I've enjoyed learning about my family history since an early age. As I grew older I really started to take an interest in our ancestral roots. Over the past 40 years I've interviewed family members to discover their stories and document our long line of veterans going all the way back to the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. We have had veterans in every generation, who served in every war. In my research, I've discovered many interesting things. Captain Charles Broadwater, a Shipmaster who arrived in Colonial Jamestown from Surrey, England and my 6th great grandfather, was the first permanent resident of Fairfax County, VA (present day Vienna), and was land granted 1,120 acres by King George III. He was also appointed as the first High Sheriff, Magistrate and Coroner of Fairfax County, VA in the 1700's. His son Colonel Charles Broadwater was a Founder and Patriot of the Revolutionary War. Col Charles Broadwater was a contemporary of George Washington and George Mason. He was a leader of the VA militia, a signer of the Fairfax Resolves, a Burgess with George Washington, a VA House Delegate, a Sheriff, and later a Magistrate. My dad's family were some of the first settlers in British Colonial VA, MD, WV and PA. As they migrated west, they settled wild parts of Western Maryland in Garrett and Allegheny County, as well as Mineral County, WV. There are several locations named after them, such as Bittinger, MD. My family ancestry on my paternal side is Broadwater, Bittinger, Norman, and Dawson. My maternal ancestry is Irwin, Hinds, Baker, Rinker, Watson and Talifiero (although there are multiple spellings used). The Talifiero's were potato farmers from Milan, Italy who emigrated to the US. The Bakers were silver miners and the Rinker-Watsons were farmers operating an apple orchard in Washington state. I'm always excited to discover more interesting facts and Find A Grave has helped to connect me to my family members and their history.