earpiece to your cell or a Bluetooth speaker to your smart phone, you will think of your ancient Norse grandfather, Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson. You can call him King Harald or, as many did in his time, simply, Bluetooth. Our relation to King Harald comes though the Murdock line – which flows through Ruth Althea Rowe Westover, wife to our William. King Harald was king of Denmark and Norway way back in the 10th century, some 34 generations along our family lines. He is most famous forClick to continue…

The Deacon of Killingworth

Jeff Westover 17th Century, 19th Century, Family History July 6, 2019July 6, 2019Edward Griswold, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 0 Comment

Last year I shared with you a family history connection we have with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – great American poet and truly one of the “rock stars” of the 19th century. We share with Longfellow the common ancestors of John and Priscilla Alden. Another common ancestor we share is “The Deacon”, as Longfellow referred to him in his famous poem, The Birds of Killingworth. Cousin Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is famous for a lot of things. He was very educated. He spoke ten languages and studied dozens more. He was not only a poet but also a famous educator, teaching forClick to continue…

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