Comments for Ole's Blog

Comment on Letters to Dan Myers, 1898 by Lois Larson Hall

Lois Larson Hall — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:22:28 +0000

Spelling correction in previous posting: Should be Ebenezer Bostwick (not Bostic) Couch according to family search on-line data.

Comment on Letters to Dan Myers, 1898 by Lois Larson Hall

Lois Larson Hall — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:20:05 +0000

This was interesting reading because there’s so much detail. Larry’s mother (Doris Couch Hall Searing Skidmore) had a re-copied version of a diary of sorts from the Civil War with notes written by Larry’s great-grandfather Ebenezer Bostic Couch who was serving in the Union army from the state of Illinois. The information was sketchy with entries like “it rained today” or “nothing happened today.” Unfortunately it tells little or nothing about what it was really like to be there. Detailed letters like the one to Dan from his brother are nothing short of priceless.

Comment on 1066 – A Clean Sweep by George

George — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:41:12 +0000

Hm. He probably had no inkling, unless he was familiar with, and somehow identified himself with, ancient Slavic and Scandinavian folklore. Vladimir II’s great-grandfather, Vladimir I, was sainted for bringing Christianity to (or forcing it on) his realm, which included much of present-day Russia and Ukraine. Some of Vladimir’s military conquests were made possible with the help of Viking forces recruited from Norway. (There was already a Viking presence in Kievian Rus’; alliances, and conflicts, between them and the Slavs were nothing new.) Vladimir/Valdemar/Waldemar has been a very popular Slavic/Scandinavian/German name ever since.

Comment on 1066 – A Clean Sweep by Lois Larson Hall

Lois Larson Hall — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:30:16 +0000

Hmmm, wonder if my dad had any inkling that his name (Waldemar) was the same as that of one of his far-distant grandfathers (Vladimar) 25 or so generations earlier.

Comment on Conquerors,Vikings, and Saints by George

George — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:21:48 +0000

OMG! I just found Tostig Godwinson in my database, part of the connection (one of them at least) between Anna Moen and Judith Martel and Charlemagne. Once again, a descendant of Harald married one of Tositig’s about a dozen generations later. Both of those lines were developed by Orrin Moen, who sent me the data several years ago. So, of the four principals in the Norman Conquest and the preceding Viking invasion, not two, but *three* of them are 28th or 29th great-grandfathers!

Comment on Conquerors,Vikings, and Saints by George

George — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:52:06 +0000

I am such a non-sports fan, I did not realize that the day after I posted this, the Vikings were playing the Saints in an NFL playoff final.

Comment on Conquerors,Vikings, and Saints by George

George — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:42:47 +0000

Cousin Lois asked me to clarify that it was her son, cousin Steven Hall, who recommended the Andrew Bridgeford book. And let me add my own thanks to Steven for his keen eye on history and our family.

Comment on Pilgrims to Potentates by George

George — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:12:19 +0000

I am eager to read that book. I’m sure I can get it from the local library, either from its own collection or on Inter-Library Loan. I am already aware that those folks “weren’t very nice.” Power corrupts, and just becoming powerful already involves violence and corruption, except in our democratic society, where it only requires corruption.

Comment on Pilgrims to Potentates by Lois Larson Hall

Lois Larson Hall — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:24:43 +0000

George, if you haven’t already, you absolutely must read the book I mentioned in another post, “1066: The Hidden History in the Bayeux Tapestry.” You will learn much about your famous ancestor William Duke of Normandy who became William the Conqueror, king of Britian. You know what? Lots of both our ancestors weren’t very nice guys sometimes, or gals either for that matter, as it seemed quite a few of the women were right in there in fray in the quest for power. It was a blood-thirsty era with seemingly unending power struggles in northern Europe. At any rate, the book is fascinating. I think you’d enjoy it.

Comment on Pilgrims to Potentates by George

George — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:49:31 +0000

Definitely! Eleanor of Aquitane is your 25th great-grandmother.