Chris' Family Founded an American Town ~ Greenwich, Connecticut

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 43 (URBAN)

The town of Greenwich, Connecticut was named after Greenwich in England by Chris' 10th great grandfather, Jeffrey Ferris.

"...On July 18, 1640, the Siwanoy Indians, for the price of twenty-five English coats, sold the land that is now Old Greenwich to four Englishmen. One of the Englishmen, Jeffrey Ferris, named the area..." 1

In researching this blog I discovered only 3 were men, and one a female noted in the quote above.

I also discovered Chris' father's maternal line founded the town of Greenwhich. 

"...But back in 1640, when the town of Greenwich was founded, the Point was known as Elizabeth's Neck in honor of the wife of Robert Feake. With Captain Daniel Patrick and a few other settlers, Feake bought the land and surrounding areas from the Siwanoy Indians for the princely sum of 'Twentie Five Coates.' (However, the deed shows that only fourteen English coats were actually delivered.)

Captain Patrick, a feisty fellow, had been thrown out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for unbecoming behavior and found a less God-fearing atmosphere in this Connecticut frontier settlement. He did nothing to further good relations with the Indians when he killed Chief Mianos in an altercation. He got his comeuppance, however, when he was shot in a brawl with an enraged Dutch soldier. Feake became deranged and wandered off into oblivion. But another founder, Jeffrey Ferris, who named the town Greenwich after his birthplace in England, still has progeny here today.. ..." 2

Feake Ferris House in Greenwich CT Connecticut USA
Sourced below

Take a wander through Greenwich today:

Daniel Patrick's widow, Anneke, married Chris'
1st Cousin X11 removed - Tobias Feake

Elizabeth (nee Fones, Winthrop) Feake is Chris' 10th great grandmother

Robert Feake is Chris' 10th great grandfather

Jeffrey Ferris is Chris' 10th great grandfather 
- It appears that Jeffrey was likely born in Leicester not Greenwich, but the town was definitely named after Greenwich in England.

All of these connections are through Chris' grandmother's maternal line
grandmother:
Nina Merle Vannatter
Birth 18 JAN 1926 • Houghton Township, Ontario, Canada
Death 5 SEP 2002 • Tillsonburg, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
married to
Lyle Clare Buchner
Birth 7 SEP 1926 • Tillsonburg, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
Death 29 JAN 2023 • Tillsonburg, Oxford, Ontario, Canada

Nina's ancestors were Patriots, 
Lyle's ancestors were Loyalists

In considering family history through a
Truth & Reconciliation lens ... 1st comes TRUTH

This Bramble Bush must examine the colonial role of our ancestors on both sides of the border.

In bringing forward the stories of our ancestors we bring forward truth.

Understanding the role your family played in history!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  OLD GREENWICH. Greenwich at a glance. Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 22nd 2025 from
https://www.greenwichchamber.com/greenwich-at-a-glance/ 

2  A Brief History of Greenwich. Greenwich at a glance. Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 22nd 2025 from
https://www.greenwichchamber.com/greenwich-at-a-glance/ 

Sources:

Greenwich at a glance. Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 22nd 2025 from
https://www.greenwichchamber.com/greenwich-at-a-glance/ 

Seton, Anya. The Winthrop woman. Houghton Mifflin, 1958.

Photos:

Swampyank, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved October 22nd 2025 from
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feake_Ferris_House_in_Greenwich_CT_Connecticut_USA_(cropped).jpg

Video:

Walking Old Greenwich, Connecticut in November 2022. Action Kid. Originally published November 5th 2022. Recorded November 3rd 2022. Retrieved October 22nd 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Mm9XkzOYs

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Storey OR Storms ~ Digging A Little Deeper

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 43 (DIG A LITTLE DEEPER)

Over, under, around - working on brick walls.

Thinking about this prompt I decided it was time to see if Ancestry Thru-lines could help  me  dig  a little deeper on my maternal grandmother's paternal line. 

The Bayes side of that line has been well researched because my X3 great grandmother is Artemissa Merrill who married Solomon Bayes. This Merrill line is connected to Princess Diana meaning it's a well researched and documented line. 

Their son, Franklin Sheldon (Francis) (Frank) Bayes' wife is my current brick wall. 

