RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: hepburn on Sunday 09 April 06 13:54 BST (UK)
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It would be 1881,I'd walk down the hill to the town centre,relish the sights of the old market place, the elaborate facade of the town hall,the horses and carts trundling along the cobbles,and make my way to the Dolphin hotel.This is the place where I know exactly, where my elusive ggrandfather was working as a waiter."Hello Henry"I'd say,"how are you","very well thank you madam".he'd reply. Henry would take my order for tea,and I would ask him "Henry I hear you hail from Canada,could you tell me about yourself, about your family ,and about your life".Thats where I would go first time round.
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Hi gcar,
Hope you don't mind me gate crashing, but I would love to go back in time and visit the 1851 Great Exhibition. I once had to give a talk on it in my Design course and it gave me an insight into such an innovative time. Now after looking in to my family history I can picture some of them, living in those times. ;)
Pipkim ;D
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Hi Pipkim, no way the more the merrier,we're not that far removed are we it's only fifty years. I could " pop" down and take a peek at Victoria and Albert.geraldine
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I'd choose 1851 as well, so I could track down great great grandad John and ask where the heck he was hiding on census night?? >:( ;D
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I choose Shoreditch 1836 and trace my great x 3 grandmother Emma Traies, and connect her with the right family!
Kerry :-\
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I only really want to go back to 1906 and see my grandmother living with her 'grandparents' and 'aunt' in their grocery shop. Then maybe I could have a quiet word with William, Lucy or even their daughter Hilda and see who my grandmothers parents were.
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Oh how I would love to go back in time, I'd first go to Birmingham in 1906 and ask my gr-grandfather, why did you change our last name and then leave my gr-grandmother with 5 children to raise by herself in Canada? Then I go and find my other-gr-grandfather who was a butler and ask him where did you get these painting's we have that seem to be dated 1840-1850, when you were born in 1876?
Karen
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Wow! Karen,
The paintings sound like a great mystery :o , Oh to have something tangible as part of a family story, I wish :( :( :) :) :) ;D
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I would also love to go back to 1860 and ask my GGG Grandfather George Morjeanstern, "where on earth did you dig that name up from, because I can't find it now? why did your family change their names to Morgan? and why did you desert them?
Hope he's listening, he's giving me a headache ??? ??? ::)
Pipkim ;D
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I would like to go back to about 1883 - and visit my great great gran - Sarah Wells, just before her marriage to James Stone. I'd want a quiet word with her about her 5 illegitimate children - and who their father(s) was(were) :). In fact - a good old gossip about life in that village at that time! :D
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Hi Pipkim
The paintings have hung on the walls of different members of my family and I thought maybe there was a clue to them of my gr-grandfather's travels, (how did an son of an ag. labourer from Surrey, end up in Co. Cork Ireland to marry a woman) where do you go when you have a family mystery to solve? Rootschat of course!
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,63732.0.html
My gr-grandfather died in 1921 when his children were quite young, my grandmother was 9, I think their mother said to them "oh these are your father's" and then it just went from there that they thought he painted them.
Even though it turns out he didn't paint them, they must have been important to him to bring them to Canada with him.
Karen
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I would love to go back just 20 years so that I could have a chat with my dear Nan, Jessie (pictured) and I would love to be able to tell her all what I have found out about her family.
Sue B
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I would also love to go back to 1860 and ask my GGG Grandfather George Morjeanstern, "where on earth did you dig that name up from, because I can't find it now? why did your family change their names to Morgan? and why did you desert them?
Hope he's listening, he's giving me a headache ??? ??? ::)
Pipkim ;D
Tried Morgenstern instead? It's German for "Morningstar".
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I'd like to go back far enough to meet my Grandad and give him a hug, and enough to see my Nanny again, Dad's mum, because she was the light of my life and I miss her. :'(
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Hi MrsLizzy,
I have a also found it is a name for a medieval type of weapon similar to those ones with spikes on the end, I know which I perfer. ;D
Tried Jewish web sites etc, just hope if I mention it enough everywhere , a descendant will show up. He was born in France 1791 and he was a confectioner, he married an Irish girl/lady twenty years his junior.
Karen, great pictures, after looking into places in Ireland for my ancestors (Clonmel), they do look very Irish, but you've must have heard that before. ::)
Pipkim :)
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Not just Jewish, Pip, also German etc.
