Exploring the Surname: FESTEVAN
The
surname FESTEVAN has intrigued me for quite some time, primarily because of its
diverse spellings. It's fascinating how one surname can have so many
variations! Delving into my family tree, I discovered that my ancestor, John W.
Festevan, belongs to my paternal grandmother's lineage.
John W.
Festevan claimed Holland as his birthplace. While tracing his journey, I (and other family genealogists) found
records of him residing in Mississippi and eventually passing away in
Louisiana. The puzzle deepens when we explore his place of birth. A significant
number of genealogical trees on Ancestry pinpoint his birthplace as
"Holland, Reusel-de Mierden, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands". However, I
have reservations about this information.
Upon further research, I came across an insightful post by renowned Dutch Genealogist, Yvette Hoitink, CG®, QG™. She sheds light on the often-cited location "Reusel, Reusel-de Mierden, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands" that frequently appears in many family trees. Drawing from her expertise, I've gained a new perspective, leading me to question the widely accepted birthplace of John. The link to her article is here at Dutch Genealogy.
A glimpse of John's life
Below is a chart that gives us a look at John’s life, and some of the spellings used in documents or records relating to his life and transactions.
|
Category |
Information |
|
Name |
John W.
Festevan |
|
Alternate
Spellings |
John W.
Festeband, J. Festerbaur, Festervan, Festervand, John Fosterbeen, Festabund |
|
Birth
Year |
Around
1798 (discrepancies suggest possibly 1818) |
|
Birthplace |
Holland |
|
Residences |
*1840:
Madison, Mississippi *1841:
Township, Madison County, Mississippi *1850:
Township 19 Ward 4, Claiborne, Louisiana *1860:
Wiseville, Claiborne, Louisiana |
|
Death
Date |
Probably
after April 2, 1860 |
|
Marriage |
Nancy
Wills (30 Aug 1836, Madison County, Mississippi) |
|
Children |
Andrew
Jackson Festevan, Benjamin Franklin Festevan, Lucy J. Festevan, Marcella A.
Festevan, Martha Ann Festervan, David Simmons Festevan |
| Naturalization |
September
18, 1856 in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana |
|
Testifying
Persons |
Henry
Dyer, Joseph D. Long (neighbor in 1850 census) |
|
Land
Record |
April
2, 1860, in Webster, Land District: Natchitoches, Louisiana |
|
Citizenship
Oath Details |
Claimed
to be a native subject of King William IV of Holland |
Piecing together John's genealogical puzzle
As we delve into the intricate history of
John's life, it becomes evident from our genealogical chart that there are
significant gaps. Two primary pieces of the puzzle remain elusive: the
circumstances of John's birth and the identities of his parents. Despite our
extensive research, records that could shed light on these mysteries are yet to
be discovered. This is where modern science steps in - we're turning to DNA
testing to help fill these gaps.
Our collaborative team of genealogy researchers
is keen on employing Y-DNA testing, which can trace the direct male lineage.
Specifically, we're seeking a male Festevan, who descends directly from one of
John W. Festevan's sons, to participate in this test.
At the moment, Family Tree DNA is offering
their testing services at a discounted rate. If you, or someone in your family,
fit the criteria and are interested in participating, we would love to hear
from you. Your contribution could be instrumental in unlocking the secrets of
John's ancestral lineage.
Stay tuned as I continue to unravel the mysteries surrounding the FESTEVAN lineage!
- Revis
