Happy St. Patrick’s day, folks!
Somewhere way, way back in our family’s lineage we actually have a wee bit of Irish blood — no big surprise if you’ve ever met me, given my so-pale-it’s-translucent skin and red hair. However, while I got the traditional Irish look, it’s my mom and my brother that acquired the taste for beer so dark it needs to be served with a knife and fork. I’ll stick to a very non-traditional Dr. Pepper.
So hit the pub, hoist a Guinness, do your best (or worst) brogue, wink at a pretty lass — and if you find that pot o’ gold, toss a piece or two my way, would you? ;)
Update: Mom fills in the details on our Irish heritage in an e-mail…
From Ressie Wills’ family history records:
Robert Hamilton b 5-16-1760 Banbridge, Down, Ireland
M 4-30-1781 Pa
Susianiah Keane d 11-15-1790 Warren Co. Oh.Robert Hamilton came to America in 1774 to make his home in Old Lancaster, Pa., with his uncle, who was a blacksmith by trade. After the death of his uncle when he was 14 years of age he enlisted in the Revolutionary War.
At least several generations ago!
The catch is, though, that County Down is Northern Ireland — the Orange folks, not the green ones.
But “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Patrick himself is buried in County Down, outside of Ulster.
More details behind the cut, if anyone’s interested.
Here’s what I know:
Robert Hamilton (1760 – 1844) / Susaniah Keane (? – 1790)
Robert W. Hamilton (1788 – 1829) / Nancy Parrish (1787 – 1870)
Joseph Keane Hamilton (1817 – 1911) / Elizabeth Jane Purdum (1817 – 1884)
William Joseph Hamilton (1854 – 1932) / Sarah Francis Williams (1853 – 1919)
Robert Orson Wills (1884 – ?) / Ressie May Hamilton (1887 – 1960)
Harold Reynolds Ward (1916 – 2005) / Arlene Maude Wills (1911 – 2005)
John David Hanscom (1946 – ) / Roberta Lee Ward (1947 – )
Michael David Hanscom (1973 – )
Assuming that Mr. and Mrs. Rbt. Hamilton are the only Irish in our lineage (they’re the only ones we know of), I guess that’d make me 1/128th Irish. Or so.
Heck, that’s practically pure leprechaun!