On the marriage registry dated July 12th 1898 X2 great grandma was Mary Ann Storey & her parents (my X3 great grandparents) are Peash & Venie (nee Unknown) Storey.

witnesses & dates for the Baptist marriage:

In looking at Ancestry Thru-lines I discovered a new match that had the last name STORMS in their tree. 

I immediately thought about a conversation I had with my grandmother many years ago. We were talking about her family line when I said I found the marriage registry of Franklin Sheldon Bayes & Mary Ann Storey. She got a confused look on her face, and said that she thought her grandmother was Mary Storms. I showed her the marriage registry on my phone, and she decided maybe her memory was not correct.

In hindsight I wish I would have asked for more information at that time. 

That is the problem when you think you already know the answer, and stop asking. 

It's too late to ask grandma for more information because she is soon going to be 97, and her hearing is such that phone conversations just don't work. I live too far away to stop in for a visit & discussion. 

I will need to dig a LOT deeper to figure this out.

I found a Peter Storms married to a Levina
                  *These could very well be Peash & Venie
BUT they were married in 1881.

The 1901 census record for Franklin & Mary Ann shows her birth as 26 March 1879.

Levina's death registry records her mother's maiden name as STOREY.

When I look at the shared match for the relevant tree the in common DNA in the range for the expected relationship of the theory. 

I sent an inbox message to the tree owner.

This might be the way I can dig UNDER the brick wall that I have been searching.

I know that Ancestry Thru-lines can be problematic, but in this situation Thru-lines has presented a possibility that needs to be considered more carefully. 

In reality my tree showing the last name Storey may be causing grief for others even if I have the marriage registry to back it. 

When you find something that helps you dig a little deeper!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Political Organizing ~ Worker Organizing

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2022: Week 43 (ORGANIZED)

Earlier this month I attended the CUPE National Sector Conference in Ottawa on behalf of my union local. I am unsure how many were in attendance, but there were thousands across the different sectors.

"Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada's largest union, with 715,000 members across the country. CUPE represents workers in health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation, airlines and more" 1

At this conference there were breakout rooms for each sector, and lots of cross-sector opportunities. We joined the Red Dress walk at the Parliament & came together to discuss diversity needs in the workplace. The energy was palpable.

I attended the library sector with about 40 other folks from libraries across Canada. The stories shared by my library colleagues were exactly the same regardless of community size or province. This was both sad and encouraging. 

My #1 takeaway from this conference was the issues we are dealing with in library can no longer be explained away as society problems. 

They are now library problems that need library solutions.

Not unexpectedly the talk turned to politics, and how politicians have the means and ability to make change. 

After that week we all returned with new ideas and thoughts about making a difference.

The ability to make change needs organizing. 

That is how the union movement first began - the need to ORGANIZE!

This got me to thinking about my great grandmother, Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson who was part of starting the political party, The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF),  when it was founded in 1932.

"The CCF aimed to alleviate the suffering that workers and farmers, the ill and the old endured under capitalism, seen most starkly during the Great Depression, through the creation of a Co-operative Commonwealth, which would entail economic co-operation, public ownership of the economy, and political reform." 2

Great grandma Elizabeth (some called her Lizzie) is the 2nd from the left in the front row wearing the white hat and shirt. 

This photo can be found all over the internet, in old books & encyclopedias, and on the wall of my home.

"The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was founded in Calgary in 1932 as a political party to represent progressive farmer, socialist and labour forces, and to implement their agenda of nationalization of key industries, universal old-age pensions, health insurance, children’s allowances, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation and other social welfare measures. J. S.Woodsworth, a long-serving Member of Parliament and social welfare activist, became the CCF’s first President at its initial convention in Regina in 1933. At the provincial level, the CCF government in Saskatchewan implemented important social welfare measures in 1944, and the first provincial medicare plan in 1962. At the federal level, the CCF never formed a national government, but its policies contributed greatly to the national hospital and medical services insurance programs." 3

"After much discussion, the CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress decided to join forces to create a new political party that could make social democracy more popular with Canadian voters. This party, initially known as the New Party, became the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1961." 4

I became a fan of the NDP before I was old enough to vote after meeting Corky Evans who was not yet the MLA for my Kootenay hometown of Nelson.  

I met Corky on the step of my first rented apartment. 

