Heritage Crossing–Chapter 18

Author’s Notation: On their car trip, Richard has David and Prudy read the names of their ancestors that settled in each of the towns that they passed. In this scene, they are reading the names of those that lived in Simsbury, Connecticut. Prudy finishes reading the list in tandem and asks her grandfather a question about one name. The ancestor’s wife was not listed.

Prudy ended with John Brown, and with the help from Grandpa, Mary Eggleston.

After they finished Richard asked, “So how many ancestors lived in Simsbury?”

“Forty-four,” David replied.

“Have you kept track on the map?” Richard continued.

“No, I forgot. I’ll do it now,” David responded. “What do you say? The blue stickpin stands for twenty people, and the green stickpin will stand for one person.” He stuck two blues and four greens on the map and in the town of Simsbury.

Prudy shook her head in agreement.

“Sounds good to me. Let’s make sure though that we put pins in the map for Barkhamsted, New Hartford, and Canton.” Richard said.

“Yes sir.” David replied.

“Grandpa? Why is there just one name?” She pointed to the name and David read it, “Michael Humphrey?”

“Wasn’t he married?” Prudy asked.

“That’s a good question. Sometimes the husband or wife died years earlier and buried in another town. Michael Humphrey married Priscilla Grant, and she died in Windsor years earlier. Her name is on the Windsor list.”

“They should be together.” Prudy said sadly but adamantly.

“You think so?” Richard asked.

“I agree,” David said.

“I’ll do that in the future. I promise.” Richard smiled.

“Good. People who love each other should be together—always,” Prudy affirmed.