Genealogy has always been a huge part of my life.  I grew up hearing the old family  stories and longed to know more about the people from which I came.  In time, I  learned that some stories were true, while others were merely wishful thinking.  I  dedicate everything to my Dad and Grandmother, who knew the importance of family, and  who instilled in me a desire to keep on learning.

Some things to know when viewing my family tree - call it a quirk, call it a  result of OCD, but I hate having dates following the names, so if you see a  name in brackets, that is the name of the person they married.  For example,  if I didn't know my Grandma's maiden name, I would have put Audrey Florence  Unknown [Best].  OR if there are multiple people - say there is more than one  Audrey, it would become Audrey Florence Ballard [Best] to differentiate her  from another Audrey Ballard.

Any name that has an asterisk (*) following it means that this person is a  direct relation of mine.  Seeing as how I trace all the children and their  families, it was becoming harder to see who was my direct relative.  The tree  starts with me: Kelly Lynn Martin and so it would look like Martin, Kelly  Lynn**.  My parents would therefore become Martin, David Wesley* and Best,  Diana Lynn*, for example.

Also, when I uploaded my gedcom file, it listed "ALIV0" or "ALIV1" in the  notes section.  I am slowly going through and deleting these.

Why Genealogy?

Though I was always interested in my family's history, I didn't start until  the deaths of my Grandma (July 2002) and my Dad.  Dad knew little about  the Martin side of my family and always claimed that genealogy didn't matter -  we are all related in the end.  But I wanted . . . no, needed to know more.   My Grandmother had always shared stories about her family and their rich  history, and so I began with them.  Geneaology is more than a hobby, it's a  passion.  There is nothing more exicting then discovering your roots.  This  website is a culmination of all the information I have found.  In my searches,  I have discovered new cousins and gotten in touch with "lost" family members.   It has been well worth the time, effort and money that has been spent so far,  and I doubt that I will ever be completely finished.

When I first began this journey, I had only a few names and a few  misconceptions to work with.  With perserverance, I quickly amassed a list of  names I know my Grandmother would have been proud of.  I dedicate all the Isle  of Wight information to her, and to our Ballard line.  Sadly, I am having very  little luck in tracing the Lusignan/Lovely's.  I thought that they would be  the easiest when compared to my father's surname of "Martin".  Instead, it is  the Martin line that has provided a wealth of information.  If you think  you're related, drop me a line.  Please feel free to leave comments in my  guest book or email me, either way I look forward to hearing from anyone and  everyone!  As time goes by, I'll be adding more links, and more information.   And keep in mind, I don't gaurentee that this is all 100% correct!  So I  apologize for mistakes and things that have been left out!!

Where'd They Come From?

England
Specifically the Isle of Wight
A sampling of surnames from England: Adams, Ballard, Burrowes, Cummings, 
Sothcott, and Towles

Ireland
Specifically County Cavan and Dublin
Surnames: Evans, Hannah, Martin, and Scanlan

Canada
Specifically Montreal
Surname: Lusignan

France
Surname: de Lusignan (currently no information on the French line of (de) 
Lusignan's because I cannot verify the information.

Other countries include the Netherlands, Germany, Wales, and Scotland.

What About the United States?

My ancestors left behind their families, homes, and the lives they had known,  seeking better opportunities in the United States.  Many came here and fought  in our wars, proud to be able to call themselves Americans.  But what states  did they live in?  Not as many as you'd think.

Maryland
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Virginia

Famous Relatives

John Howland (Mayflower Immigrant) 
Daniel Boone (Frontiersman)
Wilbur and Orville Wright.

Sources

The Wyckoff Family in America: a genealogy - complied by William 
Forman Wyckoff; published 1950, Summit, N.J.
Genealogy of Evans, Nivin and Allied Families - complied by Hon. 
Septimus E. Nivin; published 1930, Philadelphia, PA.
The Family of Best: In America of Holland Descent - by Charles Best
Benson; Knickerbocker Press, 1909.
The Towles Story: From Henry, the emigrant, of Accomac County, 
Virginia, to Hester Towles and Jean Bryan Johnson - Hester Towles Purcell

Special Thanks

Thank you so much to Helen (auldthymes @ Find a Grave) for the photos of my Evans' 
family graves in Oakwood Cemetery, North Carolina.
Another hearty thanks goes out to Donna Friday, for her contribution 
(including photos) to my Sothcott line.  Thanks!
A big hello and thank you goes out to a "cousin" who just recently found 
me over at Ancestry.  Thanks, Nigel (Ballard) for adding some information to 
our line!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed information to help this family 
tree grow!

Remember me in the family tree 
My name, my days, my strife;
Then I'll ride upon the wings of time 
And live an endless life - GOETSCH