He was going door to door for the upcoming election. 

When I said I wasn't old enough to vote he didn't treat me like a child. 

He continued to talk to me like I had value to the political movement of the day. He stood there with static cling causing his pant leg to be attached to his sock about 4 inches up his leg. 

I was fascinated by this man who was a politician, actually wanted to hear what I had to say, and didn't appear to care about his static cling. 

The next day I contacted his campaign office to ask about volunteering.

This was the first time I got an inside look at the election process, but it wasn't the last. I have spent many election nights with an inside look volunteering for my candidate of choice often hauling my family members along. 

In researching for this blog I discovered that Corky didn't win that night. 

For me that obviously didn't matter since I hadn't remembered. 

I'm sure he felt differently!

I believed the NDP messaging then & I still do. 

I didn't realize I followed in my great grandmother's footprints.  

I also didn't realize that Corky ignited in me a passion to try to make a difference in the world I live in. 

I wonder if that was his intent when he talked to that too young to vote young person on the steps that day. 

In 2002 my sons & I visited Great Grandma Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson. 

We spent some time honouring her life with flowers & cleaned her grave marker. 

The CCF wasn't without controversy. 

If you are interested in learning more about how and when the CCF became the NDP or the history of the party check the sources below. 

When you discover your ancestor's impact on the world as you see it!!!

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1 About Us. CUPE. Canadian Union of National Employees. Retrieved October 25th 2022 from https://cupe.ca/about-us

2 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Wikipedia.  Retrieved October 25th 2022 from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Commonwealth_Federation

3 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Canadian Museum of History. Retrieved October 25th 2022 from 
https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/medicare/medic-2k03e.html

4 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Wikipedia.  Retrieved October 25th 2022 from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Commonwealth_Federation

Sources:

The CCF’s Regina Manifesto, Canadian Dimension. Originally published May 7th 2018, Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/the-regina-manifesto-1933-co-operative-commonwealth-federation-programme-fu

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Learning. CBC History. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from 
https://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP13CH3PA1LE.html

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1932-08-01 - 1961-08-02). Profile. Political Parties. House of Commons. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/Parties/Profile?partyId=2027

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/co-operative-commonwealth-federation

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation political party, Canada. Brittanica. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Co-operative-Commonwealth-Federation

Corky Evans. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corky_Evans

A Study in Continuity and Change. The CCF in Saskatchewan. Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan. Originally published February 2nd 1943. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://www.saskarchives.com/CCF_in_Saskatchewan

What Does the CCF Stand For? Maclean's Magazine. Originally published September 1st 1943. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1943/9/1/what-does-the-ccf-stand-for

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Shock & Halloween ~ Electa Graves

Shock is the prompt for this week. 

It's also Halloween tomorrow.

Who better to present then my two 4th cousins X2 removed named ELECTA GRAVES. 

The name would only have been better if there was an R - I had been searching for an ELECTRA in our tree - ELECTA is close enough.

The last name GRAVES meant they were the perfect ancestor to feature this week.

May I introduce you to my 4th cousin X7 removed

Electa Graves
BIRTH 19 NOV 1762 • Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA
DEATH 27 JUN 1766 • Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

The next child born after Electa died was a girl born in 1768, and they named her Electa as was common practice at the time. 

My 4th cousin X7 removed

Electa Graves

BIRTH 9 JAN 1768 • Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

DEATH 14 AUGUST 1848 • Charlemont, Deerfield Valley, Massachusetts, USA

The 2nd Electa married my other 4th cousin X7 removed who also happened to be her 2nd cousin

Aaron Lyman

BIRTH 1 OCT 1760 • Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

DEATH 14 AUG 1845 • Charlemont, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA

Their great grandparents were:
Benjamin Lyman

BIRTH 10 AUG 1674 • Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

DEATH 14 OCT 1723 • Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

and

Thankful Pomeroy

BIRTH 31 MAY 1679 • Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

DEATH 18 SEP 1773 • Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

It is at this point that I can no longer tell you exactly how I am related to either of them because I am also related to Thankful in addition to Benjamin Lyman. 

I am also fairly confident I am related to Electa via her father's Strong line. Her connection to husband Aaron is via her mother's line. 

