Barton Breen, Genealogist

10/21/2025

10/19/2024

Interesting development.

My Ancestry DNA profile has updated and shows:

1. England and Northern Europe 32%
2. Ireland, Ulster and Connacht 31%
3. Scotland, Highlands 30%
4. Germanic Europe 7%

Before the profile for Scotland was the Lowlands, near the English Border.

I don't have documented lines far enough back to validate this either way. The highlands is a surprise to me, because Highlanders tend to be Scottish Nationalists. My Breen's were very strong Orangemen and Loyal to the British crown. That doesn't seem to match with the highlands.

DNA places of origin in Ancestry are not perfect or wholly reliable and the next update may change.

If anybody has thoughts or insights they are welcome.

06/11/2024

Sad to report this passing in the Mayhew/Breen clan.

MAYHEW, Larry Larry grew up in Comber. He met the love of his life Ellie, his wife of 50 years and together they raised their beautiful family. Loving father of Laurie Badman (Brad Tapping), late Trevor Mayhew (1980), Mike (Melba) Mayhew, Jeff Mayhew (Lindsey Kerr), and Marc (Deb) Mayhew. Cherished....

05/01/2024

My Brother singing in the background. This was a film taken in the mid to late 1960's. It includes shots of my immediate family of origin, paternal Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and Cousins.

Home Movies from my childhood in Canada. Set to an Acoustic Version of the Bob Dylan and Rod Stewart Classic.

05/01/2024

This is a personal post from me. About this time every year, I reflect on another year as a Cancer Survivor. I have 38 years now and am grateful for them.

This is a poem I wrote that reflects my experience and the experiences of other people I walked with. I was a volunteer chaplain at the American Cancer Society for several years.

It would be meaningful to me if you shared this in honour of your own cancer battle or in honour of someone you love.

The picture was generated by AI using the text of the poem for the image.

Cell Mates

Freedom’s cry is dim indeed
when one can roam the world at will
and never have the path impede
the goal, and be imprisoned still.
A gaze into my mirrored eye
and I can see what others fear;
a victim of biology
with cells that walk the prisoner.
While others have a radiant smile,
I have a radiation burn
that pulls from me a forlorn frown
and tufts of hair, each in their turn.
My rebel organs rising up
within my chemo mixing sphere
I fight to draw a line of death
for cells that walk the prisoner.
Within my quiet battlefield
I fall upon my own gr***de
and hold to hope, however mild
that bad is killed, while good is saved.
And so in quiet desperation
I stalk myself, and self inter
my rebel suicidal faction;
those cells that walk this prisoner.
© Barton Breen 7/16/2001

12/29/2023

Does anyone else have a reaction to this?

12/29/2023

Brace yourselves! Here it comes!