This was announced previously on
Olive Tree Genealogy blog but I felt it was worth repeating!
Easter Bunny's Family Tree Found!
Breaking news - yesterday a little girl named Alice was playing in the
garden of an old house in England when she fell down a large rabbit
hole. Before climbing out she made a unique discovery. In a small
wooden box under a pile of rabbit fur hats Alice spotted a yellowed
letter. The letter was addressed to "Dear Easter" and signed "Uncle
Wiggily", and it provided details of an interesting family tree!
The complete letter has been transcribed below:
Dear Easter,
I'm
glad you asked about your family. Time is getting short for me and I
think I'm the only one left who knows the stories of our family.
Your
great-grandfather, Bugs, was one of three brothers (Bugs, Peter and
Brer). The brothers left their home and sailed for America in the late
1800s. The ship they were on was caught up in a terrible storm and the
brothers had to tie themselves to the mast. The ship sank but Bugs,
Peter and Brer were lucky enough to find a plank and they climbed up on
it and drifted for several days until they were rescued by the SS
Lollipop.
When they got to Ellis Island, the customs officials
changed the brothers' last names before allowing them to leave the ship,
and so the three branches of our family began.
Bugs, Your
great-grandpa, kept his Bunny name. Peter's was changed to Cottontail
and all his descendants have kept that name. Brer's name was changed to
Rabbit and it is from his line that our famous cousins White and
Velveteen descend.
Great grandpa Bugs later met and married your
great-grandmother Bunny Fufu. I don't know anything about her parents.
My cousin Willy Bunny has photos and her family bible but he is stingy
with the family information and refuses to share. Apparently Bunny
Fufu's family bible was tossed into a fire by Indians when they attacked
the settlement where she and her parents lived, but Bunny's father
leapt into the flames and saved the bible. I wish Willy would not be so
secretive with the information!
It gets a bit confusing, but
Velveteen Rabbit, your mother, was your father Energizer's second wife
and his third cousin once removed. It wasn't unusual for cousins to
marry each other, but it does get confusing as we all seem to have large
families.
Velveteen's father (your maternal grandfather) was
Peter but I don't know too much about your mom's side of the family. I
did hear there was an Angora in there somewhere way back. Some say she
was a Princess and Peter rescued her from pirates!
Of course
you know your grandparents - Buster and Trix. One day you should ask
your grandma Trix why she calls your grandpa Buster by his nickname
"Hassenfeffer" whenever she is mad at him, it's a cute story.
I've
done some research on our family but am stuck on your
great-great-grandmother. That would be your Great-Grandpa Bugs' mother.
Great-Grandpa Bugs' father (your great-great-grandpa) was named Cadbury
but I think your great-great-grandma was left by aliens. She is my brick
wall. I know Cadbury called her Flopsy and they had 54 children but
even though I've searched everywhere, I can't find what her SIRname was.
I guess I should tell you about the family scandal involving
your Great great grandpa Cadbury Bunny. My Aunt Babbity told me she
heard the grownups whispering about this when she was little. It seems
that Cadbury's father fell in love with a chicken and Cadbury was the
result of that love match! This might explain Cadbury's strange
behaviour....
Well Easter, I think I've given you enough details
to confuse you, but I hope I've gotten you interested in learning more!
I know where some of the graves are of your ancestors and will take you
there one day if you want to go. It's just a hop, skip and jump away.
Give my best to all the little children when you make your rounds this year,
As ever,
Uncle Wiggily
Since that exciting discovery in 2009, Easter Bunny has found more
genealogy goodies! In 2010 Easter found a family tree chart! You can
see it
here
In 2011 Easter was delighted to discover a
Family Bible
that once belonged to his great-grandmother Bunny Fufu! He's been
hunting ever since, tracking down leads on the Bunny Trail and exploring
every nook and cranny he can find.
