Our Somers Family Heritage

David Brainerd was a trailblazer in taking the Gospel to the Native Americans. The Somers family can be forever grateful for our Native American ancestors who might have heard the "Good News" and been converted to Christianity, as we look forward to meeting them in Heaven someday. David Brainerd (April 20, 1718 – October 9, 1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans who had a particularly fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey . During his short life he was beset by many difficulties. As a result, his biography has become a source of inspiration and encouragement to many Christians. Missionaries such as William Carey and Jim Elliot , and Brainerd's cousin, the Second Great Awakening evangelist James Brainerd Taylor (1801–1829) have been motivated by the ministry of David Brainerd. ( Wikipedia ) Link: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=616030646 See also: HAVE YOU READ THE LETTERS OF DAVID BRAINERD? (Log ...

Battle of Moore's Creek Re-enactment - Piedmont Trails The Trail of Liberty & Independence Posted at Piedmont Trails: The normal teachings of this period discusses the forefathers and their actions that proclaimed separation from England, but in truth, it was widely known to many settlers and pioneers of North Carolina that religious beliefs would not allow a king to overpower their livelihood and progress. Families would worship one king and that was Jesus Christ. This was the ultimate division between the colony of North Carolina and England. This allowed Christians to stand up and fight the first battle of the Revolution in Alamance, NC in 1771. ... If we visited the homes of our ancestor’s in the wake of the American Revolutionary War, we would hear the words, liberty and independence quite often. The settlers living in North Carolina were all seeking one important common denominator, and that was prosperity. In order to achieve this, one must be free of obstacl...

Here's another article from the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources regarding the Christian missionary work among the native people of North Carolina: On January 21, 1881, the elders of three churches met at Burnt Swamp Baptist Church in Robeson County to form what became the Burnt Swamp Association. The formation of the group solidified what had been a strong, informal relationship. Burnt Swamp Baptist was founded in 1877 by 20 Lumbee Indians. They received encouragement from two local white churches, Raft Swamp and Clyburn Baptist. Prior to Burnt Swamp’s organization, impromptu religious meetings and revivals had been held for two decades, but no organized religion was available to the community. At their 1885 meeting, members resolved to adopt Burnt Swamp Indian Association of the Croatan Indians as their official name, the first in a series of name changes over the years. After years of struggling to gain acceptance, the Association was admitted to the B...

Church emblem featuring the Agnus Dei . Stained glass at the Rights Chapel of Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina , United States  ( Wikipedia ) Posted at the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources : On December 27, 1752 , the survey for a Moravian settlement began in what is now Clemmons. Bishop August Spangenberg led the frontier expedition that selected the land that became known as the Wachovia tract. The original survey contained only about 73,000 acres, so five additional parcels were surveyed, bringing the total to 98,985 acres. Spangenberg judged the tract to be about 50 percent good land, 25 percent medium and 25 percent poor. He was enthusiastic, however, about the numerous springs and creeks and the promise of potential sites for mills. He was satisfied that they had identified “the best land yet vacant” in the colony. A settlement in North Carolina offered Moravians the prospect of serving their neighbors, establi...

Cherokee Supreme Court Museum - Image source:  http://nativenewsonline.net/ I found this informative article posted at the Cherokee Phoenix yesterday which tells of an exhibit honoring the Christian work of the Moravian missionaries among the Cherokee people: Cherokee Christmas exhibit opens Dec. 8 BY STAFF REPORTS 12/06/2017 12:00 PM TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Experience the first Cherokee Christmas through a holiday exhibit at the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum. Cherokee Christmas shares the story of how Moravian missionaries brought holiday celebrations to the Cherokee people in 1805. The exhibit features information about how traditions began and displays decorations similar to what was used at the Vann’s Georgia home during the first Cherokee Christmas. The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum is at 122 E. Keetoowah St. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Originally built in 1844, it is Oklahoma’s oldest public building. The 1,950-...

