Hemp and History:
-Until 1883, 75-90% of all paper in the U.S. was made with hemp.
-Hemp seed was the # 1-selling bird feed; 4 million pounds were sold in the U.S. in 1937.
-In the mid-to-late 1800's the 2nd & 3rd most commonly used medications were concentrated cannabis extracts and resins (a.k.a. hashish).
-A bridge in the south of France dated at 500-700 A.D. was built with a mixture of hemp.
-In 1941 Henry Ford built a car with a plastic made from hemp and wheat straw.
-Until 1937 70-90% of all rope and twine was made with hemp.
-Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp on their plantations.
-In 1850 the U.S. Census reported 8,327 hemp plantation of at least 2000 acres in size. Not counted were thousands of smaller crops.

I come from a very well known Old Italian family. My family did not come over to the US until the 1920's. The majority of my family still lives there, and from what I have been told they have always lived there, they do not look like most Italians do today, the "roman nose" and facial features in my family are prominent. The name and place they have always lived has never changed. Of course the tree is no where near complete because of lack of records, but from my families traditions and herilooms it is obvious.