The Widow Grady Rules

The Widow Grady has only one rule for you to follow when reading these little stories about your ancestors. A reference to a grandfather can be a grandfather (grandmother, cousin, aunt, etc.) from any generation and will be designated according to the years in which he or she lived. For example: "Grandpa Alexander Lindsey Glen (1610-1685) and the Mansion" or "Cousin Peter Lasher (1822-1844) and the Civil War." It grieves me to start a story that begins, Your 36th great-great grandfather was, or worse yet, your 2nd cousin 5 times removed was. I have ten fingers and ten toes to count with, which get me "only to the 20th generation"...after that, I am reduced to using some weird math calculations that tax my thinking ability and would in any event, confuse you no end so..... remember, a time line will give you a clue to where you are in the gene pool...are you ready...one, two, three...JUMP

A little background imagery before the story of "Major Glen and the Pickle Barrel."

Grandpa Alexander Lindsey Glen (1610-1685) had this stone house...well let's say, mansion that he built on the northern side of the Mohawk River on land that actually belonged to the Native Americans of the Mohawk Tribe. Grandpa Glen, being a Scotsman named his land and homestead Nova Scotia (literally meaning New Scotland) and proceeded to start up a thriving business. Everybody loved Grandpa Glen...the whole countryside gathered at the mansion at one time or another. Grandpa was an agent for the Dutch India Co. so naturally, being only 100 feet away from the river, his stone house was used as a trading post....evidently he was well regarded by all as an honest and fair trader and in appreciation for everyone's business at the post, Grandpa built the settlers their very own Dutch Reformed Church (1682) in Schenectady the city just across the river from Scotia. As I said before, everybody loved Grandpa Glen...and most of all the .....the Mohawk Indians loved Grandpa, or was it a particular grassy knoll they had a fondness for? On a certain hill between the river and the stone house was a spot that the Indians had previously used in the "gladsome pastime of burning their prisoners at the stake!" All I can say as a grandaughter (1924-) is "if there was such a thing as an Indian mafia, Grandpa Glen allowed this depravity to continue in payment for protection , for it was well known our family most often remained safe when Indian raids took place upon the white settlers in the region...But I have nightmares that I can hear Grandma Catherine calling out the kitchen door ...all you kids...get in the house NOW!

Major John and the Pickle Barrel

Grandpa Major John Glen (1648-1731) made some improvments in his father's mansion and added the east wing...super for entertaining. At one point in time, the Mohawks brought a Jesuit priest to Grandpa's house so that the priest could be tortured and killed on the knoll used for this purpose. The Indians wanted John to lock the priest in his cellar until it was time to kill him. John, a very fast thinker, and Grandma Anna(1651-1690) asked for time to think about it because priests had magical powers, and no cellar with an ordinary lock such as his, would be able to confine him. However, Grandpa John said yes, gave the Indians a single key, warned them that they would have to get the priest out themselves the next day because he was too afraid of priestly magical powers and he would have no part in it! Having locked the priest in the cellar, the Indians went dancing out into the yard with the key swinging on a chain and became significantly drunk on the rum graciously supplied to them by Grandpa John. With a plan in mind and before the Indians became completely zonked, John told them he was sending a wagon into town for supplies and not to be concerned if they heard noises. With the Indians now "out cold", Grandpa John opened the cellar door with a second key, popped the priest in a large pickle barrel and sent him off to freedom. It took some swift talking by John to reassert the story of magical powers when the next morning found the priest gone missing. The Indians more than a little disgruntled nevertheless left in complete puzzlement. Because of many instances of kindness to the French whose lives were saved from torture and death, Grandpa Major John Glen and our family were protected by French commanders as well as the Native Americans during the French and Indian wars.

Everbody loves a great party and our family was no exception. The Glen mansion was the gathering place of all the Scotia- Schenectady hoi-polloi and I am sure Grandma and Grandpa Glen were thrilled to have the honor of housing the future King of France, Louis Philippe, who was their guest for a few days during his time of exile in America. Can't you just imagine the hustle and bustle in the mansion that Saturday night when our family went dancing with the stars...not to mention the bedding down of everybody's favorite General,who had the reputation of "kinda sleeping around" when he paid them a visit? Though I see no evidence of a sign on the mansion that states "Washington Slept Here" the powers that be say it is so...hey..believe!

O.K. everyone ...out of the pool and remember that the cheapest way to have your family tree traced is to run for public office.....The Widow Grady