It has always been interesting to me as I research my family and Cory’s family how closely their paths matched over time. Knowing that our ancestors could (and did) come from vastly different locations at different time periods it is not unreasonable to expect they they would follow somewhat similar migration patterns, but the frequency in which our families appear in the same locations in the same time period is just fun to see.
One of the most recent in time connections is that Cory’s Great Grandfather Lobner came over from Germany and took up a plot of land as part of the Kinkaid Act (featured in another blog post) and my 2X Great Grandparents Mauser and Kallsen came and took up plots of land as part of the Homestead Act. The Lobner family was in Garden County, NE, while the Mauser and Kallsen families were in Deuel County, NE. We believe that Karl Lobner utilized the blacksmith services of Gottlob Mauser as he hauled freight.
About that same time frame Cory’s Great Grandparents Seibert were in the Cedar County, NE area as were my Great Grandparents Munter and Anderson. We haven’t seen evidence that they were acquainted, but it isn’t out of the question as my Great Grandfather Anderson ran a service station and Great Grandmother Anderson ran the cafe.
I could go on, but the one I’ve found recently goes way back to 1630. My 10X Great Grandfather Rev George Phillips, who is related through my Great Grandmother Marjorie Bayne, sailed from England to Watertown, MA in 1630 sailing on the Winthrop Fleet. He was a puritan and it seems, very influential in the new colony. Cory’s 8X Great Grandfather Thomas Hastings, who is related through his Great Grandmother Hannah Hastings, was also part of the same colony. He arrived in Watertown in 1634 and held many public offices through his life in Watertown including Deacon of the church. I’ve been giving Cory a hard time that wherever we find our families in the same place that his family has been following mine and that he’s been stalking me for 400 years. Grin…. I’m sure tomorrow I’ll find a dozen examples that make me eat those words, but it’s been fun for a while.
I should also note that in both of these lines there is one generation where the tie is a bit shaky for proof, but to this point, this is what I believe to be correct for now.
Links with information on Watertown, George Phillips, and Thomas Hastings
Cory and Nicole Family History 