where and when to stop

[robie]

I have been doing my family history for a couple of months now and have around 140 people.  The problem is that as I look at all the data I have it is just a collection of names and dates of people who are somehow related to me.  I was thinking that I could go on adding to the list, but apart from my immediate family I know very little about the people.

How do you stop it becoming just a collection of names and dates that you have collected and make it something more personal?  i was thinking of stopping and writing a brief history of myself and family, followed by my father and his father

Robert

[Piglet01]

Hello Robert,

For me there never will be a stop.  I started 1 year ago.   I collect extracts of their births marriage and death records.   Census records track their progression through life, remembering that someone could have been born and died between censuses.  Collect newspaper articles if any tragedy, related to them.  For those that served in the military - copies of military services etc.  Emigration records, wills - the list is endless.

I treat it like a duty or game, find people who have been 'forgotten' and take them back into the family.

I'm at present writing my own story, and my deceased father, who if he'd wished had books to write.  One of my brothers has done the same.  They're all in my family history folder.  This Xmas my first family history dvd will go out to close family members - with all supporting material and will be updated once a year.

It's up to you and your imagination.  Find your oldest relatives  get their old albums or suitcases full of photograps from out of the cupboards and scan and name them before they they pass on.  It's a never ending quest.  Make it fun.


All the very best with your research.  Regards,   Steve  :O)

[Sylviaann]

After 18 years I am not finished and never will be.  Some people have been researching for much longer.  It is a never ending hobby.

There was another thread on this subject.  I hope someone can find it

I have no idea how many names I have collected because to me that is not the point.  I have gone back as far as I can on ALL lines.  Some are to 1670 and possibly before but one is only to 1816 and very little hope of going further, but that doesn't stop me looking.

I wrote 2 small books about my mothers side and my fathers side.  Found a lot of info about my mothers side but not much about my fathers so I padded it out with historical events at the time.

I have just started going through my mothers side for the third time.  I estimate it will take about 2 years.  I am now collecting info about the churches where they married or were baptised and info about the areas where they lived as well as trying to fit in other people with the same names found in the same districts.   I have pictures of churches and areas.  I haven't done too much about siblings and their descendants so I have that to look at.  There is also information about jobs and living conditions.  Plenty to find on the net and write a history.

I put everything on CD too and send out every now and then, not too often as the receivers may get bored.

Do write the history starting with yourself.  Your great grandchildren may be interested one day.

Sylviaann

[RJ_Paton]

How do you stop it becoming just a collection of names and dates that you have collected and make it something more personal?

There are some people for whom the names and dates are enough .... personally I try to "put some flesh on the bones" by trying to find out as much as I can about the way they lived which can often take me away on very broad tangents but on a purely personal level I find it far more satisfying than building lists of names and it can often be an eye opener.
e.g. one distant cousin was a doctor who died suddenly at a relatively young age (48) and for whom his "grateful patients" erected a fountain in a local park ....... a chance piece of research found that he was responsible for the death of one of his patients and his own death was extremely fortuitous as he was about to stand trial for the murder of the patient.

where and when to stop

Stop only when you no longer enjoy the chase ..... for most it's a hobby and should be a source of enjoyment, not a chore that has to be done.

[PaulaToo]

Hello Robert, and welcome to the madhouse that goes by the name of RootsChat...
If you keep posting here you will find, like many of us, that there is no end, and there is no end to what you can find out.
Myself I only wanted to know about my great grandfather.... it was the name Denchfield Baker. As a 9 year old I thought it was a strange name and wanted to know about him. As a 60+ year old I started to find those things out.
Over the past 5 years my Gran Sarah's family tree(Denchfield Baker was her father) has gone from 1947 to 1500, and there are an awful lot of names and dates.
My plan was to get as far as I could, direct line only, and then fill out on the lives of the people.
I had no idea I would still be going, still finding people after so long.
But now things are slowing down, and I can begin to find those little details.
Wills are very interesting. Especially the old wills.
Back in the 1500s one of my ancestors left his son in law 'a mucke carte, with 2 payre lugge wheles.'
Another left one daughter his best sheets, and her sister his worst sheets. Little things like that really let you into the lives of people who lived centuries ago.

[PaulaToo]

Just adding that I think one of my ancesters owned a windmill, and I am now trying to get the copy of the deeds.

[adee7]

Hello Robert,

This can become an exciiting chase if you follow some of the leads given by family members.

My maternal grandparents died when I was 11 years old, and I have followed some snippets of stories that I recall hearing about as a child so that I could have a more complete picture of them and their ancesters.  My mother provided some background information which helped me begin the search, but she did not know many names, and I began there.  As I look at some of the very old photos, I seem to get more questions and I'm into another search regarding their lives.

Yesterday, with limited Ancestry membership, I spent the day searching for births, deaths, and marriages and discovered some amazing stories, particularly in the way that the doctors of the day described medical conditions.  That may sound strange, but often the certificates show what type of occupation a person had if he died as a result of his work.

For me, the search is endless as I put together the stories of my relatives and ancestors.  Recently, by asking some questions on a local genealogy board, I met someone by email who is searching another branch of my family.  We have exchanged material including some wonderful old pictures and letters.

Have fun.

Regards,    Kathleen

[Ann Baker]

Hi Robert

I don't know if I could stop now. I have like everyone brickwalls but doing my family tree has really brought my family to life. I don't just collect names and dates but also have looked into where they lived, their occupations etc. I have found a few suprises along the way e.g. I have a lot more Irish in my past than even my parents knew about. I have also tracked down lives relatives in Australia who I have met earlier this year which was fantastic.

For me is best hobby ever! (I really must get out more tho) Just wish ghad asked more questions of grandparents whilst I still had them.


Happy searching

Ann