Two Brothers Meet in War After Years of Separation
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
Eugene, Oregon
February 27, 2023 12:38pm CST
I have this big brown manila envelope mailed to me in 1999 by my oldest sister. In it is a family history going back to the Revolutionary War. My great great-grandfather, on my father’s side, came to the US from Ireland “long before” that war which started in 1775. His brother Matthew came too. They were both part of the Continental US Army rebelling against England, but had been separated for several years. At a roll call, each brother heard the other’s name called and found each other for a happy reunion. That was a happy moment in a difficult war.
I never really looked at all these forty or so handwritten pages, so had no idea we had been around so long or that I am only four generations removed from Ireland.
13 people like this
14 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 Feb 23
@RubyHawk It would be a monumental task.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
27 Feb 23
@JamesHxstatic My sister does that. She has so much family information from way back. She has letters from a relative that was in the war between the north and south. He wrote to his wife advising her how to run the plantation. She has so much information she will never get it all together.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
27 Feb 23
@JamesHxstatic She will never do it, Maybe someone else will. I wouldn't even think about it. It's a big job.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Feb 23
@JamesHxstatic I've read some letters from "olden times," like Civil War days, with bad spelling but flowery language. Maybe some of the "literature" the not-overly-educated knew was passed on orally. Just speculation.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Feb 23
@TheHorse Could be. These people were not well educated, I'm sure. I come from a long line of dirt farmers and a few well diggers.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Feb 23
It is interesting. There is a letter from a woman to her sister copied in this group too. Bad spelling.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 Feb 23
It really is and it's a wonder I haven't lost it moving many times. It's about 50 pages of handwritten notes, quite well organized.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Mar 23
@JamesHxstatic Well I'm glad you didn't lose it! Did you just recently read the notes?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Mar 23
@much2say No, they've been around since 1999, but I just seriously read them.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
28 Feb 23
So many 'greats' I see. I did not even meet my grand parents on both sides and have no information on my ancestors.
You have a treasure in that big brown Manila envelope.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Feb 23
Yes, It is nice to know these things. I know a little about my mother's side but not this much.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Feb 23
So glad they escaped that mess.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
28 Feb 23
@JamesHxstatic They were very lucky.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 23
Oh wow, that is pretty amazing. A cousin has written a history of my mother's side of the family but the book is quite expensive. We bought it for the 'Irish' son as he likes that sort of them so I'm hoping I'll get to read it when we visit. Vince has enough Irish ancestry that he is now an Irish citizen.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 23
@JamesHxstatic Because of his age, we now both get free transport in Ireland. Next time we go over, we're going to apply for a pension (but that's a joke!) 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189957)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Feb 23
What a great reunion, huh? I am a bit further away from Ireland. I'm probably five generations removed.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189957)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Feb 23
@JamesHxstatic .........Seems longer ago for some reason.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Feb 23
I was surprised that it is so near.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
27 Feb 23
My family on both sides did not get here til athe 1900s. Pity the day.
@LeaPea2417 (40058)
• Toccoa, Georgia
27 Feb 23
That's so interesting that the brothers found each other.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 Feb 23
Yes, what a strange reunion & they both survived the war too.
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
28 Feb 23
cool. That's a great moment for sure. I didn't know that our family name was in the civil war until I looked it up. History is so cool.
1 person likes this
