Family History

Since the 1970’s, prior to the common use of computers, I have been working on the Hallsted and Poff family genealogies.  I go in spurts.  In the ‘70s I spent a lot of time in libraries, pouring over microfiche film and old books.  Computers have made this job much easier. 

Then, along comes a TV show called “Who Do You Think You Are?” which got my attention immediately.   Recently they featured a show on Tim McGraw and as usual Tim learned many interesting things about his family history.  One mention in his family history was of the Palantine migration out of Germany through England into the Colonies.  This is one of those little pieces of European history which is never taught anywhere…but for some of us had quite an impact on our family history.

The Palantine migration started as the result of a book written to dupe Germans into immigrating into the English colonies.  These immigrants were promised free land, freedom from religious persecution and a fresh start on a new life.  However, the English crown knew nothing of the book or the promise so when all the Germans began showing up in London, they had a problem on their hands.

They took advantage of a bad situation, and for the German immigrants made the situation even worse.  They got everyone on board their ships, spent 7 weeks crossing the Atlantic and ended up in the English colonies as indentured servants.  What a rip!!

Anyway, turns out that Tim McGraw has an ancestor who was duped this way, and today I found out that I do too!  My friend Doug R. shared some links with me on my Poff ancestry and in reading through the information I learned that many generations back I had a grandfather who was also part of this migration, it turns around my notion that the Poffs were of Irish/Scottish descent.

Tim McGraw’s ancestor made quick work of getting out of that bad situation and became a major landowner in the Shenandoah Valley.  It appears that my ancestor spent 7 years as an indentured servant, working off debt owed to the English crown for his ‘free’ 7 week excursion!  Life continued to be difficult for this ancestor for a couple more generations, but eventually the family began to thrive and they also ended up in the Shenandoah Valley and then through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky and on into Ohio and Indiana. 

It was a long road, but I guess for those of us who have benefitted from their efforts today, well worth the journey.  And here I sit many generations later, learning a bit about history and my family.  Thank you Doug and computers.