Who really discovered America, a president's four stepmoms, gunfights at the San Francisco City Hall

Fatal Duels and Fake Family Trees

This edition of the Dancestors Genealogy Newsletter explores a variety of historical mysteries and biographical sketches centered on the author's ancestral research. The text untangles the confusing identities of multiple women named Phebe Belshe in Virginia and recounts the life of Jochem Pietersen Kuyter, a prominent Danish settler in New Amsterdam who was ultimately murdered. It also details a fatal duel involving Supreme Court Justice Brockholst Livingston and provides a warning against the fraudulent genealogical work of Gustave Anjou. Readers are introduced to the espionage activities of the Moon sisters during the Civil War and the complex origins of the unique name Santarelli Sydenham Galitzin Franklin. Throughout the newsletter, the author emphasizes the importance of preserving family legacies through professional genealogical services and permanent book formats.

Pirates and my Dutch ancestors, along with Cuban defectors

The Dancestors Genealogy Newsletter serves as a multimedia resource for individuals interested in family history, offering both written articles and a podcast format. This edition highlights the lives of the Tilghman family, tracing their lineage from British surgeons and Maryland chancellors to a World War II veteran who survived a harrowing B-29 crash. The author also documents personal research trips to Virginia and the Netherlands, identifying ancestral ties to colonial landholders and a prominent Dutch diplomat named Nicasius de Sille. Further narratives explore the Polhemus family, connecting a 17th-century minister who survived pirate attacks to a New York hospital featured in modern film. Additionally, the text reviews the history of Cuban defections to the United States before concluding with an appeal for readers to professionally document their own legacies. This compilation emphasizes how genealogical research connects historical events to contemporary life and preserves fading memories for future generations.

Why You're Ancestors aren't who you thought they were!

The Dancestors Genealogy Newsletter for May 30, 2026, offers a multimedia exploration of American family histories, connecting modern descendants to figures from the Revolutionary War and the Mormon movement. It details the life of Tench Tilghman, George Washington's bilingual aide-de-camp, and investigates the lineage of Hyrum Smith, brother of Joseph Smith. The text also traces the history of the Harison family, responsible for the famous yellow roses of New York, and the Nevius family, who operated a ferry in colonial Manhattan. Readers are introduced to the Ridgely estate at Hampton, which highlights unique records of enslaved people who possessed their own surnames. Ultimately, the source emphasizes the importance of professional genealogical research in safeguarding family legacies before oral traditions and documents are lost to time.

Wrestling George Washington

The Dancestors Genealogy Newsletter provides a multifaceted look at historical research, family narratives, and modern genealogical services. The author highlights personal discoveries, such as using DNA analysis to confirm a family legend involving George Washington and a widow named Stevenson. Additionally, the text details the lineage of the Palmer family in Elizabethan England and recounts a visit to ancestral lands in Virginia. Brief sections explore a range of topics, from the California Gold Rush to personal reflections on the Kennedy assassination and modern military tensions in the Arctic. Ultimately, the newsletter encourages readers to document their own heritage through professional preservation services before stories are lost to time.

Who really discovered America, a president's four stepmoms, gunfights at the San Francisco City Hall

The Dancestors Genealogy Newsletter provides a diverse collection of historical narratives and genealogical insights ranging from medieval Europe to modern American history. One featured story explores the theory that Christopher Columbus was actually a Spanish nobleman named Pedro Madruga, citing genetic evidence and linguistic similarities. The publication also tracks the Stradling family in Wales, detailing their 12th-century castle and a harrowing kidnapping by pirates. Personal family research is highlighted through the discovery of Harriet Bowers’ true parentage and the tragic account of a 19th-century gunfight at San Francisco’s City Hall. Additionally, the text examines the complex personal life of William Jefferson Blythe Jr., the biological father of President Bill Clinton. The newsletter concludes by showcasing Civil War diaries donated to a university library and encouraging readers to formally preserve their own ancestral legacies.