Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Trebor Zerpsed, after reading your article on the above subject matter, I came to the following conclusions: You are not from the South with a name like Trebor Zerpsed, and trying to decide where you came up with "Southern understanding" you write about, I wanted to know where you came from originally.

I went to www.ellisislandrecords.org and found no listings for Zerpsed, then on to www.anywho.com for any phone listings in the U.S.A. Gosh, to my surprise there were no phone listings for a Zerpsed in the good old U.S.A. Next I went to www.ancestry.com and checked under all countries, all records, census records, birth/marriage/death records, military records and immigration records and guess what. There were no listings for Zerpsed.

That being said, you either came by a UFO or you just started your name for the first time; either way I'm sure you are not from the South.

I can tell you about Southern heritage. I have traced my family back to 1198 A.D. to Shropshire, England when the name was spelled Fewtrell. I have bits and pieces from 1198 A.D. until 1628 A.D. when records show a Thomas (Futeral) Fewtrell was baptized April 26, 1628 in the parish of Easthope, Chetton, Shropshire, England. Next record of Futerell is recorded in Surry County, Va., in 1678 and from that point until the present I have everything documented.

In my best "ignorant poor white trash" English, allow me to set you straight on a few things. First, nowhere in my family history did we own slaves. Second, when the family departed Virginia, we settled in Henry/Spalding counties as dirt farmers.

Nineteen of my family members fought in the Civil War, nine were killed and the other 10 returned home to farm and raise a family. My great-great-grandfather's old home place is still standing in Spalding County and remains in the family.

All Southerners are proud of their heritage, [but] that doesn't mean we are proud there were slaves or slave owners. That dark spot in our history is something we will live with the rest or our lives. Before you open your mouth and insert your foot next time, know what you are talking about. Before I forget it, you might want to check into your history; you might find some "Southern heritage."

Jim Futral

Fayetteville