Robert Mead's Sons Of Liberty traces 13 American generations to European roots

Robert Mead's new book follows 13 generations born in America across 400 years, tying one family's story to the nation's 250th anniversary. The genealogy project reaches back to Normandy, England and Ireland, with DNA and ancestral records adding another layer to the historical narrative.

Why it matters: - SONS OF LIBERTY offers a family-scale lens on America’s past at a moment when the country is approaching its 250th anniversary. - The book links 400 years of American family history to a deeper ancestral record stretching back 1,464 years. - The project may appeal to history readers and genealogy enthusiasts looking for a personal way to understand national history.

What happened: - Robert Mead wrote SONS OF LIBERTY to trace 13 generations born in America across the past four centuries. - The book centers on Mead’s family history while placing those American stories within European ancestry tied to Normandy, England and Ireland. - Mead also includes personal DNA information from Ancestry.com as part of the family narrative.

The details: - The Mead line reaches back to Neustria, or Normandy, through Viking ancestry. - The Chaney line also leads to Normandy more than 1,100 years ago. - The Whitehead branch extends 500 years into England’s past. - The McKernan branch reaches 200 years back to Ireland. - Mead traces the ancestry of his paternal grandmother, Lettie Mae Chaney, back 1,162 years to the Viking warrior Rollo Hrolf Ragnvaldsson. - Mead identifies Rollo Hrolf Ragnvaldsson with Jutland, Nord-Trondelag, Norway. - Mead places the Mead line’s connection to Normandy at 842 years. - Mead says his Ancestry.com results show a high percentage of Scandinavian influence. - Mead names Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland in discussing Nordic origins. - The book’s American focus remains on the thirteen American-born generations rather than the older European ancestry. - The author says the Ireland-Viking connection felt ironic because Ireland was among the first countries affected by Viking raids.

Between the lines: - The structure suggests Mead is using genealogy as a narrative device, not just a family record. - The book’s timing around the 250th anniversary positions private family history as a way to revisit a public national milestone. - By separating multiple ancestral lines, Mead avoids flattening his family’s European background into one origin story.

What's next: - SONS OF LIBERTY is available now. - Mead says interested readers should contact the author for purchase information, review copies, interview requests or additional information. - BrightKey PR is handling contact inquiries for Robert Mead.

The bottom line: - SONS OF LIBERTY frames 400 years of American family history as a bridge between the founding era, modern genealogy and older European roots.