RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Welsh Jules on Thursday 17 May 07 13:26 BST (UK)
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I had a very pleasing phone call yesterday from my 16 year old cousin (first cousin once removed :) )who wants to trace her family tree. As an only child with no children of my own (which is very unlikely to change) I've often wondered why I'm so interested in my roots bearing in mind they'll all end with me, so I was so thrilled to hear that she wants to come and see all my research, even if for her it will only be the family history of her maternal grandfather's side. I've lots of photographs of her great and great great grandparents so really looking forward to sharing it with her and hoping that I'll now have someone to leave, at least part of, my hard researched work to after my days :)
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Hi Welsh Jules
I have a niece (somewhat older than your cousin :) ) who is also the only younger family member of mine interested in the research. It's lovely to discuss it all with her & nice to know someone will save the files from the WPB in years to come :) I'm sure you will both get much enjoyment from sharing the work. Your cousin will have a wonderful chance to obtain some first hand knowledge of her roots from older family members.
Trish
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Oh, how nice that would be, Jules and Trish!
I'm still at the stage of hoping that one of my nephews or nieces will develop an interest! No sign of that yet... :( :'(
MarieC
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Jules
If she keeps up her interest you will have someone to pass on your photographs and research to.
I have three children and 2 Grandchildren but none have the slightest interest
Except to say "Yes Mum, thats really interesting" but just to keep me happy
wini
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I have three children and 2 Grandchildren but none have the slightest interest
Except to say "Yes Mum, thats really interesting" but just to keep me happy
wini
I know just what you mean! My daughter feigns interest (mainly because she feels sorry for me!) but her usual response to a "new" relative is: "So, another John or Margaret....." (as my lot seem to have used these names continually!)
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I'm one of the young ones. My mum had researched her father's side about 20-30 years ago and had the surname going back to the mid 17th century. At some point, far more recently, probably about 10 years ago, she got Family Tree Maker and printed the tree off - which went onto about 8 sheets of A4. I thought it was pretty amazing to have such a huge tree going back so far (maybe you could try that trick to get others interested :P. A second cousin who also saw the tree has started doing his family history too). Some years later, the 1901 census was released and I said I'd research my dad's side, but never did at that point. I didn't really know what to do anyway. Then a few years after that, my mum was trying to link a couple of lads who died in WWI to our tree, and by this time the 1901 was accessible and I found the names of my great grandparents quite easily by asking family members. Once I'd found them on the census it was just a case of working each line back. After I started researching my dad's side, my mum picked up the research again (having put it away since getting married) and decided to have a go at her mother's side (Smith, partly why it had been put away). I don't really know why more young people aren't interested in researching their family history, I find it fascinating.
I still use the 10 year old version of FTM too. The only extra things that I wish it had are fields for christenings and burials and fields to put family/individual census data in.
Andrew
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Ccongratulations Andrew,
Its really good to hear of a younger person having such a keen interest
wini
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I'm just hoping she won't be too disappointed when she sees that they're all ag labs from Pembrokeshire ;D
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Hi Jules
Ours are ag labs from all over - with a couple of convicts thrown in - so she will love 'em
Trish
(and if I could get the smilies to work - I would use some ??? - I know the query one code!)
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I've often wondered why I'm so interested in my roots bearing in mind they'll all end with me
I've wondered the same thing with myself, as although I'm young (23) I know I'm probably going to be the end of the line unless I'm very lucky (I've had cancer, and was warned I may never be able to further the line). In a way though I feel it's important to know where we all came from...important to know the people without whom we quite literally wouldn't have been here. For me it's as much a voyage of self discover as it is an exploration of the past (which also draws me in, having a history degree :P). I think it's such a shame more young people don't take an active interest in their family history...they don't know the fun they're missing out on.
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Simon
I agree absolutely with you about the joys of and reasons for researching our families! There is all this value for us - but one hopes that somewhere, there will be a person in the next generation who values what we've done.
Somewhere on Rootschat, some time ago, a beautiful poem was posted called "We are the chosen". The theme was that those of us who do this are privileged to be the chosen ones for our generation, and we have the honour and responsibility of researching and writing and handing the family history on. It was quite inspiring - I loved it!
MarieC
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We are the Chosen
We are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.
Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the storytellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called, as it were, by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us, "Tell our story!" So, we do.
In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us." How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say.
It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying, "I can't let this happen." The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish, how they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.
It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggled to give us birth. Without them we could not exist, and so we love each one, as far back as we can reach.
That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do.
With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are they and they are the sum of who we are. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take my place in the long line of family storytellers.
That is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and restore the memory or greet those whom we had never known before.
