PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

March 13, 2024

1. PATRICK’S DAY

My trip to Ireland last spring gave me a greater understanding of St. Patrick’s Day, especially as it informs my family’s story.  Both of my grandfathers had Irish roots.  One of them was the source of why I wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day.

I know the most about my Grandfather Hogsett’s background.  My Uncle John spent many hours working on the family tree and history.  The original Hogsett whose last name was Hogshead when he arrived in this country came during the migration of more than 200,000 Scotch-Irish from Ulster between 1710 and 1775. Very likely they were Presbyterians.  This had put them into conflict not only with Irish Roman Catholics but also the Church of England.  My branch of the family migrated from West Virginia to Pennsylvania to Ohio and finally to Indiana.  My fifth cousin and the mayor of Indianapolis Joe Hogsett’s branch came through Kentucky to Indiana.

My grandfather Boyd died when I was about five years old.  My one recollection of him is his telling me that we wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day because we are Irish Protestants.  He did not say if we were Presbyterians, members of the Church of England, or some other dissenting group.  When I was in Ireland I bought a pin that had Boyd coat of arms on it.  The information that was included with the pin said Boyd is Scottish and Irish but of unknown origins.  This would seem to indicate that this side of the family was also part of the Scotch-Irish migration.

An indication that the Boyds were members of the Church of England was my grandfather’s insistence that I wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day.  Why orange?  It goes back to the Dutch Protestant King William of Orange who defeated the Roman Catholic James II in 1690.  Roman Catholic Ireland supported James in the conflict.  An additional support that the Boyd family was not a part of the Scotch- Irish migration is that I had the impression that my grandfather was second generation.

If we are to fully understand who we are, it is important that we know the story of our family.  My story is a part of the story of the Scotch-Irish migration to this country.  Unfortunately, sometimes the stories we learn about our family when growing up are not always accurate.  When tested with facts they prove to be shown wanting.  Never-the-less they provide a foundation upon which we can find our place in this world.

The Old Testament is the story of the Hebrew people and how God chose them and blessed them to be a blessing.  The writers of the New Testament go to great lengths to place Jesus and the early church within the context of the ongoing story of the Hebrew people.  Today this story continues and we are invited to be a part of it as we commit ourselves to Christ and His church.

What is your family story?  Are you sharing it with the next generation?  How does it shape who you are and your outlook on the world?

(This article was originally published March 24, 2019.  Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)