From Marian's Desk

Here is the first issue of the Crowley Clan Newsletter for the year 2005. I hope you enjoy it. And thanks to all of the readers who shared their Crowley news. I always enjoy hearing from you, and I hope you will continue to share your stories and your family research.

Thanks to Tom Crowley (Ohio) for the article about the Irish chieftain. It is nice to know that our ancestors were so democratic in choosing their leaders. And thanks to photographer Todd Parker for the fine job he did recording our last Crowley Clan Gathering. See page six for information about ordering one of his photo cd's.

Sue and Sunny Crowley have shared their family research with us, and you will find it on pages six and seven. Sunny told me that her mother, Sue, has been doing genealogy for 50 years. And Sunny has been doing it for 25 years. Their research is interesting. Despite the fact that they can't definitely trace their ancestors to Ireland, their research goes back to 1470 in England and to 1729 in the United States. That's much earlier than most of us have been able to document. Thanks to Sue and Sunny. I also understand that this Crowley family is looking into using DNA testing to back up their research. If you would like to contact Sue, her e-mail is snobirdsue@aol.com. And Sunny's e-mail is sunny@a-natural-choice.net.

DNA research is being used more and more in the field of genealogy. It is a tool that perhaps the Crowley Clan should consider in the future. The World Chamberlain Society, which my husband belongs to, has been using it for several years. Loren participated in it, and his test confirmed the research I'd done years ago. He definitely is descended from Henry Chamberlain who came over from England in 1636.

This DNA research has also put Loren in touch with about a dozen cousins (7th and 8th). They now e-mail each other and share stories of their different branches of the Chamberlain family.

And finally, thanks to readers who pointed out that I had incorrectly identified the knight on page seven of the November 2004 issue as Bill Crowley. In fact brother James is the knight in the foreground, and Bill is in the background. My apologies to the Crowley brothers!

Slán, Marian

The Crowley Clan Newsletter is
compiled by Marian Crowley Chamberlain