I'm referring to this page: https://www.bartramsgarden.org/john-bartrams-journey-to-onondaga-1743/. I believe I had a physical copy of the book, but I can't find it.
I was named after John Bartram, my full name being John Bartram Holland. Eventually I grew to not like that name, and was self conscious about it. More recently (like in '92, but especially about 15 years ago?) I found out more about John Bartram, especially that he had dealings with the Onondaga. He was an English colonist, sort of a botanist and intellectual I think, living from 1699 until just after American Revolution-dying in 1777. Looking at his Wikipedia entry right now*, I'm learning some things - unfortunately he "owned, bought and sold a number of slaves". I guess he was a Quaker of sorts but was dumped by the Society of Friends? I should really look into all this more.
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bartramjohn bartram b 1699 | mary bartram b 1736--benjamin bonsall | james bonsall b 1766? | henry lummis bonsall b 1799 ---------------------- hannah wentz | william darrah kelley b 1814 philly. ---- caroline bartram bonsall b 1828 | (Florence Kelley) Albert Kelley 1870?-----Esther King | Esther Jane Kelley 1931--Norman Holland 1927 | ME! Florence Kelley is a person of interest in her own right, but not a direct ancestor of mine.
I do have my hands on a book "Forgotten Founders" I got off eBay, about the Haudenosaunee (aka Iroquois) and their influence on the design of the American system of government. It has John Bartram's book listed in its bibliography. I wish I had the Bartram book handy, I think it's here somewhere.
In 1984 I took the course Survey of Native American History at SUNY Buffalo, taught by Oren Lyons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oren_Lyons) who is of the Onondaga. This class had a big effect on me. It's because of that class that I became interested in the Haudenosaunee. My interest in John Bartram was greatly increased by finding out about his "Journey to Onondaga".
From 94-97 we were living in College Park. Somehow the topic of the Bartrams came up with our next door neighbor, Sally. It turned out she is also descended from John Bartram. Small world.
To work it out, he's my mom's dad's mom's dad's dad's mom's dad. Not sure what the name is for that. Considering the six degrees of separation, I guess it's pretty remote. From the web page: "Bartram also recorded a number of Iroquois customs and legends on his journey, including a sweat lodge ceremony......"