Genealogy Chat

nudge up....so very true Derek

What a wonderful piece of writing Derek. I agree-have had some very moving moments, the first one when I found the grave of my great grandparents. I have an urge to visit places and streets where they lived which is very strong at times, although as they are not where I live in England now it is often difficult. I garden too[most of it of the tidying variety], but the two are not exclusive of each other. Also I don't worry if other people are not interested in what I'm doing-someone might be one day, even my son! Elaine

Agree with previous comments. I feel I've got to know my ancestors personally. Having lost both parents in the last 2 years, I feel more connected to them through doing the research. Was watching a prog on tv about the 'falling people' from the twin towers the other day. Went on to tell how a family were devastated to find their husband/father had thrown himself out of the burning inferno thereby committing suicide. That meant he would go to hell. Another bod proved it wasn't him but someone else...and his family's outlook was totally different and they actually felt relieved to know how he died. Made me think that it is important to know how people die and what their lives were like

Hi, thank you for your messages, I really love gardening but i find at this time of year a coal fire burning behind me and a hot cup of tea & plate of bicuits whist sat at my computer, well it`s bliss pure enjoyment tinged with a little sadness sometimes, i plan my holidays around my ancestors homes and feel that little by little i`m beginning to get to know them, cheers derek,,...

This is a good thread. I know exactly how you all feel. Eighteen months ago I knew nothing about my gt.gt.grandparents only the fact that they came from Scotland. Last September I went to Scotland to find the small hamlet on the coast of Dumfries that I had traced them to. My husband thought I was mad and insisted that I wouldn't find anything. I found the Hamlet that hadn'y changed since the 1700's. I went to the village church that was built in 1200.A very kind lady opened it up for me and I stood inside the place where my ancestors had been christened, married and buried. I went into the church yard to see if I could find any grave stones and within minutes had found the one with their names on it. It looked like it had been laid recently as it was so clear. They had been Farmers and fishermen, and I couldn't believe it when we were driving down the lanes and saw a signpost for the name of the farm where they had all lived.We drove into the farm yard, nobody was home, and I stood there and cried like a baby. It was more like a large cottage than a farm and the date over the door was 1780. They had raised 8 children in what looked like 2 bedrooms. It backed onto the sea and there were boats in the outbuildings. I felt like part of me had come home. I couldn't believe the emotion I felt and how much connected to them I was. I will never forget this experience and on the days when I get frustrated and wish I had never started all this research I just think back to that day and it just makes it seem worthwhile. Marlene

Hi All, Fantastic Thread. Sums up how I feel and I very definitely AM the family story teller. When I was at school I always got praise from the teachers for my compositions (as they were called then)! That was my training for this job! I have had a couple of articles published about my rellies and ancestors; so I can really identify with this thread. To add a spooky (but reassuring) note, I have always felt I am being encouraged and helped by those no longer here. Cheers, Horatia

This explains to a T how I felt from the start, driven, from day one felt my Paternal G Grandfather who not even my Dad met has stood at my right shoulder saying 'You go girl'. Any time I get a wall or fed up.....something else comes along to push me on....especially on this Paternal G Grandfathers family. Plus you don't get dirty or meet worms, you do gardening.

bumped up

nudging for Clare :)

hi, heather, been there and its a tremendous feeling, kathleen, somebody in the family will carry on the good work but i do`nt think they will find the same satisfaction as us, bev & kev, since i started i have an interest & thirst for knowledge of history that i never thought would be possible, and some of the things they had to put up with do tend to stop you moaning about our everyday life, rachel, i`ve been doing my tree for 18months now & have found that i talk to my aunties & uncles a lot more now & they are interested in my latest find, thanks to those who mailed me direct , all very interesting, cheers derek,,...

Good on yer Tony - I couldn't see why the two occupations/hobbies of FH and gardening were mutually exclusive. I do both and get enormous satisfaction and stimulation from both activities. I've less than two years doing FH, but many years & a qualification in gardening/horticulture. Moved to Cyprus from UK, so the gardening is as challenging as the genealogy. I was moved by and will keep the words that opened this thread. Pam

Hi, marie, do try and visit a family grave or place your ancestors lived, it is truly moving, rosalyn, saw ' genealogy prayer' enjoyed it very much and that`s what prompted me to post ' WHY' gerri, lovely poem and so true, i wish i could put my feelings so well, bev, only people like us who are doing the research can understand the power of those feelings. cheers derek,,...

Thank you Derek for sharing that with us, there are other people who feel the same way, I too have visited graves of ancestors who died many years ago and I hope that there legacy lives through us, for many years there stood a picture on the mantlepiece of my Gramp's mother and now we have been able to unravel her story. I often contemplate how my family would have lived and have often felt like crying too. Did anyone see 'Who do you think you are' when Jeremy Paxton cried when it was revealed how his Great Grandmother would have lived. My heart goes out to them xx

Lovely words Derek. Heres some more... Dear Ancestor Your tombstone stands among the rest Neglected and alone The name and date are chiselled out On polished marble stone It reaches out to all who care It is too late to mourn You did not know that I exist You died and I was born Yet each of us are cells of you In flesh and blood and bone Our blood contracts and beats a pulse Entirely not our own Dear Ancestor..the place you filled One hundred years ago Spreads out among the ones you left Who would have loved you so I wonder if you lived and loved I wonder if you knew That someday I would find this spot And come to visit you. Author Unknown Gerri x

Marie, I know what you mean about having so called 'favourites'. I always think of my great grandfather as one of my favourites, and if I think about family history his is the first name I think of. I think this is because his was the first name I found that I had no knowledge of before I started. I know that sounds daft, but there it is!!! Kath. x

Derek , have a look at Genealogy Prayer -very apt too, Rosalyn

Derek I can really relate to that. I have yet to visit a family grave but I know that when I have found a death entry for a young child or one of my favourites ( I know it's strange to have a favourite but some I feel I know more than others) have disappeared off the next census I do feel a sense of sadness and loss and I hope that they didn't suffer too much. In a more practical way, I sometimes find myself apologising to great great grandmothers for using frozen peas when I make the children's dinner or wondering what they would think because I don't often clean my front steps like they would have done!!!! I do agree also that it is a calling and I feel blessed (most of the time)that I am answering the call.

HI, When i started my tree i did`nt even know my grandparents names, now with a little help from family members and A LOT of help from people on these boards i have found relatives from as far back as the 1750`s on my side but the best thing is that its got family members talking and meeting up once or twice a year instead of just a birthday & christmas card, Its also a hobby you can share with your partner if your lucky like me, and my children are starting to show an interest ! Thank you for your thoughts, cheers derek,,...

Thats wonderful and just the way I feel. My family history didn't interest me until recent years when my children were born and my Dad died suddenly. These events brought my life into perspective and for once I could see what life was all about. I felt compelled to find out about my ancestors. It's really been a journey of discovery for me, and has led me to be more self assured than I've ever been before. I want to document my family's story for my children and future generations to treasure, so that my ancestors will never be forgotten. Most of my family are keen to hear of my latest discoveries. However my brother has no interest at all. His interests lie in football. Each to their own. Becoming a member of this website was one of the best things I did. I have made many contacts, the majority have been wonderful. It's good to be amongst a group of like minded lovely people. Rachel

That is lovely and it is exactly how it is. To me, ancestors are not just dead people, or names on a census - they are real, and I can clearly imagine how they lived, how they felt and even what they looked like! And its true that very few people feel like that and those that do are here! Bev x PS I love gardening too!