Secret History X

Cher Almoustine,

This is a response to your request for information with regard to relationship between the Bulkeley Family and the Avery and Prescott family. It seems both families in question share a common bond to the island of Roatan in the person of Charles “Kyle” Bulkeley, an early 18th century pirate captain and buccaneer.

In 1723/1724 an approximately 20-year-old-man from New England, Philip Ashton, managed to survive as a castaway on the island for sixteen months until he was finally rescued[1]. During that time they were governed by King Bull Kyle, a red-haired white man, unusual for the location considering it is an island of hispanics.

But who was King Bull Kyle? Researching further I discovered in Ashton’s memoirs additional mention of this mysterious king including his full name. Bull Kyle was the name given to him by the natives, however in discourse with Ashton, he revealed his name as Edward Chauncy Bulkekey. A marooned privateer sailor gone native.

His middle name gave me a clue which led to the unfolding of this man’s origins although much of his personal story remains a mystery. We do not know the full tale of how he ended up the Pirate King on a tropical island off the coast of Honduras. His father was Captain Peter Bulkeley (son of Rev Gershom Bulkeley and Sarah Chauncey) and his mother was Dorothy Hoare Prescott. Dorothy Prescott was the daughter of Captain Jonathan Prescott by his second wife Elizabeth Hoare (daughter of John Hoare and granddaughter of Charles Hoare the Sheriff of Gloucester England).

That King Kyle kept his family (including his good reverend Grandfather) well supplied is evident by the will left by Rev Gershom wherein he bequeaths to his daughter in law (King Kyle’s mother) a gold Guinea, and to his daughters in law Hannah Avery[5] and Rachel Wolcott, each a golden ducat. To King Kyle’s uncle the Reverend Gershom bequeathed his grandfather clock (a rumored treasure cache), his seal, his gilt spoon, and silver porrigers, and all his legal books and additional tools for the timber mills [4] which supplied his son’s shipbuilding business.

It is interesting to note that in his journal, Revered Bulkeley mentions in passing the delivery of the clock stating that it was so heavy that one of the men who bore it broke a collar bone.[6]

[1] See Edward E. Leslie, “Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls”, 1988, pp.100–120

[2] See Charles S. Hall, “A SERIES OF SKETCHES OF THE LINEAL ANCESTORS OF THE CHILDREN OF SAMUEL HOLDEN PARSONS HALL AND HIS WIFE EMELINE BULKELEY OF BINGHAMTON NY …”, GP PUTNAM’S SONS 1896: p

[3] ANSON S Voyage. Bulkeley and Cummins Voyage to the South Seas, and Narrative of the loss of the ship ” Wager.” 8vo. 1743

[4] Roatan was also named “Isle del esPina” (Island of Pines)

[5] Hannah Avery’s maiden name was Raymond. She was married to Charles the son of Reverend Bulkeley. Her husband died whilst she was pregnant with Charles’ child (a daughter whom she named Hannah, who was born in India). She remarried quickly to Captain Thomas Avery the son of Captain James Avery.

[6] Proceedings, American Philosophical Society (vol. 131, No. 4, 1987)

Pame’ Cherie

The days have been dark and cold here in the north. But my research efforts continue among the MikMaq.  I understand with sympathy that it is against their heart to participate in the DNA test. Their language, writing, and heritage has been much abused and I feel they are afraid. The problem is to explain what it is we are looking for in the tests. I can explain that the tests are means to unite families but their families are not fragmented as ours; so that explanation is helpless. How can I explain to them that after many centuries their blood is now a common element in the families of many …non native peoples. Then the mistrust thinking these tests are ways to destroy their identity as a people. I explain that immigration patterns went both ways during the early years of exploration. Many of their people left the land of the Mikmaq to explore the land of the Europeans. Some of them had families or left descendants among the English, French, Dutch and Portuguese.  Some of these people are looking for the roots of their early heritage in the new world. Again, the explanation awakens mistrust that a new intrusion on their identity as a people is attempted. For gathering the data I must talk privately to each person. There is no help to talk to the group at once since the Mikmaq do not have a central leadership. Ay!

Et couper les cheveux en quatre! The Quebecois have an interesting language. I am certain they speak Franglish. Can you find me a Parisian to Francadian dictionary. I must spend most of this winter in the library here, and learning Franglish (ha ha ha). We will see what developments happen in the spring with the research.

