The Celtic Connection
I grew up believing I was basically the product of an English father and an Irish mother, and never the twain shall meet (politically speaking, of course)... but there's much more to it than that. They're not so diverse as first appears. In fact, they're connected. This connection is made via my mother's Ireland, my father's Cheshire, England, my paternal grand-father's Liverpool and my great-grandparent's Wales. In other words, they're both "celts". Read on...
Updated: June 17, 2004
Wales... land of my gr-gr-grandfather...
My great-great-grandfather David THOMAS was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales... as was my great-grandfather Caleb Morgan THOMAS.
David was a miller at Hayston Mill in Llanstadwell, PMB. His oldest son Iltyd became a farmer... but Caleb -the second eldest son- went to sea when he was 15. He later became a Master Mariner.
Caleb's Number 3 son Percival Llewellyn (see below) married Sarah Emily ROBERTS She was born in Flintshire, Wales, but she married Percival L in Liverpool.
Other names connected with this branch of the THOMAS family: Roberts + Walker nee Jones c. 1840; Thomas + Campion c. 1876; Campion + Holroyd c. 1846. And as stated in the opening remarks, their origins ranged from Pembrokeshore, Flintshire (in Wales)... Liverpool, Lancashire... and Wallasey and Seacombe, Cheshire (England).
England... land of my father... and his father...
Percival Llewellyn THOMAS (this is my grandad) was born in Liverpool. His second son Percival Reginald (my dad) was born in Seacombe, Cheshire. Many of the THOMAS family still live in and around Wallasey, Lower Bebington... in that area. (I just haven't found any of them yet).
Ireland... the land o' me deere Oirish Mither (she was a saint, I tell you)
CUSACK from New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. Maternal grandmother was nee ROCHE (and her mother was a KENNEDY). We understand a branch or two of the Roches settled in the Chicago area, but I have yet to make a connection. (And if it's the same Kennedy family, we all know where they settled, don't we then? I wonder... how come we never got invited??).
Other names connected with this family: Cusack + Cloney c. 1848; Roche + Caulfield c. 1820; Roche + Kennedy c. 1860
There's an old Irish joke I just heard, and it tickled me so much I'm adding it here. The question is "Are ye left footed or right footed?"
Well, my dad was left footed... me mither was right footed. <haw haw haw>
This family has produced its share of good men and woman in the uniformed services, including firefighters and Federal, State and local Law Enforcement. They represent, among others, the FBI, U.S. Treasury, and various Police Departments throughout the country. I am, understandably, a strong supporter of law enforcement and --in spite of the flaws of some of them-- thank God for all of them. They're our first and last line of defence. It's a difficult, often dangerous, and most always a thankless job they do. So, next time you see one... Thank a cop! They've earned it!
We're also well represented in various military services, including the U.S. Marine Corps, the Army and the Navy. Good people in this family have served their country and their communities well.
Web Sites... divided into sections: 1.Relatives; 2. Name/place related; 3. Genealogy Societies and research facilities.
Section 1: Family sites:
My cousin Barbara Holmes' (nee Dowling) family page (includes THOMAS and ROTHERHAM)
Barbara Holms' daughter Jennifer's Poignant Page!
Section 2: Family Related Names and Places:
Rusty Thomas's Genealogy Page... a most interesting web site dealing with all aspects of the name "THOMAS."
The Best ROCHE/ROACH site ever! ...the amount of information here is awesome.
Now we're all involved with our own families, looking for ancestors who are long gone, we should pause to make note that there are families who are desperate to find their lost children. Please, take a moment to check this banner out, just in case you might see a little one that looks familiar to you. The rest of it speaks for itself...
And clicking this link will produce a list of kids missing from here in Florida.
If you want to find out if someone in your family is holding a reunion, type their surname here....
add Reunion Calendar Search to your website FREE!
DISCLAIMER: The genealogical information included on this site is not to be considered gospel! That's important for the visitor to understand, especially if you're also researching your roots. The best you can hope to find is an indication that there might be a connection between your tree and someone I have listed on these pages... but please do not consider the genealogical data displayed here as accurate. Only further detailed research can affirm or disprove any possible connections.
Having said all that, if you believe --or just think-- we might be connected, by all means send me email and let's see where it leads us. One never knows... do one?
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