It sounds like a genealogical clich?, but Kerry Elkins? family story that they were part Cherokee Indian appears to be correct through the England family line.
Kerry, 67, lives in Redmond, Oregon with his wife Joyce and children Aaron and Amber, both college students. Born in Neodesha, Kansas, he received his biology BS and MS from Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, Kansas).
Kerry with his wife Joyce and children Aaron and Amber
Now retired, his career has included a stint as a sonarman on the destroyer, USS Brownson, an FDA investigator, a radiation safety officer, a health officer and the owner of a computer store.
He caught the gen bug from his mother, who worked on her family?s history.
When she died, I got her notes, tons of pictures, scraps of paper and a love for genealogy. When my mother-in-law died, I got records of their history, that had been published, and I also began putting together their family tree.
So many genealogists believe they descend from native Americans ? or even Cherokee princesses ? that we tend to smile when we hear that claim. However, Kerry?s investigation shows ? that in their family at least - the rumor appears to be correct through the England family line.
He has also been able to trace his grandfather Orrin Usher?s family back to a castle in England in the 1300s.
Kerry?s grandfather, Orrin Usher
Kerry joined MyHeritage less than a year ago.
I love the ability to edit my tree at home and publish it when necessary. I have two trees, Elkins-Monroe-Usher-Stansbury and my wife?s Fulton-Pence-Braidwood-Smith.
I like the ability to import other pieces into my trees, but my favorite is the new SuperSearch which allows me to dig further into my family trees.
His brother, Rick, is a great help and the source of their mother?s research. His wife?s cousin, Anne Allen, has been of invaluable assistance with her book, photos and advice.
Additionally, a Braidwood relative, Robin Woods, is an excellent researcher and, without her, I would not have been able to assemble that complex tree.
The Elkins brothers from left: Jerry, Nick, Rick & Kerry
Kerry has about 4,000 individuals ? who live all over the U.S. - in each of his two trees.
Smart Matches have allowed me to find cousins and others in our families.
Has Kerry discovered any long-lost or previously unknown relatives?
I?ve been able to find a number of relatives, but I knew most of them. I?ve been able to contact them through the links on their Smart Matches.
When Super Search was introduced, Kerry just about wore it out.
Through SuperSearch, I was able to trace the Usher family back to England. Before that, I had been stuck at my great-grandfather on that line.
Thank you, Kerry, for sharing your story.
Did you enjoy Kerry?s story? Share your view in the comments below.
Do you have a story to tell? Contact us at stories@myheritage.com
Source: http://blog.myheritage.com/2012/08/myheritage-cherokees-and-more/
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