Anyone else experienced this?

[KPM]

Hi

Last week, after many years of researching my mum's family, I finally managed to visit the cemetery where many of her family were buried.

After searching for a while, I found a headstone for one particular branch of the family I'd been working on for years.  It was very old but fortunately the inscription was very clear.

The feeling I had when I finally found them was unreal   I can't really explain how I felt but I had to keeping touching the headstone and it took me ages before I could walk away.  I really felt I had finally connected with these long dead relatives.  I was all warm and peaceful inside!! 

My hubby keeps giving me those understanding looks each time I talk about it  (I don't think he's forgiven me for getting him to dig up a half buried headstone yet  )

I'm just wandering whether after all these years of research I've finally lost the plot or whether anyone else has experienced anything similar. 

Anne-Marie

[scottcharles]

I definitely know what you mean, I don't have words for it, but it's a great feeling of connection. To finally have something "concrete" (no pun intended) to connect you to your ancestors really evokes some weird emotions.

I think it's just transforming them from scraps of paper next to the computer with names and dates on to somebody who once lived and was finally laid to rest where you stand at that particular moment in time...

It's like being able to cross paths with them.

Thanks for sharing

[aspin]

I had this feeling when a new  relative told me that a head stone existed for some of my family as its not far away I went back the next week with a note pad to write everything down

This same new relative went visiting Sprunton Bridge where our grt grt grandfather was killed after I sent her a copy of his death and the coroners report .She posted me some lovely photo's of this famous bridge

I have yet to go to Sprunton bridge but I will some day
Elizabeth

[KPM]

Hi Scott and Elizabeth

Thanks for your posts - I'm glad I'm not alone

I think all the time they're just names, they're not really real - especially further down the tree when you'll not even find a photograph.  I just kept thinking as I stood by the grave that their mothers/fathers/brothers/sisters probably stood in the same place as me all those years ago.

It's an experience I'd recommend

[KPM]

Hi Agnes

I'm really happy for you - its a great feeling

Anne-Marie

[Canuc]

I have a photograph of a Gt Aunt taken in Singapore at Plot 12, Row C, Grave 20, Karanji Military Cemetery, the grave of one Aircraftsman 1st Class William Murphy Hetherington (1266649) died Jan 20, 1942, her younger brother. The look on her face tells it all. Three brothers; the eldest my Grandfather, the second killed on active service and buried at sea Dec 25th 1915 and a third she travelled a long way to visit.

There are links alright, even if people do think we are loopy.

Happy hunting
Canuc

[scottcharles]

Buried on Christmas day, how sad

I'm almost tempted to say that you're lucky to have that photograph though, those are things that I have a real lack of! I would love to know what my grandfather looked like, my dad had a photo of him (he died when dad was 3 months old) but it was stolen when his house was broken into many years ago...

[Lady Di]

Ohhh I just know that strange wonderful feeling when you find the right grave - as if someone has led you there and said "this is all yours"

I recently visited a very old graveyard and I just knew which grave I wanted - of course it was totally covered in ivy - 6ft high!!. I attacked it for 3 hours (OH just didn't want to know  ) but I KNEW I was meant to read it.

After finally seeing it uncovered, I could feel my 3 x great grandfather telling me all about the family - the grave/vault had 4 generations in it - all my family  . The inscription looked like someone was sending me a message (OK I know I sound weird  )

A wonderful, sad and happy and emotional experience

Di

[KPM]

Hi Everyone and thanks for your replies - more proof that if I am going mad I'm certainly not alone!

I was actually talking to my relatives whilst walking around looking for their graves saying 'Where are you Rebecca' and 'just give me a clue' I can't say I immediately stumbled upon their graves but I did find them eventually.

One particular branch of the family have proved a nightmare from the start.  Different spelling of names, disappearing for years on end only to turn up in the most unlikely places etc and of course they had to be the hardest grave to find.  I did have a plot number but the cemetery was so huge it was hard to know if it was the right one.  This was the grave that was sunk into the ground and my poor hubby had to dig up   When their names appeared under all the earth I felt really triumphant as if they hadn't beaten me that time - probably just spent too long in the sun

Anne-Marie