I knew, vaguely and in the back of my mind, that Utah was a slave territory before the Civil War. It’s one of bits of trivia I trot out from time to time to serve as a reminder that I’m a history nerd. Not that anyone really cares. Not that it matters to Civil War…
Durand Coat of Arms
Did our immigrant ancestor Dr. John Durand (1664–1727) have a coat of arms? I don’t think so. John (Jean) Durand (1664-1727) was a French Huguenot, orginally from the Île de Ré, near LaRochelle. He came to America about 1685, eventually settling at Derby, Connecticut. The usual reference for John Durand’s coat of arms is Bolton’s…
When Bill Met Essie
My great grandparents Wilford “Bill” Luce (1864-1948) and Essie Wilson (1878-1927) got married October 24, 1898 in Champaign, Illinois. So, where did a Wyoming rancher meet this woman from south central Illinois? I’m afraid I might have been responsible for a bit of erroneous information here. I answered an email off the cuff many years…
Slew His Brother for a Horse
Great grandpa Will Luce married as his first wife a woman who was daughter of a local rustler and the local madame. Grandpa Will later divorced her for adultery after he came home and caught her in bed with one of his ranch hands. She stayed in Big Piney, never re-married, and continued using her…
Who was Henry Lewis?
Researcher Cody Luce recently called my attention to the interesting problem of Henry Lewis. Henry appears, so very briefly, in a 1649 court record at Salem, Massachusetts, then seemingly disappears forever. Court held at Salem, 11: 5: 1649. Danyell Rumball, presented for bringing Henry Lewis into the town contrary to order, was discharged (Records and Files…