The Pull of the Past: Family, History, and a Connection That Endures

Connections are everywhere. Sometimes you feel them instantly—a sudden pull toward a place, a person, or a moment in time. You might feel at home, or maybe your heart starts to race with excitement or curiosity. Whatever it is, it lingers. That pull. That spark of recognition. That connection.

For my father, history wasn’t just something to study—it was something to live. His passion found its truest expression through reenactment. Since the early 1970s, he belonged to a devoted group of friends who relished immersing themselves in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. But his historical interests reached even further back, drawn to the 17th century and the English Civil War, especially at two evocative places: St. Mary’s City in Maryland and Bacon’s Castle in Surry, Virginia.

(If you know Colleen, ask her about attending those St. Mary’s events—it was a world of its own.)

Fifteen years ago, while knee-deep in family research, I uncovered something remarkable. My father’s deep connection to St. Mary’s wasn’t just emotional—it was ancestral. His 8th great-grandfather, Garrett Van Swearingen, was a prominent figure in the town. He ran an inn and tavern, served as an alderman, and even opened the first coffee house in the Chesapeake region. When we returned to St. Mary’s after many years away, the visit took on a whole new meaning. Knowing that our family had walked those same paths centuries ago made the experience feel like a homecoming.

And just this weekend, that familiar pull returned. Another discovery surfaced—this time connected to Bacon’s Castle. It turns out my father’s 8th great-grandfather, Arthur Allen, built the very home that still stands there today. Originally called Allen’s Brick House, the name may be simple, but the structure is anything but. Built in the 17th century, it’s the oldest brick house in Virginia and one of the oldest in the entire country open to the public.

My father often took part in reenactments of the 1676 insurrection there—the only uprising of the English Civil War to occur on American soil. And now, knowing that his ancestor built that house? It changes everything. What once felt like a passion for the past now feels like a reunion across time.

History has a funny way of circling back. What begins as curiosity can become revelation. What feels like coincidence might actually be legacy. And that pull you feel? Sometimes it’s your roots calling you home.