Votre Ami,

Almoustine

P.S. You should soon receive a call from Donald Panther-Yates to arrange availability of test DNA packages to include the Native mericanmarkers. Please update the site to offer these packages to interested readers for a discount.

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Learn more about DNA testing and the Native American Tribes:

• Taino and Native American Testing
• What are the Risks to Tribes?
• How DNA testing protects Tribal Rights
• Losing a Tribe (DNA studies and Religious Reconciliation)
• Rethinking Clovis
• mDNA-X
• Maps of American Ancestries
• Indigenous Peoples of America
• North American Mestiso Families

Cher Almoustine,

While you are up enjoying the brisk Canadian Weather, I am busy holding down the fort here at home. My son and his family just moved into the apartments downstairs, the house is busy but the up side is I get to enjoy my granddaughter on a daily basis. it slows down the research somewhat but is will worth it.

Regarding the blue men legends… I encountered a tidbit about our shared ancestry that may interest you. It seems many of the descendants of the Muscheon/Legant/Fougere family of Huguenots (at least those who maintained the maritime trade between the East/West Indies, Europe and Middle Colonies during the 1600s) are carriers of Methemoglobinemia (aka. the “Blue Blood/Pictish Gene”).

So far we can identify three main branches of the family who settled in Scandinavia (Musteen/Muscheon), Ireland (Leggat/Legant/Legare), and Kentucky (Fugate/Fougere).

This trait results in a blue tint to the skin (particularly lips and nail beds) and can lead to blue baby syndrome (babies born blue but with otherwise healthy Apgar scores). Also, contrary to popular belief… Methemoglobinemia is not a disease (unless it is occasioned by chemical poisoning, or a heart defect) nor is it deadly; studies indicate that individuals (even the most blue) frequently live lengthy, healthy, lives. Hereditary Methemoglobinemia it is an autosomal recessive genetic trait with a yet undetermined origin. Although the blue skin tones associated with this trait usually fade during infancy, population bottlenecks where cousins frequently intermarry may give rise to a race of people who have blue skin permanently. This bottleneck phenomenon has been documented in Finland, Ireland, and Kentucky.

Almoustine, you and I are both carriers of this trait. Your ancestor, Thomas “The Musteen” of Virginia had ties to the East Indies, Madagascar, East Asia, and Haiti, the Musteen’s of Finland were frequent traders between Scotland, Scandinavia, and Holland along the Baltic and Barent Sea routes. My family tree links to both Fougere and Legant (all documented carriers of this trait).

I am posting this on the site in case anyone interested in helping me to research this unique lineage may contact either of us via our Research Page on Methemoglobinemia .

Pamè Mon Chèrie

Ce matin je suis dans le port de Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Je suis sur ma façon de rencontrer Mikmaq local.Je poursuis le insaisissable “mDNA-X”. Je vous garderai informés de mon progrès. J’essaierai aussi d’écrire plus dans l’anglais.

Je sais que votre nom de jeune fille est Magee, donc vous le trouverez bizarre. Les Miqmaq s’appellent comme le Megu-maagee.

J’envoie les informations d’ADN au laboratoire à Salt Lake City. Vous pouvez vérifier avec notre contact là pour voir les résultats. Les données à propos l’histoire et la langue du Miqmaq je vous enverrai directement.

Je votre ami,
Almoustine

Cher Almoustine,

Thank you so much for your feedback on my new play. I appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to read it. I am glad you liked it. You are absolutely right in suggesting that the play seems to be part of something bigger. The story is definitely worth expanding into a full length play. I have way more material than a simple one act can hold.

You do make me blush however when you compare it (stylistically) to the works of Tennessee Williams.  That is an honor that I feel is way more than I deserve. Ironically regarding Tennessee Williams, you might be curious to know that he happens to be my paternal grandmother’s 4th cousin once removed. Both my grandmother Viola and ” Tennessee”, aka Thomas Lanier Williams, are descended from Joseph Williams and Rebeca Lanier of Virginia.

Pamè Mon Chèrie

Le merci pour les magnifiques caractères du Daguerrotype, et pour le poste de Robert Cornelius.  Avez-vous été capables de poster la généalogie de Robert sur Rodovid.com ?

