The Peach Tree Project began 25 years ago with The Peach Tree newsletter. This was just a simple rag sheet of what little I had learned about my research of Peach genealogy. I had no intention of this newsletter going anywhere but to the 24 people who first received it. It was an innocent attempt to try to make contact with others whom I thought might be interested in this subject. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine how this would become a lifetime project and touch the homes of thousands of Peach descendants all over the world. Now 25 years later, the 150th Issue of The Peach Tree newsletter has become a reality. This book is about our Peach Heroes. Originally, all I could think about when I thought of heroes were those who had engaged in the military service of our country. Therefore, this book begins with our dedicated Peach war veterans. However, after completing the rough draft of the book, I felt there was a gaping hole in the book that had to be filled. I struggled for months to find things to fill this emptiness. As I wrestled with this, I had no solution for my consuming problem. Then came the 10th National Peach Reunion in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While I was standing before those who came from twelve different states and from as far away as California, Maine and Minnesota, I was struck with the awesome reality that I was looking at my Peach heroes. Most of these had spent all or a major part of the past 25 years with me helping to sustain and grow this Peach Tree Project.

The Peach Genealogies is the latest series of books written by John H. Peach. His writing about the Peach surname began in 1983, resulting in seven published books. Volume I of the series focused on those who descended from Joseph Peach, the founding father of "The Southern Maryland Branch." The second volume seeks to identify all the known descendants of John and William Peach. While many of this "South Carolina Branch" of Peaches continue to live in the Kershaw County area of this palmetto state, others spread throughout other areas of the south. As a result, sub-branches of these Peaches can be found in Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, and the rest of the United States.

This historical novel will travel through the colonial days of the south beginning in 1699 and culminating in 1783 with the struggles of the Revolution. Three U. S. Presidents have ties to the historical characters in this book - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. Mary Ball, mother of the 1st president, is one of the main personalities highlighted. Nancy Hanks, mother of the 16th president, was probably the illegitimate daughter of one of this book's characters. Thomas Jefferson and his family play a vital role in this historical novel. The main characters of this book will be lesser known but just as significant. These will be the Peacheys, the Glascocks, the Griffins, the Bertrands, the Balls, the McCartys, the Carters, and the Tayloes - all popular names in the eighteenth century on the Northern Neck of Virginia.Others featured are the Walkers and the Gilmers, especially Dr. Thomas Walker, who first discovered Kentucky for the white man. His close ties to President Thomas Jefferson helped promote the formation of the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. Rev. St. John Shropshire and his descendants are highlighted with their ties to the Peach family of South Carolina.This narrative starts during the early development of the Northern Neck of Virginia on the banks of the Rappahannock. With this as its beginning, the book takes its readers back to the immigrant ancestors of its main characters and then carries them forward to future generations. Many of the personalities in this book will be portrayed as they helped fight for the independence of the United States from England and formulate the new nation.

The Peach Tree Project began 25 years ago with The Peach Tree newsletter. This was just a simple rag sheet of what little I had learned about my research of Peach genealogy. I had no intention of this newsletter going anywhere but to the 24 people who first received it. It was an innocent attempt to try to make contact with others whom I thought might be interested in this subject. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine how this would become a lifetime project and touch the homes of thousands of Peach descendants all over the world. Now 25 years later, the 150th Issue of The Peach Tree newsletter has become a reality. This book is about our Peach Heroes. Originally, all I could think about when I thought of heroes were those who had engaged in the military service of our country. Therefore, this book begins with our dedicated Peach war veterans. However, after completing the rough draft of the book, I felt there was a gaping hole in the book that had to be filled. I struggled for months to find things to fill this emptiness. As I wrestled with this, I had no solution for my consuming problem. Then came the 10th National Peach Reunion in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While I was standing before those who came from twelve different states and from as far away as California, Maine and Minnesota, I was struck with the awesome reality that I was looking at my Peach heroes. Most of these had spent all or a major part of the past 25 years with me helping to sustain and grow this Peach Tree Project.

The Peach Genealogies is the latest series of books written by John H. Peach. His writing about the Peach surname began in 1983, resulting in seven published books. Volume I of the series focused on those who descended from Joseph Peach, the founding father of "The Southern Maryland Branch." The second volume seeks to identify all the known descendants of John and William Peach. While many of this "South Carolina Branch" of Peaches continue to live in the Kershaw County area of this palmetto state, others spread throughout other areas of the south. As a result, sub-branches of these Peaches can be found in Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, and the rest of the United States.