Preface
This manuscript
will assist future generations to quickly pickup, verify and continue our history. This lineage is difficult to research especially
with the lack of wills and headstones in early times.
The spelling
of the original name Clement, i.e., Clements, Clemens, Clemmons, Clemons, etc., was subject to the ear and hand of early census
takers, record keepers and our ancestors' and future descendants' desires. The
spelling of Mozingo was found in limitless variations. Additionally, the common
use of nicknames, especially in females, presented another challenge. Some examples
found: Nelly for Ellen, Polly for Mary, Milly for Amelia, Sally for Sarah, Peggy for Margaret.
Please
excuse the various British, German, and American forms of the Latin “Clement” used throughout this manuscript.
During
my initial research efforts, an elderly and wiser distant cousin stepped forward correcting "my misguided" internet posts
pointing me in the right direction. He also shared with me that his recent ancestors
purposely corrected the spelling of their surname in stages from Clemons to Clemens to Clements. Perhaps, just to correct
the spelling to the proper British form [Clemens being German form].
There are three general conclusions about the origins of
this lineage which I have outlined at the end of Chapter I.
Perhaps our Henry was only a German indentured servant,
first in Maryland, then transplanted [employer relocated] to
Orange County,
Virginia. Orange County was in the middle of the Virginia tobacco belt and earlier French and German settlements. There they met
the by 1782 established French - Spencer Mozingo family.
Today’s new research tool is DNA testing. The
results do not identify you as a person, but can tell if you are related to another family group that has also been DNA tested. DNA testing of males is extremely useful, because each father passes an identifiable
and unique gene to their male children and so on through the generations. There
are several testing facilities in the United States. There is also a private Clement DNA group to share your findings.
Others
in the lineage have hinted of ancestry to Samuel Clemens [Mark Twain] or children born with no father present. DNA testing now can begin to solve such issues...
Family
history should always be a work in progress, so check, check and check my findings before you decide to use them. I you find me wrong, make a note of it, and accept my congratulations.
I hope you find this manuscript even the smallest bit helpful on your journey to your past.
Ronald Allen Clemons Sr.,
8 November 2007, 3rd edition, an e-book.
