Family Tree -Who Do You Think You Are?

[CokeTulip]

Have you ever done this for you?
Just wondering if it was a good experience and how it affected you?
Did you find any relatives/ancestors with a similar career/profession to you?

I am just doing one side of the family to start with and it is very interesting but I'm finding it challenging trying to make sense of things and I cant find some people. Records sometimes get destroyed. You can pay to have it done too. So far I'm getting alot out of it but it is sad in parts. I expect it may take me years.

[gness]

Hi Coke..you're up as late as I am.
MrG did his family tree and discovered the grandfather he disliked was not his real grandfather.
His gran was in service with the vet and his wife and became pregnant by their son. Needless to say gran wasn't good enough so they packed the son off to start his own practice and gran was married off to an old farmer....the hated grandfather.

The son can't have been too happy with the arrangements because he committed suicide. The newspaper reports that we have state that he drank two phials of prussic acid after seeing his last client one morning. Bit said really.....

My effort got as far as a priest getting drunk and burning down the church and all the records....☺

Now I am off to bed....x

[janbee]

My cousin did a family tree on my mother's side and she went as far as 1659 where we had an ancestor who was done for witchcraft. We have her name and details etc. She was a widow, was interrogated many times and went on trial locally with another witch called Anna Naismith. The trial started on 4/4/1659 and lasted until 28/5/1659. She was implicated by Anna as being involved in demonic practices which invoved fairies and the Devil. Apparently, "the devil took her by the finger"(he was wearing green clothes by the way). This is all true. It's all in the records. She was also involved in "anti-baptism" practices and sex at a witches meeting in which all the participants were masked. The fairies turned up and also some elves. They were also wearing green clothes. Eventually, she got off because of lack of evidence. All this seems quite funny now but at the time, witchcraft was a very serious offence. The wonderful part of all of this is, it's all in the records. I was amazed to find out all that. I also found out that I am descended from Hans Anderson ( I don't know if it's THE Hans Anderson,doubt it, but that's what I tell some people) It makes for a more interesting story. ? Anyway, Coke, enjoy delving into the past. As you say, some of it is VERY sad, very sad indeed, but so much of it is really interesting. Let me know what you find out.

[woofgang]

Nope. I know who I am. I also know that there are things in my family and in my husband's, that the families wanted to remain a secret and i respect that.

[Sycamore3House]

I have traced both sides of my family. My mothers side is the most interesting. She was from a dysfunctional family before they were invented. As we never knew her family i am finding it interesting. We have found out things that she did not even know. I am going to start researching again now the winter has come.

[anneasquith]

id like to do a family tree, but have no idea where to start.

[soapnumpty]

It's a great hobby, but it can take up an awful lot of time. I've been tracing mine for 12 years now. It's never really complete as such, as there are always different 'branches' that you can explore. I've stuck really to my direct ancestors, ie parents, grandparents, great grandparents, without drifting off to their brothers and sisters too much, unless I find an interesting one.

Best to start with one side of the family, as you are doing. Start with what you know, then look for your parents parents and so on.

I can't say I've found out anything life changing. My family were all pretty normal with run of the mill jobs. My Dad died when I was young and finding out about his family has made me feel closer to him. Talking to my mum and my Aunts and Uncles about their childhood and parents has probably been the most interesting part, as once they are gone, this information is gone forever.

Ive got back to about 1650 on one side, and 1750 on the other, before hitting a brick wall. It is frustrating when the records aren't there! Ancestry is a good site to use. Be cautious about copying records from other people's trees though, as often these havent been properly researched and can be wrong,

Good luck!

[CokeTulip]

It is fascinating. Janbee - its an amazing story and yes witchcraft was major in those times. All round it wasn't very free. You expect more sad stuff than happy stuff . I have Irish ancestors - but with emmigration etc its not easy to find where they have gone. I did find my great great grandfather's will though and I was delighted - I never expected it and some Jewish names.
I definately want to know and I couldn't do it all the time as you have to really focus. I do respect woofgang's approach too.

So far I found 7 first cousins I never knew existed - I'm not necessarily going to do anything with the info its just wanting to know.
My family are meant to have Scottish links and I haven't got that far yet and this is the main reason for doing it - just wanted to find these links. Historically crime seemed to have very harsh punishments and it is hard to understand - people must have really suffered. You know you will never get the full picture but it gives at least part of the skeleton you didn't have before. Thanks all.

[Caran]

I wouldn't want to find the encumbrance of family members I didn't know or want to be bothered by.

[jno]

if you click on the History topic to the left, you'll find there's a Genealogy subtopic where people ask questions about tracing their family tree.

It can take as long as you want. Most people can only go back so far, but you can go sideways almost indefinitely.

[HowardLink]

My family tree has only names. I don't know the acestors' work.

[coccinelle]

Howard; you need to look at the census to find out what they did for a living.