Ancestors of the HUDSON VALLEY: Links to the Past

INTRODUCTION

This file represents an attempt to follow as many lines of my family as far back as possible. It seems I have done the impossible, to arrive back to the Caesars. Of course, what happened is that I connected into several lines of royalty, that were already well researched.

There has been a natural tendency on my part to concentrate on areas where I am trying to resolve my own questions. My own most particular desire at this time is to prove the relationships of my great great grandfather John S. Dailey, born in 1796 in what is now Kent, Putnam County, New York, but was at the time of his birth Frederick, Dutchess County. Any information leading to the resolution of this puzzle would be greatly appreciated.

Another interest is the possible Cherokee heritage of my Gunter ancestors (see Augustus Gunter, b. about 1765, my 4-great grandfather). Although most of my ancestors are from the Hudson Valley, my mother's mother was a Gunter from Alabama. It is well documented that many of the Gunter clan married Cherokees, and that in the end many even were officially Cherokees. According to stories told to me and my cousins, we are supposed to be part Cherokee also, but I have not been able to verify it. If anyone can help resolve this issue, it would also be appreciated.

 

A NOTE ON METHODOLOGY

In terms of methodology, I found no standard for treatment of names including 'de', 'or', 'the', 'le', and so forth. For one thing, they sometimes are really part of a surname, other times really have nothing to do with it.

I found it most reasonable to remove all such terms from the 'surname', as their inclusion or exclusion was totally inconsistent from database to database. I have generally retained these 'articles' only in names which in terms of current usage still include the 'de' or whatever in the surname.

I have also as much as possible tried to use spellings as they were in the original languages. Again, to a certain degree I have eliminated variants, as again, there are sometimes so many as to be totally baffling. The same individual might spell his own name three or four different ways, within his own lifetime. For instance, 'Gideon VerValin' (space or no space?) and 'Gideon Van Valen' is the same name, one appearing on his grave stone, another on his marriage license. Spaces in the Surnames result in non-searchable names in the WorldConnect main page search engine, so I have eliminated them generally.

For Roman names of Republican and Imperial times, I have tried to follow the conventions used then, as explained in an excellent article, Roman naming convention, at wikipedia.org. Reading this article is beneficial anyway, as then the sometimes complex Roman names become intelligible, and relationships can be directly determined from the names alone.

A NOTE ON DATES

I have tried to include date of birth for all persons who have surnames. Where "ABT" appears, the number is an estimate or even a 'guestimate'. Where "CAL" (calculated) appears, the date is based on a known date, and an age known at that date (from a tombstone or a census age for example). However, since most of my data comes from other people, and I do not know what standards they may have used, some of the "ABT" numbers may be what I designate a "CAL" number. Few others seem to use the "CAL" term so generally speaking if you see that, you know that the number has some firm basis in reality.

Thanks! Richard Daley

FAMILY LINKS

*** DAILEY*** DALEY*** GUNTER *** HUGHES *** MEAD *** ROYLANCE *** RUSSELL *** STRINGHAM *** VAN VALEN *** VER VALEN***