Welcome to Our Eternal Family
From early colonial family records to the history of Utah and the lives of the Kirton Kids today, our family legacy is a story of people, places, faith, work, loss and connection. Every generation has its own voice.
Kirton.me is our family welcome and remembrance page. Niner.me carries the companion Family Tapestry with the maternal Garrett–Fitzgerald–Cosat research, historical timeline and linked memorial records.
Explore the Niner Family TapestryWalk Through HistoryOur Ancestry — Since 1604
Joris Jansen Rapelje is recorded in family research as born April 28, 1604, in Valenciennes. Our family roots reach across four centuries, from early New Netherland through the generations living today. The exact birth date and birthplace warrant verification against historical sources.
Early New Netherland
Family research follows Joris Janssen Rapalje and Catalyntje Trico, a couple associated with the 1624 settlement of New Netherland, through proposed Van Neste and Cosat branches. The full chain of descent remains under research.
Our Maternal Connection
Peter Cosat → Mary Ann Fitzgerald → John Fitzgerald → Lovina Chisholm → Florence Vera Garrett Hardman → Marie Garrett → Krysta Kirton Niner.
This relationship chain is confirmed through family testimony and awaits independent record-by-record corroboration.
View the Seven-Generation LineageExplore the Colonial Research
The Scofield Mine Disaster & Our Family in United States History
John Kirton (1863–1900) is remembered in family tradition as the last man to enter the mine before the explosion on May 1, 1900. This account is preserved here as family testimony while the timing and identity are checked against contemporary records.
- 1624 — New Netherland. Joris Rapalje and Catalyntje Trico are associated with the earliest Dutch colonial settlement. Indigenous peoples already lived on and cared for these lands.
- 1776 — American independence. The Revolution transformed colonial government; the activities of individual ancestors during the war remain to be documented.
- 1846–1847 — The pioneer era. The Latter-day Saint migration from Nauvoo and settlement in the Salt Lake Valley form part of our wider heritage; specific ancestral travel records are still being researched.
- May 1, 1900 — Scofield Mine Disaster. An explosion in Utah's Winter Quarters mines killed about 200 people. Family history associates an ancestor named John Kirton (reported as 1863–1900) with this tragedy. His identity, relationship and the account that he was the last to enter the mine have not yet been independently verified.
- 1946–1977 — New generations. Marie Garrett was born in 1946; her daughter Krysta was born in 1977. The family story continues today.
People Behind the Kirton Name
John Kirton — Scofield Research
Our family remembers John Kirton in connection with the 1900 mine disaster. We are collecting primary records and family documents to establish his full story.
Joe & Audrey Kirton
Another love story of the Kirton Kind — the union of Joseph Mason Kirton and Adriana Rynhart (JA Rynhart-Kirton). A legacy of faith, resilience, and devotion that continues to inspire generations. Their lives remind us that God’s hand is ever-present in guiding love and family.
Their dates and relationships are being documented through family records.
John William Kirton Sr.
Remembered as a Father and United States Air Force veteran who later worked as a truck driver. He died in December 2005. His presence and care remain part of our family legacy.
Our Extended Family
Kirton Kids includes descendants of the Kirton family regardless of surname. Our wider Niner Circle welcomes relatives, friends who are family, and community connections.
Modern Legacy — The Kirton–Niner Connection
From Air Force service to building Nine Nation, we continue to honor our ancestors through faith, service, and unity.
Krysta Kirton Niner and Corey J. Niner are the parents of Tyler, Kyle and Jay. Together, they are the living trunk of a growing family tree: ancestors are the roots, and each child carries the potential to grow a tree of their own.
The family's current work and creative projects include DOES THIS HELP®, K9R Racing and Nine Nation.
Niner.meNine NationK9R RacingContact & Eternal Family Mission
Does This Help® the living to honor those who passed? Join us in preserving the traditions and stories that define who we are.
Have a photograph, memorial, family story, date or document to contribute? Help us preserve the Kirton legacy and distinguish cherished family memories from independently verified historical records.
Email: theBoss@w3connect.com
Research note: Find a Grave memorials and oral histories are valuable starting points. Some early relationships, dates, and claims on this page remain open for verification. We intentionally limit personal information about living family members.