Searching a family tree can be like opening Pandora’s box – New Jersey Herald

HAMBURG — When Lisaann VanBlarcom Permunian started searching her family tree back in 2010 she never realized what she would find. But despite what she has found she continues her research, but she concedes that her head hasn’t stopped spinning since beginning to research her family tree.

It started in January 2010 when Permunian and her dad, Ralph VanBlarcom, were cleaning out her late grandmother, Catherine Sammis VanBlarcom’s home. They uncovered a considerable amount of family history that included photos, seven Bibles and her third great-grandfather’s, Francs VanBlarcom’s Civil War discharge and his pension papers.

Based on his records, Permunian learned that her ancestor served as a carpenter as a seaman aboard the U.S.S. Santee during the Civil War. Unfortunately, while lost at sea, he contracted a cold and developed bronchitis. He died 20 years later from complications from his service time.

Then, the search for other ancestors who may have served their country began. Permunian discovered that her fifth great grandfather, James Edsall, served in the Revolutionary War from July 1, 1776, until 1782. Permunian discovered that she had other Revolutionary War veterans in her family tree such as Henry VanBlarcom, who served as a captain in 2nd Regiment, Essex County.

A newfound relative suggested that they might have Mayflower ancestry. It turns out that Permunian has since found at least three Mayflower passengers, James Chilton, his wife and their daughter, Mary, who she descends from, through her ancestor Henry Edsall and his wife Mary Cary.

Having found several Revolutionary War and a Civil War veterans, Permunian then set her sights on a witch. Why, not? She found one, James Wakeley (Waklee), from Hartford, Conn., that was twice charged with being a witch. In 1662, nine Hartford residents including Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith, Elizabeth, wife of Richard Seager, Andrew Sanford and his wife, Mary, William Ayers and his wife Goody Judith Varlett and James Wakeley were charged with witchcraft. In addition to the nine, several other people were named, including Peter Grant’s wife, Katherine Palmer and Mary Barnes.

A court hearing was held Dec. 20, 1661. On Jan. 25, 1663, Rebecca and Nathaniel Greensmith and Mary Barnes were hanged at Hartford. Wakeley escaped the hangman’s noose by fleeing to Providence, R.I. Permunian descends from Wakeley’s son, Henry, who was married to Sarah Burt.

Since finding the Hartford witch, Permunian opted to see if she could find a witch in her ancestry from Salem, Mass. She found one, Giles Corey, who was pressed to death during the Salem Witch trials. Permunian descends from Corey’s daughter, Mary. Corey’s death by pressing may have been the only one in this country. He was stripped naked, placed on the ground (face down) with a board placed on his back and heavy stones placed on the board. More stones were added on him until he passed away on the third day, Sept. 19, 1692. Sheriff George Corwin inflicted this death on Corey as he refused to plea to being a witch. His third wife, Martha (no relation to Permunian) was hanged as a witch three days later, Sept. 22, 1692.

Talk about opening a Pandora’s box. Tracing her family lines further, Permunian discovered that she is related to the grandparents of well-known traitor, Benedict Arnold, and his wife, Mary Turner.

Permunian claims descent from the Adams family, too. Permunian’s ninth great-grandfather was Thomas Adams who was married to Mary Blackmore. Thomas Adams was the son of Henry Adams and his wife, Edith Squire. That couple had a son, Joseph Adams Sr., who was married to Abigail Baxter. That makes Permunian’s ancestor, Thomas Adams, the brother of Joseph Adams Sr., who was the great-grandfather of both Samuel and John Adams.

Whew! Continuing, Permunian is also related, but does not descend, from Abraham Woodhull, one of Washington’s six spies. Permunian, in tracing her family tree, knew that the original Edsall in this country, Richard, married Ruth Woodhull. Permunian recalled reading the books about Washington’s six spies and watching the TV show TURN. Researching further, she discovered that her eighth grandmother, Ruth Woodhull, was the daughter of Richard Woodhull (1620-1690), her ninth grandfather. Her eighth grandmother, Ruth Woodhull Edsall’s brother, was also named Richard. It was he who was the great-grandfather of spy Abraham Woodhull. Permunian concludes that the spy, Abraham Woodhull, and herself share the same ninth great-grandparents. During the Revolutionary War, Woodhull used the name Samuel Culper Sr., with the six spies known as the Culper spy ring.

But, Permunian didn’t stop there. She traced her eighth grandmother, Ruth Woodhull, back to Charlemagne and claims Charlemagne as her 38th great-grandfather. Since Charlemagne had as many as 18 children, tracing his descendants could prove interesting.

Permunian didn’t mention it, but she also had a few relatives who were slave owners. Abraham Woodhull owned slaves, but he did free them. William Drew, of Vernon, also had slaves.

Permunian also claims descent from a founder of New Jersey, her 10th great-grandfather, Lubbert Gybertson Van Blaricum, who arrived in this country in 1634. He is guessed to have been killed in an Indian raid in 1656.

In explaining why she spends so much time researching her ancestry, Permunian said, “it’s about learning about the people, learning about their lives and what they lived through.”

Permunian notes that there was a poem posted on Facebook that sounds like it was written about her. She has no idea who wrote the poem but that it goes like this:

“We are the chosen. In each family, there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and to make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow, they know and approve. Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts, but instead, breathing life into all who has gone before. We are the storytellers of our tribe.” Permunian quickly adds, “That’s me.”

What family line Permunian plans to trace next is anyone’s guess, but right now she concedes that her head is spinning.

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Jennie Sweetman is the history columnist for the New Jersey Herald. She may be contacted at jenniee@warwick.net.

Permunian may be contacted at lisaannpermunian@gmail.com.