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My family are not interested and I don't talk to them about my research. My daughter said she would probably burn everything when I am gone. ???
I am trying to tidy everything so they can just put the files into boxes and store them in the loft. I also send out discs to my sisters family and any cousins whose addresses I have. I also don't mind sharing the info with anyone interested. Grandchildren or greatgrandchildren may be interested one day. It is all on computer and disc. It would be nice if they were interested but anyway it keeps me happy.
They don't like my pottery, embroidery and glass pictures either. Oh Well never mind
Sylviaann
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My family are not interested and I don't talk to them about my research. My daughter said she would probably burn everything when I am gone. ???
:o :o
Burn it?! :(
I hope she's young and/or doesn't really mean that.
Andrew
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Sylviaann,
Thank you for posting that poem; it's wonderful! Did you write it? I've saved it to a Word document and would like to give proper credit if possible.
I love the line: "We are the storytellers of the tribe." I hadn't thought of it that way but it is so true. I'm going to hold my head a little higher now when I think about my research.
If you are concerned about what will happen to your files after you're gone, have you considered putting in your will that you want them all to be donated to the local library or family history society? Then you assign an executor who you know will honour your wishes.
It's good that you are giving discs to other family members so your work will be preserved and, hopefully, continued. I'm going to give binders to my brother, for our side of the family, and to my sister-in-law, for my husband's, first, because I want them to have them, and second, because if anything should happen to my binders, it wouldn't all be lost.
As for your pottery, embroidery and glass pictures, if you passed away, I believe they would cling to the things that you had made with your own hands and cherish them forever, whether they are interested in them now or not. I know the things that mean the most to me are the ones my mother touched and made herself. Even something in her handwriting is precious to me.
Regards,
Josephine
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Jules,
How wonderful that your young cousin is interested in your family history!
My aunt was the one in my mother's family who was into genealogy. I was happy to have a copy of her binder but didn't share her fascination until... I don't know what happened, but I was bitten by the genealogy bug and I was off and running. :) (I was in my thirties.)
My daughter isn't interested now but I know that she might be some day. I'm working on copies of my binders for my brother to keep for his much younger children.
Regards,
Josephine
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I didn't write "We are the chosen". It has been on here before and I kept a copy. When doing a search I found 2 authors so there is doubt.
Our children are not so sentimental as us but hopefully as they grow older they will learn.
Meanwhile my sisters children in NZ are interested. It must be so nice to have someone really keen especially a young person.
I did put it in 2 small books and handed them around but there is too much now so the discs will have to do.
Sylviaann
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I think it is very important that anyone who has a lot of research and not very interested families should donate (or will) their work to a local FSH or Records Office. There will always be someone to take it, and later another family member will be interested.
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Thanks, Sylviaann!
You're right: I am sentimental. ;) I can't blame it on age because I've always been this way.
I, too, hope my daughter or nieces and nephews become interested one day.
Regards,
Josephine
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I think it is very important that anyone who has a lot of research and not very interested families should donate (or will) their work to a local FSH or Records Office.
Wholeheartedly agree there. I've already left instructions over what happens to my research in case of accident. I'd hate for what is quite literally my life's work to be bunged on the fire when I'm gone...do that and I'm coming back to haunt them. ;D
Luckily a young cousin on mum's side (I say young...he's only 12. I've converted him young. :P) is shown a lot of interest, so it seems the next generation will carry the proverbial torch. :)
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That's it, Sylviaann! I love it. It moves me to tears, and when I read it I feel very proud that I am the chosen one in my generation! (Just wish a few more of my ancestors would cry out, "Tell our story"! The ones who are hiding from me, I mean!)
Simon G., you have done really well getting your 12 year old cousin interested! Never heard of a child that age being interested in family history, but it is great that he is! Maybe you ought to get him to join Rootschat - he'd be our youngest member! ;D
MarieC
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Indeed. He's turning into a little version of me...it's wonderful. :P ;D
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Hi Simon - I can see from your profile that you're from the Rhondda, that's where I was born an brought up as well, and where my 16 year old cousin who has shown the family history interest lives. Hopefully between her and your cousin we'll have a few future valley genealogists lined up :)
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I was also just 12 years old when I became interested in genealogy! It started with a school assignment to draw up my tree, and I was hooked!
My parents are interested in whatever I find (well, parents have to be supportive of whatever their kids do, dont they!! ;D), but my kids are still too young at the moment. Maybe one day....
I've never thought of myself as a Chosen One before! I like it!! ;D
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Simon G., you have done really well getting your 12 year old cousin interested! Never heard of a child that age being interested in family history, but it is great that he is!
