Family Lore: A Tale of Generational Beliefs in Our Family (#1 of 52)

My grandmother, Hazel, holding her baby sister Beulah, who got me interested in genealogy

Do you have family lore or legends passed down through generations? My genealogical journey began with a fascinating tale: a link to Pocahontas. This story, proudly shared in newspapers for almost a century, sparked curiosity in my great aunt Beulah. Twenty-five years ago, she ignited my passion for genealogy.

A 1927 Newspaper Clipping

In 1998, Beulah introduced me to genealogy and shared her digital research files. Among these was a 1927 obituary transcript for James Madison Randolph, first cousin of Josiah Randolph Coppenbarger (1844–1934)—Beulah’s maternal grandfather and my great-great-grandfather.

Beulah told me the clipping was from her mother’s papers. Her mom had started painting while in her 70s and the local newspaper shared her story. When a reporter interviewed her, Myrtle had proudly shared she was related to Pocahontas. After they left, Myrtle showed Beulah the lengthy obituary and Beulah was fascinated. [You can read the transcript in my 2016 post, “Family Lore: Related to Pocahontas.”]

The Pocahontas Connection Published in 1927

James Madison Randolph’s 1927 obituary details his life and fascination with family history. It recounts his 1923 visit to Pocahontas’ monument at Jamestown Island, claiming her as an ancestor. The obituary also mentions connections to Thomas Jefferson, Chief Justice Marshall, and General Robert E. Lee. Beulah later proved these connections to be incorrect, but this article illustrates how our family’s stories can blend fact and cherished family lore.

I believe these famous men were all related to Randolphs in Virginia. In fact, there was a Mary Randolph of Virginia who was a descendant of Pocahonatas. And James had a great aunt named Mary Randolph who was born about the same time. However, it appears our Randolphs are not directly related to these more famous Randolphs.

The Pocahontas Connection Published in 1971

Almost fifty years later, in 1971, Beulah’s sister, Evelyn (Peters) Dudley (1906–1981), wrote an article for our local newspaper. It focuses on Josiah Randolph Coppenbarger, mentioned earlier, and his arrival in Kansas about 100 years prior. The article begins by highlighting the family’s pride in their lineage, including connections by blood and marriage to historical figures including Pocahontas.

The Missing Piece: Myrtle’s Interview

I’ve shared this supposed Pocahontas relationship before, but a piece of the story was missing. Beulah had told me that her mother, Myrtle, had proudly shared our family’s connection to Pocahontas during an interview. But the article I found was written by Beulah’s sister.

Imagine my surprise when I found another newspaper article while researching for this post! Dated 4 January 1965, it was an exciting discovery.

The “article” is more of a photo of my great-grandmother, Myrtle, with a lengthy caption. It was thrilling not only to find a photo of Myrtle but also to learn she was a genealogist! The caption explains her extensive research into our family going back 200 years. Like James Madison Randolph, Myrtle cherished her connections to historical figures, even visiting Mary Randolph’s memorial at Arlington National Cemetery with her immediate family. I have to wonder if she took her daughters Beulah and Evelyn on this trip!

Genealogists Over the Generations

While creating this post, I realized I’m the latest in a line of family historians. I knew about Great Aunt Beulah’s and Uncle Jim’s love for genealogy. But these newspaper discoveries reveal more: Grandmother Myrtle’s collection of historical documents going back 200 years, Great Aunt Evelyn’s interest as evidenced by her 1971 article, and cousin James Madison Randolph’s historical visits. These stories, passed down with pride and passion, have shaped my own genealogical journey.

Pass Down Your Stories Accurately

I recently watched Judy Russell’s 2014 RootsTech keynote where she discussed sharing family stories. She highlighted a crucial point after debunking her own family lore: “It’s not enough for family stories to be purposefully handed down. There’s that minor little issue called accurately passed down at the same time.” She stressed the importance of verifying, documenting, and passing on our family’s stories.

The tale of my family’s connection to Pocahontas was purposefully passed down through generations. Unfortunately, it wasn’t accurate. My goal is to tell the story with honesty, while also honoring the beliefs of previous generations. These beliefs influenced generations of family historians and fostered a sense of pride in the Randolph name, as evidenced by its frequent use as a middle name across generations.

Share Your Family Lore

Now, I’d love to hear from you. What family lore or legends have you explored? Have you uncovered truths or myths? Please share your stories in the comments below!

This post was created as part of Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. This week’s theme is “Family Lore.”