When Kelly is not an Irish surname

This post replies to this week’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” theme from Amy Johnson Crow: “How do you spell that?”  "Kelly" is one of the top five most common Irish surnames, along with Murphy, Byrne, O'Brien, and Ryan. My wife's paternal grandfather was a Kelly, and his paternal grandfather Sylvester Kelly immigrated from County … Continue reading When Kelly is not an Irish surname

Hawthorns and religion in colonial Virginia

This piece is adapted from a family history I wrote in 2020 about my Hawthorn(e) ancestors who originated in Virginia and migrated west through Georgia, Louisiana, and eventually Texas. This responds to the theme "Worship" in Amy Johnson Crow's “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” Religion was central to the lives of colonial Virginians, as it … Continue reading Hawthorns and religion in colonial Virginia