Osiyo. Today, Saturday, November 4, 2017, we commemorate a Cherokee Nation Day of Prayer. This special day is acknowledged jointly with our brothers and sisters from the Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole tribes. Prayers have always been an important part of our culture and our society as Cherokee people. That holds true for our traditional spiritualists and our Christian leaders. It’s why we start every meeting, every gathering of our people with a blessing and prayer. Let us never underestimate the value God gives our prayers and offerings. I truly believe the more we pray, the happier we are. And we have greater peace of mind and heart. Prayers strengthen our families, our communities and our tribe. Please remember that Saturday is the Cherokee Nation Day of Prayer. I encourage you to take a moment that day and every day to yourself, and pray to our Creator. May God continue to bless the Cherokee Nation and may God bless you and your loved ones. Wado. Principal Chief Bill Joh...

Since I learned of my father's Alzheimer's Disease in 2014, I've been blogging his memories/stories about his family and finding more information about our NA and Scottish roots. I remember researching our family with my cousin Sheri years ago (early to mid 1990's) and we couldn't get past Grandfather; he was part Native American and had hidden his family background... Or so he thought, because through the internet I've traced our line back to Scotland. It really is a noble heritage and one I hope to pass on to my sons. As it is believed that our Somers family roots originated in Scotland, I think it might be helpful for us to learn more of its forgotten Christian history. Here is a link to two brief videos that will eventually become a series of Scotland's Forgotten History. I hope you'll enjoy them and develop a love and connection to our Scottish heritage. It's one of bravery and heroism of a people who lived and died for the glory of ...

David Brainerd on horseback. He travelled over 3000 miles on horseback as a missionary. Wikipedia The title of this blog is "Tracing My Christian Heritage" and I love to read about the early Christian missionaries in America who shared the gospel with the natives. I often wonder if David Brainerd or perhaps a lesser known missionary shared the gospel with one of my ancestors; and if the good Lord will reveal how His grace was woven throughout the tapestry of the Somers family with all of it's branches and offshoots when I am with Him in Glory. Here are some links to articles regarding the evangelism of Native Americans I recently found at Baptist Press that I think you will be blessed to read: Pocahontas - Wikipedia 400 years: Pocahontas conversion discussed JAMESTOWN, Va. (BP) -- Four hundred years after the death of one of the most well-known Native Americans in history, scholars say Pocahontas' profession of faith in Christ is among the few fact...

Indications are our branch of the Somers family tree has some connections to the Netherlands through the Arden/Beekman and Casteal ancestry. Please be blessed as you learn more about the Dutch Reformation and Protestant history presented by W. Robert Godfrey at Ligonier Ministries . - Angela (Somers) Wittman, ed. The Dutch Reformation The success or failure of the Reformation in a particular region often depended on whether the ruler of the region supported or opposed it. However, the Dutch Reformation was an exception to this tendency. Though bitterly opposed by the Habsburg monarchs, Protestantism attracted a large following in the Low Countries. As religious and political tension led to upheaval and war, the courage and persistence of the Dutch people prepared the way for a free Dutch Republic and the rise of the Dutch Reformed Church. From the series A Survey of Church History, Part 3 by W. Robert Godfrey Source: http://www.ligonier.org/learn/daily-video/2016/10/12/the...

Grandmother Lillian Mae Weaver/Somers Grandmother Lillian Mae Weaver/Somers told me as a child our ancestry was "Black Welsh" and "Blackfoot Indian."  I remember asking her what is a "Black Welsh"? And Grandma replied that it simply meant we had dark hair and dark eyes. Here are my notes regarding Grandma's family surnames and their origin: Weaver - English origin. (Father's surname) Wright (Mother's surname) - English or Scottish origin. Casteal or Casteel (paternal Grandmother) - Dutch or Spanish origin. Jones (maternal Grandmother) - Welsh origin. Burdett (paternal Great Grandmother) - French or English origin. The Jones name certainly points to our Welsh ancestry, but what does "Black Welsh" mean?  Wikipedia has a stub article which says: Black Welsh people are inhabitants of Wales who have an African or a Caribbean background. Wales is home to one of the United Kingdom's oldest Afro communities, an...

