American Tapestry

Welcome to my family history site, which will be primarily about my immigrant ancestors. I will also try to show how each line connects with the American Revolution.

As far as I know, all of my ancestral lines arrived on this continent before 1776, which I assume is rather unusual.  Though some were already here–the Native Americans of the Nansemond  tribe–the earliest immigrant ancestors were mostly English and Dutch, with a good number from France, Ireland, and Scotland.  They represent ancestors 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 generations back, which means some arrived 150 years before the War for Independence.  We’ve been speaking English a long time!

Here is a link to my GEDCOM.  Please let me know if you are seeking additional information on a particular ancestor, and I will do my best to help you as time permits.

Kitty Steele Barrera

Attributions

Cover Art: 
The March to Valley Forge, By Wm.B.T. 
   Trego (1858-1909) [Public domain], via Wikimedia 
   Commons

Additional Art:
Thanksgiving, By Jennie Augusta Brownscombe 
   [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Fall of New Amsterdam, Jean Leon Gerome Ferris 
   [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia 
   Commons
Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses, 
   By Peter F. Rothermel (1817–1895)[Public domain], 
   via Wikimedia Commons
Declaration of Independence, By John Trumbull 
   [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Battle of Long Island, By Domenick D'Andrea, 
   [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Nieuw Amsterdam, By Johannes Vingboons 
   [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
First Dutch Reformed Church of Albany, By Unknown. 
   Edited by Daniel Case prior to upload 
   [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Official Presidential Portrait of Thomas Jefferson, 
   Rembrandt Peale [Public domain], via Wikimedia 
   Commons
Martha Jefferson, [Public domain], via Wikimedia 
   Commons

13th Generation

1. Robert Brasseure, d. 1667, Maryland
2. Philippe Du Trieux, d. 1653, New Netherland
3. Susanna Du Chesne Du Trieux, d. 1654, New Netherland
4. Joachim Wesselse, d. 1681, New York
5. Guertruy Hieronimus Wesselse, d. New York
6. Theunis Quick, d. 1666, New York
7. Brandt Van Neukirke, d. 1644, New Netherland
8. Christopher Branch, d. 1681, Henrico County, Virginia
9. Mary Addie Branch, d. 1630, Henrico County, Virginia
10. Col. Francis Epes, d. before 1674, Charles City County, Virginia
11. Dr. Robert Booth, d. 1657, York County, Virginia
12. William Andrews, d. 1684, Essex County, Virginia
13. Anneke Jans, d. 1663, Albany, New York
14. William Thomas Peacock, d. 1661, America

12th Generation

1. Benjamin Brasseure, d. 1662, Maryland
2. Evert Jansen Wendell, d. 1709, Albany, New York
3. Maj. Abraham Staats, d. 1694, Albany, New York
4. Jacob Theuniszen De Kay, d. after 1688, New York
5. Johannes Pieterszen Van Brugh, d. abt. 1698, Kings County, New York
6. Catrina Raeleffse Van Brugh, d. 1700, New York
7. Capt. Goosen Gerritt Van Schaik, d. 1676, New York
8. Geertje Van Nieukerke Van Schaik, d. New Netherland
9. Teunis (Anthony) Cornelisse Van der Poel, d. aft. 1687, Albany, New York
10. Catrina Janse Croon Van der Poel, d. aft. 1694, New York
11. Capt. Thomas Harris, d. 1658, Henrico County, Virginia
12. Col. Henry Isham, d. abt. 1676, Henrico County, Virginia
13. Katherine Banks-Royal Isham, d. 1686, Henrico County, Virginia
14. James Field, d. Henrico County, Virginia
15. Col. Henry Soane, d. 1662, James City County, Virginia
16. Judeth Fuller Soane, d. aft. 1651, Virginia
17. William Clopton, Sr., d. 1733, New Kent County, Virginia
18. George Wilkinson, d. Virginia
19. Sara Lydall Wilkinson, d. Virginia
20. John Garnett, d. abt. 1706, Gloucester County, Virginia
21. Salvatore Muscoe, Sr., d. Virginia
22. William Peacock, d. 1702, Surry County, Virginia
23. Richard Singletary, d. 1687, Essex County, Massachusetts
24. Susannah Cooke Singletary, d. 1682, Essex County, Massachusetts
25. William Nicholls, d. Virginia
26. John Stockbridge, d. 1657 Suffolk County, Massachusetts
27. Nathaniel Basse, d. 1654
28. Mary Jordan Basse, d. 1629

