Extra, Extra...read all about it....Grandpa Harmen Albertse Vedder and family buried in local Mall! Now, come on, how many people do you know who go to a mall to buy shoes, but instead grab a quarter-pounder and a coke and sit by their Grandpa's grave and chew the fat? Well I can and so could you if you lived in Schenectady, NY and shopped at the Rotterdam Square Mall. How neat is that! Cemeteries and malls don't usually mix, but at this mall, there is one right by the door and it belongs to our family. Supposedly the only way they could build the Rotterdam Mall was to leave the Vedder family cemetery be. They just built the Mall around it!
Grandpa Vedder came to America in 1663 from the Netherlands and was one of the original settlers in Beverwick (now Albany). Selling his land in Albany, he and 14 other colonists from Beverwick founded the city of Schenectady. It was pretty interesting to find out that of the 15 original founders, we are related to seven of the families. But a truly ASTONISHING finding a few days ago is the fact that Grandpa Vedder and two of our other Dutch Grandfathers were married to Mohawk women. This confirms my own convictions that we, indeed, have Native American blood running through our veins!! I just knew it...I knew it. Should get a good seat at the Casino now!
I am having my DNA tested ( an 85th birthday gift from my girls)..won't that be a "kick" of a letter when the Widow Grady "tells all" about her (and your) ethnic background!
OK get out of the pool you're getting as wrinkly as I am. Here's a little genealogical quip for the day. "She's descended from a long line her Mother listened to."
I love you, all my darling relatives....The Widow Grady
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2 comments:
Thanks, Aunt Harriet for your latest missive. Must order Drums along the Mohawk from Netflix. It's funny Dad, always used to say, "Tell those nuns you are Iroquois!"
My son in law, Dan, is part Cherokee, and granddaughter, Cassandra, is descended from (I think) Pomo from N. California. Then there are the Filipino, Mexican, and Tongan connections. I love it!
I loved this entry. How interesting at that mall!?! Sidenote, we had an unfortunate accident down the street and victim was a Mary Vedder. I had an odd curiosity about her name. I think it may be because Eddie Vedder is one of my favorite singers (from Pearl Jam). Then I read your newsletter and it made me do a double-take.
So, native american heritage? That must be where I get my high cheekbones. :)
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