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Hi MrsLizzy,
It has been suggested to me on rootschat that the Alsace region is a possibility too. :)
Pipkim
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I think I would start by only going back about 55 years, about the time my grandparents met. I would see if stories about how they met were true and ask where the heck their families came from :( And I think I would have a little chat with grandpa about the war and his medals.... still dont know where they are now ???
erin
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I want to go back to Devon in the 1830's and ask my 3x Burrow gt grandparents - where was he born, who were his parents, why did he move to Somerset, Was he previously married (and if yes to whom), and why did he marry a girl who was half his age (even if she was 4 months pregnant at the time)??
Just a few questions - but it would break down a HUGE brickwall for me. ;D
Its gotta be done before 1839 cos he died that year.
BD
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Pipkim, random question, but do you know if you are at all related to the authors Chrisian, Julie, or Michael Morganstern?
erin
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Oh there are so many people that I would like to go back in time and ask questions :) If I had to chose one it would be my paternal Great Grandfather as I am stuck on him and can't get back any further :(
Dolly
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Firstly I'd go back quite recently to 1960 and ask my Great Grandad, Edward John Owen about his Mother and all his brothers and sisters. Also ask him about his second wife and the children that I cannot find dates for. He died in 1962 so don't want to make it just before he died as he may have been too ill to talk much
Then I would go back to 1861 to find my Great Great Great Grandfather William Thomas b 1780 and find out how he became a Chelsea Pensioner.
Then from Wales shoot over to Kelso, Roxburghshire to find Peter Burns (hubby's Great Great Grandfather) and find out about where he came from in Ireland and who his family were.
Of course I would have to take my camera with me and take photos (even though half of them would be scared to death of it) and also a big note pad and plenty of pens
After I had solved all the main mysteries in the family I would just roam around from one time to another just visiting everyone to find out exactly what they were like.
Oh to dream of such a thing happening ::)
Carol
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Oh and also Burma and India to find more of hubby's family
Carol
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But you know what would happen if any of us could go and ask questions. They'd glare at us and say "Mind your own business!" even if they did know we were relatives!
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Knowing my family they would say something like " You got this far without much help from us so you can carry on can't you! "
End of visit ! :-\
Carol
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But you know what would happen if any of us could go and ask questions. They'd glare at us and say "Mind your own business!" even if they did know we were relatives!
Thats exactly the answer I'd get! Just by the way that they have covered their tracks so well, I can tell thats what they'd say. Even the living relative (who would know every little bit of information I need) doesn't want me to find out! >:(
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I strill can't decide which time I'd go back to or which ancestor I'd speak to ???
Think I'll have a Dr Who Tardis and be a Time Gadget ::) ::) ::)
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Think I'll have a Dr Who Tardis and be a Time Gadget ::) ::) ::)
Yeah, thats a good idea .... we could go to every year we wanted to then! ;D
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and forward to see all those censuses that will be released after we have been released ;)
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and forward to see all those censuses that will be released after we have been released ;)
So we can go forward as well?
Oh well 2012, 2022, 2032, 2052 and 2062 are going to be quite full of researchers aren't they? We'll just have to get a faster machine to get there that bit quicker
Carol
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I'd choose 1867. Perhaps then I could find my g.grandad's parents.
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i think some of my rellies would go one step further... not only would they not give me any info, they would swipe what I do have and hide that too! :'(
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I'd go back to 1902 and gate-crash my great-grandparent's wedding. There's a brickwall there I'd just love to demolish, and seeing my great-grandfather's family there and interogating them would certainly help end that one. :P
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Pipkim, random question, but do you know if you are at all related to the authors Chrisian, Julie, or Michael Morganstern?
erin
Hi Erin, I haven't a clue about George Morjeanstern and how he arrived here. He could be from Mars and probably was. So just to know anyone he was related to would be a start (all the better if they were in the public domain as authors).
I often wonder when he registered his daughter at birth, he said Morganstern with a French accent and it came out as Morjeanstern. Although It does look like he could write his own name and sign himself G Morjeanstern, unlike his daughter at her marriage, who signed with a X.
On another note, it's amazing how much infomation and anecdotes I can squeeze out of my mother, I just have to go back lots of times and hint at people and places and out comes a load of other things.
I image if we all went back in time even the most reluctant of people would like to reminisce and talk about themselves, letting out more info than they bargined for. :o
Pipkim ;)
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i think i would have to go back to the early 1920s and ask my ggrandpa what name he used when he immigrated, i know for a fact that he didnt use the one that i know..... :(
i think our rellies all have a good time laughing at us because they could easily tell us what we want to know if they had the chance yet here we are, lol :P
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no, no, I have every faith in them - they just left us little clues - only they were like those cryptic crosswords at the weekends or holidays ???
