Monday, July 30, 2012

Matrilineal Monday: Mom and the "fellow Sampsons"

My Sampson heritage is actually a matrilineal one. My mother was a Sampson-- Stella Thelma Sampson and from there back as far as I can see  my direct line of Sampsons were all grandfathers: She was the daughter of Norvel Ray, who was the son of William Rosswell, son of Sanford Woodard, son of John , son of John . Mom brought up in conversation many times the oral history of the family as did my grandpa.  "They left Virginia in a wagon and came here to start life in Indiana"--always that was the main statement. I just wish I had asked more questions, wanted more detail, made a  picture in my mind like I'm trying to now. Grandpa had 2 daughters so the Sampson named stopped with him in our line. However, his brother  John Woodard Sampson, had a grandson named John Sampson and a great grandson named John Sampson.  Matrilineal Monday--the Sampson family, but a lot of boys sure made it easier to get everyone to fall in line.

4 comments:

  1. I need a history book to understand the settlement of Ohio, Indiana, etc. Was land free or just really really cheap? What was the attraction?

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  2. I am Tim Sampson from Wabash. I do not live there anymore but that is the line I am from. I am back in Virginia not far from where we started out. Funny how that works. My line is ending with a John Sampson born in 1755 in Orange Co VA. Is this the same John you are talking about being the grandson of John Woodard

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    1. So good to hear from you. I would love to hear about your line. A John Sampson who I know was in Orange County Virginia around 1787 and married to a Lucy is where I am stuck. John Woodard is younger. He was my grandpa's brother and was born about 1891. His grandson is John Sampson and so is his great grandson. They are still living.

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    2. My email ziemers47@embarqmail.com

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