Thursday, May 15, 2014

Family Trails - a Poem by John C. Houston


John Cooper Houston (1876-1960)

My Great Grandfather



me --> Ruth Rasmussen Buchanan --> Alice Houston Rasmussen --> John Cooper Houston 


"Family Trails"

- by John C. Houston, Lovell, Wyoming

Living in the Fatherland long, long ago,
The Assayes joined with the French Huguenot.
The very earliest knowledge, history tells,
Their homes were in the city of Aux-La-Chappells.

If all we've been told is really true,
The Asay name goes back to the year 1422.
Research thru history the fact one gleans,
That our kinship is traced to the Maid of Orleans.

A famous deliverer "Heaven" did send,
The Hundred Years War she brot to an end.
Joan of Arc led the disheartened French,
The war spirit of England she did quench.

The name was spoken by the French Assaye,
An s and the e were dropped at a later day.
Because of war on the Huguenots so much,
They took refuge among the peace loving Dutch.

Spain ruled Holland with an iron hand,
War existed quite universally over the land.
In Western Europe everywhere was strife,
The toll of a Protestant was to pay with his life.

Always at war with the inflooding sea, 
From this enemy the Dutch will never be free-
This warfare has made them determined and brave,
They would turn in the sea their liberty to save.

An early Assaye married a Hollandish dame.
That she was wealthy some people claim.
Philip of Spain in his tyrannical ire,
Burned Dutch cities, their home he did fire.


The Spanish Inquisition drove many away.
The Assayes left Holland early so writers say.
They felt they had stood all they could endure,
Persecuted French yielded to Canada's lure.

In the Eighteenth Century the Asays we find,
Having settled in Acadia with those of their kind.
Thinking the land was owned by the French, 
They raised the French flag and themselves did entrench.

For over a century the French lived in the land.
Prosperity sprang up on every hand.
These people at last a haven had found,
Nothing to annoy them, not even a sound.

It was autumn with in walked, one day - 
At noon time - into the busy village of Grand Pre -
An English officer with papers from the King.
Into the church he was everyone to bring.

Everyone came whether from fields or from loom.
Hastily they filled every inch in that room.
The windows were locked, the door was barred,
While about the building was placed a guard.

There was breathless stillness - not a sound -
Never a person the reason had found.
Now stood before them in haughty mein,
The King's representative, rather tall and lean.

He said that it was his Majesty's decree,
That every Frenchman there should be
Immediately transplanted to other lands.
He was sorry but it was the King's commands.

'Tis sad indeed - the most heartless way,
These innocent people were treated that day.
They were taken direct to the water's deep,
Into row boats they were loaded like sheep.

A boat would move on with load complete.
Families were parted never again to meet.
Some boats sailed one way some another,
Separating children from father and mother.

One boat with rather an interesting fate,
Carried an Asay with his dear mate.
On the Isle of Jersey this boat did land.
The Asays sprang from these parents, grand.

Joseph Asay crossed to New Jersey's shore. 
Two sons they had and possible more.
Isaac at Trenton a gardener became.
Joseph at Camden attained a like fame.

The land was rich, was made by the sea.
For gardening it was as rich as rich could be.
These fore-parents settled here in 1775.
They clustered together like bees in a hive.

It is said that the Asays are of worthy descent,
Industrious, honest, and of well meaning intent.
In those early days valuable land they got,
For to create town sites this land later was bot.

Not all were farmers so we are told,
Some were ministers - Christian teachers bold.
Some had trades - some wealth allowed.
As a family they were said to be rather proud.

Restless youth at length came west.
The first to come, hi faith to attest,
Was our grandfather Joseph and his family, all.
They had gladly heeded the missionary call.

Westward others got the moving craze.
Into many states the trails they did blaze.
Into Illinois Alford moved his worthy dame,
While to Iowa Richard and his wife came.

Out to Colorado moved Sol, Richard's Brother.
While the attractions of South Dakota lured another.
Two Asay brothers established a trading post,
In Nebraska, the state by them liked most.

The Asays are today all over the union.
Our organization hopes to get into communion
With all the branches, scattered everywhere,
And add them to our family tree, now quite bare.

A purpose of this union of Asays here,
To not only unite those living near,
But to include in our great family tree
All of our name, wherever they may be.

And not only the living but also the dead,
We hope to seal to our great family head.
Mortal time will at last be done away,
We will all know each other at some future day.

No one is happy for to live all alone.
When, beyond, at the foot of our Father's throne,
We will join with the family both far and near.
Our joy will be complete in a circle so dear.

It is a call made of one, a call from above,
To search fro the records of those whom we love.
The noblest labor asked of you and me,
Is helping establish one's own family tree. 


3 comments:

  1. I never knew that my ancestors were of French origin! My maiden name is Jami Lynn Asay, daughter of James Curtis Asay, Granddaughter of Albert Asay. We're all from California.

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  2. I love this poem. I wish I knew its origin. and the asay name. it appears accurate, they may have lived in acadia and expelled from grand pre, then possibly entererd through the isle of jersey. though i dont know the maid of orleans reference?. we do know they were in New Jersey 1755 but thats all we have... sure wish we could find some more info. 901-830-8610 decendeant of isaac allen asay

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  3. Asays are still in NJ as I am one of them. Growing up I was told the Asay "clan" split- half staying in Jersey and half heading west to Utah. Found the poem very interesting as I was also told of Asays originally from the Isle of Jersey and also France-supposedly connected to the Azay Chauteau in the Loire Valley. Unfortunately the days I spent in the Loire, the chateau was not open. I am very much interested in any family history that may be available.

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