Ten Generations of Byrds in America: From Virginia to Alabama and Back Hardcover – October 3, 2017 by Manuel Johnson (Mascot Books)

In this book, Manuel H. Johnson Jr. traces his direct line of Byrd ancestors from a common grandfather with the Westover Byrds who lived in England. He points out that the first Byrd to occupy Virginia, possibly as early as 1635, was this man s son and uncle of the original Westover Byrd. In a fascinating account, he follows these Byrd ancestors for ten generations as they first settle in Virginia, then migrate to North Carolina, and finally relocate to Alabama. Along this family journey, Johnson takes us through the Byrds survival of Bacon s Rebellion, battles during the American Revolution, and tragedy during the American Civil War. The author also paints an engrossing picture of Byrd family struggles throughout the reconstruction era in Alabama and then bringsmus into the 20th century with this extraordinary story. In the final chapter, we are provided a firsthand account of the author s return to Virginia and the almost eerie reconnection with his Westover Byrd relatives

Manuel H. Johnson Jr. is a wellknown American economist and the author of five previous scholarly books on economics and monetary policy. This is his first book on genealogy. Johnson attended the University of Alabama and earned his BS degree in economics from Troy University. He earned an MS and Ph.D. degree from Florida State University. After an academic career at George Mason University, Johnson served as an assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury and vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Since 1990, Johnson has been co-owner and senior partner in the consulting and investment firm of Johnson Smick International. He is a U.S. Army veteran and now lives with his wife Mary in Upperville, Virginia, and Vero Beach, Florida.