Jeff Bowden, Gnarly Roots

05/16/2025

When Pope Leo XIV walked onto the balcony, I told Christa he looked Italian... but the news reports were soon talking about his French & Hispanic roots.

Sometimes with genealogy, follow your gut.

Turns out his grandfather was Sicilian. 🇮🇹

Learn more about some of the interesting discoveries Ancestry genealogists discovered about Pope Leo XIV's family history.

01/17/2025

Very interesting stuff. "Genetic evidence from Iron Age Britain shows that women tended to stay within their ancestral communities, suggesting that social networks revolved around women."

Genetic evidence from Iron Age Britain shows that women tended to stay within their ancestral communities, suggesting that social networks revolved around women

01/16/2025

Do you need help digging under your family tree? 🌳

I've been doing family history research since 1978. I can help with your family or house history. I can digitize old pictures, documents, movies and audio. I can advise you about navigating genealogy websites, scanning/filing away pictures & documents, taking a DNA test or filling in tree chart. Whatever you need.

I charge $49/hr, with no minimum # of hours. I offer a free 30 min consultation, and an initial 4 hours of time for $149. Prices for digitizing are per item. Every situation is different, and I'll do as little or as much as you'd like. For more info & a full price list visit https://gnarlyroots.us/

Send me a message & we'll see if I can help.

01/13/2025

Fascinating to see a 1775 map of what was becoming the United States. Just a sliver of what's now our East coast.

A Map of British North America in 1775, with the Thirteen Colonies in red. Maine was originally part of Massachusetts, and the land making up Vermont was disputed territory with New York State and New Hampshire both claiming ownership

05/27/2024

It's the week of the first Rockland Maker's Market y'all. We went by to map out the space yesterday. What a glorious spot to spend 6 hours on the first day in June.

We'll be set up 10-4, Saturday, June 1, at Harbor Park in Rockland. The weather's looking gorgeous so far. There'll be 40 vendors with handmade products including jewelry, soap, stained glass, sea glass crafts, clothing, candles, art and more. Lots of food trucks & restaurants nearby. Come on down and say hey to Salvy, 🐕. He'll be in his comfy chair gazing at the ocean...



The event link is here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/955114059535450/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[]%7D

11/15/2023

I truly look forward to this. Jan 2.

11/15/2023

If you've been thinking about getting some help with your family tree, now's the time to get started. :) Through Dec 31st I'm offering 4 hours of initial research for $99 to new clients (usually $149). If you have interest, shoot me a message here to request a free consultation... or message me through my website (https://gnarlyroots.us/).

I'll also have an offer up soon for a personalized holiday family tree chart... watch this space.

11/01/2023

The painting is from Caitlin Connolly, "Us With Them and Them With Us". I can't find a reference for whoever added the text. (If you know, holler back at me).

I just love it.

10/19/2023

Mornin all. I have a new blog post up... another story of serendipity, this one directly connected to our house in Rockland, ME & another family house in Lynn, MA.

I've also added a link to sign up for blog notifications if you're liking these posts.

The real estate listing said it was built in 1900. We knew at first glance that it was older than that.

10/14/2023

JOE MELL, PASSAMAQUODDY GUIDE, C.1895! Photo in our current exhibition at our main building of the well known Passamaquoddy guide, Joe Mell. Photo was taken by Boston based photographer, William Lyman Underwood and dates to about 1895. It was taken near Duck Lake in northern Washington County, Maine where Mell used to guide Underwood on his annual hunting and fishing trips to the area for about 30 years. You won't want to miss seeing this photo and the 56 other Wabanaki related objects in the exhibition. Titled "Ckuwaponahkiyik Mecote yut kilun ntiyultipon | Wabanaki Presence," the exhibition has been extended through October 14. Hours this week are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. After this week, the exhibition can be visited by chance or appointment.

10/12/2023

Very interesting Science article on the use of DNA to work out family relationships in ancient burials.

Bronze Age burials suggest women moved to live with their husband’s clans, but also helped structure societies

10/07/2023

Interesting article about iron staples used in the construction of Notre-Dame dating to 1163.

Notre-Dame's fire in 2019 allowed archaeologists to explore never-before-seen parts of the cathedral during the ensuing reconstruction.