{"id":64155,"date":"2021-01-06T11:46:53","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T16:46:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=64155"},"modified":"2021-01-06T11:49:15","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T16:49:15","slug":"nevada-street-sweeper-discovers-plymouth-colony-and-royal-heritage-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/nevada-street-sweeper-discovers-plymouth-colony-and-royal-heritage-part-ii.html","title":{"rendered":"Nevada Street Sweeper Discovers Plymouth Colony and Royal Heritage, Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues her story about the 1933 discovery by a Nevada street-sweeper of his extraordinary family history. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

I recently wrote about Thomas Severence Delano, a Nevada street sweeper who discovered he was a cousin of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) and descended from a long line of impressive palatial pedigrees dating back centuries (see Nevada Street Sweeper Discovers Plymouth Colony and Royal Heritage<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Denver Post (Denver, Colorado), 24 December 1933, page 49<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today I will cover a Mayflower<\/em> line which Tom descends from, and a meet-up with his cousin Anna Roosevelt Dall in Nevada.<\/p>\n

Tom only discovered his connection when he was reading a newspaper article on Sara Delano Roosevelt, FDR\u2019s mother. Tom always pronounced his surname \u201cdeLAYno,\u201d while the Roosevelts pronounced it \u201cDellano.\u201d Tom\u2019s curiosity sent him on a hunt through family letters and papers. He remembered the romance stories of the Delano sea captains in his early Massachusetts line.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, Tom shared a direct line with FDR\u2019s mother through Jonathan Delano and Mercy Warren. Jonathan\u2019s father, Philippe de Lanoy [Delano], arrived in Plymouth in 1621 onboard the Fortune<\/em>, the first ship to arrive in Plymouth after the Mayflower<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Captain Warren Delano house<\/a> in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, was a sacred place for the Roosevelt clan. The house made many headlines through the years \u2013 including in 1903 when, following Thanksgiving dinner, Franklin announced to his mother that he had become engaged to (Anna) Eleanor Roosevelt.<\/p>\n

This home is but one of the historical landmarks that represent the Delano family. Tom\u2019s line had many impressive, colorful stories which made the pages of the annuals. His 3rd<\/sup> great grandfather Richard Delano (grandson of Jonathan and Mercy Warren Delano) married his cousin Mercy Taber (daughter of Jonathan and Lois West Taber). Lois West was the daughter of Mercy Cooke West, daughter of John Cooke and Sarah Warren.<\/p>\n

Richard Delano built a home in 1773 and, during the onset of American Revolution, moved some of his household effects for safekeeping, according to History of New Bedford and Its Vicinity, 1602-1892<\/em>. His loaded wagon, in charge of a lad named Look, was met on the road to the woods by a British soldier who, after saluting the boy with a blow, mounted the wagon and ordered the lad to drive on.<\/p>\n

When they reached the house of Mr. Alden, they found it in possession of the British, and the soldier entered. The lad quickly made his escape and, returning home, told his adventure to Mr. Delano. The Delano family fled \u2013 and on their return, found that their home had been invaded by the enemy, and their furniture destroyed. The marks made with a bayonet in opening the house revealed evidence of General Grey\u2019s orders to use the bayonet at all cost.<\/p>\n

I found an obituary for Richard Delano by searching GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Medley or New Bedford Marine Journal (New Bedford, Massachusetts), 14 July 1797, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I also found this notice of his estate.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Medley or New Bedford Marine Journal (New Bedford, Massachusetts), 17 November 1797, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His son Richard, Tom\u2019s 2nd<\/sup> great grandfather, was the executor. He married Drucilla Freeman, also a Mayflower<\/em> descendant. More on that line later.<\/p>\n

Back to Tom Delano. In 1934 Tom met up with Anna Roosevelt Dall, his 6th<\/sup> cousin.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Anna Roosevelt, 1932. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She was the daughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. According to the New Orleans Item<\/em>, Anna was filing for divorce from Wall Street financier Curtis Bean Dall. The \u201cfirst White House divorce\u201d raised some scandal, so Anna had taken her two children to the secluded Arrowhead D Ranch in Nevada, owned by New York socialites Mr. and Mrs. William D. Shepard.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
New Orleans Item (New Orleans, Louisiana), 20 July 1934, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tom caught wind of Anna\u2019s locale and contacted her lawyer Samuel Pratt in Reno to seek an introduction. Tom was armed with letters and newspaper clippings from the Delano family in Massachusetts to prove his credentials. Pratt arranged a meeting, and it was a success. Anna made a good impression, and Tom told the press: \u201cShe\u2019s wonderful!\u201d<\/p>\n

He also told the press: \u201cI am a Republican, but I am for cousin Frank!\u201d and remained one of President Roosevelt\u2019s staunchest admirers.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned for more on the Delano lines and a special antique relic from the family.<\/p>\n

Related Article:<\/strong><\/p>\n