Peach Genealogy - Newsletter, Issue 1
THE PEACH/PEACHEY PROJECT The Electronic Peach Tree Issue 1 Editor: John Harding Peach Peachroot@aol.com
Welcome to the first issue of a new brainstorm I have conceived. I have chosen 50 people who have shown an interest in Peach/Peachey genealogy to participate in this experiment. By your receipt of this, you are recognized as being one of the chosen 50.
15 years ago, I began a newsletter called "THE PEACH TREE". This was mailed to the only 24 people I knew at that time who were interested in Peach genealogy. Little did I know that this would develop into a life-time project.
In the past 15 years, I have written 108 issues of "THE PEACH TREE" newsletter sent to people all over the world. This led to the publication of four books, a video and post card genealogies.
As a result, we have held seven national Peach reunions throughout the U.S.A. from coast to coast. In 1990 a group of us took the Peach Heritage Tour to see our genealogical roots in England.
Some of you who have been chosen to receive this first issue have been supporters of this project for many years. However, most of you are new to this "Peach/Peachey Project."
Since I am not sure how positive my response will be to this, I will make this first one rather brief. Also, I am rather new to the Internet and don't know if this is the best format to use for this electronic newsletter. I am open to any suggestions you have to improve on this or to make it more conducive for your needs.
Just as I started rather naively 15 years ago with 24 people being sent a simple newsletter, I begin 15 years later just as naive with 50 people in a simple email. I will be looking for your favorable response before I continue with this endeavor.
My first article will be taken from my latest book, THE PEACH/PEACHEY MIGRATIONS, 1066-1990, (excerpts from Chapter 1).
THE COMMON ANCESTOR OF ALL PEACH/PEACHEY DESCENDANTS FROM ENGLAND
As most of us know, England was captured by William the Conqueror of Normandy in 1066 A.D. Among his 315 knights was a man named WILLIAM DE PECHE I. This distinguished nobleman became the common forefather of all the Peach/Peachey descendants from England.
The Conqueror was quickly crowned King William I in Westminster Abbey. As a reward for his faithful service to the Conqueror, de Peche was asked to hold some of the new king's territory. The Domesday Survey endorsed by the Conqueror in 1086 showed Peche holding two chief manors. One was in Netherhall, Essex at Gestingthorpe: the other was in Dalham, Suffolk. (Both of these are in the eastern part of England north of London).
William de Peche I, as a noble, married into a noble family and thus increased his power and his holdings. His descendants eventually became one of the most influential and powerful families in England. The records are profuse and detailed, preserved in England to this day. However, to my knowledge no one ever wrote a book about this powerful family until this "Peach/Peachey Project" came into being.
I will continue to share the history of this family and show how Peche became Peach, Peachy, Peachey, Peckham, Pech, Peck and even Thurlow. If this issue is well received, I will proceed to produce more issues.
If you know someone else who would be interested in receiving this electronic newsletter or the printed one I mail out called "The Peach Tree", please submit their address. I would be most happy to include them in this project.
I hope all of you realize the vastness of coverage for this electronic endeavor. This will be going to the U.S.A., Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand at the touch of my finger. This is awesome. Some of you overseas have not been able to be too involved because the cost is so prohibitive to snail- mail things across the ocean. Electronics via the computer age have helped us all to become a closer-knit group. The thousands of miles that separate us physically mean nothing now that we can all communicate through the air ways instantaneously.
If you want to receive a complimentary issue of the printed "Peach Tree", just provide me with your mailing address. If you have received one and want to subscribe, just send $12 for the next six issues.
My two latest books are still in print: THE PEACH TREE HANDBOOK, Vol.II and THE PEACH/PEACHEY MIGRATIONS. Both are hardbound and fully indexed. The Handbook is $29.95 (256 pages); the Migrations is $39.95 (411 pages). Send $5 shipping & packaging for each order to: John H. Peach, 611 Herron Rd., Knoxville, TN 37922.
Send e-mail to: Todd & Sharon