Bones of Joseph Bridger

Exhumed in 2007 and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

10 thoughts on “Bones of Joseph Bridger

  • Eugenia Henry

    Sorry, Elaine that I did not have opportunity to see this – computer issues, health issues for family members, etc etc.

    I have since found some more info but enjoy sharing. Sure hope to make it to Washington to the Smithsonian exhibit before it closes in 2013. So glad they have extended it.

    I have been to St. Luke’s but at that time had not gotten back that many generations. Was in the area about 5x grands and then later traced my line through that Godwin to Joseph & Hester.

    I am Eugenia Milner Henry. My husband and I have enjoyed tracing our family heritages since about 2003 – mostly me, and he likes to go along for the ‘ride’. I work full time and have a disabled son so can’t get away as often as would like. Do it when we can.

    Must run for now. If you have a pdf to share or whatever, just let me know. Thank you so much for this wonderful website.

  • Eugenia Milner Henry

    Genealogy gives the gift of connecting with all our ‘cousins’ near and far and fascinating stories about our familiers.
    Where do you live, Jamie? Have you been to any of the Bridger family association gatherings? I get the newsletter and talk to Jean Tomes who heads it up but have never made it to any of the gatherings.
    We live near Atlanta.

  • Hi Eugenia,

    I am a voting member of the Bridger Family Association. Yes, I have been to two of the reunions — the one in Wash. D. C. and the one in Smithfield in 2010. I was due to attend the one this last summer, but I had back surgery, so could not attend. I will be attending the 2012 reunion. They are wonderful events! I felt like I’d known everyone the minute I met them. Guess that’s what happens when you meet cousins!! My sister lives in Alpharetta, GA. I live in Orlando, Florida.

    From which Bridger do you descend?

    Elaine

  • Henry,
    Yes, the bones we reinterred, except for the femur bone which was kept by the Smithsonian. They are in hopes that in the future the techology will advance so that DNA can be extracted and matched to living descendants of Joseph Bridger.
    Elaine

  • My children and I just visited Henricus Park this week which once again made me think about my ancestors. I am related through Starkie T. Bridges though I get the how many times down confused. It was wonderful to find a book about this time period and see directly where Joseph Bridger fits into the larger picture of that time. We have also visited the Smithsonian exhibit. We have not been to St Luke’s but is on my list to do this year. I moved to southern Virginia 8 years ago and love having all of this at my back door, so much so that I am homeschooling for a year or two so that my kids can learn they’re history and American history through these experiences. How can I live here and not see and visit everything that is within a few hours drive. I need to join the Thomas-Bridges Association and keep more in touch with current family not just family as history. Thank you for this sight.

  • Elaine Powell

    Hi Bonnie, It is good to hear from you. I would love to see your line back to Joseph Bridger. Yes, Virginia is a wonderful place to live if you love history. I traveled there often from our home in Florida when my husband worked near Williamsburg for 3 1/2 years. I did a lot of research and also visited a lot of historical sights. I hope you will take your children to Historic Jamestowne this year. They are actively doing archeology work at the site of the original fort and they recently discovered the location of the original church and the exact location of the alter where Pocahontas & John Rolfe were married. Also, near Williamsburg is Berkeley Plantation, which is the site of the First Thanksgiving in America (despite what history says to the contrary). It is a wonderful place to visit. I hope you will consider joining the Bridger Family Association. We will have our reunion next May in Norfolk, Va. Go to BridgerFamilyAssociation.com for more info. We will be adding a lot of genealogy information on that website soon, in order to help descendants of Joseph Bridger to document their line.
    Regards, Elaine

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