History is a vast collection of stories and perspectives from the beginning of time to the present day. Many people have only a superficial knowledge of history and some of its important turning points. Few people stop to think about the experiences of those who lived that history and what it must have been like during that time. Even fewer may be aware that they may have ancestors who were part of that history. Through the combined methods of formal genealogy and historical research it is possible to see your past come to life. This article examines the origins of 21st-century history students and uncovers connections to past events in North American history. CHAPTER ONE: The Author's 11th Great GrandfatherWilliam Allis was born around the year 1613 in Essex County, England, to Richard Allis and Margaret Baines. At the age of seventeen, William Allis arrived in Massachusetts with the Winthrop fleet. Allis was aboard the Mayflower, which was making its third voyage across the Atlantic. After immigrants landed in Charlton Harbor, Boston in 1630, they began to explore and settle the area. In 1632, Allis shows up at Mount Wollaston, Massachusetts. Allis was one of those who helped take over the 50 acres of land. In 1634, this land was annexed by Boston. Large amounts of this land were granted to some residents and Allis was one of those who received some of the land. Allis was granted 12 acres on February 24, 1640. Around May 1640, William Allis took the freeman's oath which gave him the right to hold office and vote in Puritan society. Allis was most likely well educated and was a member of the Puritan church. At that time he was a skilled surveyor and a successful farmer. He was a prominent resident... middle of paper... mustered out October 25, 1864 on disability. Anthony Gabler, after the war, moved from Detroit to Rubicon, Huron County, Michigan. Some time after the war he remarried. His second wife was named Elizabeth. Anthony died on September 19, 1917, at Harbor Beach, Huron County, Michigan, at the age of 83. History is an important thing to hold on to. It helps to gain an understanding of not only the past, but also the present. The people who lived through major turning points in North American history helped shape what North America is today. The story doesn't just include the Jeffersons or the Lincolns, it also includes the Van Camps, the Lyons, and the Lanes. People need to remember the major and minor players in the story. Researching your family history would be a perfect way to begin exploring the makeup of the past and providing for the future.