A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning out a filing cabinet that held some of my dad's paperwork. I'm (FINALLY) finishing up his estate and can free up some filing space - always at a premium. Thank God we've all gone paperless, eh? Anywho... I came across 2 documents that began nagging me endlessly: a genealogy done by an Aunt in the 1980's (more or less) and a photocopy of a eulogy for a lady who died in the 1930's. I'd seen the genealogy before - it's about 10 pages TYPEWRITTEN (remember typewriters? And this one was in script - not print, very pretty) from one branch of my dad's family. And while this was rumbling around in my brain, Ancestry.com started sending me emails about a "sale" on my heritage. I couldn't hold out any longer and joined. Now, I'm going to warn you, looking at this stuff is like eating potato chips - you just can't stop. Especially if you find a tree that someone else has already built - you can add generations in a flash.
So, now I "know" (in quotations because validation is still pending) that my mother's family came from England and Germany - directly and exclusively. And my dad's straight from England, no matter which branch I follow. Now the good news is that my tree actually branches - no vines (wink, wink). And some highlights include a many-greats grandfather that was hanged. I'm thinking I've uncovered that horse thief found in every family. Further research said no, he was hanged by the Colonial Government of Virginia for treason - against the crown. He was part of Bacon's rebellion and had actually been pardoned by the king, but the governor carried out the executions anyway. So a patriot (one man's traitor is another man's patriot, I suppose). There is another, possible, link to English nobility and US founders but I'm not certain of that link - there are some pretty big jumps to get there. It may pan out but I'm questioning. I could very certainly become a daughter of the American Revolution - from either side of the tree. And possibly a Daughter of the Confederacy, as well. That' where the eulogy fits in, but is still being researched.
Anyway, if you haven't done this, you should give it a shot. It's a lot of fun and involves some problem solving, sleuthing and puzzle placement. All in all, a good time.
And I will finish the quilt today - all it lacks is binding.
Now, wish me luck that I can post this from home. Fingers crossed, I'm going in....
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I know what you mean... I got sucked into it during Christmas break and couldn't stop digging. Seeing the hand-written census records from the early 1900s was so fascinating!
ReplyDeleteA cousin of my mother's did the tree on that side. It's a relatively small family, everyone here who bares that name is my real live relative. (A bit claustrophobic, yes)
ReplyDeleteIt can be a lot of fun. In fact my 3rd Cousin who did the work, spent 30 years, give or take, on that. Insanely addict, it appears.
I think it helps to talk to the older generation while they are still lucid and can recall who was whom. And then you hit the Public Records.