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Archiver > ALDEN > 2007-07 > 1183535762


From: "Alan Merryweather" <>
Subject: Re: Independence Day Genealogy
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 08:56:02 +0100
References: <20070703223849.UUBS14967.mta16.adelphia.net@FeliixTC.feliixplace.com>


Hi,

I've equivocal feelings about your 4th July.

Part of my ancestry is the AMIEL family. Jewish, probably moving along the Mediterranean, settling in Spain until being ejected 1492 to France. 1575 to Guadeloupe then on to Boston Mass.

John AMIEL became a successful ship owner there, trading in the West Indies.
Come the Revolution, (from the English perspective, 'the Rebellion'), John was part of the group who ran the city, moving in high society. What wouldn't I give to have photos of the fine parties he and his wife attended!

His wife, Christian (née NEWTON d/o HM Collector of Customs for Nova Scotia), had seven children, most of the six sons were army officers, or 'on board the King's ships'.

There are numerous records of how people agonised over which side to support.
In the days when honour was important, ("upon my honour"), how could army officers reconcile their oaths with disobedience?

In the event, Christian and all the children ended up in London. John was reported to have been 'a virulent rebel who took up arms against us at the siege of Charleston', this being used as an excuse by the English government's commissioners to bar Christian from compensation for huge monetary losses.
(Government had been so welcoming to the Nation's children - until the bills arrived ... ,).

The daughter returned to America to marry, John was imprisoned by the Americans as his loyalty was suspect and never seen again. At the age of 80, an impoverished Christian returned her birthplace.

However one son Peter AMIEL was most certainly true to your cause.
John Adams' diary records meeting with him in Paris etc and appointed him as secretary to John Paul Jones (your hero, our rascal).

Of the sons, Otho, the youngest got hold of an 18 year old £5000 heiress and married her at Gretna Green. A granddaughter of that union married my Grandfather, Henry Merryweather who took her and the children to America, mustered in the ACW as an Asst Surgeon in Ohio with the 5th U.S. Colored Troops.

But fate may have played a part in his death. He was appointed a full surgeon to the 117th on 1 January 1865 but on arrival found the place already filled. So he returned to the 5th and died of typhoid a short time before the end of the conflict.
His widow brought the family back to London.

So there are three strands to my ancestry connected with momentous events and right glad I am to have been fortunate to have found so much information about them - even if it has taken 40 years, (in progress), to track them down.

The American part of me rejoices and celebrates with you all!




Members,

In the U.S.A. we celebrate the Independence of our nation every July 4.

Tell us a story about the hero or heroine in your ancestry. Was he
a soldier? Was she a nurse? A leader? A wife or other family member
who stayed home to run the farm? A political leader? A patriot?

If your ancestor helped to win Independence in another land we'd
like to hear about him or her.

If your ancestor was instrumental in gaining Independence in any
other way tell us that story.

If your ancestor does not fit any of the above criteria but was
just plain Independent we'd love to hear about that one! :)

I look forward to hearing your story.


David

http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/alden.html

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