Family name, to Clan, to Tartan

[Bill]

When you talk to Grandma and Grandpa about family history, be sure to take a tape recorder, and take notes.

I didn't and now lots of family history is gone with no record other than vague memories of stories handed down in the family.

A very large and loud AMEN to that! I am in the process of doing the family tree and how I wish at times that I could time travel and talk to all those of at least the previous generation to hear the stories and get information on who is who where they came from and what they did. All that was lost when they passed on.

I might add here go through the family pictures with them and get them to identify the people and circumstances. I have one picture that was taken in Fort Worth in the late 1800s that I think is one of the sets of great-grandparents but I really have no way of knowing.

Good-luck!

Bill

[Scootter]

I emailed dad last night and asked him to write down anything he could. That should be a good start if he'll take the time to do it.

My cousin bought a tape recorder for grandpa to record what he remembers of WWII. Nobody in the family could get him to take the time to do it....... Until I got married. The first time my wife asked he talked her ear off for better then an hour. That was just the first time. I might need her to ask Grandpa. Grandma will talk my ear off if she can remember what's what. Finding the time when I can actually talk to her without alot of interfearance is the hard part.

I am on my way! I tried a couple of the links that were posted. I found a couple people and emailed them about more information. One person I found has Leatham traced back to 1520 in Cornwell and is looking for a connection to the Utah Leathams. A lucky find! 8)

Sir Robert seems to be right. Leathams would be English and Grandma has always said the Jeppesens were Danish. Now I just need to link it all together.

Thanks Again,
Scootter

[macwilkin]

Cornwall has several tartans associated with it:

http://www.cornish-tartans.co.uk/

They were designed in the 20th century as a way to display Cornwall's Celtic heritage -- I particularly like the Cornish Hunting tartan. The Black & White which is found in almost all of them is symbolic of the St. Piran's Cross. St. Piran was the patron saint of Cornish tin miners.

Many Cornish miners immigrated to the US, btw, and brought the legend of the "Tommyknockers" with them! ;)

Cheers,

Todd