Dreaming of the past

What a journey I've been on this week, a trip all the way back to 1701.  As hard as I try to stay off the computer, I am compelled to read my email daily. The thing is, I sometimes get caught up in the unsolicited emails, like the one from www.Ancestry.com  They offered me a two week 'free' browse around, I could look up all my peeps in that amount of time, right? 


Nope. I am still looking for people on my mother's side, as I think I have exhausted my father's side, for now anyway!


When I sit on my bed, and spread out all these names and dates and places I am just blown away by how many people I am related to. It's mind boggling! I might be related to half my readers, if I only knew who Hoosier mommy and daddy!


My dad told me tonight that he heard Obama was related to Rush Limbaugh! Of course that isn't true, is it?!


A story posted in the website, "How Thomas and Mary Deaton Arrived in the Colonies" was my 'piece de resistance'. It's a short story of how my 7th great grandfather, along with 22 other persons, immigrated from England in 1701. (That is 309 years ago, for those of you who don't do the math.) 


It isn't known why Thomas decided to leave England for America, but maybe he came for the land that was being granted here. Thomas's voyage was paid by an investor, one who was allotted 1081 acres by the Crown in Essex County. Thomas entered the New World when he was about 22 years old.


This story will definitely help me with good dreams tonight. I can dream about the adventurous spirit my 7th great grandfather must have had, to pack up, leave his wife, Mary, and sail to America. It isn't clear when she was able to join him, but she did eventually, and their 11 children are proof. 


I can imaginate about James 'the pioneer' Deaton or Captain William 'the Tory' Deaton, tromping about the wilds of Virginia, in search of lions, and tigers and bears, Oh my! Seriously though, I lived in Virginia for a few years when I was first married to my current hubby, and I loved, loved, loved going to Williamsburg. I could imagine myself living there, and eating at the Kings Arms Tavern was most delightful. I only wished my kids would have loved the peanut soup as much as I did. 


Little did I know that when I lived in Virginia, I was walking on hallowed ground, reliving some kind of DNA. That's muscle memory and then some! Just talking and writing about Williamsburg and the Deatons, and that peanut soup, I can't wait to go to sleep now and dream of the past!