Re: Rexes from Florence Italy to England??
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In reply to:
Rex's from Florence Italy to England??
Susan Rex 8/21/02
Dear Susan,
We corresponded some time back. My branch of the Rex family tree is through John Joseph Rex b.1813 Quebec.
He and his wife Frances Bradshaw Powers had 13 children.
One son, Christopher Cross Rex is my great-grandfather.
He died in Flint, Michigan where he worked for Buick Motors in his later years. I heard a story about two Rex brothers--one fair, one dark. But, the story passed down through oral history from John Leo Rex (Rochester, N.Y.)
was that one had been a general under Napoleon and that both brothers had fought in Napoleon's Italian Campaign where one brother received a head injury. Following the injury; the brothers found their way to England where they found favor under the King of England while the injured brother recovered. Which doesn't make much sense since the French and the English were not that friendly. (My family apparently spoke French according to some older family members I have spoken with)From there, the brothers went to Ireland for a time before finally sailing to North America. John Leo Rex did family research in Ireland--according to him the Rex name originated somewhere between Alsace-Lorraine France and Lipzieg (sp?)Germany.??? Where were they before 1813? If we are related to the George III and Hannah Lightfoot clan--one rumor has Hannah and her small children fleeing to France where she raised her children in a convent there. Then there is another story about two Rex brothers (George Rex and John Rex)who jumped ship near Port Rexton Newfoundland.(That message is posted somewhere here.) George Rex married and settled down there. John Rex left the area presumably for New England and was never heard from again.???