11th Generation

1. Richard Skaggs, Sr., d. 1726, Maryland
2. James Ewing, d. 1740, Pennsylvania
3. John Robinson, d. 1688, York County, Virginia
4. Elizabeth Potter Robinson
5. Peter Starkey, d. 1675, York County, Virginia
6. Bridget Christmas Starkey, d. Virginia
7. Jean Baptiste de la Chaumette, d. 1728, Stafford County, Virginia
8. Elizabeth Bouvet de la Chaumette, d. Stafford County, Virginia
9. Capt. John Nettles, d. 1686, lost at sea near Indonesia
10. Mary Reed Nettles, d. 1717, Suffolk, Massachusetts
11. Thomas Jefferson, d. 1687, Henrico County, Virginia
12. Elizabeth Muscoe Garnett, d. Virginia
13. John Muse, Sr., d. 1723, Westmoreland County, Virginia
14. Benjamin Brashier, d. 1663, Maryland
15. Mary Richford Brashier, d. 1663, Maryland
16. William Seale, d. 1704, Essex County, Virginia
17. Thomas Smithers, d. 1678, Norfolk County, Virginia
18. John Basse, d. 1699, Norfolk County, Virginia
19. Judith Soane, d. 1707, New Kent County, Virginia
20. Humphrey Pope, d. 1684, Westmoreland County, Virginia
21. Guein Corem Carmack, d. 1746, Frederick County, Maryland
22. Katharina Emmerich Trautmann, d. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

10th Generation

1. Johann Peter Ensminger, d. 1739, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
2. Maria Catherine Trautmann Ensminger, d. aft. 1739, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
3. Johann Nicholas Ensminger, d. 1785, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
4. Anna Margaretha Ludwig Ensminger, d. 1774, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
5. Samuel Paxton, d. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
6. Cornelius Noell, d. 1699, Essex County, Virginia
7. Elizabeth Page Noell, d. aft. 1699, Essex County, Virginia
8. Rev. George Robertson, d. 1740, Henrico County, Virginia
9. John Henry Raines, Sr.
10. John Newton Bristow, d. 1716, Middlesex County, Virginia
11. Andreas Ludwig Kissinger, d. 1757, Lancaster County, Pennsylania
12. Susanna Fischerin Kissinger, d. 1760, Lancaster  County, Pennsylvania
13. Johann Georg Spahr, d. 1777 Pennsylvania
14. Maria Catrina Kauffman Spahr, d. 1776, Pennsylvania

9th Generation

1. Johann Philip Ensminger, d. 1807, Monroe County, Virginia
2. Samuel McKeown, d. South Carolina
3. Francis George Steger, d. 1769, Cumberland County, Virginia
4. Ann Perratt Steger, d. 1748, Cumberland County, Virginia
5. Robert Duff Green, d. 1748, Culpeper County, Virginia
6. Eleanor Dunn Green, d. 1748, Culpeper County, Virginia
7. James Maitland Lauderdale, d. Sumner County, Tennessee
8. James Noell, d. 1741, Essex County, Virginia
9. Johann Friedrich Spahr, d. 1789, York County, Pennsylvania
10. John Dickey, d. 1788, Newberry County, South Carolina
11. James Irwin, d. 1770, Rowan County, North Carolina
12. Agnes Patterson Irwin, d. 1800, Burke County, North Carolina
13. Johannes Theobaldt Mueller, d. Pennsylvania
14. James McVey, d. Virginia
15. Thomas Paxton, d. 1762, Rockbridge County, Virginia
16. Heinrich Kuntz, d. 1822, Frederick County, Maryland
17. Anna M. Schnaeder Spahr, d. 1801, Pennsylvania
18. Jackson McKeown, d. Chester County, South Carolina
19. Robert Wiseman, d. South Carolina
20. Margaret Jefford, d. South Carolina
21. Elizabeth Cook Smithers, d. 1751, Kent County, Maryland
22. Dr. Thomas Broome, d. 1765, Virginia

8th Generation

1. Henry Johnson, d. 1815 Robertson County, Tennessee
2. Rachel Holman Johnson, d. 1815, Robertson County, Tennessee
3. Ann Wiseman Dickey, d. 1830, South Carolina
4. Alexander Dickey, d. abt. 1835, South Carolina
5. John Samuel Sparr, d. 1836, Fayette County, (W) Virginia
6. Reuben Steele, d. 1759, lost at sea between America and Scotland
7. Hannah Crockett Steele, d. 1800, Virginia
8. Robert Withrow, d. 1800, Greenbrier County, Virginia
9. Hugh Lamb, d. 1815, Tennessee
10. John McVey, d. 1823, Kentucky or Virginia
11. Henry McNeely, d. 1811, South Carolina

A Little About Me

When we learn how our ancestors dealt with the events and challenges of their time, we realize the sacrifices they made that now allow us to live comfortable, peaceful lives.  I hope I can preserve the legacy of my forebears and other brave Americans for those who come after me, including my two sons and five grandchildren.

Starting at age 15, I often helped my mother do family tree research.  Genealogy continues to consume much of my time. Now that I have retired after 46 years of teaching, I hope to focus on finding the genealogical links that still elude me.

One clarification about the title of my site: I know that Michelle Obama’s genealogist has written about Mrs. Obama’s family history under the title “American Tapestry.” However, I used that specific title many years ago on a genealogy.com web page before I had ever heard of Michelle Obama. As far as I know, I was the first to use that title.  (See below.)

Kitty Steele Barrera

Thanks to Cathy Meder-Dempsey for locating my "proof" 
on a site last updated in 2005. http://www.rootsweb.
ancestry.com/~wvfayett/families.htm
 

Below is a screenshot showing my DNA ancestry, 
which is 100% European.

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