skeletons

[lisalucie]

Yup me too...I absolutely love it when I unearth a skeleton! I have them in most, if not all of my lines However in two particular ones the skeletons are rife!!!
Line 1 - a suicide, illegitimacy left right and centre, transportation to austrailia
Line 2 - abusive husbands, drunkards, negligent mothers, waring families, illegitimacys, illegal boxing, affairs, theives, more drunkards and that many court appearances that I've lost count!

These are my favourite lines to follow x

[Redroger]

Compared to mine Philip, your tree is the height of domestic respectability; I was tempted to say Is that all? One highwayman (transported) 2 illegitimate births, and that is just his wife after his transportation, numerous convictions of various types; one suicide, and that is just my father's side from the 19th-early 20th century. Going into the 18th century, probable 3XGGM at least 8 children with 7 fathers; and never claimed off the parish! 2XGGM, at least 5 children with at least 4 fathers. We seem to have been more or less straight since then apart from the 19th century criminality; Oh and one likely Cof E clergyman. Could say every family has its black sheep!! (Just joking)

[MarieC]

Well, the suspected bigamist turned out not to be so, but I have two convicts who were transported to Australia - not for major crimes, and they made a good life for themselves here.  Also French, Dutch and Irish ancestors in the Caribbean who were sugar planters and certainly slave owners, and probably treated their slaves badly, which was common practice then, sadly.  And I have, not in my direct line, a man who murdered his uncle in a quarrel about a paltry matter and then went on the run - he was never brought to justice for this crime.  As others have said, these are the colourful lines, and I enjoy having them to relieve the monotony of the respectable ones!

[aghadowey]

Not everyone has the same view of who the black sheep of the family is 

My great aunt (who died when I was 13) had no problem discussing ancestors such as the woman known as the first prositute of New Amsterdam (New York) and her even more colourful husband who was called 'the most hated man in the Dutch towns of Long Island' but there was one terrible ancestor she didn't like to mention. He was actually the brother of our ancestor and his crime was that he helped George Washington during the American Revolution and afterwards was rewarded by being appointed governor of New Jersey!

[iolaus]

A Lunatic (from syphilis)
Several illegitimate births (one my aunt, several from generations before - that side of the family are rife with them), one who claims to have had a 5 year pregnancy
A Murderer (sentenced to death penalty, deported, murdered someone got death penalty again, was excused and then got murdered himself - I suspect it was his own fault)
Several in the workhouse

 

[Erato]

Just a small sample from the record of my 8x great-grandparents, the irrepressible John and Joane Andrews of Kittery, Maine [there was lots more]:

Oct.16, 1651
We present Joane Andrews, the wife of John Andrews for an infamous scould and a breaker of the peace and for Conteming Authority in abusing the Governor. It is ordered by this court that Joane Andrews is either forthwith to pay forty shillings fine, or else to receive corporall punishment by having 25 stripes upon the bare skine. John Andrews stands bound for his wifes appearance at the next court in the bond of tenn pounds, for her good behaviour."
"We present John Dymond & Joane Andrews for Suspition of incontinency. John Dimond Fined 40s and an act of Seperation is mayd in Court that John Dimond & Joane Andrews are not to Keep company one with another."

March 5, 1652
We present Joane Andrews for a Make bayte, making Contention & abusing Goody Mendum whereby shee forfited her bond upon her good behaviour, for which it is ordered that she is to have twenty Lashes with a whipp upon the bare skine." Joane had called Ms.Mendum 'an Indean Hoare'.

30 June 1653
Joane Andrews was in court for "abusing of a grand jury man per manly threatening and reviling speeches." (4)

Oct. 25,1653
Wee present Joane the wife of John Andrews for selling a firkine of butter to Mr. Nicholas Davis which had two stones In it contayneing foureteen pounds 2 oz in weight. This presentment owned by Joane Andrews, & John Andrews her husband is bound in a bond of five pounds that Joane his wife shall stand In a Towne Meeteing at yorke & In a Towne meeteing att Kittery till 2 Howres bee expired with her offence written upon a paper In Cappitall Letters pinned upon her forehead." On the same day, 25 Oct.1653, Thomas Withers presented testimony he said was given by Joane Andrews. Joane denied on oath giving that testimony.

June 29, 1654
Joane Andrews as itt in Court appeareth for stealeing of certen thinges from Mary Hayle in way of restitution is to restoore unto the sayd M:Hayle thyrty shillings & to pay in 20s to the County Treasury & 14s to the Constable, which shee refuseing itt is to bee ordered by the Court to have Corporall punishment.

6 July 1657
Wee present Joane Andrews the wife of John Andrews for frequenting the Company of Gowan Willson at unseasonable tymes at home & abroad very suspitiously to the great discontent of the wife of the said Willson. Witness Robert Wadleigh, Mis Gunnisson.

Joane Andrews stands alsoe bound on the forfiture of Tenn pounds by this Act of seperation made now by this Court not to come unseasonably nor suspitiously in Gowan Willson Company."

Wee present Joane Andrews the wife of John Andrews for threatening Goody Whitte at Yorke In a prufayne manner saiing that shee would sweare her self to the Divill but shee would bee avenged of her & shee sware 2 or thrise by the name of god in a profayne manner. Witness Frances Whitte, Magdeline Wiggin.

Wee present Joane Andrews the wife of John Andrews for Contempt of Authority In saiing shee Cared not a Toard for Rishworth nor any Magestrate in the world. Witness Frances Whitte, Magdeline Wiggin

Joane Andrews for her profayne sweareing & Contempt of authority is Censured by this Court to bee carried out to the post & to have Twenty Lashes given her on the bare skine.

1660
Joane Andrews was fined 10s for being overtaken in drinke.

June 12,1666
Wee present Joane Andrews for breaking of the Kings Peace. Joane Andrews for her offences is adjudged by the Court to bee carried to the poast & there to have 18 lashes on the bare skine. Which on the 16th day of this instant June were given to her by John Parker the pryson Keeper at Yorke whereby John Andrews is discharged from his bond of Tenn Pounds.

Wee Present John Andrews as an high offender against God, & for swearing by the life of God & blood of Christ, & that hee was beyond God & above the heavens & the stars, at which tyme the sayd Andrews did seeme to have drunke two much & did at that tyme Call those witness doggs, toads & hoores bird. Witness Edward Ball, George Palmer.

[pinefamily]

When I first started Family History research, about 30 years ago, I went to an evening class locally. I can clearly remember the lady taking it saying how she would more or less guarantee that as we all delved deeper into our ancestors we would all find a) illegitimacy b) a criminal c) emigration d) workhouse e)suicide f) non-conformism etc - there was quite a list!

Sure enough, I think I've found the lot!

Not necessarily all in the direct lines, but I think I've got them all covered!
a) as recently as my grandmother's father, whom with some great help I found only last year,
b) 3x great grandfather was a convict sent out to Tasmania,
c) I'm Australian (say no more),
d) several instance of hard times,
e) one collateral ancestor put his head in the gas oven in 1945,
f) my Youatt ancestors were Unitarians.
And that's only one example of each!

So Philip, you're not alone. 

[Erato]

"my Youatt ancestors were Unitarians."

Um, since when would that be considered a skeleton? 

[pinefamily]

Not at all, Erato. I was replying to Lizdb's post with the list her tutor gave. Personally, I don't count any of the things in this thread as "skeletons".
As I have always told people when asking for information, "I'm not judging, just recording".
And for what it's worth, if I were to subscribe to any sort of belief, the Unitarian creed holds more truth than most.