As I was digging I also found the name PARSONS who I wrote about for 2019's Halloween post that you can find here:
Witches, Witches, Everywhere ~ My relatives: Mary Bliss Parsons & Sarah Lyman Bridgman

Each generation has names that are repeated over and over again in our tree making it difficult to ensure new folks are actually new.

When your family tree wraps back and forth as only a Bramble Bush can! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photo:

Halloween Pumpkin Jack-O'-Lantern, Retrieved October 30th 2021 from
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/halloween-pumpkin-jack-o--lantern-2837936/

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

________________________________________________________________

Pangborn ~ Things That Make You Go Hmmm

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 43 (QUITE THE CHARACTER)

When thinking about the prompt QUITE THE CHARACTER I traveled up our Bramble Bush on the Vannatter line looking for someone that made me go 'hmmmm'.

I traveled all the way back to 1665 where I found my husband's 8th great grandfather.

Edmond Pangburn

BIRTH 1665 • Long Island, Nassau, New York, United States

DEATH 1711 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States
married to 

Lydia - maiden name not confirmed

1670–1744

BIRTH 21 SEP 1670 • Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut

DEATH 1744 • Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey

their son ~ my husband's 7th great grandfather:

William Pangburn

BIRTH 1706

DEATH 1759
married to

Mary Ann Coddington

BIRTH ABT. 1706 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA

DEATH 1780 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA

Their daughter ~ my husband's 6th great grandmother:

Annatje Mariah Johanna Pangburn

BIRTH 14 AUG 1736 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States

DEATH 1767 • Woodstock, Ulster, New York, United States

married to

Jacobus Jensen Van Etten

BIRTH 3 MAR 1733 • Kingston, Ulster, New York, United States

DEATH 1767 • Smithfield, Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States

This is where the Pangburn name ends in this BRAMBLE BUSH.

The Van Etten name begins.

Their son ~ my husband's 5th great grandpfather:

William VanEtten

BIRTH 13 JAN 1760 • Rhinebeck, New York, USA

DEATH 1842 • Ontario, Canada

married to

Annatje Merckel

BIRTH 20 OCT 1765 • Katsbaan, Ulster County, New York, USA

DEATH 1835 • Ontario, Canada

This is where the VanEtten name ends in this BRAMBLE BUSH.
The Vannatter name begins with all 6 children using the new spelling variation.

Their son ~ my husband's 4th great grandpfather:

Benjamen Vannatter

BIRTH 8 JUN 1794 • United States

DEATH 24 NOV 1867 • Ballinafad, Wellington, Ontario

married to (2nd wife) 

Mary Havens

BIRTH 23 DEC 1808 • Clinton, Ontario, Canada

DEATH 28 DEC 1866 • Erin, Wellington, Ontario, Canada

When I first started researching on this family line my husband thought the Vannatter family origins were Italian. When I first climbed this branch, and discovered the variation in the name I wondered where he got the belief they were Italian. I told him he needed to embrace his heritage by letting go of red wine & embracing black licorice. He explained that he just thought the family names: Alonzo, Nina, Maria,Vera, etc.... sounded Italian, and he did enjoy pasta and red wine so it seemed logical.

Now back to why I chose the Pangborn family line to feature for QUITE THE CHARACTER.   

According to the House of Names - The Pangborn family Motto is:

I would rather die than be disgraced

translated from Latin --- Malo mori quam foedari --- it can also mean:

Death rather than dishonour

or 

I prefer to die rather than lose my honor

BUT in further research it appears as though that it's an Irish motto for the Ryan family. 

I had never heard the Pangborn name before researching for this blog. I was surprised at how many references there are throughout the internet. This is a line I would like t spend more time tugging the threads of. 

Regardless of where the motto originates 

I can confidently say it fits for
my husband & our sons

Remembering those who came before us!






This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***







Sources:

Malo mori quam foedari, Heraldry of the World, Retrieved October 25, 2020 from

https://heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/Malo_mori_quam_foedari

The Pangborn Motto, Pangborn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms, House Of Names, Retrieved October 25, 2020 from https://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/pangborn-family-crest.htm

Image Sources:

Free Public Domain Images, Snappy Goat, Retrieved October 25, 2020 from

https://snappygoat.com/s/?q=bestof%3Atree+roots+stem+branches+naked+bare+cross+section+silhouette+orange

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________