Inspired by the resurrected Irish Americans pit thread, claiming that 10th generation Americans aren’t Irish, I thought it would be interesting to see how long people’s families have been in the New World. I won’t be surprised to find most people could sort through there family trees to find pathways pretty far back.
Just through my paternal ancestors with my surname, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc. I can go back 6 generations to my 4th great grandfather who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1748 and settled in North Carolina. Two of his sons fought for militias on opposite sides during the Revolutionary war. Fortunately, neither child was killed.
At least four generations on both sides; I don’t know about further back. (I guess at some point I should learn more about my genealogy; I’ve never been particularly interested though.)
My father’s father’s family came to Massachusetts in 1633.
My father’s mother’s family came to the US via Canada in the 1850s. Settled in Sacramento area.
My mother’s father’s family came to New England some years before 1770s, as the family was well established as Loyalists well before the Revolutionary War.
I am not certain about my mother’s mother’s family, other than she knew her grandparents, which means at least 4 generations.
My 12th-great-grandfather was born in Amsterdam in 1599, and was well-established in the New York City area by 1638. Another 12th-great, of about the same vintage, was an “early Connecticut settler”.
My mom’s grandparents came over on the boat in the very early 1900s. Then they went back to Slovakia for a minute and came back again hehe So I’m a 3rd generation American on that side?
My dad’s GREAT grandparents came over on the boat, I guess in the late 1800s. So I’m 4th generation on dad’s side.
My maternal grandmother’s grandparents were the ones who came here from Germany. Not sure what year. Grandma was born in 1926, though, if that gives a rough idea.
My dad’s family were here before there was a US, but again I don’t know precisely when. They were French Canadian fur trapers, for the most part. Somehow everyone ended up in Chicago, where my mom’s mom and dad’s dad briefly dated before hooking up with their eventual spouses. How weird is that?
My mother was born on the way out of the Old Country and my dad shortly after his side of the equation landed. So I guess I’m like “first and a half” or so.
Dad’s side can be traced back to the 1750s when g’g’g’g’g’grandfather was lagged to Virigina for stealing a coat. Mom’s side . . . I don’t know. Her maiden name is an English-ified version of a German name, and her mother’s maiden name is pure Scots. I’m betting early to mid 1800s. Both sides tended to have kids late, so there are fewer generations than you might think. Neither side is up to ten.
Six or seven generations (actually the bulk of my family tree), to the 1840’s. I have records of one branch of the family going back to the 1600’s in England.
I am second American born generation on my father’s side, and third on my mother’s.
My Wife has done some geneology and her legitimate ancestry goes back to the 1630s for her European ancestors. She also has family who were here to greet the Europeans.
Which side? Paternally, my grandparents emigrated from a tiny farming village at the base of Mount Etna in Sicily in the early 1900s.
Maternally, part of my family predates European settlement, part of my family was transported here against their will, and part of my family dates back to at least 1850 and potentially significantly earlier (though records are about non-existent).
