Shawn

celticgenealogy.org Estimated Worth $1175.3 USD

http://www.websiteoutlook.com/www.celticgenealogy.org

Shawn

My daughter Holly’s birth name is Holly Marie Gillis Gearin. It is also her legal name.

Holly = We like the name

Marie = After my adoptive mother who raised me.

Gillis = After her biological family lineage.

Gearin = After her father’s (me) legally adoptive surname.

Knowing that my daughter was legally given this name, I for years have though about how best to describe myself in a way that connects both my families. Though my legal name is Shawn Lawrence Gearin my original birth certificate shows Malcolm Adrian Gillis. My birth father has the same name.

I have thought about amending or updating my name legally to reflect how I see myself, but have decided against it. Besides the obvious of having to pay for the change, it makes no difference to me whether the State recognizes this change. I am Shawn L Gearin in the world of bills and bank statements, but Shawn Lawrence Gillis Gearin in the world of genealogy and who ever else cares to know. I believe the work I have done in genealogy will long outlast any state information and it is here I pull the two families together as one. Not in a legal document, but in my daughter and myself.

So my name:

Shawn = Because my Mother liked the name.

Lawrence = After my adoptive father Lawrence J Gearin, but also after my adoptive G-Grandfather Lawrence Francis Gaffney.

Gillis = Due to the fact that I am biologically 1/2 a Gillis – 1/2 a MacNeil.

Gearin = My legal adoptive name, but also how I was raised as.

Twice the names, twice the genealogy, but not twice the time to sort it all out. What will my epitaph say?

Thanks for listening,

Shawn Lawrence Gillis Gearin

This second trip has brought me to Watertown, Ma. Watertown hold many dear memories for me as it is the town that many cousins, aunts and uncles lived, but more notably for me my grandparents George and Mary (Nelligan) Miller.

I thought back to who I talked to last in Watertown and remembered last year I talked with Fran Nelligan, who is the daughter of Francis Benedict and Gertrude (Rayne) Nelligan. I thought who better to ask for help in regards to my trip back to Watertown, for Fran and her family lived across the street from my grandparents. More specifically both lived on the same side of Summer St being only separated by Winter St. Winter St is one of those roads you’d never want to be on during an ice or snow storm due to its steep slope. I met my first cousins once removed Alice, Audrey and Fran Nelligan at Friendlys in Waltham, Ma on 22 July 2007. We talked and shared a few photos and family memories. Fran had some time that day to show me around town so we departed for Watertown.

Walking in St Patricks Cemetery didn’t bring back any memories for me, because I never attended my Grandmothers Funeral. Neither I, nor my 2 brothers attended and being age 11 at the time I’m sure it was how my mother wanted it. My mother Doris was the daughter of George and Mary Miller. I attended my Grandfather’s wake, but never attended the funeral due to a prior contractual wedding obligation. So walking though St Patricks was foreign to me, however it was a great education. Here is a birds eye view of St Patrick’s Cemetery showing family member grave locations. Please click to enlarge.

In my hand was about 8 old photographs of my aunts, uncle and mother. I wanted to photograph at the same spot as the photos were taken to show how the area has changed and what still remains the same.

I photographed many sites of family history relating to the Miller & Nelligan family. I am slowly added them to the site over the next few weeks. Thank you Alice, Audrey and Fran for your time that Sunday!
Shawn

Shawn

If anyone has an idea for one of these domain names, please let me know. They’re cheap enough to buy, but after a while you wonder why? Why do I need more than 2 or 3 or 8? Cool domain names are hard to come buy these days, so perhaps that’s the draw for me? At $8.95 a name I suppose it could be worse…

Shawn

celticgenealogy.org

gearin.org

familytour.org

malcolmhgillis.org

gillisweb.org

livethepast.org

livethepast.net

timejournal.org

James J Robinson US Army Guard- Now serving in Kosovo 2006-

Michael Izzo 2003 West Point Graduate- Now serving in Iraq 2006-

I have the the most respect for these individuals putting their life on the line for the United States and their mission! They had to leave their family and friends – please show your support for them and all who are serving!

Sincerely,

Shawn Lawrence Gillis Gearin

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Cape-Breton

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