I was interested in history while I was in
high school, then thirty years ago I became interested in genealogy.
After that I found both disciplined inextricably linked.
I knew that my Kelly ancestors came from
Ireland because my parents and grandmothers kept mentioning the fact. I
should have known that some ancestors must have come from someplace other
than Ireland, but I had no proof of it. Three years ago some
cousins told me that our Rutledge ancestors originally came from the border region
between England and Scotland.
That information turned me back to European history in an
effort to learn where they came from to Ireland and Scotland; and the
societies they were probably part of.
That research evolved into looking to see where their
ancestors originally lived. Several possibilities evolved, including Spain, Denmark, and
a vast area between Denmark and France, including Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands Map
of Europe
The facts kept piling up, filling boxes, and making my
wife mad. Finally with
no way to use most of what I found, my instinct to write took over and
these Fun Histories are the result. Fun Histories are written for children,
but I hope adults will enjoy them too.
Don Kelly
