One of the interesting things about getting our DNA results from Ancestry.com was discovering that we are about half English. This, in spite of the fact that both my husband and I had German surnames. My mother was a genealogy freak, so I knew there were some English ancestors. But my husband grew up around so many German aunts, uncles and grandparents that he assumed he was mostly German. He isn’t. In fact, he’s got some Scottish, Swedish and Irish genes . At any rate, after seeing Oprah’s Meghan-Harry interview on CBS, we’re both glad our ancestors left England . Welcome to America, Harry.
My husband’s English blood came from his mother’s family. The first Frost left England about 1635 to escape some kind of religious persecution. He must have thrived here, because there are some illustrious folks named Frost all over the USA.
My English blood came from my Grandfather White. It’s such a common name that I can’t claim a family connection to anyone with the same surname. James White sailed over to Virginia about 300 years ago.. Although uneducated, he managed to move his family of 12 sons up to Indiana, and acquired 5,000 acres of farmland. Someone must have married well, because my mother was able to join the DAR by proving that one of her ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence.
What would have happened if Edmund Frost and James White had stayed in England? My husband and I would be citizens of a monarchy. Descending from commoners, we might not be living very well. Maybe on the dole. And part of our taxes would be going to support the most antiquated political system that can possibly be imagined. What would happen if the monarchy collapsed? Who would care if the British Commonwealth no longer had a King or Queen?
We’re glad our ancestors left England, and I would imagine that the descendants of the prince will be grateful that he did, too.
Welcome to America, Harry. The land of the free, and the home of the brave.
