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by Jo Grasso (Author)
I am [Mary] "Jo" Grasso, the daughter of Henrietta McLaurin, the daughter of Charles Clark McLaurin and Mary Talbot McLaurin. My father was Michael Grasso, Jr., son of Michele Grasso, Sr. and Giuseppina "Josephine" Barone.
I have used what available documentation I could access from my home in Colorado [via the Internet]. This task has taken me three decades, and my investigation is ongoing. While exploring the genealogy of McLaurins living in North Carolina, discovered they are related by marriage to half of Cumberland and Sampson Counties and God knows where else.
McLaurins are "kin" to "Talbots, McNeils, McLaurins, Autrys, Holmes, Williams, and Bedsoles in Massachusetts, Maryland, England, Ireland, France, and Scotland." I also discovered another link to our family through marriage to the McCaskills.
While researching these Clan members, I stumbled over cracks, rocks, roots, branches, and ruts to uncover genealogical hints and "tidbits". I strove to untangle the webs and weaves of our families. I discovered joyful and tragic stories, documents, histories, and hints of varying value and interest.
I love some of the nicknames of the Scottish Highlanders who immigrated to Cumberland and Bladen counties. Many are colorful, such as "One Eye Hector" MacNeill, "Black River" Daniel MacNeill, Archibald "Black Archie" Holmes, and "Bluff Hector" MacNeil, to name a few.
