Whew! I think I have recovered from jet lag. Just a few days ago I returned from a fabulous trip to England, Wales, and Scotland. A big shout out to Jane Wall at dewtravel.netlify.app for planning and delivering an outstanding trip.
I had never visited any of these locations. My main purpose was to investigate two locations important to my genealogy research interests – the Howell family. We are related to the Howell family who were prominent in Atlanta Georgia from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. It is quite a convoluted connection so I won’t go into the details here. My mother’s grandmother’s maiden name was Howell. The photo below is my great grandmother Harriet Lucile Howell Smith with three of her oldest children, probably around 1890. She is one of the characters in my most recent book, The Letter Box.
The Howell name and descendants are thought to be derived from King Hywel the Good who ruled in Wales around 900 a.d. He was credited with uniting the many kingdoms into a cohesive country by establishing laws, culture, a monetary system, and political allies in England. The ruins of Dinefwr Castle from which he ruled still stand. I was determined to make it to the top of the big hill/small mountain on which it stands and was so glad I did! It was amazing to be in the midst of history.
The other location was Westbury Manor in the tiny village of Marsh Gibbon, outside of Bicester, England. Hundreds of years later, in 1536, William Howell acquired the property and established it as the home of his branch of the Howell family. Although not fully documented, from my research I believe my mother’s Howells were related to this family. The current owners of the manor welcomed us to their lovely home, which now features a section they operate as an AirB&B.
In the Southern USA we tend to think of buildings as old if they’ve lasted one or two hundred years. To actually stand in pre or circa medieval-aged buildings was humbling. And to think, on top of the age factor, that your very ancestors have lived in such buildings, was an astounding experience.
I know today’s generation may not be so fascinated with such ancient history. As a child I didn’t either. Maybe one day when my grandchildren are older they will find this genealogy as fascinating as I do. Hopefully such ancient sites will continue to be preserved.
The trip included many other locations. One of the most fun was a tour of locations where the Outlander television series was filmed. It was just like being in the presence of Jamie and Claire!
Some people claim researching genealogy is living in the past, which can be seen as a not-so-good pastime. Learning from the past, fondly remembering past people and events, and reflecting on the past to encourage personal growth can be valuable experiences. Any genealogist will tell you there are a wealth of satisfying explorations when tracing your ancestors. Not to mention the surprises you may find!
With the technology available today researching your ancestors is easier than ever. Have you discovered interesting family stories? Do you want the past to remain dead and buried or would you like to discover interesting stories about your own forebears?
Share your thoughts in a comment below.