J’espère que ses descendants apprécieront cet article, commentaires post et contribueront davantage à la recherche sur cette famille.

Je reste le vôtre.

Almoustine

Cher Almoustine,

Last night as I was going to sleep, I was thinking of my Dad. As I drifted off I heard his voice in my head singing that strange tuneless version of Froggy went a Courtin‘. He sang that song to me often as I was growing up. More so when I was a little kid than when I was older. But when I had children of my own he would sing it to them.

I don’t remember hearing anyone else sing that song quite like he did… Thinking about it, I remember little turns of phrases that I never heard anyone else use (“Tweedle twino” and “fo fum fairo”. I asked him about it once and he said that it was something he heard as a kid. Unfortunately he didn’t remember all of the song, but enough of it to make it identifiable as a regionalized rendition of the Thomas Ravenscroft version from 1611. In reviewing the history of the song… I noticed that a note is included that claims that Ravenscroft’s original version refers to the wooing of Elizabeth I of England by François de Berry, Duke of Anjou. Indeed there are possible references in the song to various political figures of the time (“Gib, our cat [Sir Humphrey Gilbert]” and “Dick, our Drake. [Richard Drake of Morchard.”)

Additional Family information for Richard Drake can be found at the following places:

• 1500-1700 Drake Wills UK (Additional source: Drake Wills Index)
• GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives
• Genuki Cruwys Morchard

Francois du Berry, the earstwhile suitor, was successor to his brother Henri III, but died prematurely leaving Henri IV the Huguenot as the successor to the throne of France. Henri IV’s son Cesar du Vendome was one of the first landholders in Occitan(Axacan), Wingandacoa (Virginia, named by Elizabeth I in honor of  Wingina, the native chieftain) overseeing crown estates on the York river near the Iron Mill at Falling Creek prior to its transfer of ownership to management by the Virgina Company in 1609. Both Cesar and his son Francois (ancestors of my father) served as the French Admiral of the High Seas and lived abroad for much of their lives in England, Ireland, Haiti, Martinique and Virginia. Their descendants were also active in the East India trade between Jamaica, Barbados, and the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

About Ravenscroft himself… He earned his batchelor’s degree from Cambridge om 1605. This at a time when many of the Hugenot nobility had removed themselves to England to escape the Inquisition. In addition to songs in English and Latin, Ravenscroft also set several French poems to melody; preserving them in such works as:
* Pammelia
* Deuteromelia
* Melismata (The volume containing a version of Froggy as well as the pirate ditty Heigh ho, away the Mare.)
* Brief
* Psalter

I could not help but wonder if this song were a clue that could somehow link our two families?

Best Regards to You,
Pamela Bradford.

Cher Almoustine,

This morning while searching through some Daguerreotypes of Native Americans, I ran across a stunning portrait from 1839. The image is clear and shows a stunningly handsome tousle haired young man in his prime standing off center with his arms crossed. I did some research on the photo and found it to be a self portrait of Robert Cornelius. It is historically significant as it is believed to be the very FIRST photographic portrait of a human being.

As you probably know the Daguerreotype was named for artist Louis Daguerre who first developed and used the technique to capture images for his dioramas. The first photos were landscapes and still life photos. It was Robert Cornelius who perfected the technique to capture crystal clear images suitable for portrait work.

The subject of the photo, Robert Cornelius married Harriet Comely and together they had 3 sons and 4 daughters. Genealogy is spare with regards to Harriet’s ancestry. Naming conventions in the subsequent generations of Robert’s family indicate a possible connection to Earlier generations of immigrants as well as the Amity Voyage of 1690 and the Dutch Colony of Amsterdam, Niew Holland, Africa.

My research has also turned up a fair number of descendants. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with them if you could allow them to contact me via comments to this post.

Votre Ami,

Pamela Bradford

Dear Readers,

I hope you will visit this site often for more fun, informative, important, and totally true historical events that never made it to the history books. Just because history is told through the eyes of the victor, doesn’t negate value of the stories told by the forgotten. You will find all kinds of historical, genealogical, natural history, and anthropological tidbits that will delight, entertain, and enable you to extend your social and family networks.

Best Regards,
Almoustine.