Peddie-McNeely Family Pages

Farewell to George

“It’s a long way from Riverton” is what George used to tell Wanda when they got somewhere they had never been before. They have been together a very long time. Their paths parted during WWII and they were re-united after the war. So once again their paths have parted and eventually they will be rejoined again as it was meant to be.

Eulogy for George H. Peddie

Until last Friday, I did not know for sure that angels existed. My father was in the ICU and on a ventilator when a little girl and her mother walked in. The little girl was wearing what I imagine was her confirmation dress and carrying a harp about as big as she was. Her mother explained to me that she was the daughter of one of my father�s dearest friends, that they loved my father, and she asked if it would be all right if her daughter could play for him. And with the most peaceful, loving smile on her face, unfazed by the machines and ravages of illness, that 9-year old girl played her harp at my father�s bedside. It was at that moment, as I watched this child with the face and soul of an angel, that I knew for sure that they existed because I knew Daddy and I had been visited by one.

Petty vs. Peddie

There is some anecdotal evidence (family stories etc.) to suggest that the PEDDIES originated from Ireland, the name PETTY becoming PEDDY in Scotland, or that PEDDIES went to Ireland where the reverse happened to the surname. There are two possible explanations for the surname Petty and its variants Pettie, Pettee, Petit, and Pettitt when it is found in Ireland. The principal Petty family was established in the county Kerry by the famous Sir William Petty in the seventeenth century. The name may be of the nickname origin, descriptive of some personal or physical characteristic of the initial bearer and in this case, the name may be derived from the Old French "petit" meaning "small, one small in stature".

Tracing Your Irish Roots

For those of you with Irish heritage in your past, I am sure you have discovered by now how difficult researching your Irish roots can be. However, with some patience and some basic information that this article will provide, you can trace your Irish roots there quite successfully.

Tracing Your Italian Roots

Locating where your Italian ancestors originated can be a very tedious task. By following the provided checklist and utilizing some useful references, many of your immigrant Italian ancestors can be found.

Value of Probate Records

When it comes to collecting vital records for genealogy, most people typically start by collecting bith, marriage and death records. However, an often untapped source that is often overlooked and is very easy to locate in many cases is probate records that are filed after a death of your ancestor. So what is probate and how can it help you get more info....read on.......