Just found out that an ancestor testified in the Salem Witchcraft Trials

[CarlJamesweather]

27. Are we cousins?

csziggy, I stumbled across this blog while looking for information about my ancestors who played a role in the witchcraft trials. I believe we are cousins based on the people you described.

Do you have or know of a family history book written shortly after 1900? We have encountered six or seven families who still have the book. Our family has two.It is on line through the University of Wisconsin, I think. The writers believed that though our common ancestor, Allen lived in Wales, the family originated in Denmark and migrated to Normandy The later went to England with William the Conqueror.

My mother's family were Vikings. Some other relatives were Swedes or Fins. The Sami people of northern Scandinavia are indigenous people who are genetically very close to Cro Magnons. They also share some Asian genes.

Christians and invading governments force ably tried to destroy their shaministic religion. Shamen were burned as were others who refused to submit to the Christian religion. Their ceremonial drums were destroyed and sacred groves cut down. Some were sold into slavery in New Sweden and later the the British colonies.

The church has apologized and they now help Sami revive their culture. Some still practice a combination of Christianity and the old religion. In some places, they never gave up paganism.