As part of the Petaluma Museum’s engagement with America’s 250th anniversary, this guest blog post by Heidi Kühn reflects on her McNear family roots, stewardship of the land, and the values we carry forward.

A Childhood Shaped by Land and Legacy
From childhood, my heart has been shaped by the land and enduring legacy of Marin and Sonoma Counties—places where peace, stewardship, and history are woven into the soil itself. Raised amid the stories of our McNear family pioneers, the cultural heritage of China Camp State Park, the ancient redwood forests of Muir Woods, and the birthplace of the United Nations, I learned early that the earth is a sacred trust and that humanity bears a solemn responsibility to care for it with humility and reverence.

The McNear Family in Petaluma and San Rafael
My grandmother, Lucretia McNear Thomas, was born at McNear’s Beach in San Rafael on October 17, and, along with her three brothers—Erskine, Miller, and Lawrence—lived on land that formed part of a 2,500-acre ranch purchased in 1868 by her grandfather, Captain John Augustus McNear. An intrepid Petaluma pioneer, Captain McNear faced formidable challenges and overcame great adversity with a steadfast moral ethic that was passed down through generations. Today, I reside on this same land, carrying forward a shared commitment to pioneering peaceful pathways so future generations may thrive.

Remembering Family Voices at America’s 250th
As our nation commemorates its 250th Anniversary (1776–2026), I am deeply grateful to have heard firsthand the stories of migration, resilience, and change in the West, shared lovingly by my grandmother and by my beloved father, Robert Scott Thomas, before he passed in my arms on October 23, 2022. Their voices—and the values they carried—remain guiding lights. Here is an excerpt from my interview with my father: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyOnNmpgMz0

From Ancestral Roots to a Mission of Peace
These deep roots inspired me to found Roots of Peace, transforming lands once torn by conflict into fields of nourishment and hope. Today, guided by the same reverence for land and people, I seek to expand this vision through the Heidi Kühn Global Peace Foundation—cultivating peace through agriculture worldwide, honoring the earth, healing communities, and planting seeds for a more just and sustainable future. (See www.HeidiKuhnPeace.org.)

 

Origins in Scotland and Ireland
As with most Americans, our identities are shaped by ancestral roots that trace back to distant homelands. Mine begin with John McNear, born in 1701 in Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, Scotland—a place long regarded as a “lucky town,” historically associated with Saint Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, and believed to be his birthplace around 385 A.D. From this soil of faith and endurance emerged a lineage shaped by courage, migration, and

 hope.

Faith, Captivity, and the Legacy of Saint PatrickSaint Patrick’s story casts a long spiritual shadow over this history. Kidnapped at the age of fourteen by coastal raiders and taken to Ireland, he was enslaved as a shepherd in a land guided by pagan Druids. During captivity, Patrick learned the Celtic language and absorbed Irish customs—an experience that forged his faith, humility, and lifelong mission. His suffering was ultimately transformed into spiritual purpose, leaving a legacy that echoes across centuries.

Crossing the Atlantic: Survival in the New WorldIn the 1730s, John McNear carried that same spirit of resilience across the Atlantic, sailing to Wiscassett, Maine, during a period of great hardship in Northern Ireland. Like many Scotch-Irish families seeking religious freedom and economic survival, he endured extraordinary trials amid violent frontier conflicts, including periods of captivity—escaping twice by what was often called the “Luck of the Irish.” These early struggles, met with perseverance and faith, laid the foundation for generations to come and instilled a moral ethic that continues to guide our family’s journey in America.

Land, Livelihood, and Legacy in Colonial Maine
The original McNear family land was acquired by John McNear in December 1736, during the reign of King George II, when he purchased eighty-six acres from the Reverend Christopher Toppan for twenty-five pounds. Additional parcels soon followed, including valuable salt marsh land essential to survival in the New World. Situated along the Dyer River near what would become the Sheepscot Bridge, this land allowed John McNear to build both a livelihood and a lasting legacy.

 

Captivity, Escape, and Endurance
In the early history of the Colony, John McNear was regarded as a man of note. Captured multiple times during the French and Indian Wars, he survived imprisonment, illness, and near death—escaping again and again through ingenuity, faith, and resilience. He came to be known as a “tough old bird,” a testament to his indomitable spirit.

From Survival to Settlement in California
From this lineage of perseverance emerged the next generation. In 1832, John Augustus McNear was born, who would later sail west to Petaluma, California, carrying with him the courage and resilience forged through generations. From survival came settlement; from hardship, hope. These stories became the foundation upon which a family—and a lasting legacy—would continue to grow.