Re: Origins of Eatons Stuarts and Fitz Alans
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In reply to:
Re: Origins of Eatons Stuarts and Fitz Alans
stephen metcalf 11/28/01
Hi:
I'm not sure where you are located, but if you have a major liobrary near you, you should see if you can get your hands on English histories by the Rev. R. W. Eyton, the Rev. George Morris R. W. Eyton, _____ Dugdale, Owen and Blakeway, There's a modern historian, who you will want to read eventually, but not now. She is Meisel, published by the University of Nebraska Press.
But, your best best is to read messages right here. I don't think there is a single, more complete source of information about Eatons anywhere.
Sure and yes, you should do keyword and genealogical site searches of the Eaton name, but beware of pedigrees that you fin online. Some are accurate; some are not; and some, to be sure, a very questionable at best.
Many of us strted out, for example, thinking that the first Eaton was descended from William FitzAlan, the powerful Sheriff of Shropshire and the brother of Walter FitzAlan, first high Steward (and head of the royal Stuart line), but -- in time -- have become suspicious of this formerly stated hypothesis. There is a slim-to-nothing possibility of such a connection. On the other hand, that the first Eaton (Robert de Eyton of Shropshire) may have been descended from the first Norman Shropshire Sheriff, Warin the Bald, and/or baron William Pantulf is a clearer possibility but still unproven by documentation other than the word of respected historians and genealogists. Even these icons have been found to be wrong too often.
My suggestion is that you tell us where your earliest known Eaton ancestor came from and approximate dates and one or the other of us may be able to help. Mowt, but not all, Eatons came from New England, Virginia, Canada and New York and New Jersey before spreading out throughout the U.S.
Also, if you have a name, use the keyword search capability here to see what you can come up with.
Many of us here, and elsewhere, have banded together to recontitute the Eaton Families Association. We will, beginning in January, if not before, have our own proprietary (coded access) web site, chat room, bulletin board, and archives containing rare documents. There will be an e-newsletter and, I hope, we will commence with planning for a global family reunion. You may wish to join this organization as some us plan to contribute to the archives inormation and documents not available anywhere else.
If you want more information, write to me at [email protected]
Rick Eaton