Why genealogy?

[MarieC]

What I find hard to understand is not why we want to do it but why some people have no interest whatsoever in their family history.

Jen

Hear, hear, Jen!  I can't understand it.  But then, unbelievably, I was one who had little interest, only a handful of years ago!   

airdlass, I so relate to what you say!  My dad did some work on the family, and I know he would be stoked if he knew what I have found out!  I have just downloaded some wills, which I have yet to decipher (!!!) and I was thinking about him today, and how interested he would be.  I do think that where he is, he knows, and is glad that I am doing this.

MarieC

[genjen]

The joy is in finding things like my grandma's clocking in card and token from the factory where she worked , my great grandad's faded and very delicate Master Mariner certificate from 1899, the photo of my other nan, looking young and beautiful, as opposed to the bent and wrinkled old woman I knew. I have a letter written by a great uncle, in an old man's shaky hand writing, in which he lists, for my father, all his aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins etc. He was a man born around the turn of the last century and I have this thing which was his. It makes genealogy so much more than just dates and  names.

I think it's just magic!

Jen

[IgorStrav]

One thing I forgot to add in my previous post is that I am the very proud owner of a notebook written by my great grandfather, who was a Metropolitan Policeman from the 1880's to 1910.

He noted many things in his book, including family births, marriages and deaths with precise dates and locations (which are, of course, a godsend!), but also some details of the events which he attended in the course of his work.

To see an entry about where he stood at the funeral procession of Queen Victoria, and the visits of the Emperor of Japan and the Kaiser is beyond price.

[airdlass]

I have a photo of my grandfather on duty during a visit by Queen Mary and George V? to Edinburgh - also a certifcate/letter of thanks that they got at the time.

[KathMc]

What I find hard to understand is not why we want to do it but why some people have no interest whatsoever in their family history.

Jen

I couldn't agree more. I have relatives who have actually gotten mad at me when I have tried to show things. Well, one in particular. And some of the things I wanted to show her were pictures of her beloved great-grandmother when she was a teenager. I was dumbfounded.

I say mores the pity to them.

Kath

[genjen]

You can see the glazed look in their eyes the minute anything remotely connected to ancestry comes into a conversation. I try to avoid bringing the subject up unless I know that whoever is with me is interested and even then, I try to keep it short.
It's one of the reasons why this is such a great site - we can all ramble on as much as we like on any aspect of our favourite hobby and know that there is someone out there who understands.

Jen

[KathMc]

You are so right Jen. I have tons of posts on here gushing about things I have found, and always interested ears and congrats all around. I can't understand why family members aren't at least a little interested. Although, I brought one of my binders to a wedding a couple weeks ago and one of my brothers was thrilled with things I had in it, so that was very exciting. I take every little scrap I can get.

Kath

[elin]

 Cath and Jen,

I really relate to what you both say. I get very sad because it feels like  I have nobody to tell when I find exciting things.  Most of my relatives get that glazed look if I tell them even small details and my elderly aunt is positively offended.  I just don't talk about it unless they bring it up,which is rare.

Yet I am fascinated and touched by all the family stories that I hear about on here. 

Elin

[KathMc]

Elin,

Feel free to send a PM any time you have something to share. I won't have glazed-over eyes. I love to hear stories. Shows my obsession: I get just as interested in others' families as I am in my own. 

Kath