Sometimes I feel that Oysterville must qualify as the Espy Family Seat – the place Espys come when they are on the search for family information.  Or maybe, as my sainted Uncle Willard claimed, all roads lead to Oysterville when it comes to Espys.  I’m not sure the reason, but one way or another, we get to meet a lot of fabulous Espy relatives.

Yesterday, it was Debi Snyder, a fourth cousin twice removed (is that what we decided?) who is on a road trip from Provo, Utah with her husband Ron.  Our common ancestors are Thomas Espy and Anna Hamilton – Debi through their son William and me through their son Robert.  That much is well-documented, apparently, so there is no question of our cousinship.

Fifth Cousins Twice Removed

The big question among the genealogists seems to be about Anna Hamilton Espy’s parentage and that was part of the reason that Debi looked me up – hoping for a family Bible or other documentation (Sorry! Not here!) that would firmly establish Anna’s parentage.  That her father was Alexander Hamilton (not the famous one) seems to be true.  It also appears that for some years in the 1750s, after Anna’s mother died and while Alexander was off fighting Indians, young Anna lived with his parents, presumably her grandparents.  Anna rejoined Alexander (presumably her father) in 1760 when he remarried a woman named Amanda and began his second family of .

As far as my newly-discovered cousin and I are concerned, Anna’s parentage is neither here nor there.  But, Debi’s sister is apparently interested in qualifying for the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Being descended from Alexander Hamilton (not the famous one) seems to qualify you and until recently that’s been a fully legitimate reference.  But now, apparently, the DAR is questioning Anna’s paternity and until it’s all resolved… no acceptance by the DAR.

DAR Constitution Hall

I’m afraid I hold a “so what?” view of that entire DAR thing and my new-found cousin seems to agree, though she is pursuing the documentation quest out of sisterly loyalty.  My father’s mother was a passionate and active member in the DAR and, when I was a teenager, was eager for me to join.  I had absolutely no interest then or now. In my mind, the DAR is forever tainted by their treatment of opera singer Marian Anderson back in 1939 when they denied her the opportunity to perform in DAR Constitution Hall because of her race.

Actually, that fact has shaped many of my decisions through life.  I chose Stanford because it didn’t then have sororities; I have never joined AAUW and in several (though not all) other instances I’ve tried to avoid ‘exclusive’ groups which set their members apart from the rest of the world.  But that’s another story…  Yesterday I was proud as punch to be a member of an even more singular group – the Espys – and to welcome yet another cousin to the seat of the Oysterville branch of the family!