Memor Esto Majorum

Hey folks.

Just figured I'd share some of my recent research with everybody.  I know I mentioned this before, but Kris bought me one of those DNA tests from Ancestry.com, and I began utilizing the company's extensive archives in late December.  Since then, I've added over 1,000 members to the various branches of my family's tree, and have put in hours of extensive data mining, referencing, etc.

I've found tons of relatives that fought - on both sides - of the Civil War.

Now, this wasn't my first rodeo, guys - I've been doing family research for nearly 15 years - but having access to the kind of records that Ancestry has is incredible.  I've been able to pinpoint the exact dates ancestors arrived in the United States using ship logs, I've determined occupations of family members using federal census forms, dates of marriages and maiden names from marriage licenses, and even military service details using old recruitment logs.  I've learned tons of stuff about my extended family's past, and have really only touched the tip of the iceberg, regardless of nearly four months of research.

While I knew a lot about my family's past, there were still quite a few eye openers.  I found physical evidence that the Houghs of Alabama and Mississippi were slave owners (whoops.)  I pinpointed the first Houghs in America to a 1683 crossing, when 23-year-old Richard Hough, a Quaker from Cheshire, England, crossed the Atlantic and settled in Bucks County Pennsylvania.  Interestingly enough, in that same, small Quaker colony outside Philadelphia, in the same year, lived Richard Lundy - my direct ancestor from my maternal Grandma's line.  Given the small population and religious selectivity of the region at the time (1680s), the two dudes most likely knew each other well.  What are the odds of that shit?

Anyway, aside from my hours and hours of family tree-building and ancestor research, I also received my ethnic DNA results back.  Again, no major surprises there, but a few eye-openers, definitely:

During my research I had repeatedly found English and Irish ancestors, but was also  able to trace the Hunter line (my paternal grandma's line) to Scotland, so I wasn't shocked to find that I'm practically a third Irish/Scottish.  While the Houghs and several other key lines came from England, I was surprised the DNA percentage of that region was only 21%, while I was 26% Western European (primarily German.)  While I did find some German ancestors, there wasn't a lot of connections, so I had to dig a little deeper to figure out why those numbers didn't add up. 

I had to take a closer look at England's history to put everything together.  After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, England was repeatedly invaded and conquered by different bands of people.  Saxons (from Germany) were the primary group, and formed the dominant population in England for centuries, and it was from these groups that the beginnings of many different lines got their start.  The Houghs themselves were Saxon nobles in Cheshire (see coat of arms.)  Anyway, the Franco-Vikings the Normans invaded England in 1066 (Battle of Hastings, guys) and took care of the Saxons, but that pretty much explains my DNA results.

For the most part.

There were a few curve balls, though.  For one, I found out that I was 11% Southern European.  Taking a closer look at this, I found that most of this was due to the fact that I had roots in southern Italy.  That's right, I'm a tenth-Italian.  Who knew.  I also found out that I'm about a tenth Norwegian, so whether that's on account of Viking raids on England in the 7th and 8th centuries, or else I had some ancestor (probably named Sven) cross over in the 1880s at some point, who knows.  There were a few other areas that popped up in my DNA (3% Spanish, 1% Eastern European, >1% Greek, etc.), but those could very well be from marriages and the like - I didn't see a lot of that in the main lines.

So yeah, there you have it.  If you have any interest whatsoever in your family's past, I'd highly recommend looking into this stuff, it's pretty cool.  DNA kits and a month of free family tree research sets you back about $100, but on Black Friday and other promotions you can see that price drop to about $70.  I'd say it's worth it, for sure, but, then again, I'm a huge history nerd.  Perhaps this shouldn't come as a surprise, either, since one of the centuries-old coat of arms mottos connected to the Hough family is Memor Esto Majorum, or, "Remember Thine Ancestors."

- Brian

New Ink, Vol. II

Hi players,

So, once again, a trip back home to Michigan for Christmas meant my brother Chris and I were off to get more ink done at Intricate Decor in Mt. Pleasant.