MarieC
Thankfully and i realise how lucky i might be,my 10 year old daughter is taking an interest in my research,it's patchy at the moment which i would expect of a child of that age anyway,but she does sit in with me sometimes when i'm on Rootschat and she takes an interest in any information that i get and quite often sits down and studies the family tree which is laid out on a table permanently in the living room,she now knows the names of her ggrandparents on two lines and where they come from and some dates etc off by heart....she is the only one really interested in my family except for my uncle but he is getting on a bit now and getting forgetful sometimes..just hope my girl keeps her interest 8)
Steve :D
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I have given my 3 children their own Copies of the Familyhistorian programme, which I use.
As I add more information I send them (UK,US and NZ) a GED file.Plus scanned Copies of old photos and documents.
When we downsized, we shared out various"goodies" such as a Sampler , a Gran's wedding invitation etc. A large (very) framed wedding photo (ours).To my embarrassment ,openly displayed because my daughter loves it!!
Our son has the family Long case clock from my Husband's G/grandfather.
OK that is fine as far as it goes, but if I want to leave a record to a FHS, and basically ones main branches come from 4 (or more) different counties, then to one or to all.?
Spring
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My teenage daughters aren't interested in my research either. The youngest shows an occasional interest and has asked me to write a tree for her. The eldest "doesn't see the point, they're all dead"!!! ::)
I still think they'll show an interest when they are older. I've told my youngest that she will have to keep all the research, even if she just shoves it in her loft. She can pass it on when the time comes!
I started my research when I was 20.....having grown up with the family rumours that everyone has, and also only having one grandparent, I was curious and at that stage names were all I needed. Now I need to know about the people and their lives and to visit where they lived and breathed.
Beverley
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I have a two nieces, one of fifteen and one of 10. They are both interested the younger one more so as last year they lost Nanny, Grandad and Grandma in the space of five months and also three years ago their Uncle, my twin. After Mum died Dad found some certificates etc and I said about finding out more as Dad didn't know how his family worked. Just before he died last December I had managed to find out how some of his cousins worked in the family and about when his sister died at 3 months old. I didn't do alot after Dad died but then my youngest niece said to me if I help you can we do the tree in memory of Nanny and Grandad so I have carried on and every time she comes over she adds a bit more to her book. When I went to FRC last week I bought her a chart to put on her bedroom wall so she can see how it pans out. I have decided to make up files for my sister, brother and two sons to keep so they can add to it in the future, although my sons have said they have no interest they do ask every so often if I have found out anymore!!
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Goodonya, kayfr!
And welcome to Rootschat! Hope you enjoy it here!
You're certainly doing your bit to pass the torch to the next generation. I hope your sons do develop interest in the years ahead!
MarieC
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Much like Britgirl I started out young (about 13?) because of a school assignment. Rather than my parents getting me interested it went the other way - now they've been bitten by the bug as well.
I've also found a fair amount of disinterest from other relatives. The other trait I've noticed is that people can be less than forthcoming. Not necessarily in a secretive manner, but you'll often report a finding and be greetd by "of course, didn't you know that?" or new juicy details are just revealed on a whim...
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I have been talking to my teenage daughter about her relatives for years and like many others - she feigned interest but I knew she was just trying to keep mum happy.
A while back, knowing how much she enjoys playing on the PC, I set her a task to find one of our relatives in the census. She was in the study for hours and I thought that finally she had been bitten by the bug. She emerged much later with a huge grin and no sign of my missing relative. The morbid little madam had spent the afternoon trying to find the victims of Jack the Ripper ::)!!!
However, last week I found my 8 year old son looking through my hand drawn trees so maybe there's hope yet :D
KPM
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Fingers crossed for you, KPM!
MarieC
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The morbid little madam had spent the afternoon trying to find the victims of Jack the Ripper ::)!!!
Oh well, that's better than searching for Mr. Donald Duck I suppose...at least they have a note of historical interest about then, rather than being a cartoon character. ::) You'd never have guessed from the cartoons that he lived in Middlesex though...I suspect they didn't research him very well before making them. ;)
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Poor old Mr Duck - what an unfortunate name ;D.
I work in a bank, and one of our old customers (many years ago now) was called Michael Mouse - he had real trouble passing our security questions ;D ;D ;D
Perhaps I should see whether I can find one of his name sakes on the census!!
KPM
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There is a Mr. Michael Mouse who died in 1867 in Luton, although Minnie Mouse seems to be absent without leave. Poor Mickey. :P
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I loved that poem/passage you wrote. Beautiful.
I wonder if I am the youngest person on the forums? I am 17 years old. I hope not, but, then again, it would make me feel somewhat unique if I was.