NL #53, October-November 2006

As we announced at the 2006 Annual Meeting, the 2007 Annual Meeting and Reunion will be held on Friday, 29 June, and Saturday, 30 June 2007, at the Doubletree Hotel Sonoma Wine Country, at One Doubletree Drive, in Rohnert Park, California. Rohnert Park is located about 10 miles south of Santa Rosa and about 50 miles north of San Francisco. This will be the first DELANO KINDRED Reunion to be held in the West and provides our western members the opportunity to attend a reunion midway between San Diego and Seattle instead of traveling to New England or other eastern states. Many DELANOs have settled in the Pacific Coast States. We have written several articles in the Bonnes Nouvelles about author Alonzo Delano (GHAAHD pg. 408) who traveled west in 1849 for reasons of improving his health. Several articles have also appeared in newsletters about De Lano Beach on the southern shores of Puget Sound in Washington and of the exploits of Capt. George Eugene De Lano (GHAAHD pg. 119). He was master of the ill-fated "Austria" (see the June 2003 Bonnes Nouvelles #43, pg 9). Another sea captain was Henry Delano Fitch, who married Josefa Carillo of a prominent San Diego family when California was under Spanish rule. Henry D. Fitch was the son of Capt. Beriah Fitch and Sally Delano5 (Thomas4, Thomas 3, Lt Jonathan2, Philippe1). Sally (sometimes called Sarah) has the DFIP descent number 640. Henry was born on 7 May 1798 and went to sea at the age of 17. Through marriage, Capt. Fitch became the land owner of Rancho Sotoyome. The Rancho's 48,800 acres covered much of what is now the Alexander Valley. Fitch hired Cyrus Alexander to manage the ranch. Later Alexander left Fitch's employ to start his own ranch. Fitch hired the brother of Kit Carson to carry on the management of Rancho Sotoyome. The valley later became known by Alexander's name. Today the site of the Alexander's homestead and part of his ranch are located on the land owned by the Alexander Valley Winery. This is the planned destination of our Saturday afternoon tour. Also in this issue is an excellent article on DNA testing by Maria Dering and Sandy Sanford which explains what DNA testing is, how Y-DNA tests can help prove ancestral relationships, and how to participate in the Delano Kindred's DNA program. Other items of interest include News from our Members, a discussion about adding past issues of this newsletter to the web site, mention of the reopening of the newly restored Sara Delano Roosevelt Park on Canal Street in New York City, recollection by Cousin John H. Somers of his meeting as a young boy with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the story of Alonzo Delano's nose provided by Cousin Muriel Curtis Cushing. To view this newsletter in it is entirety, click here