Dutch on my father's side. First ancestor over from Holland was Garret Van Swearingen, shipwrecked off of Fire Island, south of Long Island, on his way to New Amsterdam in 1657.
Three generations later, great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather Thomas Swearingen III became the only person in history to defeat George Washington in a run for public office. In 1758, Washington was 26 years old and running to fill a seat in the Virginia House of Burgesses (colonial version of a state legislature, basically.)
This from an article tucked into my family history notes:
"Swearingen had no special reputation to parade, so he pinned his hopes on the saloon keepers. Voters on their way to the polls were hailed from every tippling house with 'Come have a drink on old Tom Swearingen, the peoples' friend.'
Setting 'em up for voters was customary in those days. It wasn't until the 19th centery that most states passed blue laws closing the saloons on election day. A little closer to the polls on that day in 1758, stood Swearingen himself, smiling beside a hogshead of rum with a ladle in his hand.
Washington kept his distance. He made no speeches and served no drinks. But "have a drink" beat "I cannot tell a lie" six to one. Swearingen won 270 to 40.
Washington's correspondence shows he took this defeat gracefully. Ole George, however, was taught a lesson by one of our clan and it would seem he learned it well.
Washinton wasn't the sort of man who made the same mistake twice. A year later he took Swearingen on again. He didn't campaign personally. Duty kept him on the frontier with his regiment. But he wrote to his campaign manager, Colonel Wood, instructing him to spend with not too sparing a hand on drinks.
Drinks served in Washington's name included 40 gallons of rum, 18 gallons of wine, 43 gallons of strong beer, one hogshead and one barrel of punch containing 26 gallons of 'Ye best Barbados Rum,' 8 quarts of Cidar Royale, etc. That's a total of 160 gallons, or something more than a quart a half per voter.
This time, Washington won 309 to 45. Washington never failed to treat again and never again lost an election."
Mother's maiden name is Trail, and her mother's maiden name Purcell. I don't know the origin of Purcell. . .my guess is French, but Trail is definitely English.
Damn. . .this is one wonderbread forum, ain't it?