Spooky experiences while researching

[PrueM]

Does anyone else feel that when Remembrance Day comes round, the veil between their world and ours is very, very thin?

I feel that too, Paula 
Same on ANZAC day here in Oz (25th April).  I always attend a dawn service on that day, and get chills every time (and not just because of the chilly air).  I feel my grandfather (ww1 vet) and uncle (ww2) very close then.

Stockman Fred, that is spooky isn't it   

Prue

[wileman 121]

dont know weather you can call these spooky or not ? here goes

my grandfather Malcolm John Wileman divorced my grandmother in 1970 i only knew him as grandad malcolm and i only ever saw him 4 times untill he died in 2002 i have not seen my dad in about 8 years but we write to each other sometimes but he doesnt really talk about the family history much as he talks about catching up.
my grandfather lived in Nuneaton Warwickshire and i live 20 miles from Lincoln so i thought i will look in the phone book and see what Wileman's live in Nuneaton there must be 1 that is related to my grandfather although it is a pretty big place i had never been near it before.

i got looking and found about 17 Wileman's in Nuneaton and the first one i rang i told them hello my name is jason i was just wondering if you know any info on my grandfather they were my exact words the woman hung
up.

2 days later i thought something drew me to that number i rang it again the same woman answerd i said i rang 2 days ago i am looking for my grandfather please can you see if you can help me she was about to say no sorry she thought it was a con man then i said his name was Malcolm John Wileman she gaspetd and said yes i know him that is my SON      with 1 chance phone call i found my gt grandma who is 87 and my gt grandad who is 92 i could not believe it they had not spoken to my dad in 37 years and my dad never told me they were alive i now speak to them once a week

[leprechaun]

That is a fantastic story, and I bet you are making two people very happy, wonderful.
    Lep

[Tony Payne]

Wileman I think you need to drop everything and make a trip to Nuneaton!
What a find - how lucky you are - take this opportunity and get to know them while you can.

[Lesanne]

I too, hope you get to Nuneaton soon, before they go as well. How lovely for them to have found a caring member of the family.
Great grand reunion ahead..    Just think of all the piccy's. Family stories etc.

You'll have to share them all with us now you know.     Lesanne.

[alveleyhistorian]

Yes, strange things have happened with us too.
My husband and I met in Shropshire and later came to Wales. His family came from Birmingham and so did mine. On researching the 1861 census we found our ancestors living around the corner from one another in Deritend 

Even spookier. 

My great grandfather die in 1919 was was buried in Yardley Cemetery.
My husbands great-grandfather died in the 1940's - he is also buried in Yardley Cemetery

small world is'nt it !

[wileman 121]

that is my plan to get over to nuneaton as soon as possible it is only about 119 miles away and not too far to see someone like that the thing that amazed me is that i had never spoke to them before and they had not been incontact with my dad for 37 years but they said to me how is simon / my brother and they even knew my sisters name who my grandad had never met the last time i saw him was 1995 she was born 1993 so it is comforting to think he must have talketd to them about us as he lived with them from 1970 he never re married and the only child was my father i cant wait to meet them  

[Tony Payne]

119 is a big deal in England, but over here in the USA we will drive twice that far in a day there and back - it's all relative.

Years ago we considered it a long way to go from North London to Rugby, about 100 miles, to see my Mum for a weekend, even for a long weekend.  How I now wish we had done the trip more often.  For me now, used to longer distances, it's not too much to drive a couple of hours in each direction the same day, or even to pay for a hotel for a night, just to visit someone.

[MarieC]

Wileman

You've just provided a remarkable example of how family history research can provide reunions for alienated family members.  I am really touched by your story.  Good on you for starting your family history research so young - like others, I wish I had done that! - and for persevering in finding your great-grandparents.  I really look forward to hearing how the meeting goes!!! 

Wonderful stuff!

MarieC