Editor's Note : I'm so happy to share this bit of America's Christian history with you! Great Grandfather Henry Francis Somers was a "Circuit Rider" for the Baptist Church in the Southern Missouri/Tennessee/Arkansas region and areas beyond! What a wonderful legacy he has left for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;... Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV)

My aunts - Minnie Lorene (Somers) Pickard, (11.07.1926 - 4.28.2006) and Mamie Irene (Somers) Shepherd, (10.30.1921 - 2.14.2011) - Photo taken 10.29.2000 One of my most recent memories of Aunt Lorene is attending Worship with her at a Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo., while she sang this Baptist Hymn solo:

A story my father has often told me, which he learned from his father, is that our branch of the Somers family was involved in a "family split over religion" between two brothers.  I'm not certain which generation this happened during, or if it's just a family story handed down through generations that was elaborated on with little truth left in it. But, as my grandfather was not known to be a liar or inventor of tall tales, I believe it is based on fact. So, please bear with me as I give you my theory as to what might have happened. Great Grandfather Henry Francis Somers was a popular evangelist around the turn of the 20th century and into the early 1900's. He preached at tent meetings and outdoor revivals in the Southern Missouri and Arkansas area. How far his travels took him, I really don't know except they must have been extensive as Grandpa's half sister, Amanda Tidwell, told my father that Great Grandfather Henry was a circuit rider gone for ...

"The Beekmans were steadfast Protestants from the time that Martin Luther protested against the corruptions of the Church of Rome in 1521."  ( History of the Beekman Family , Rootsweb )   Wilhelmus Beekman is reported to be my 7th Great Grandfather on the Somers side of the family. His  Great Granddaughter, Catherine Arden, married Capt. John Somers (Rev. War – my 4th Great Grandfather) in 1780 and they settled in Caswell County, NC. After John died, she married an officer named Lemmon. (I live near Fort Lemmon in Monroe County, Illinois, but haven't yet determined if it is named after Catherine's second husband.) Wilhelmus Beekman's grandfather, Rev. Gerardus Beekman (1558-1625) was active in promoting the Reformed religion and "was one of the distinguished scholars who translated the King James Bible from the original manuscripts into English for James I and for his services received special honors from the King. [12] " ( Wikipedia ) He...

Editor's Note: Our branch of the Somers family tree has native American ancestors, and while I haven't found documented proof of which ancestor (or ancestors) were native, the legend is it was of the Cherokee tribe. My father and grandfather tell the story of twin Cherokee boys on the Trail of Tears being orphaned and adopted by white settlers. Grandma Somers told me we were Blackfoot - not Cherokee. So, while I haven't found the trail of paper to prove our family story, I suspect there is an element of truth and our branch has Native American blood. Please be blessed by reading this bit of Christian His-Story regarding Presbyterian missionaries and the Cherokee as posted at This Day In Presbyterian History : An Injustice Which Found No Excuse  Related here is a brief account of Presbyterian missions among the Cherokee and Choctaw Indians, just prior to and immediately following the grave injustice of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Removal Act resulted in...

I'm reblogging this bit of Christian His-Story in honor of the Somers family heritage which began with Capt. John Somers of Caswell County, NC in the 1700's, and continued with his son in Tennessee and eventually my Great Grandfather settling in Butler County, Missouri... and to my Native American Cherokee ancestry which was hidden for many years to avoid racial persecution. - AW The original Burnt Swamp Baptist Church hosted meetings that led to the formation of the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association in 1881. The association moved the structure, which has its original floor joists, to the current association office property in Pembroke, N.C. (Photo by Alan Oxendine) By Jim Burton - Posted at Baptist Press: PEMBROKE, N.C. (BP) -- In 1881, Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, an association of Native American Baptist churches, was established. From its humble beginnings of three churches in Robeson County, N.C. -- two of which still exist -- the association now includes 70 ch...

While researching my grandmother's side of the family, I came across some very interesting information regarding my Great, Great, Great Grandfather Samuel Little.*  It appears he may have been an Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church and helped found the RP in Sparta, Illinois which is approximately a 30 minute drive from my home! If so, I have indeed inherited a noble Christian heritage and I bless the Lord for it. My grandmother was Lillian Mae (Weaver) Somers and her father was William Izear Weaver, the great grandson of Samuel Little and Elizabeth "Betsy" Boone. Here is some information I found on-line that appears to link Samuel Little to the Reformed Presbyterian Church: Some Descendants of Samuel Little and Elizabeth "Betsy" Boone Samuel Little, born 4 Feb 1777 in Rowan County, North Carolina, died 8 May 1831, possibly in Smith County, Tennessee. His parents have been tentatively identified as John Little, Sr. and Bellany Erwin. He mar...