Connections With Family and Ancestors

October 6, 2007 - We drove down (in 3 cars) to a BENEDICT family reunion in Southern Illinois. We had a great time. I stayed with Jim and Becky. They borrowed three campers for some of us to sleep in, and they parked them in their yard. I loved the sign Becky put out front: "Hillbilly B&B Breakfast Special: Poptarts." The event was quite a juxtaposition of people and place. At the tavern next to the picnic shelter people could drink beer AND shoot rifles for target practice, and then, for the first time, I met my cousin Ron's son, Todd, who is a fashion designer in New York City. Here's his website: http://www.toddthomasnewyork.com/

I had always wanted to do some genealogy work, and the reunion prompted me to begin researching Grandpa Tom's line. I created a blog, tracing back to my great great great grandfather John, born in 1742, all the way up to the newest baby (born during the California firestorms this fall). Just in case you're interested, here's the family website I created: http://benedictsbrownings.blogspot.com/

AND one night I couldn't sleep and was surfing the Internet, and came across a website devoted to my great-grandfather on my mother's side of the family. I was SO excited to find information about William Battam who sailed around the world four times (the first time at age nine as a cabin boy), and who also served on the royal yacht for Queen Victoria! Here's the website for my great grandfather - http://www.worldthroughthelens.com/ebook-north-west-passage.php