Letter from the Editor
Dear Cousins,
This newsletter has a mediaeval flavour due to the approaching reunion at Blencow, the home of our earliest known ancestor, Adam de Blencow. Family reunions are all about getting together with the extended family, but when our Association holds one in England, the extra dimension of the historical significance of the location to our particular family is added.
From before the time that Adam was a boy, the area had seen much unrest mostly through border conflicts with the Scots. For 350 years or more the inhabitants of Blencowe faced bloodshed and devastation from invading troops. Disease frequently crippled the community.
Now this quiet little Cumbrian village of Blencow is preparing for another invasion. The tribes of Blencowe will descend from the far flung corners of the globe: Australia, Spain, USA and England. It could be quite daunting for the locals awaiting the arrival of about 90 people who spell the name of their village in many different ways but not 'Blencow'.
We read that our early family was a wild and ruthless lot. I trust they will find the current Blencowes to be a refined and gentle family arriving in peace to share the connection with lands and heritage of our ancestors. Through our next newsletter I hope we all can share the experiences of the reunion.
I wish to thank Peter Blencowe for the hours of work he has devoted to making this reunion a reality. Living a long way from Blencow has meant a lot of liaising with connections in Cumbria. Peter has found the people of Blencow, Greystoke and surrounding area to be very supporting, obliging and helpful.
I wish everyone a safe trip and look forward to meeting many of you in Blencow.
Anne Burton
Australia
April 2010
editor @ blencowefamilies.com