Peter Rabbit's Family Tree
“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were–Floppsy, Moppsy, Cottontail, and Peter. ” ― Beatrix Potter
I’ve found that, according to Mr or Mrs Indignant of Ancestry.com’s Hidden Burrow, that a particular ancestor we are researching, is in fact, a rabbit. I’m hoping for a connection to Peter Rabbit because, after all, he’s the most famous. If I’m lucky Bugs Bunny may get a look in too. Secretly I know that there’ll be a connection to Jessica Rabbit as well because… well you know what the neighbours say about Great Aunty Flo… wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more. If I find the Easter Bunny, I’m going to be THE BEST NANA in the world according to the grandchildren….
So yes. Mr or Mrs Indignant didn’t like my subtle comment on their personal story about the breeding ability of this ancestor. “A woman in the 1800′s could easily have had 17 children!” they said. “It’s obvious she could have because her mother had 23 children and her daughter had 19. They were good breeders! She could easily have died just before the last twins were born” they continued. Well, anything is possible in Rabbit Land I guess but when we look at the registrations of the births of the kittens it looks like she also travelled between Queensland and NSW with the occasional side trip to good ol’ blighty thrown in every so often as she gaily hopped around the globe dropping babies wherever she went.
Waaaay back in the 1800′s when women were such amazing breeders there was also, obviously, a famine of names. In the space of 8 years, this ancestor named the seven children she gave birth to, Henry. Not a great name for a rabbit but I suppose she couldn’t think of any other name, being all tied up with the breeding cycle as she was. I don’t have a lot more to say on the matter really. I’ve been called on this one. Even though one of my daughters is a vet nurse, and a cousin had a lot to do with culling rabbits for the National Parks… oh, and of course my Dad didn’t mind a rabbit in a brown paper bag in the dutch oven, I just don’t have the genetic disposition to research rabbits. I think I’ll stick with humans and let Mr or Mrs Indignant carry on the Cottontail research.
Oh hang on… just thought! Yesterday I sung Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose to my grandson!!!!!!! Oh Lord!! They were right after all!!