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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1997-08 > 0872935913


From: William A. Severance< >
Subject: Re: Three Brothers
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 02:11:53 -0800


>
>I apologize to Denise in advance because I don't know anything about the
>McKinney family, but her request reminded me about something that I've been
>meaning to share with the list for a while. I recently read Rodger
>Cunningham's book "Apples on the Flood" about the Scotch-Irish people of
>Appalachia. In the book, Cunningham cites research conducted by Cratis
>Williams in 1961:
>
>"Cratis Williams reported that when he asked his fellow mountaineers about
>their ancestry, he was often told some version of a story to the effect that
>three brothers had come over 'from the old countries before the old
>Revolutionary War.' One had settled in the mountains, one had gone west, 'and
>we never knew what became of the other.' This story is so widespread that, as
>Williams said, it can hardly be historic; but its widespread occurrence itself
>bespeaks an appeal which demands an archetypal explanation."
>

>Is this REALLY a common family legend among the Scotch-Irish? Does anyone else
>besides Denise and me have a similar story to tell?
>
>John Hennon
>Pittsburgh, PA
>

I do, an old letter written to my grandfather (1931) said " have not had
much success tracing family history.....other than a Raffety settled in
North Carolina who had three sons and one of these moved to Pike County,
Ill." PR Severance

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