Re: Abner Flewellen (b. 1760)
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Re: Abner Flewellen (b. 1760)
Fay Hoodock 7/05/03
I understand that everyone, in Virginia at least, claims descent from Pocahontas; but that few such claims can be verified. I recently looked at several sites dealing with these matters from curiousity. I forget was the judgement was on the Bolling's. Apparently some genealogists claim a few more children for her than she could possibly have had.
This is similar to persons whose surname derives from Llewellyn claiming descent from the Welsh princes of that name. Hardly likely as the male descendants of those princes were pretty systematically wiped out. Llewellyn's-Flewellen's are as likely descended from Llewellyn the Shepherd as Llewellyn the Prince. More so.
A similar legend exists concerning John Budd, founder of Rye, NY. His wife, Katherine, is said to have been Katherine Browne, d/o the 2nd Viscount Montague, descended from Edward I, King of England. Her maiden name may have been Browne, but if so, she was more likely the d/o Hackaliah Browne of Rye. An examination of the Brownes, Viscounts Montague, produces little likelihood that John Budd married into that family.
There was a genealogist in the late 1800's in New England who produced works for clients. When he reached as far as he could go, he tended to fake references to connections to noble families. Apparently, his false lineages are still a matter of difficulty.
I recall one genealogy which claimed that Britannicus, s/o the Roman Emperor, Claudius, married his step-mother and cousin, Agripanilla, and had descendants; including the compositor of the genealogy. Since Agripanilla's son, Nero, killed Britannicus when the latter was about 14 years old, this seems a bit unlikely.
On the other hand, while many are eager to show their royal lineages, the Welsh claim descent from the goddess, Aphrodite. I have always thought it better to be semi-divine than merely semi-royal.
Thomas
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Re: Abner Flewellen (b. 1760)
Fay Hoodock 7/05/03