Something new is on the horizon!
This summer marks the two-year anniversary of the publication of my first genealogy book, The Wathens of Southern Maryland: Their Genealogy & History, but a new book is on the way! When I published that first volume, I knew there was still more writing to be done. The Wathens of Southern Maryland focused on the branches of the family tree that remained in Southern Maryland, but it couldn’t fully cover those that migrated elsewhere.
In my upcoming book, Wathen’s Adventure: The Genealogy and History of John Wathen of Southern Maryland, I go beyond Southern Maryland, exploring the first four generations of John Wathen’s descendants as they spread into Montgomery and Frederick Counties, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and beyond. As I’ve retraced these first five generations of Wathens—starting with our ancestor John—I’ve also corrected some errors and added new details that readers will find fascinating. Additional Y-DNA testing, newly available online records, and fresh insights have combined to make this an essential guide to Wathen family history.
I'm especially excited about two big discoveries:
- Unraveling the Mystery of Barton Wathen: With the blessing of Carol Collins, a legend in Wathen genealogy, I picked up where her research left off and found conclusive evidence connecting her ancestor, Barton Wathen of Washington County, Kentucky, to Marmaduke Wathen of Charles County, Maryland. This breakthrough solves a decades-long puzzle, and I’ll detail the evidence in my book.
- Finding New Information about James Hanson Wathen: With the help newly-available AI-assisted searches and new Y-DNA data, I’ve zeroed in on the most likely father of James Hanson Wathen – ancestor of most of the St. Mary’s County Wathens – and of John Francis Warthen – ancestor of the Frederick County Warthens. I’ve also discovered evidence that James Hanson and John Francis had another brother named Hudson!
Although the bulk of writing and research for my book is completed, I am now tackling the monumental task of editing and proofreading the book. My goal is to ensure that the book is ready to ship in time for Christmas, so that you can give copies to your loved ones!
As always, thank you for your continued support! Researching and publishing are costly endeavors, and your pre-orders of Wathen’s Adventure: The Genealogy and History of John Wathen of Southern Maryland help make this work possible.