Gadget
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Christmas 1914 to meet my great-grandmother and find out where her husband went! Then a bit further back to 1891 cos I can't find him then either!!
Steph.
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Maybe if I went back in time my grt grt grandma could tell me where the name Younker came from and where it went after she married >:(
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But you know what would happen if any of us could go and ask questions. They'd glare at us and say "Mind your own business!" even if they did know we were relatives!
Thats exactly the answer I'd get! Just by the way that they have covered their tracks so well, I can tell thats what they'd say. Even the living relative (who would know every little bit of information I need) doesn't want me to find out! >:(
Yup - reckon mine would do the same. MY great grandad is missing, and his only surviving daughter wond give up any info on him, her siblings, nor even my nan. Arghhhh.
Mark
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Someone else I'd like to go back in time to. is my Dad. He died in 1980 (quite young) and only told me a few stories, one of his grandparents shop in Birmingham when he was a young boy, probably 1935 onwards. I don't know who they are (could be Andrews or Wilkins on his mothers side) and after searching all afternoon, which has led me to Liverpool and Bristol, I'm still none the wiser. So please Dad give me a sign!!! ;D
(Funds are in short supply at the moment, :( so I'm making sure I have the right people before getting any more certificates).
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Christmas 1914 to meet my great-grandmother and find out where her husband went! Then a bit further back to 1891 cos I can't find him then either!!
Steph.
I suppose you've thought of the obvious answer, i.e. you've eliminated the possibility that he was killed fighting in the War?
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Christmas 1914 to meet my great-grandmother and find out where her husband went! Then a bit further back to 1891 cos I can't find him then either!!
Steph.
I suppose you've thought of the obvious answer, i.e. you've eliminated the possibility that he was killed fighting in the War?
Unlikely... he was 36 in 1914, I don't think they encouraged older men until a fair bit later. He turned up again 30 years later but the only one of his children who would give him the time of day is long dead with no offspring. It's infuriating! But I'm sure I''ll find him one of these days.
Steph.
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I'd go back to early 1890 and ask my gt.gt.grandfather what was troubling him so much?
He comitted suicide later that year.
Otherwise, I'd go back much less far, to the late 1960s to meet my Grandpa Jim who died before I was born.
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I'd go back to 1884 and gatecrash the wedding of my great grandparents Martin Meehan and Mary Kelly.
Martin would have to tell me exactly where in Ireland he came from and who his parents and siblings were. Mary would have to tell me whether her mother's maiden name really was Meehan (it's either Meehan or Mahon or Meagan) and whether she and Martin were related in anyway. I'd also want to know where in Ireland Mary's parents came from and who their parents were.
I expect though that they would be just a vague on the subject as my grandfather (their son) was and tell me all kinds of tales about the Emerald Isle and the little people without actually giving me any concrete information!!
Wotty.
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hello wotty.
why are parents and grand parents so loathe to tell us about the family,telling us to leave things alone and,"what are hoping to find".There must be an awful lot of skeletons they don't want us to know about.geraldine
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HI Geraldine - they hide it because they know their parents/Grandparents would want them to hide it -a different time and respecting peoples wishes.
I would like to go back in time and comfort my poor distraught ancestor and tell her that it really isn't a bad thing that you had an illegitimate child. I'm sure there weren't many people giving her comfort at that time.
If I had a time machine (and had a return ticket) I would like to experience working class England in the 1800s - I'm sure I would use my return ticket very quickly.
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Christmas 1914 to meet my great-grandmother and find out where her husband went! Then a bit further back to 1891 cos I can't find him then either!!
Steph.
I suppose you've thought of the obvious answer, i.e. you've eliminated the possibility that he was killed fighting in the War?
I thought they took men up to 39 - and of course he could have lied about his age just as the young lads did. Everyone seems to have been gung-ho to get over there. Obviously he survived the war, whether he was combatant or not (and I supposed he could have gone over to help in some other way such as ambulance driving) but have you actually checked for a service record just to eliminate it?
My grandfather served in the 2nd world war, returned afterwards and presumably missed the army so he re-enlisted and fought in the Korean War. He used to "disappear" for years at a time, according to his brother. He said he wouldn't hear from Teddy for ten years at a time and then suddenly he would turn up at the back door saying hello as if he hadn't been away. It has occurred to me that maybe my grandad didn't adapt well to civvy life and got into trouble, ending up in prison for long periods. I hope not though.
Unlikely... he was 36 in 1914, I don't think they encouraged older men until a fair bit later. He turned up again 30 years later but the only one of his children who would give him the time of day is long dead with no offspring. It's infuriating! But I'm sure I''ll find him one of these days.
