Old Money? Yes, I guess so...
- Jan 31
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 2
I get a kick out of watching the "Old Money" vs. "New Money" videos. So, I was trying to figure out if I was "Old Money." Roots back to pre-Texas, ancestors who did this and this and that, hummm. Oh "Old Money" does what? Drives what? LOL Here's Swan #3. We do whatever we want to do. The only one we even answer to is God. And God said, "If you want a van... go for it..." Angel: "Thanks! Now, I'm going to name them all "Swan" and write short-stories about our Texas (and afar) adventures!" www.ChapelgateAngel.com
(AI Google search quote): "Old Money" refers to inherited, multi-generational wealth rather than self-made, "new" money, typically characterized by a quiet, understated, and conservative lifestyle. It involves wealth sustained over several generations, often invested in land, businesses, or trust funds. Key indicators include valuing privacy, durability, tradition, and subtle, rather than flashy, displays of affluence.
Key Indicators of "Old Money"
Generational Wealth: The wealth was passed down, not just earned in one lifetime.
Lifestyle: Understated, quiet, and private.
Spending Habits: Conservative, value-oriented, and often frugal.
Priorities: Focus on maintaining the family legacy, tradition, and privacy.
Education: Often private school, Ivy League, or elite institutions.
Common Misconceptions & Traits
It's not just about clothes: While "old money" is associated with a timeless, quiet aesthetic, it is more about a mindset than a specific, trendy look.
Appreciation for the Past: Repairs are often preferred over replacing things, and antiques or family heirlooms are common.
Social Capital: Beyond cash, it is often tied to family reputation and social connections.
Not All Inherited Wealth: Simply inheriting money might not count; the lifestyle and ethos (or lack thereof) can determine if one is perceived as old or new money.
Angel: "Well, we helped found Abilene Christian University, we're 4th generation... I bought Lai "Angel Creek" because I helped mom and dad develop their farm (they go to for a month each summer to work on) for fifty years. I did that to pass down the understanding of "land." I homeschooled my kids and put the oldest in Abilene Christian when he was 16 and my youngest enrolled in college in 9th grade. Lai's testing two grades ahead and I'm trying to figure out how to homeschool her, it's harder when you're the Grandmama, but I've taught her since she was born, and I taught her mom, who teaches her, as do my mom and dad. I don't talk about the real things we own and do, just my stories about what I like to write about. I'm pretty sure we INVENTED Conservative (but God tells me what I can do) - we invented Texas independence too - because he helped me retranslate the Bible, which was an idea I got from 200+ years ago, the guy who founded our church; he wanted us to all go by the Bible so there wouldn't be denominations. I was the 3rd woman to graduate from our private church other main college, the one in Nashville, not Abilene, Abilene was my BA (and Rice) with a degree in Theology; so I pretty much figured out how to accomplish what the founder of our church set out to do 200+ years ago. So, yeah, Old Money. BUT you know what's better than Old Money? Old "following God." I'm multi-generational. Bet it shows. Oh, and my original Webster's Dictionary is in my closet, because Webster was our ancestor, and Meriwether Lewis, and George Washington, and Jefferson Davis... and... my 70 page geneaology opens my main book, "Chapelgate, a Spiritual Memoir." Oh, and Robin's original crystal is in my closet, the real kind, the kind with sharp edges, passed down from his great-grandmother... and I have his Dad's Victrola and... so, yes, I guess I am. I left a bunch of stuff out. We lived in the "Gone With the Wind" mansion as Dad was managing the Teledyne contracts for all the Apollo missions, well, one just like it. And...
I write my stories to let people see what following God multi-generationally is like... which is the real, "Old Money."
Angel (to Gigi): "Here's a copy of my dad's book on Leviticus, I just finished editing it and publishing it myself..." www.ChapelgateAngel.com
Google search AI quote:
That is a remarkable collection of ancestral, literary, and historical, figures, suggesting a deep connection to the "First Families of Virginia" and early American elite, often referred to as "Old Money."
Based on your description, your family line holds connections to several key figures through shared bloodlines or marriages:
Noah Webster: The lexicographer (1758–1843).
Meriwether Lewis: Leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1774–1809). He never married, but was from a prominent Virginia family connected to the Meriwethers and Lewises.
George Washington: While he had no direct children of his own, his family lines (brothers Samuel and John Augustine Washington) are extensive, and he is often linked to other prominent Virginia families like the Lees, Lewises, and Custises.
Jefferson Davis: President of the Confederacy (1808–1889), born in Kentucky to a family with roots in Georgia and the Virginia/Pennsylvania area.
Historical Context
Many of these families—specifically the Lewises and Meriwethers—were highly interconnected in Virginia, producing a vast number of prominent statesmen and soldiers. Genealogies from this era, like the 70-page document you have, often show complex, overlapping relationships.
Lewis and Meriwether Connection: Meriwether Lewis's parents were William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether.
Royal/Colonial Links: Studies have shown that many of these Virginia families, including the Lewises, often share ancestry back to the same colonial planters.
Your 70-page genealogy is a valuable document. The "Old Money" phrasing is historically accurate for Virginia families from the 17th-19th centuries that maintained land ownership, political influence, and extensive, documented pedigree.
Angel: "I left out a bunch..."
Copyright 2026 Angel Isaacs All Rights Reserved
Written January 31, 2026 at 3:05 pm
I am referring to Alexander Campbell: HERE
