I am of the MASON-WINTERS line

consisting of Mason 's of Indiana & NY - Winters' of Kentucky & Illinois - Heath's of Illinois - Gugel's of Indiana & Illinois.

I have been researching my family since I was 10 years old in 1983 with the help of my cousin @PatJeffries who has contributed to this site until her death. My other Cousin @CES who an invaluable family historian and major contributor is also here as well. As well as my cousin Patty Russell. I am the last in the family line of my family who is our family historian.

I have asked question of my family all of my life and documented everything I have books and binders and papers stacked on a bookshelf. This year I am beginning on writing the Confusing, twisting story of my ancestors.

With ancestry it can be difficult because humans, mostly men, choose to use the same names over and over to "preserve" their male line.

I follow my family history through the females, as each mother carries the DNA of her children through her whole life, she grows an actual human being, brings it into the worlds, and hopefully is able to nurture it and see it grow into adulthood.

However, many children did not survive, which is a horrible burden to bear, especially when your husband is set on you having a male heir. In which we now know that the sex of the baby is determined by the father alone.

This fact and the "male" line got me to thinking one fine day, no woman on this world that I at this time are aware of, has her OWN last name! Her last name is that of her father, fathers' ancestors, or her husbands.

Alliances in the royal families of the world were made by marrying a "Lady" of nobility and riches, yet a female heir inherited nothing in most cultures, and a dowery was paid up on her marriage that she was not able to receive unless her husband permitted.

This follows through time, woman not being able to vote until 1909, then really actually being able to properly vote in 1960s. Fighting for our reproductive rights, which could be prevented by males in 1960s and again in our modern era. Women were not able to own their own homes for centuries yet were expected to maintain it.

As a young woman in the military I did not realize I was of the third generations of females allowed into the actual military divisions, and not acting as simply support. I was making as much as my male counter parts, I was not wanted there, it was made clear. Yet will my paycheck I was denied a car loan because i was not married? It was 1990s. I could not purchase a home because I had to be married.

This year in 2026 I am married, however, I actually was able to apply for, get approved for, and own my own vehicle with no questions, without having to have my husband's signature on anything. He was with me during the process and we were both taken aback. He went because he was sure he would have to sign something.

My own life has made me see women and my predecessors of the matriarchal lines much differently.