Steph.
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I would go back to 1887 (the last set of known lies she told were in this year) and ask my Jane Inglis Cotterill why she lied about her parentage so much, and twist her arm until she told me who they really are, and also who was the mysterious seven year old son William Cotterill on the 1871 census when she had only married John Cotterill the year before. I would actually have a lot to ask this lady because she seems to have not existed before 1870.
Telling me to mind my own business after the time and money I have spent on trying to find her would not be good enough for me, I am afraid!!!
Her hubby John was just as bad...I am still not sure of his parentage or place of birth and so both of them have driven me up the wall. And I would want to know how he ended up dying in the poorhouse when he had lots of living family, including Jane.
And yet, it is in their line that I have contacted a precious family member and reunited her with her father's side of the family, whom she never knew as she was orphaned at a young age.
Nina
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Wow Nina :o
With those tactics I'll just send you instead lol You'll probably get a lot more out of them than me
And how lovely for your new family member to find all those long lost members as far as she was concerned.
Carol
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Yes Carol, and she was only three when she was orphaned, brought up by her mother's side of the family and never knew anything about her dad or his family. She was 70 by the time I found her, and the lovely part is that her first cousins had been looking for her for a long time.
My Dad is her second cousin, she too lives in Australia and we met at CHristmas...and I can see a family resemblance. My Mum even said she has the same eyes as my Dad's granny (who was her grand-dad's sister).
Nina
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Have you changed your ID Nina?
Carol
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At least she will have some years to catch up with everyone and everything
Bless her
Carol
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My first stop would be Dundee, February 1869 where I'd gatecrash the wedding of my ggg-grandparents John MacGregor and Mary C. Barnes.
I'd ask John:
Why are you revising your age downwards by 6 yrs in your marriage certificate? Where did you study for that Doctorate in Medicine which you profess to have, (because I can find no record of it)?
Have you ever actually practised medicine? Why, at (really) 38 years old, have you never appeared in any medical directory? And where were you in 1841, 1851 & 1861? In fact, where were you born?
Why are you about to leave Scotland for ever, taking your new bride within weeks to the Wild West - Dakota Territory - where gold has not yet been discovered and it's all about gunslinging in saloon bars?
Why in later life will you start using the middle initial "L", and what does it stand for?
I'd ask Mary:
What does your middle initial "C." stand for? Is it a family surname? Why do you insist on abbreviating it in every document over a lifetime?
I'd ask Mary's father Robert (who was a witness):
Where were you born - at least decide once and for all whether it was Scotland or Ireland! You might think it is funny to alternate it in every census but I do not... :o
Hmmm...methinks I might not be a welcome guest at the wedding ;)
Anna
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Hi wheeldon,you are so right that is the crux of it all,illigitimate babie's,or babie's born five months after the wedding, it's well know at the time ,but not spoken of,I know some of the storie's are sad,but Iv'e had a laugh at most of the posts,the tangled mess everybody been left to sort out.geraldine
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I'd ask Mary:
What does your middle initial "C." stand for? Is it a family surname? Why do you insist on abbreviating it in every document over a lifetime?
Maybe it was one of those hideously embarrassing names - I remember in Elizabeth Gaskell's "Wives and Daughters", two characters caused some mild mirth by being called Hyacinth (mother) and Cynthia (daughter).
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Perhaps she's just like I am. Although my middle name is James, I always put it down as J. unless I'm specifically asked to put my full name. It's hard to explain, 'cause it's not like I dislike my middle name...I just like to abbreviate it to differentiate myself from the 4 or 5 consecutive generations of my family that had James as part of their name. It's just a personal preference.
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Yes Carol, and she was only three when she was orphaned, brought up by her mother's side of the family and never knew anything about her dad or his family. She was 70 by the time I found her, and the lovely part is that her first cousins had been looking for her for a long time.
My Dad is her second cousin, she too lives in Australia and we met at CHristmas...and I can see a family resemblance. My Mum even said she has the same eyes as my Dad's granny (who was her grand-dad's sister).
Nina
that sounds very like my mum's story except no happy ending - so far.
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i never write out my full middle name if i can avoid it, i think my mom started that habbit as she wont write my middle name out either as i am named after her mother in law (whom she isnt very fond of)
erin
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wish I could go back about 2 minutes, ( just burnt my tea, poached egg on toast ) reading this site, ??? ??? ???
Pete. :)
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I would not bother with all this just back to Wednesday am where I would do the lottery with the winning numbers and come back to day to collect my winnings wow no more work just plenty of tme to do my family tree
Jim