A shady but romantic character who spent his life pursuing gold and silver all over North and Central America, from the Badlands to Mexico.
A sea captain who fought during the French and Indian War and who brazenly offered his services to General George Washington in the early days of the Revolutionary War.
A heroic and dashing youth who left Yale to become a flier in World War I and who was shot down by Germans, earning a posthumous Navy Cross.
Not to mention an evangelist preacher, an industrial baron, a passenger on the Mayflower and possibly the bastard child of a French nobleman several centuries ago.
These are some of the characters uncovered as various relatives of mine researched the geneaology of my family. And my family seemed so middle class and humdrum. You never know.
While the work of genealogists may seem dry and academic, but the results may reveal veritable gold mines.
On three Mondays, June 4, 11 and 18, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., the Rockingham Free Public Library is offering a genealogy workshop, facilitated by Wesley Nies. This is free, and the results may be fascinating and surprising. Space is limited. Call 802-463-4270 to sign up.