RootsChat.Com

That is so true, especially when you hit a brick wall and it all seems to go pear shaped and you could pull your hair out in frustration, but there is usually someone who can help.

Then its another brick in the wall towards your unknown ancestors. In a way its almost like being a member of a very large family.

I still get confused with replying to a post and have no idea how too send a pm, but the site is brill. people are so helpful and kind in their help. almost like one big family

My motivation is the need to find my mothers origins and why some of the ancestors preferred sons to daughters. Also the secrecy about family connections and why past family were never talked about. My mother's late father was a bricklayer, but he died before I was born, but there is no one left to ask questions about him.

Also researching my own origins makes me realise how much I do not know, but when something however small falls in to place its very satisfying knowing you have done the research yourself and you feel less alone. The need to leave some record for your children and their children to look back on.

My mum and I never really got close and I recently found out that my grandmother used to lock mum in a cupboard because she preferred sons to daughters. That seems to have been apparent through the generations

many thanks for information, it really helped alot