Last year, I had the Hough family coat of arms done on my the inside of my left forearm, while I had a shamrock and the Gaellic word for 'Cannonball' done on the inside of my right.

When I had those designs done last year, I knew there was additional work that needed to be done in order for either sleeve design in order to look right. Not being one who flips through a design board at a Tattoo parlor and says "That Chinese symbol for 'strength' is sweet - I want that on my arm!," I decided that I needed to put some research into what - and how - I was going to go about adding to my existing designs.

I figured that since Alayna's design was prominently Irish, Abby's should be prominently Saxon English. That's both sides of the family's ethnic background right there.


I came up with a design for an Irminsul and had that done directly below Cannonball's existing Shamrock on the inside of my right forearm. Then, in order to match the existing design, I had Athas Athar, which is Gaellic for 'Father's Joy' (the meaning of Abigail) added across the top.

The right arm isn't done - I don't necessarily care for three, individual and independent designs in succession down the forearm. I'd much rather have them blended together into something, and that, dear readers, will probably be next year's installment.

The left arm this year was, once again, the bulk majority of my time in the chair. I had laurels added to the outside of the existing coat of arms, as you can see here:



...and then had a band done around my left bicep of an Anglo-Saxon design taken of a 7th century Saxon shield that was unearthed in England, close from where the Hough family originated. Designs like this were engraved into weapons and armament in order to bring good fortune to those that carried them into combat, and are unique to the native English people.

Usually, when it comes to bands like this, you see folks get something Celtic, but I wanted something that more accurate to our family's background. Besides, that Celtic crap is played out for me... everybody does it.

Kris had some work done this time around as well, and she, too, opted to add to existing work. She has an Ankh at the small of her back, so she had meanings of both girls' names (Alayna - peace, Abby - joy) added in Gaellic on either side. She's pretty happy with what she had done, but, unlike yours truly, I think she's done with the whole tattooing thing from here on out.


While she was getting her work done, Chris, Jenna and I got to drive across town and check out a record store that just popped up in Mt. Pleasant, wherein I managed to snatch up 26 records for $10. The store was pretty small, and the selection wasn't that great, but the prices were great, and I was able to fill in a few holes in my record collection, while also picking up some rarities (Dukes of Dixieland?! Booya!). Not as great a score as the sort one can obtain during, say, the Hunter's Creek Community Garage Sale, sure - but still not too shabby at all.

- Brian

St. Patrick's Day (Observed) 2010

Hi gang,

Today marked our annual St. Patrick's Day (observed) festivities, and once again we ventured out to the coast (Melbourne) for whatever-the-heck their Irish Fest is officially called.

Like we told you about last year, they had a parade, bands, dancers, pipers, drummers, corned beef and cabbage, Irish and English beers on draught, and all the outdoor shenanigans one could ask for. The festivities center around Meg O'Malley's, which, while not nearly as awesome as the Doherty, has proven to be a reliable source of Irish mayhem while we're unable to venture home for the infamous Clare Irish Festival.

This year the Voigts came with us, too, which was cool 'cause otherwise it would've been just me drinking beer next to a pregnant woman and a toddler... and that would've gotten old after awhile (then again, it is St. Patrick's Day, so I might not have minded all that much...).

They had a blow-up thing that kids like bouncing on (whatever those are called), so the kid had good fun with that. She also got to play in the dirt in the lot behind the pub, which is always a big plus for her (we're good parents).

Lot of familiar faces about - lots of the same folks that were there the previous year when we went with Mike and Amber, such as Creepo the Leprechaun (at right), who, once again, was festively drunk. I'm not sure what his official role at the festivities entails, but I do know that I appreciate his devotion to that role. Saw a few of the same marshals, pipers and the like, and so while we were 1300 miles south of where we would've preferred to be, we were definitely somewhere that deserved a silver medal.

In closing, here's a crapload more pictures for you to briefly skim over before going about your cyber surfing. Slainte!

- Brian