The Family Histories Podcast - S06EP06 - 'The Runaway' with Teresa Vega

S06EP06 - 'The Runaway' with Teresa Vega

12/12/23 • 50 min

In this Sixth episode of Series Six, host Andrew Martin meets family historian Teresa Vega and finds out how she got hooked on researching family history, how her background in anthropology has helped her research, her adventures with DNA testing to trace her Ramapough Lenape Nation ancestors, and her work on the Family Tree DNA Malagasy Roots project with TV's DNA Detective CeCe Moore.
THE LIFE STORY - ANTONIA 'TUN' SNYDER
Teresa has chosen to tell the life story of her 4x Great Grandmother, Antonia Snyder known as 'Tun', who was born circa 1790. Her mother's family had roots in Madagascar.
Teresa found an 1815 advert in a New York newspaper for a runaway slave - Tun. Crucially, this gave Teresa the key to solving her father's identity. Having found him, she was able to find her mother and siblings too.
Despite having been on the run from her enslaver, she does return to households of some of the big enslaver families in the area, where she is traded whilst having 13 children. She died in 1881.
THE BRICK WALL - ROBERT HENRY FISHER
It's a close-to-home brick wall for Teresa - her Gt Grandfather Robert Henry Fisher. He was born circa 1898 but was legally declared dead in the 1930s after going missing.
Whilst the death is not the point of interest, it's his origins that have spawned conflicting stories and theories - one tells of him being a descendant of Jewish traders in White Plains, New York, whilst others point to a Cuban connection.
Despite her efforts to analyse the DNA for clues about Robert's family, fascinating gaps seem to hide the answer.

Was Fisher/Fischer actually his surname?
Who were his parents?
Does he descend from the Dutch merchants?

If you think that you have a clue or a research idea that could bring Teresa's brick wall crashing down, then you can contact her at the email address she gives in the episode, or alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on to her.
In the meantime, Teresa is keen for Andrew's help, but will he be able to get her to the right place?
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Episode Credits:

Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
Teresa Vega - Guest

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Was Fisher/Fischer actually his surname?
Who were his parents?
Does he descend from the Dutch merchants?

Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
Teresa Vega - Guest

Support the show

Previous Episode

S06EP05 - 'The Churchwarden' with Jackie Depelle

In this fifth episode of Series Six, host Andrew is joined by family history tutor Jackie Depelle. He finds out how she got interested in family history, how she became a full-time family history lecturer, her thoughts on how genealogists and academic researchers are working together, and how the genealogy industry could evolve in future.
THE LIFE STORY - JOHN HAYHURST DAWSON
Jackie has chosen to tell the life story of John Hayhurst Dawson who was born in 1841 in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Thankfully, his middle name (which was his mother's maiden surname) allows him to be identified easily, as his father and grandfather were also John Dawson.
John Hayhurst Dawson went on to work in multiple roles within his community, including a Justice Of The Peace (a 'JP'), a businessman, held many layperson roles at his church, and was also the churchwarden. This has enabled Jackie to amass an impressive collection of documents to his name.
THE B̶R̶I̶C̶K̶ ̶W̶A̶L̶L̶ STUMBLING BLOCK - THE DAWSON FAMILY
Refuting the existence of 'brick walls', Jackie has a Dawson family 'stumbling block' that keeps her perplexed - where did the Dawson family come from?
Jackie has been able to identify a brother to the oldest John Dawson (the grandfather of John Hayhurst Dawson), named William Dawson, but beyond this, she's stuck. The earliest deed on the family home is signed on 12th December 1820, but prior to this - she's stuck in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Where did the Dawson family come from before 1820?
Where did John Dawson get the money to build his house?

If you think you can help Jackie with a clue or a research idea, you can contact her via her website www.yourfairladies.co.uk or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it on.
In the meantime, Andrew's offer of help results in some unexpected practical advice from Jackie.... will he take it all on board?

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Next Episode

S06EP07 - 'The Loyalist' with James Danter

In this final full episode of Series Six, host Andrew meets James Danter - a family historian who is also a professional archaeologist. Andrew learns about how he got into both of these areas, and how they overlap and help him with his research in both fields. He also asks James on his thoughts of how these two areas could work closer.
THE LIFE STORY - DARCY FOWLER
James has chosen to tell the story of his wife's ancestor, Darcy Fowler (later known as D'arcy Fowler) who trained and worked as a solicitor. However, as James' research progressed he soon uncovered a story that led Darcy to move from the UK to America, and fighting as a loyalist in the American Revolution.
THE BRICK WALL - GEORGE RICHARD CORDWELL
It's a First World War mystery that has James digging around for clues.
His 2x Great Grandfather George Richard Cordwell, born in 1894, earned medals for his work in The Great War, and James has a photograph of him in his military uniform, but beyond this, he's been unable to find any conscription, army service records, medal cards, or discharge records. Somehow, he's missing.

Which battalion was George in?
Does a Cordwell surname variant hide the truth?

If you think that you can help James with a research idea or a clue to turn that brick wall to dust, then you can contact him on his Twitter/X profile at @jdanter or alternatively, you can contact us and we'll send your message on to him.
In the meantime, James is hoping to dig into some new clues in Andrew’s garage, but will he strike gold, and will Andrew take a trip of his own?
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Episode Credits:
Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
James Danter - Guest

Support the show