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Contacting Plucknett researchers

Contacting Plucknett researchers

Posted: 11 Oct 2000 6:31AM GMT
Edited: 26 Jun 2001 5:27PM GMT
I am a the great grandson of James Plucknett, who migrated to the US in 1856, living first in Ohio, then Illinois, then Iowa and finally squatting on a piece of land in southeast Nebraska near what is today DeWitt, NE. I have been researching the family for more than 30 years and have information relating to the earliest history of the family, dating back to the Norman invasion of England in 1066. I would like to correspond with other Plucknett descendants to ensure that the rich history of the family can be completed. My e-mail address is donpluckn@aol.com. I will be happy to share my research results with others. Sincerely, Don Plucknett

completing family tree

Albert Sidney Plucknett (View posts)
Posted: 7 May 2001 3:52AM GMT
Dear Don,

I know you knew my father, William Kennedy Plucknett, who lived in Kentucky. You must know that he was the son of Albert Sidney Plucknett in DeWitt, Nebraska. I'm not very familiar with the Plucknett family tree, but I am interested in knowing more, and would be very grateful for any information you could provide.

I believe that you must be the Donald Plucknett who is well-known as a scientist who specializes in agricultural development. I believe that my father went on a trip to England that you organized, to visit ancestoral lands.

You may want to include the following in the the family tree, and please let me know if you need further information. I am married to Leong Sow Kam, and we have one child (with another boy due in August). Our son's name is William Blake Plucknett, and he was born in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on January 16, 2000.

We currently live in Abu Dhabi, where I am teaching English for Academic Purposes at Zayed University. We are planning to move back to the States (probably Kentucky) in June, 2002.

Please let me know if I can provide further information. My brother Bruce has a daughter, and I can provide futher about that, if you like.

By the way, while net-surfing a couple of years ago, I read some reference to a Plucknett as being one of "Cromwell's Adventurers" in 1066(?) I believe that is correct, and I don't remember the details. I'll check for it again. That's the earliest reference to Plucknett that I have found.

I found this site through ancestory.com.

I hope this information has been helpful, and I hope to hear from you when you have a chance to write. Cheers.

Re: completing family tree

Posted: 30 Apr 2002 7:27PM GMT
Classification: Query
Dear Albert,
I assume you are known as Albert, after your grandfather, Al Plucknett, who was a favorite of mine. Both of your grandparents were great people.
Yes, I am the Don Plucknett who works in agricultural development. I knew your father very well and also your mother, both of whom went with us to England in 1992.
I am sorry you don't know Plucknett family history, because it is very interesting. I hope we can sit down sometime and talk about it. The family is ancient, dating back to the Norman Invasion of England in 1066, or just after. I have much information on the ancient family and am still working on the history of the family in the British Library in London.
Will you return from Abu Dhabi in June? I have never been in Abu Dhabi, but have been in Dubai and Kuwait. I also have worked in Egypt a lot over the years, and our oldest son, Roy, and his family live in Cairo where he works for the US Agency for International Development. They have been there two years now.
I try to get back to DeWitt every year, if at all possible. This year I will not be able to be there because I have a job to complete in Nigeria and Ethiopia.
I hope we can correspond in the future and look forward to further contact.
Sincerely, Don Plucknett.

Re: completing family tree

Posted: 19 Aug 2006 11:06AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: PLUCKNETT KENNEDY
I just wrote you separately. I'm related to you through Kennedy (your grandmother Cora Kennedy Plucknett w/o Albert Sidney Plucknett was sister to my grandmother Charlotte Kennedy Johnson Botkin). Though I sent this to you privately, I would post this tribute to your father William Kennedy Plucknett here also -- for others' viewing.

MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE, SEPTEMBER 9, 1996
http://www.uky.edu/USC/USMinutes/US.09.09.1996.html
The University Senate met in regular session at 3:30 p.m., Monday, September
9, 1996 in Room 115 of the Nursing Health Sciences Building.
Professor Janice Schach, Chairperson of the Senate Council, presided.
The Chair then recognized Professor Don Sands, Department of Chemistry, to
present a memorial resolution in honor of Professor William K. Plucknett.
Resolution Presented to University of Kentucky Senate
in memory of
Professor William K. Plucknett
September 9, 1996
William K. Plucknett, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, died on August 2,
1996, at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife, Evaline Plucknett, sons
Bruce and Albert Plucknett, daughter Ellen O'Laughlin, and four grandchildren.
Bill Plucknett was a native of Nebraska. He graduated from Peru State
College in 1937; he liked to recall that his total out-of-pocket expenses
for his first year in college in 1933-34 amounted to $76. Bill went on to
earn a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Iowa State University. He came to
the University of Kentucky in 1953 as Associate Professor of Chemistry. He
retired in 1983.
Bill was an involved member of the University Community, and he filled many
roles in his thirty years of formal service. He chaired the Senate Council
in the 1970-71 academic year. From 1975 to 1983 he served as Director of
General Chemistry. He was active in AAUP, and served as President of the
State Conference of AAUP. I heard a new faculty member asking him once,
AAUP - what does AAUP stand for? Bill's response was quick: AAUP stands
for academic freedom.
Bill' s retirement meant that we no longer had day-to-day access to his keen
intellect. No longer could I stroll down the hall to seek his help on a
chemical thermodynamics problem. His poker buddies, though, can attest to
the power of Bill's mind just two weeks before his death. I visited Bill in
July, two days after he suffered a stroke and five days before he died; his
body was impaired, but he was still sharper mentally than many of us.
Retirement also deprived us of regular enjoyment of Bill's humor. His wit
was quick and penetrating. He had a delicious sense of the ridiculous. He
was a master at setting up and delivering a joke.
Bill's concern for faculty rights, as exemplified by his work with AAUP was
one aspect of his broader commitment to the rights of people. Through
organizations such as ACLU and Amnesty International, he continued
throughout his life to fight for humanitarian causes.
We remember Bill Plucknett for his intelligence, for his scientific insight,
for his good teaching, for his sense of humor, and for his dedication to
justice and fairness. His life integrated these qualities and demonstrated
that they are not isolated from each other.
I ask that this resolution be made part of the minutes of the University
Senate and that a copy be sent to Professor Plucknett's family.
Chairperson Schach asked that the Senate stand for a moment of silence in
recognition of Professor Plucknett.
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