Celebrating Past, Present & Future

Home Where You Belong Host Chip Alford outside St. Mary's Church in Broadwater, East Sussex, England, where his 8th great grandmother, Lady Anne Alford, is buried.

I’ve always been interested in genealogy. Earlier this year I joined Ancestry.com and began digging into my family roots. After submitting my DNA, I received my “ethnicity estimate”, calculated by comparing my DNA against a worldwide panel to see which populations I most resemble. Not surprisingly, I turned out to be a real WASP – mostly English and Scottish with a tiny bit of Swedish, Danish, Irish, and Welch thrown in for good measure. No wonder I don’t tan in summer.

Through my research, I learned the name Alford first arose among the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The first instances of the surname were recorded in the Domesday Book compiled in 1086 for William the Conqueror. I also discovered the UK has several towns named Alford – three in England in Lincolnshire, Somerset, and Surrey, and a fourth in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. At least two of the towns were named after old fords – shallow places where a river or stream can be crossed over by foot or horse. Apparently, my ancestors who lived nearby took the name for themselves.

Thanks to input from other relatives and numerous hints from Ancestry.com, building my family tree was easier than expected. In only a few weeks, I traced my paternal ancestry back to my 10th great grandfather, Roger Alford, who lived in England in the 1500s. With this new family lineage in hand, I decided to take a trip to Scotland and England in October to celebrate my 60th birthday and dig a little deeper into my ancestral roots.

What I discovered was nothing short of amazing. Three of my great grandparents were buried inside ancient churches I was able to visit and they played a pivotal role in English history. Roger Alford, my 10th great grandfather, was private secretary to Sir William Cecil, who later became Lord Burghley and served as Secretary of State for King Edward VI and Queen Elizabeth I. My great grandfather not only helped organize Burghley’s business and governmental affairs, he also helped him avoid arrest for his alleged role in the plot to make Lady Jane Grey (a Protestant) queen instead of Mary I (a staunch Catholic). After serving Lord Burghley, Roger served two terms in the House of Commons and was even granted land by Queen Elizabeth.

Roger’s son, Edward Alford, my 9th great grandfather, also made a name for himself in government, serving seven terms in the House of Commons between 1604 and 1628. A champion of free speech, Edward opposed government interference and the absolute power of the monarchy as wielded by King Charles I. Edward’s son, who was also named Edward (after his father) was knighted by King Charles and later fought on the Royalists side in the English Civil War. Sir Edward’s son, John, was the first Alford in my family lineage to make the journey to America.

I left the UK feeling proud of my heritage and eager to decipher the rest of my family story. I know a little bit more about who I am and where I come from. I’m still figuring out what impact the experience may have on where I go from here. I’m excited about the future and hope the Home Where You Belong podcast will renew others’ interest in what home and family means to them.

You can learn more about my family history and why exploring your family history can be a valuable exercise by listening to Episode 6 of Home Where You Belong. The photos below were taken during my trip.

Alford Heritage Museum

I learned about the village of Alford in Aberdeenshire, Scotland while visiting this heritage museum.

Black Angus Statue

Alford, Scotland is known for breeding Black Angus cattle, which my father also raised on our family farm in Alabama.

Alford Family Memorial Sculpture

My 10th great grandfather, Roger Alford, is buried inside St. Mary’s Church in Hitcham, Buckinghamshire, England. This memorial sculpture to Roger and his family is also located inside. I later learned that Roger was private secretary to Sir William Cecil, who later became Lord Burghley and served as Secretary of State for King Edward VI and Queen Elizabeth I

Entrance to St. Mary's Church

Me standing outside the entrance to St. Mary’s Church which dates back to the 12th Century.

Church of St. Peter

Church of St. Peter in the East Sussex village of Hamsey, England, near Lewes, where my 9th great grandfather, Edward Alford, is buried. Edward served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.

Inside the Hamsey Church

The church dates back to the 900s. Services are still held there in the summer months and at Christmas.

Stained Glass Window

A beautiful view inside the Church of St. Peter in Hamsey.

Me & Rev. Dunlop

Rev. Anne Dunlop, the current rector of the Church of St. Peter, was kind enough to show me around the ancient church.

Ringing the Bell

Rev. Dunlop rings the bell inside the Church of St. Peter while my friend, Rob Sanders, looks on.

St. Mary's, Broadwater

A view of St. Mary's, Broadwater, in East Sussex, England, where my 8th great grandmother, Lady Anne Alford, is buried. Her husband, Sir Edward Alford, was knighted by King Charles I.