from Tennessee to Nauvoo to Utah

Other things may change us, but we start

and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt

June 27, 2010

Greetings to all you family members!

As June draws to a close another school year is ending for most of us. What stories could you write down, of your life this year; that could become part of your family history? What could your descendants learn from your views of the world in 2010?

Mary Fleming is fifth generation removed from Pocahontas and I am 12^th. She was born about 1728 in Goochland, Virginia, a new country nurturing the seeds of independence. She married William Bernard and they had a daughter, born in 1758, whom they named Catherine.

The early history of Virginia indicates that our ancestors were well educated.

Here is quote from John Adams: “A native of America who cannot read and write is as rare an occurrence…as a comet or an earthquake…and I have good authority to say, that all the candid foreigners who have passed through this country, and conversed freely with all sorts of people here, will allow, that they have never seen so much knowledge and civility among the common people in ay part f the world.” (from THE EDUCATION OF JAMES MADISON)

Are we living up to our opportunities to be educated as our ancestors were? Can we make a difference when we need to?

Catherine Bernard married William Bennett. They had a son, William Junior Bennett, born in 1790, 14 years after the Revolutionary War, he was born in Prince Edward County Virginia.

Two centuries have passed for our American ancestors; two centuries of literacy and independent thinking. In 1818, with the American population under 20 million, Noah Webster’s spelling book sold 5 million copies.

Our noble history turns an important corner when William Junior Bennett married Elizabeth Bell.

They were among the first converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; they were among the first to join the Saints in the new city of Nauvoo Illinois. My great-great grandfather, John Bell Bennett, was born in Shelbyville, Illinois, on the way to Nauvoo.

He made the trek with his mother and family, across the plains to Utah.

We all are of hardy pioneer stock.

More stories to come.

Have a great week. Walk with honor. Do well thy part,

Aunt Linda