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Have you heard about the woman they call the Photo Angel? She haunts antique stores and flea markets looking for old photographs and through exhaustive genealogical research, reunites them with their families. I think she’s fabulous!

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If you’ve never climbed your family tree? I highly recommend it. Genealogy is a completely fascinating, sometimes frustrating, but totally addicting hobby. They say you can’t know who you are, until you know those who came before … and a more delightfully quirky way to waste time you’re not apt to find.

Along with some sons of the revolution and a disturbing number of pious reverends ( how did that happen!) I discovered a few characters as well.

The Honorable Jabez Bunting Snowball.

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Yes, I’m related to a Snowball, which somehow seems fitting. He was the husband of my great grand aunt and The 11th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Canada from 1902-1907. “Snowball and his wife (called “Lady Snowball” by the locals) maintained a splendid residence in Chatham called “Wellington Villa” at the town’s most important intersection, and lived in great style, often entertaining with many servants and fine furniture.”

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He died a wealthy man but his good for nothing children squandered the fortune in one generation. Shame, that. I wouldn’t have minded a servant or two.

Next up is my 8th great grandfather, Sir Adrian Scrope.

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Yo, Adrian! My great, great, great, etc grampa’s claim to fame was this –

“Historically speaking, Sir Adrian Scrope (1601-1660), was one of the 59 signatories who signed King Charles I’s death warrant in 1649. Charles I was accused of being tyrannical and too Catholic by England’s Parliament, and he was ultimately executed for high treason. The monarchy was abolished with Charles I’s death; however, the monarchy was reinstated after the Restoration of 1660, and Sir Adrian Scrope was found guilty of regicide and was hanged, drawn, and quartered.”

Not the most peaceful way to go I’m sure. But he does have a nice memorial tomb to show for it….

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Grandpa Adrian had a nice house as well.

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Wormsley Estate. Can’t say I like the name, but the garden is sweet.

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And I dare say I could fit my books in his library.

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2,700 rolling acres in Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire… it’s currently owned by Mark Getty. Yes, that Getty. If I ever visit England, maybe I’ll drop by.

It’s through this line that I can trace my family back to the year 1134. I can’t take the credit, when you have someone famous (or infamous as the case may be) most of the work has been done for you.

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No picture of dear old grandpappy Le Scrope I’m afraid. Back then an Apple was just an apple… no camera included.

Of course when you’re shaking a family tree, sometimes rotten fruit falls out. Like Franz… father in law of my first cousin twice removed.

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When your mother’s parents were born in Austria, this isn’t out of the realm of possibility… but still disturbing to find.

I’d like to say he was the only one. I really would.

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