photo by Marcus Frazier

John A. Quitman descendant Heide Wiese, far right, translates information given by Monmouth tour guide Peggy Sue Voss, center, as Paul Quitman, also a Quitman descendant, and Wiese’s husband Manfred listen Wednesday afternoon at Monmouth.

Family comes from all over in search of heritage

By Adam Koob (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Monday, July 21, 2008

NATCHEZ — They came from England, Germany, the Isle of Man and California — all in search of the history and their heritage.

Last week, the distant relatives of John A. Quitman began arriving in Natchez and gathered at Monmouth on Wednesday evening at their ancestor’s house for a tour.

Quitman moved from New York to Natchez and purchased Monmouth in 1821.

As tour guide Peggy Voss guided the group from room to room she paused periodically while Heide Wiese translated her words to German.

Wiese, the trip’s coordinator, said she had been planning the trip for two years.

While Wiese said she had some difficulty coordinating a time when the entire group could make the trip she ultimately decided on the 150th anniversary of John Quitman’s death, which was Thursday, as a sort of deadline to have the group in Natchez.

Sixteen members of the Quitman family made the trip.

Wiese, 70, of Westfalia, Germany said she spends much of her time researching the Quitman family and its history.

The Quitman’s originated in Westfalia and Wiese said across Europe and the states the name has several spelling variations.

“But we all have the same ancestry,” she said.

Wiese said she originally became interested in coming to Natchez as a child when her father would tell her stories of her famous relative who once lived in an enormous house in the South.

“I was so proud,” she said. “He sounded like a very interesting man.”

Monmouth’s historian Cynthia Parker, like Wiese, said Quitman led a very storied life.

Parker said while Quitman practiced law when he moved to Natchez, he went on to become the Governor of Mississippi and was also a noted war hero.

Parker also said the Quitman family trip was part of a growing contingent of people that are actively exploring their ancestry.

“It’s wonderful when people embrace their genealogy,” she said.

And for one man on the trip exploring his ancestry turned into meeting his family.

Richard Qutiman said his favorite part of the trip was meeting family members he had never known before.

“So far it’s been very interesting,” she said.

Quitmann, from Kent, England likened the gathering to a family reunion.

“It’s been wonderful,” he said.

Before the trip Quitmann said he only had a brief knowledge of his distant southern relative.

“I knew he was on the branch of the tree that came to the states,” he said.

Wiese said most of the group will be gone by Friday, and when she gets home she’ll be back a work — tracking down the next notable Quitman.