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Christopher was born in San Francisco, California in 1948 and his relatives live in Florida. His ancestors came over from Spain. Connie was born in Racine, Wisconsin. They have two children, Tabitha and Tamara and five grandchildren. Tamara has an only child, Devin born 16 January 1998. Tabitha has four children, Joey was born 24 June 1987, Krystyl was born 30 Jan. 1990, Rebecca was born 20 Oct. 1991 and Savannah was born 9 Dec. 1993. We feel our heritage is important to pass along to our children and grandchildren. It is time to merge the data we have collected over the years and create a current family tree that will include everything to this date. This will be treasured for generations to come.
Joseph DeSoto was born on the 13th of June 1881 in Spain. This is Christopher's Great Grandfather. Joseph changed his name from DeSoto to Soto during his lifetime. Giving Walter, Chris' Dad his chosen name.
Joe Soto was a member of the crew on a boat from Spain put into shore on the Florida coast. He was a young language instructor who was enjoying a Sabbatical leave at sea. The handsome, blonde young man, doubly intrigued by the winsome 14-year-old tomboy, Rosa (Rose) and the landscape reminiscent of his native country, signed off the ship when it was ready to return home. Rosa happily assisted her father, Antonio as her brothers were too young to help and she preferred working outdoors to maidenly chores. Joe applied for citizenship and began courting Rosa. In this remote area the only diversion was evening boat rides and romance blossomed beneath the tropic moon. After several months Joe, 24 asked for Rosa's hand in marriage.
Connie's family tree begins with the descendants of John Bennett, Sr. who lived from 1759 through 1836. Charles Bennett was the first believed to have come to America in 1625 and settled in Connecticut. He married an Indian and eventually returned to England and no more was heard of him.
A span of a hundred years passes and we next learn that four others came to America to settle in the Colonies, just prior to the Revolutionary War. Three of the brothers went to North Carolina. Our ancestor, John Bennett, "Honest John" settled in the Connecticut River area of Vermont. Clara Bennett Sorensen's great grandfather was "Honest John" in our genealogy.
Honest John Bennett had a son, John Bennett, Jr., who it is said fought with his father, John, Sr. in the Revolutionary war. (John, Jr. was born in 1778 and the Rev. War started in 1776--perhaps the two Johns fought together in the War of 1812?).
The Minnesota Historical Society has a record of John Bennett's military record of his days of service in the Revolutionary War, also a record of his having been an early settler of Wethersfield, Vt. John Bennett, Jr. married Sarah Parker and they had seven children, among them our ancestor, Leonard E. Bennett who married Anna Elizabeth Peck. They had four children, one of whom is our ancestor, Clara Bennett Sorensen.
Leonard Bennett's middle initial was E., possibly Earl. Possibly Earl Sorensen was named for him. Leonard E. Bennett was a Captain in the Grand Army of the Republic. A faded newspaper article, which belonged to Marion Sorensen Collins, and was dated April 17, 1862 - A flag of 34 stars with an eagle appears in blue ink:
FIGHT NEAR LEE'S MILLS, Attack on the Enemy's Rifle Pits Splendid Bravery of the Green Mountain Boys. Emphasis added, "Among the phenomena of the fight was the condition of the uniform of Capt. Leonard E. Bennett of company K of the 3D. It had eight bullet holes in it. One through the collar of his coat, one through the right coat sleeve, one through his pantaloons below the left knee, and four through the skirts of his coat. There was not a scratch upon this man's skin." The uniform was given to the Minn. Hist. Soc. in St Paul. That article has been copied into our genealogy so that future generations can realize the personal impact of the Civil War. In anot
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