‘Three Brothers’ a Genealogical Joke
Question: My father was born in Barbados, British West Indies, and our family story goes that the three Weekes boys in America were at odds with each other, separated, went their ways and began spelling their names Weekes, Weeks and Weaks to be different from each other. Do you suppose there is any truth to this?
Answer: A similar story is told in one of my lines. It apparently occurs in many family legends. Possibly, but I think unlikely, it is true. The “three brothers” story is so old and worn that genealogists joke about it. Why always three? Why not five, two or four brothers?
The only way to prove a genealogy is by research and documentation (official records). There are many Weeks and Weekes listed in the indexes of “Genealogies of Barbados Families,” compiled by James C. Brandow, and in “Barbados Records” (Baptisms 1627-1800), compiled by Joanne McRee Sands. Both books were recently published by Genealogical Publishing Co. of Baltimore, Md.
Q: I am eligible for the Daughters of the First Families of Virginia through my ancestor, Sarah Katherine Foreman Butterly. I learned about this through her obituary. However, our family records were pased to someone whose whereabouts I do not know. Can you help?
A: I’m not familiar with this group. There is/was an Order of First Families of Virginia. Membership was by invitation only and limited to lineal descendants of those who aided in the establishment of the Virginia Colony, 1607-24.
Try Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, Va. 23221. The reference librarian might be able to direct you to the proper source.
Q: How do I find relatives in Germany?
A: Join the Immigrant Library Genealogical Society ($15 annual membership dues), 5043 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, Calif. 91601.
Their library has a complete set of German telephone books and the rare 82-volume Deutsches Familienarchiv--a collection of German genealogies. The society can provide names and addresses of people researching a particular family name in Germany.
A modest fee of $10 to check one surname in the library’s indexes is charged with a 20% discount to members. This society is affiliated with the German Genealogical Exchange Group with additional research aids available through queries.
Q: How can I find genealogical material about my Swedish family that migrated to Argentina in 1889?
A: There is only one LDS (Mormon) Genealogical Library in Argentina. Its address is c/o Ricardo Medina, Pilar 651-1408, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Its librarian might be able to help. Send two International Postal Coupons with your self-addressed envelope. Also write to: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, for information on availability of Argentine records.
Families usually did not emigrate alone. You may learn more about your family in Swedish emigration sources.
Q: I’m interested in the National Society of Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims. Please tell me more about it.
A: It was founded in 1908 for lineal descendants of any pre-1700 settler (Pilgrim) in any of the original Colonies. Latest address I have is: Arthur L. Finnell, Registrar General, 3917 Heritage Hills Drive, No. 104, Minneapolis, Minn. 55437.
Address genealogical research questions to Myra Vanderpool Gormley, Box 64316, Tacoma, Wash. 98464 and please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. For a beginner’s genealogy kit (includes charts) showing how to get started researching your family tree, send $3 and allow about two weeks for delivery.