First of all, I would like to clarify that I'm adopted so I don't know much about my birth family, but I do know that I come from 14 generations of Crocketts, and that I'm directly related to Davy Crockett, the legend, hunter, statesman who wore a raccoon hat. Coonskin caps were originally a popular Native American article of clothing. With much of the land along the Eastern Seaboard already settled, immigrants from Germany, Scotland and Ireland (folks considered too 'rough' for the coastal towns by many) ventured into the forested and mountainous Appalachian region. These groups lived a subsistence lifestyle and often interacted with Native Americans in the area which included adopting some of their customs and dress. The coonskin cap quickly became a part of the iconic image associated with American frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Boone did not actually wear coonskin caps, which he disliked, and instead wore felt hats, but explorer Meriwether Lewis wore a coonskin cap during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Joseph L. Meek, 19th century pioneer, explorer, lawman and politician was also a fan.

– Genevieve Young

Relationship:  unknown unknown