Our Somers Family Heritage

I've recently been reading of the Dutch Reformation and learned of the part Prince William of Orange (aka William the Silent) played in establishing freedom of religion and liberty of conscience in the Netherlands. This video is excellent, and I whole-heartedly recommend it to you. While I have no indication that we are related to Dutch nobility, I do know we have a long history of Protestantism. So, for this reason, I think it is important for us to know a bit of our Dutch Protestant history.   -  Angela Somers Wittman  Direct Link:   The Rebel Prince Who Became The Father Of Dutch Independence? | William the Silent Description:  William the Silent - or William of Orange, as he is known in the Netherlands - started out life as a loyal subject of the Hapsburg empire, the son of a minor noble. Inheriting the principality of Orange at a young age catapulted him into the rich and dangerous politics and schemes of Europe. He would eventually turn against the su...

Posted at Genealogy.com by Kelle Metz: Posted June 6, 2006 "I found this research by Rev. L.C. Lemons of the Ardens of Warwickshire England, which shows the marriage of John Lemon's grandson, John, youngest s/o Alexander Lemons, to Sarah, the youngest daughter of Catherine Arden Somers.  "Now here's the explanation of this marriage: "Alexander Lemons married the widow Catherine Arden Somers, wife of Captain John Somers (death 1803.) Catherine Arden Somers and her husband John Somers had 4 sons and 3 daughters, the youngest daughter was Sarah Somers. Alexander Lemons youngest son, John, and Catherine Arden Somers Lemons youngest daughter, Sarah, fell in love and married c 1813. John and Sarah Somers Lemons' first child, James Arden Lemons was born 1819 in Rockingham Co NC. In 1824 John and Sarah went to Wilson Co. TN where her brothers already had migrated to bounty land of 3860 acres which Captain John Somers had earned in Revolutionary War. "...I also ...

Old Rowan County Courthouse in Salisbury, 1934 Marvin W. Helms - http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/nc/nc0300/nc0312/photos/102737pv.jpg Photographic view from the southeast of the Rowan County Courthouse, 200 North Main Street, Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina. Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. (Source:  Rowan County Courthouse Salisbury North Carolina - Salisbury, North Carolina - Wikipedia ) Our "Little" family line has been traced back to Rowan County, North Carolina. This area is rich in history and the citizens were well known for their patriotism in the War for Independence. Please join me for a closer look at Rowan County and our ancestors who once lived there. We'll start with Samuel and Elizabeth (Boone) Little . Samuel Little was born around 1780 in Rowan County and Elizabeth in 1786 at Hunting Creek (Rowan County). Elizabeth is the daughter of Rebecca and John Boone . There is also speculation that we are relat...

  Annie Somers Gilchrist is the daughter of James Somers , a younger brother to John Somers Jr. the eldest son of Capt. John Somers and Catherine Arden of Caswell County, North Carolina  and who is the patriarch of our branch of the Somers family.  Annie was born March 30, 1841 in Dresden, Tennessee and went to be with the Lord on February 2, 1912 at the age of 70 years. She married John A. Gilchrist in 1859. (Source:  Annie Somers Gilchrist (1841-1912) - Find a Grave Memorial ) Annie had a unique perspective on the War Between the States and wrote about her experiences in the novel   Katherine Somerville Or The Southland Before and After the Civil War.    While using fictional names, the novel tells us what life was like for her and her family during this turbulant period in our nation's history. Annie begins by recounting her idyllic childhood and what it was like to grow-up on a Southern plantation, referred to as "The Oaks." She also gives ...

  Mose and Mary Ann Jones have been somewhat of a mystery to me. As you can see in this image of Grandma's Bible, she didn't have much information to record. However, due to today's interest in genealogy and technology, I have found some additional information on her great grandparents. According to Geni.com , Mary Ann's maiden name was Ballard. She was born on July 13, 1839 in Henry, Tennessee  and died December 13, 1929 in Ripley (County?) Missouri . (See also:  Mary A Ballard Jones (1839-1929) - Find a Grave Memorial ) She was the wife of J. Malachi Jones (Mose?) who was born March 26, 1826 in North Carolina and died in Ripley (County?) Missouri August 17, 1897 at 71 years of age. (You can view his gravesite at:  J. Malachi Jones (1826-1897) - Find a Grave Memorial ) Their daughter Nancy E. Wright was my grandmother's grandmother. Nancy's daughter Maggie Leona Weaver was grandma's mother.  I remember as a young child grandma telling me that we were Bla...

  Originally posted on Facebook  June 11, 2020 : While researching my family tree I found that many of my ancestors in the South actually fought for the North - in fact, some had to leave Tennessee and relocate in Missouri after the War. But removing historical monuments and statues, plus banning the Confederate flag is a blatant attempt to rewrite history. Why do this? I'm proud of the adversity my ancestors experienced as it made them better people and is an honorable legacy for their descendants. ~ Angela (Somers) Wittman These sentiments are still true today. Plus, I have always admired Gen. Grant - probably due to his St. Louis connection which is where I grew up; and while reading his memoirs I am impressed with his Christian ethics in private, as well as influencing his war ethics and public endeavors. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865; also ...

  My niece shared this picture of my dad taken when we celebrated his 86th birthday last July.  He was laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks yesterday (02/07/2022) with full military honors.  Pastor Geoff Ingrum of Heritage of Grace Church in Columbia, IL presided over the service.  It was a beautiful day and Dad would have been proud of the service and respect shown to him.  Thank you to all who attended and those who kept us in their prayers.  Christ was honored and glorified. Amen.