Introduction Page

Welcome [Revised Jan 2007]

My family history is a research in progress. I'm like so many other genealogists who will probably never be done. There is always another person to find, another brick to knock out of that proverbial wall. As you browse my site, remember there will be more added/opened in the months to come. The site concentrates on, but is not limited to, the PORTEOUS and VAMPLEW families. There is or will be information added about the collateral or associate families.

My intention is to share my information and to gain knowledge from others in return. Accuracy of the content is also important to me. I would be interested hearing from anyone researching one of these families with anything to add, or with any corrections. Please contact me by email. Include either PORTEOUS or VAMPLEW in the subject field.

The Porteous Associates has given Family #1123 to my Porteous family.

Introducing

A little background to introduce the main counties in USA and England where my PORTEOUS and VAN PLEW families came to settle.

Lake County, Illinois and Pawnee County, Kansas

In 1870, Lake County was chiefly farming. To the southeast about 40 miles is Chicago. Bordering on the north - Wisconsin. On the east - Lake Michigan. In the early 1830s, Lake County was part of McHenry which now borders to the west. The terrain — glacially deposited hills, vast prairies and flat lands, lots of trees, marshes, and many lakes. There was plenty of game for food and the fishing was good. The native Americans had left the area, but I'm sure you could still see the remains of their trails. Some of the roads in the county follow those trail routes.

My great-grandparents John and Mary Ann Porteous' home was located on the west side of Diamond Lake on Midlothian Road. The homestead farm is gone to "progress" as is the case nowadays all over Lake County. Diamond Lake is now part of Mundelein which at the time John and Mary Ann settled there, was called Rockefeller.

In 1878, Pawnee County had been opened to settlers for several years. The Santa Fe Trail and Railroad ran through the heart of the county and through pieces of Porteous land. The terrain was rolling hills — "high prairie." There were shallow rivers and streams, and some trees along the rivers. The buffalo might still have been there. The land was good for cattle, wheat, rye, sorghum, and oats. Later oil and natural gas would be discovered.

My g-g-grandparents and great-great uncle settled near what is now Garfield, Kansas. The homestead no longer stands and there's no family left in the town. The homestead land is known as Porteous Park and is used for an annual American Legion Turkey Shoot. Garfield was originally called Camp Criley, which was a supply camp for the Santa Fe Railroad workers. At one time it was a very important town, but now it is a sleepy little place with a Post Office, Library-Village Hall, and grain elevators. The population has dwindled so much that by 9:30 am, the PO closes because "everyone has been there."

Lincolnshire, England

Lincolnshire is one of the largest counties in England. It is bounded on the east by the North Sea, on the southeast by the Wash and Norfolk county; on the west by Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire; on south by Leicestershire and Rutland; and north by the Humber River which separates Lincolnshire from East Riding-Yorkshire.

The area of Lincolnshire where most of my ancestors lived is the gold-filled area on the map. It is on the edge of the north Fens, the Wolds (chalk hills), and Poacher Country. The Fens are flat lands which flood easily since it is close to sea level. Dykes and drains keep the land from being flooded. Canals cut through the land separating farm from farm. Grain, potatoes, leeks, and other commodities were grown, and would have been taken to market by boat on the navigable canals which was an efficient way to deliver the goods to Lincolnshire cities such as Boston, Lincoln, or Stamford. The Wolds are beautiful rolling hills of grain, sheep grazing, with a few good stands of forest. Near the North sea the land is flat and marshy.

In the early days, the fens were swampy areas with patches of land or islands dotting the scape. "Sloggers," a group of people who hunted and fished, inhabited the swamps, and lived off the land. There was disease, epidemics and the mortality rate was high. Eventually diseases such as malaria were virtually eliminated when about the time of the Reign of William and Mary, it was decided to bring skilled labourers from Holland and Belgium to build dykes, drains and canals, to reclaim the land. This eventually turned the reclaimed land into very fertile farm ground. Lincolnshire is the main produce provider for England.

My Porteous and Vamplew ancestors were from parishes around villages such as Mareham le Fen, Tumby Woodside, Kirkby on Bain, Coningsby, Tattershall Thorpe, Grimoldby, Skidbrooke, Wyham cum Cadeby, Marsh Chapel, and Ludborough to name a few.