HappyTrvlr

My family members came to N.America, now the US, in the 17th and 18th centuries from what are now The Netherlands, England and France. The French ancestors were Huguenots( Protestants) who escaped to the Channel Is, then to England and finally to what is now CT in the USA, fleeing religious persecution. The Dutch ancestors went to NY and stayed there, and the English initially settled in CT and MA.

Fetinia

I came here in 1994 from Russia alone. My story: I was married to a very good man, we were happy together and despite difficult time in Russia in 90-s we did not plan to move anywhere. Unfortunately, my husband got sick (cancer) and his sister who lived in the States since 80-s arranged his trip to the US to get examined by the American doctors. They confirmed the diagnosis and predicted he would live no longer than 5 years. When he came back to Russia, he immediately applied to family immigration visa to give me a chance for a better life after he's gone. Unfortunately 2 years later he died. I continued with my life and completely forgot that he applied for US Visa until one day I opened a mail and found invitation for a visa interview in US Embassy in Moscow. I went and to my surprise got a visa to immigrate to the USA under some conditional status and possibility to apply for a green card in one year of my residence. I was hesitating, as with no language and alone, I was scared to go. My mom practically kicked me out, saying that I would be fool not to use my chance and if I do not like it there I can always come back. Here it is, 25 years later I am here, worked my way to the upper middle class, have a family, a proud U.S. Citizen and the same time proud of my heritage.

Cathinjoetown

Wonderful, Fetinia, congratulations!

AlessandraZoe

Thank you, Saraho.

Ironically, I knew very little about most of my mother's grand- and great-grandparents (and actually, neither did she) until this past year. Once I started chipping away, the stories just floored me. The day I realized that the 1850 bridge I was crossing was built by the son of the shipwrecked Scotch-Irishman, chills ran up and down my body. We had crossed that bridge at least once a week for most of our lives, not knowing. I have been able to find other landmarks he built and have framed pictures of those for my mother and aunt.

I have told my sister I claim movie rights to that entire branch. I am totally in love with the wild daughter who married the tallest, strongest Irishman in the area and ended up out West. What makes it even more exciting is that he had gone out West first, made sure he lived long enough on his claim to be entitled to it, and then went all the way back to get her. Wow! How romantic They did not marry until they arrived in Minnesota Territory, so it's quite possible that they eloped.

I told my sister she can have the movie rights to the "holler" people.