Peach Genealogy - Newsletter, Issue 5
Issue 5, THE PEACH/PEACHEY PROJECT Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 07:47:38 EDT From: PeachRoot@aol.com To: PeachRoot@aol.com
CAPTAIN'S GREAT BUFFET
Julian Peach suggested we have a true Viking meal of pickled herring for dinner. So for him and all you other hearty souls, we put that on the buffet. But as an imaginary meal, you could have eaten anything your heart desired and best of all, not gained one "eensy weensy" pound - totally fat free!!!
During the banquet yesterday, we found we had discovered a lot of information about one another since being on board and milling around. To kind of summarize this, these are the highlights.
89 people have identified themselves by name. Many of these have brought mates aboard whose names are to be anonymous. However, in all statistical data and introductions, I will only refer to the 89 who are known to me.
Of these 89, we found that 25 bear the PEACH surname, with another 35 who have PEACH ancestry. This means 60 on board represent PEACH. 13 others bear the PEACHEY surname, with another 8 who have PEACHEY ancestry. Thus, there are 21 who represent PEACHEY. There are seven who are PEACHY and one who is a PECHE.
We have passengers from seven different countries. 54 are from the U.S.A. 13 are from Canada. Australia has 11 representatives, while England and Saudi Arabia have five each. New Zealand has two on board, and the South Pacific island of Tonga has one.
Thanks to TODD and SHARON PEACH of Seattle, Washington (USA), we have our own web page. If you want to get any or all of the past issues of this Electronic Peach Tree, just go to http:/home1.gte.net/tpeach/NoPlaceLikeHome.htm. Todd and Sharon plan to dedicate this web page only for all our Peach/Peachey Project publications via the internet. Thanks again!
Some of you found we have a chapel and prayer room on board. This is appropriate since yours truly is a Baptist minister, and SISTER ANNE THERESE PEACH is a Catholic nun. Also, five of you told me your ancestry is of the Amish and Mennonite faiths. So, it looks like we have the bases covered.
Do we have any other faiths represented that someone wants to report? A story we heard at the banquet that had a lot of us laughing was told by DAN GIFFIN of Phoenix, Arizona (USA). His line descends from Jacob Peach of Summit Co., Ohio, through his son, John Peach, veteran of the Civil War. Dan told us:
"My grandfather, WARIE PEACH, when he moved to Colorado from Ohio, had been a member of the Brethren church, but because he didn't like the practice of "greeting one another with a kiss" he left and joined the Methodist church."
Don't be timid about stopping by the chapel for reading, prayer, meditation and fellowship. All religions and faiths will be equally respected. We will not use religion to divide us, but rather to unite us (while on this cruise).
Some of you are on board as stowaways. Dr. WILLIAM S.PEACHY of Saudi Arabia says he brought some steamer trunks aboard, and when he opened them up, out pops his wife (NURIYE PEACHY) and his two daughters (LEYLA and AYLA). He pleaded the Captain's mercy to keep them aboard, and so of course I gave in. Of course, if I was a true Viking, I would have thrown them overboard.
You heard about the guy who tried to fly around the world in a hot air balloon. Well, yesterday I was told he ran out of hot air and landed in the ocean - somewhere off the coast of Australia.
Well, some of those in hot air balloons must have collapsed out here in the North Sea. All of a sudden, we look out and see these rubber rafts coming toward our ship with Peach/Peachey kin who want to get on board. So, we showed we were not ruthless Vikings anymore and welcomed them to join us.
Among those in United States, we have different branches represented. Through the years, I have given each of these branches a name. The one I call the Pennsylvania Branch of Peach has five on board. Also, we have five from the Southern Maryland Branch, five from the South Carolina Branch and five from the Marblehead, Mass. Branch.
Five from the U.S.A. are from what I call the Swiss Branch of Peachey. Their common ancestor, PETER BITSCHE, came to America from Switzerland in 1767. Settling in the midst of Pennsylvania, he and his family was able to practice their Amish Mennonite faith freely, which they couldn't do in their native land. Some of the most precious days of my life have been spent among their people. Their rich traditions, staunch faith, high morals and strong family values are highly remarkable.
Although we will be focused on the English ancestry on this cruise, we are glad to have our Swiss brethren (called "Pennsylvania Dutch") with us.
>From Canada, our greatest representation comes from Nova Scotia. We are going to spend quite a bit of time trying to see how our 13 Canadians are related. Along with this, I will do my best to try to identify each separate branch in Canada. So far, I don't have enough pieces of the puzzle to make a complete picture.
Those in England have given me a lot of material to analyze. I will be getting out my files containing all the research I did in England in 1989 to help them see how they fit into the whole picture.
Those in Australia and New Zealand are giving me a lot of information about their English ancestry. So while we do England, we will be trying to fit each of these into the puzzle.
The WILLIAM S.PEACHY family in Saudi come from Virginia (USA). There are many of those on board who also trace their ancestry to Virginia. So we will spend time trying to find out how the Peach, Peachey and Peachy got to Virginia from England and where there descendants went from there.
By the way, we are planning the EIGHTH NATIONAL PEACH REUNION in Virginia during the year 2000. We would love to have all you there. As we focus a lot of our attention on our Virginia roots over the next few years, this will help to unite us into one big Peachy family.
In the library on board the ship, I will be referring to various books especially on our Peach/Peachey genealogy. The standard textbook I will use will be THE PEACH/PEACHEY MIGRATIONS, 1066-1990. You must have a copy of this book if you are really serious about helping put the full puzzle all together. Due to the brevity of these Electronic Peach Trees, it will be impossible for me to quote every appropriate statement from this book. Thus, you will hear me say, "See page/s _________of THE PEACH/PEACHY MIGRATIONS."
The price of the book is $39.95 plus shipping. Since the shipping costs will vary in each country, I will make it my ambition today to find out exactly what it will cost to send it to your area.
If you want to subscribe to my printed "Peach Tree" newsletter, just send $12 for six issues if you live in USA or Canada. For those overseas, I need $18 to cover my costs. I have just published my 109th issue and am celebrating 15 years of using this newsletter to be the heart and soul of The Peach/Peachey Project.
To visualize your heritage in England, you need to see The Peach Heritage Tour video. Arranged chronologically, this will take you on a journey through England showing you where the Peche ancestors lived and reigned. It will highlight their castles, their estates, their churches, their coats of arms and their burial places.
THE PEACH HERITAGE VIDEO is regularly priced at $24.95. However, it is on sale now for only $12.95 while quantities last. Those in North America need to add $5 for shipping. I will check what shipping charges will be for those overseas.
You can order these by sending a check or money order to: John H. Peach, 611 Herron Rd., Knoxville, TN 37922
We have had calm waters out here in the North Sea. I hope you are enjoying your trip thus far. On our way to Normandy, let's continue to use the time to get to know one another better. If you have any questions, just come to the Captain's Quarters and ask. I may not have the answer yet, but I will do my best to try to find it.
In my next issue, I will give you some introductions of those on board, so we can have an opportunity to form bonds and establish relationships. Until then, God bless you all.
Send e-mail to: Todd & Sharon