Colonel William Kendall Sr. (1621-1686)

Just over ten generations ago this fellow arrived on the east coast a widower and settled in the Virginia colony sometime in the mid 1600s. Born in 1621, he is the oldest known ancestor in my family tree to have lived and died on this continent. Considered a foremost man of his time a few decades later, he bought and sold upwards of 12,000 acres where he grew tobacco, owned slaves, and had several indentured servants at his beck and call. He lived well, if not in opulence, and had an uppermost pew reserved on the east side against the chancel in the local Anglican church. Not a man I would hang out with, but there it is. He was mouthy, insulting the governor and being convicted and fined heavily for that rebellious act.

That part I like.

Alas, we can't choose our forbears, but this man took a risk coming to this continent by way of harrowing, months-long ocean voyage on a wooden sailing ship. I admire that part, too. And I'm grateful he made that journey since it led to my emergence as a sentient life form.