The Molyneux Family

I am the 5th generation of U.S. born Molyneux in our lineage. Our specific family tree was basically known only for those last 5 generations. Prior to James Molyneux, the first U.S. born in our family, we did not even realize we came from English heritage.

My mother and father started to formally research our history after the death of my grandfather (3rd generation) in 1985. They not only used books and the internet, but also traveled to various locations where our family was known to have settled in the United States.

One such place was Eastern Pennsylvania. In fact my parents have attended the Molyneux Family reunion in Sullivan County Pennsylvania. More on their experience coming to a separate page.

Many burial grounds in that area are devoted entirely to the Molyneux heritage. One incident involved an accidental discovery of such a cemetery. My parents were site seeing in one small community and my mother happened to stumble over a few dislodged stones. When she stood back up, she came across headstones hidden in some overgrowth. After looking at several of the headstones, both parents noticed that all the headstones had the Molyneux name. Initially, they felt uncomfortable because of the coincidence of names, but then realized they discovered a gold mine of history for their research.

This goes to show that you can come across family history when you are least expecting it.

One piece of history that caught me by surprise, our immediate ancestors arrived in the U.S. from England and Ireland, not France (Normandy) as most people would believe.

As mentioned on the Introduction page, our research has gone back to the mid 11th Century and William the conqueror.

Two brothers (Vivian de Molyneux and William Molyneux) were men-at-arms under William the Conqueror. They both came to England around 1066.

Our family tree falls under Vivian's descendents as depicted on the Molyneux Family Tree - Personal page. Counting forward from Vivian, I am the 26th Molyneux.

As more data is discovered, it will be posted.

INTERNATIONAL

MOLYNEUX

FAMILY

ASSOCIATION