May 15, 2008 - With great sadness I report that our cousin, David Lynn Graham, died Tuesday evening as the result of a motorcycle crash at Ithaca, Michigan. He was 58 years old.

David was the younger brother of Virginia Strong, one of our active Wonnacott researchers that ardently dives into the files at the Gratiot County Historical Society at every chance possible. Their mother Lois Irene Wonnacott Graham passed away over two years ago.

David is survived by his father, Lewis; his wife, Cheryl; four children: Lewis Graham, of St. Louis, Mike Graham, of Ithaca, Samuel Graham, of Ithaca and Andrew Graham, of Ithaca; three stepdaughters: Mandi Rutkowski, Amy Rutkowski and Amber Rutkowski; one grandchild: Gaven Graham; two step grandchildren: Trey Jones and Taite Jefferson; two sisters: Virginia (Tom) Strong and Mary Graham; one brother: Jim (Darlene) Graham; and nieces and nephews.

The complete obituary may be seen by clicking on the 'Recent Obits' link. Our condolences go out to Ginny and the entire Graham family.

The Mystery Is Solved!

May 15, 2008 - This winter Ron Winnacott joined the fray and began researching in earnest many of the Wonnacott and Winnacott lines, looking for clues and positive links to his Wonnacott roots. He's found them, verifying many of our collective theories and we may now truly say the Winns ARE part of the Wonns. Good job, Ron!

S/L Gordon Wonnacott
RCAF Ace Part of his research included solving the mystery of our cousin Squadron Leader Gordon Wonnacott, RCAF. Gordon became one of Canada's 'Ace' pilots while flying with 414 Squadron during the latter part of World War II. He returned to the family farm Edmonton after the war and seemingly disappeared.

With help from cousin Carol Skelton, Ron was able to obtain Gordon's storys from Archives Canada. After his return to Canada Gordon began working as a civil pilot and was drowned after a flying accident in a river near Edmonton on June 7, 1949. He was piloting a small training aircraft with one passenger aboard when they crashed into the river shortly after takeoff. Both Gordon and his passenger survived the crash and began to swim ashore. The passenger made it, but Gordon's body was found 200 miles downriver a few days later.

He was buried at Edmonton on June 30, 1949.

Applied Genealogy

I've jokingly suggested to a few Cousins that what is accomplished here is 'Applied Genealogy', a concept similar to applied mathematics in that we use basic principles to develop products that enhance our lives. When we understand how the driving forces of opportunity, family ties, individual skills, and current events combine to create an ever changing migration pattern it's then that we appreciate our ancestors as peers and not just archaic names on a pedigree chart.

We all know the heartache of a son or daughter leaving home for unexplored areas. It's not as wrenching now as it was two centuries ago. That dear voice we wish to hear is available instantly today via cell phone - but in the early 19th century the only way to maintain contact was by way of postal letter that took weeks or months to reach the loved one. Oddly enough, we are given every indication that the family ardently kept very close ties even as distance and political boundaries placed obstacles against us. It wasn't until World War II that the boundaries finally seemed to overwhelm us and the various family groups drifted apart. It's taken about 70 years, but technology - and a desire to 'find' our family - is very quickly bringing us back together as a closely knit family. Always 'A Work In Progress'

Well all know that, don't we? Each time we pick up a piece of family information it affects something within our books of research output. This site isn't any different from all of those binders you have scattered about your house. Please look at each page as another binder, another scrapbook or photo album. Sometimes a photo, news clipping, funeral notice, or personal note is simply moved to a more logical place within the binder - or to a new binder altogether.

This site doesn't pretend to be the absolute, indisputable, source of Wonnacott genealogy. BUT, it does try to be a high rock upon which to stand and search across the horizon for additional venues and scenic vistas! It does try to publish your family pedigree in historical context. Very often knowing the circumstances of the era in which a family segment lived will answers those nagging questions of 'WHY DID THEY MOVE HERE?'

Genealogy As History

A comprehensive genealogy search should result in the researcher learning as much about the history of a nation than that of the family. Why did the Wonnacott family leave Elgin, Middlesex, Durham, and Northumberland counties in Canada and migrate to central Michigan? Well, it could have had something to do with American 'Land Patents' in which good ground could be homesteaded for very little cost - or it may have had something to do with the Canadian Revolution. Canadian Revolution? Who ever heard of that? Well, not many, because the insurgents that wanted to bring a more democratic form of government to Canada were not as organized as the American Patriots of an earlier generation. Most of these guys were caught and hung - several of them on one frightful day. The Loyalists sure knew how to stifle dissent.

So, do you know how our ancestors moved from Devon to Canada? Where did they embark and dis-embark? What kinds of ships did they sail? These questions all have answers in history not specifically tied to the family name. I urge you to spend some time researching the era of the family branch you are seeking and I'm confident you will find some clues as to where to find more information about the family.

Here's a clue . . . a couple of Wonnacott men are listed in Canadian census tables as 'firemen'. Today we might just think they were brave guys that fought house fires. But was that really a viable occupation in the early and mid 1800's? NO. But the poor sod that broke his back shoveling coal into a railroad steam engine boiler was also a fireman. So, you might be able to find out more of that 'fireman' ancestor by looking at lists of railroad employees and members of rail unions and associations. Not all of the information about the family will come from census reports and the family bible. . .

A New Feature

You probably saw it as soon as this page opened, and may have already tried to see what it's about. The site search engine database is being built as a quick reference cheat when you are looking for a particular family member. It will take a LONG time before it's really complete, but ultimately it will allow you to easily find photos and individual biographies. The database reveals not only information found on this site, but also items found in other sites around the world.