Cavey Reunion 2001

The 15 June 1997 (my mother's birthday), when I started the Caveys Family World Wide Society' site, I had no idea of what it will become four years later.

Moreover, I was unable to imagine that, a day, a Cavey Reunion, will held here at Patapsco State Park, here in Baltimore, here in Maryland, here in America with so many Caveys.

From what I know, at this moment 05 June 2001, while I'm writing this paper, you will be more than 80 Caveys at this reunion.

In France, there is less than 100 Caveys families. It about the same number in England. I would like that each of you think that he is the representative of two European Caveys' families. A French one and a British one, since here are our common roots.

I would like you to remember that nothing would happen without the help of the pioneers: Dan Cavey, (Florida), Colin Stevenson (England), Julian Paul Cavey (Scotland), Michael Richard Cavey (Maryland), Tomas Jefferson Cavey (Singapore), Ronald D. Cavey (Maryland), and so many others all over the world.

Than you to my first foreign visitor, Suzanne Cavey (New-Zealand) who wrote on July 07,1997 "My husband, Gordon is the fourth generation Cavey that settled in New-Zealand in the late 1800 in Wellington.

"My husbands grandfather, John Winter Cavey was born in 1889, he was the fifth child of Charlotte & George Cavey. He married Ellen Stollery, they moved to Taranaki in 1914 and began dairy farming. They had five children George, Iris, Violet, Grace & Bill George Cavey was my father-in-law. He died in 1990 in car accident.

"Gordon and myself dairy farm on the Taranaki plains at Okato.

"We have three children, Sonja, Katrina and Bevin. The great grandfather is believed to have come from Cornwell. We have our only immediate family we know of within New Zealand. There has been talk that part of the family could have come from France. I would be interested to know your family history.

"Good to here from another Cavey."

There is no word to describe how my heart was beating in my breath the day I've received this first mail!

The 24th June 1997 Donna Cavey (USA - Maryland) wrote: "Received your message and was fascinated that you are trying to communicate with all Caveys. Cavey, unfortunately is my married name and I have since divorced Mr. Cavey. I kept the name since I have used it for almost 20 years in my Real Estate business. My ex-husband had a lot of Caveys in his past as his grandmother was a Cavey and married a Cavey and they were not related. So there are a bunch of them in Maryland.

"Hope you get to talk to many more Caveys. If I run into any I will certainly pass on your address."

Donna was my first American Cavey even by marriage.

The 27th June 1997 Bruxy Cavey (Canada - Ontario) sent this mail to me :"Wow! It was so neat to hear from another "Cavey"!

"Let me tell you a bit about myself - My name is Bruxy originally named Bruce and I live in a town called Oakville, which is just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. My parents are Fred and Lois Cavey and live in Bracebridge, a town a couple of hours north. I am a 32 year old man and single. "

The 12th July 1997 it's Martyn Cavey (U.-K. - England) who joined the site writing : "As far as I know there are not too many Caveys in Britain, I am 36 years old and I have 2 brothers 8 and 10 years older than me. They both have families, one has 3 girls and the other has 3 boys. We all live in the south of England including my 2 uncles' and an aunt who also have the Cavey surname. My father told us that our relations came from France many generations ago, 1700's I think. My brothers' names are Roger and Alan, and my uncle's names are Jack and Edward. My aunt's name is Dorris. My fathers name was Douglas, he died in 1985 and my mothers name is Edna."

In less that a month, by the Internet power, I've reached all the countries where Caveys where living.

I want not and I cannot resume here the whole site. Therefore, I would like to thanks those who joined the group during the 1997' summer : Nicole Lathe Ervin (U.S.A. - Virginia), Rita Ray (U.S.A. - Ohio), Sharon Zinkand (U.S.A. - Maryland), Alyce Goldberg (USA - Florida), D. Jo & Carroll Erskine (USA - Ohio), Bill Norris (USA - Maryland) - pardon me if I miss some others : you are so many ! I can't name all of you.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you to all !

Today is a great day for me. One of the greatest days in my life.

Let me tell you that it's more than a great pleasure.

When you start something so futiler than a web site, you can't imagine that, a day, such a meeting will exist.

I'm not physically present, here, at this first family meeting.

Be sure that I'm here in mind.

I guess, and I hope that this is our FIRST meeting. Others will follow here in North America or in Europe. May be in Autralia or New-Zealand.

I'm impatient to reach another goal : a Cavey Reunion in Normandy, at Le Fontenil or at La-Ronde-Haie, where we all come from far, far in the past. This will be a very difficult job because it seems that I'm the whole French Cavey speaking a little English.

But why not ? Who don't try to don't win.

Have a great meeting, my friends.

Enjoy you and your family.

And... don't forget the Bill's birthday to morrow :-o))

All the best to all.