As the last story was from your father’s side of the family, I thought I’d tell you one from your mother’s side. This one has a couple twists toward the end. You’ll see.

Once upon a time William and Susannah Runnels Cluff had a son named David. He was born in New Hampshire, but spent most of his youth in Canada. In 1812 he turned seventeen years old, and war broke out between the US and it’s rival, Great Britain. He returned to the U.S. to fight in the war of 1812. (One of my ancestors was killed in an attack of Sacketts Harbor, New York, during that war.) After the war he returned to Canada where he married his sweetheart Elizabeth (Betsy) Hall.

Later David and his family moved back to New Hampshire. It was there he became a shipbuilder and also became interested in the Church. In the year 1832 he was baptized together with his family. His son (and your 3rd great grandfather) Moses was too young to be baptized, but was baptized in 1836 when he turned eight. A year later, David went out to serve a mission.

Where? Eastern States and Canada. (Perhaps there’s a reason you and your brother both served there.)

A year later, David was back with his family there they planned to move to Jackson County, but illness kept them from traveling there, just in time to avoid the persecutions. They headed for Illinois instead.

In Nauvoo, David opened a carpentry shop and helped build the Nauvoo temple. He was called on another mission and his son Moses (and the rest of the family) worked. David was out of the area when the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred. The family headed west with the Saints, although Moses, in his late teens, stayed in Nauvoo for a short time to work before moving on. He was in Nauvoo when the temple was burned.

When David and his family reached Utah in 1850, they settled in Provo. Moses was called on a mission to Prussia (Germany) in 1852, but when he arrived in England, plans were changed and he served in the Hull Conference in England. The Hull Conference was means by which European emigrants were helped to come to the United States. Moses was there until 1856. In May of that year, Moses assisted 163 Scandinavian Saints and traveled with them aboard the “Thornton” to America. They were greeted by Apostle John Taylor in New York, June 14th of that year.

Moses headed west with the first group of Saints. This was fortunate because the second half of those Scandinavian Saints traveled with James G. Willie later that year. This was the doomed Willie Company that suffered greatly as they crossed the plains. (Lucky twice!)

In 1858, David (Moses’ father) went out on another mission. Moses and his brothers built a theater where Moses acted as a comedian. Moses was called to settle in Arizona in the 1870s, and became the equivalent of Branch President for a time. His father and father’s family moved to Arizona as well where they lived the rest of their lives.

You come from a great heritage of faithful Saints. But, I promised twists. Where’s the twists? Well, as I researched, I found out two unusual facts. First, Moses and David were descended from European royalty. (That means we’re remotely related on that side as well, but so is most of the country.)

(At least one) Royal Line:

1. Andrew Colin Beck 2. Deborah Florence 3. Aurora Talley 4. Olive Cluff 5. John Henry Cluff 6. Moses Cluff 7. David Sr. Cluff Clough 8. William Clough 9. Love Meader 10. Rachel Sias or Cyas 11. Sarah Ann Pittman 12. Ann Roberts 13. William Roberts 14. Thomas Roberts 15. Sir Thomas Roberts 16. Walter Roberts

17. Elizabeth Fremingham 18. James Fremingham 19. Agnes Wingfield 20. Elizabeth Goushill 21. Elizabeth Fitzalan 22. Elizabeth De Bohun 23. William De Bohun 24. Elizabeth Princess of England 25. Edward I "Longshanks" King of England (Reigned 1272-1307) 26. Henry III King of England (Reigned 1216-1272) 27. John "Lackland" King of England (Magna Carta 1215) (Reigned 1199-1216) 28. Henry II "Plantagenet" King of England (Reigned 1154-1189) 29. Matilda Empress of Germany 30. Henry I King of England (Reigned 1100-1135) 31. William the Conqueror, King of England (Reigned 1066-1087)

One more thing. I was looking over a couple websites distantly related to your line. On one I found the following:

1. Andrew Colin Beck 2. Deborah Florence 3. Aurora Talley 4. Olive Cluff 5. John Henry Cluff 6. Moses Cluff 7. Elizabeth or Betsey Hall 8. Lucy Fowler 9. Lucy Kemp 10. John Kemp 11. John Kemp 12. Mary Lacey (Jr.) 13. Mary Foster (Lacey Sr.) 14. Ann Alcock (Foster)

“While studying the Cluff line on Mom's side, I came across a death date (1693) and place (Salem Jail, Salem, Massachusetts) that piqued my curiosity. Since I had heard about the idea that we were related to someone who was involved in the Salem Witch Trials on Dad's side… I had done quite a bit of research on the subject… The name is Ann Alcock, married name is Foster. So I looked on many different websites about Ann Foster and sure enough, she was accused, tried, convicted and sentenced to hang. She confessed (as she knew this was the only way to save her life) but remained in prison, where she died in December of 1692 (the familysearch website date says 1693 incorrectly) as a result of poor treatment from the sheriff. Turns out her daughter and granddaughter, Mary Lacey Sr. and Mary Lacey Jr. were also accused and also confessed.”

So, dear Andrew, as some of my ancestors were accusers and magistrate judges in that infamous event, I would like to extend my most sincere apologies for any harm that has befallen your ancestral family because of my ancestral family. We have control issues. We’ve pillaged, plundered, enslaved, usurped, murdered and otherwise made miserable many thousands in the course of history. All apologies to you.

So remember – you’re descended from the best of kings and witches and Saints. You have much to live up to.