Author Topic: Why genealogy? (Read 11012 times)

MeganJR · « **Reply #72 on:** Wednesday 21 May 08 12:57 BST (UK) »

thanks for all of your kind words.
I am so pleased to have discovered rootschat. Whilst my family are pleased with what I can show them they don't quite understand my obsession or the eureka moments when you finally discover that key to discovering elusive relative. That is the other reason genealogy got me in. I love the chase, the analysis, the discovery. I'm so pleased that all of you are out there sharing my enthusiasm.
My search has meant I have got to know my aunty, she was only a baby when my dad left, she is closer to me in age, it is wonderful to know her too.
Megan

genjen · « **Reply #73 on:** Wednesday 21 May 08 13:52 BST (UK) »

Quote from: MeganJR on Wednesday 21 May 08 12:57 BST (UK)

I love the chase, the analysis, the discovery.

I totally agree. And the rummaging around historic volumes in dusty archives is just wonderful. Except that most archive offices aren't dusty anymore, of course. I am lucky because the Westmorland Records Offices, in Kendal, are properly housed in a basement ( albeit clean and dust free), whereas the wonderful, modern facilities of, say, Essex Offices in Chelmsford, are altogether too bright for the atmosphere which I need!

Jen

MarieC · « **Reply #74 on:** Wednesday 21 May 08 14:20 BST (UK) »

I know what you're saying, Jen! The Queensland State Archives are wonderfully modern, clean, bright, dust-free - some things are even microfilmed so that you don't get to look at volumes! Mind you, with my allergies it is just as well, or I would be sneezing all the time I was reading!

MarieC

genjen · « **Reply #75 on:** Wednesday 21 May 08 14:27 BST (UK) »

I love it when a really old document or book is brought out and placed carefully on a little stand so that you don't break the spine or otherwise damage it. And if you find something of your own family in there it is truly magical. I can't think why these places aren't full of people cheering as they have their eureka moments.

Jen

Trees · « **Reply #76 on:** Wednesday 21 May 08 15:40 BST (UK) »

Or like me having to stifle a huge laugh when I found Great aunt Alicia was really christened Alice Fanny Minnie

But yes it is a thrill one of the ancestors was a parish clerk and the parish vestry minutes must have all been in his hand what a thrill to hold the book.
Trees

honey-roma88 · « **Reply #77 on:** Thursday 22 May 08 20:22 BST (UK) »

For me it was because when looking at my ancestors, these seemingly English people were not English-looking as such. They were interesting people with acrobats, artists, comedians, actors, singers, beggars and murderers within my relatively close family.
My family have had their dna tested and it backs up the fact they were Romany gypsies especially when my grandmother tested as almost 1/4 Indian.

elin · « **Reply #78 on:** Thursday 22 May 08 20:30 BST (UK) »

Sounds like an exciting family honey-roma.

Mine is very dull in comparison.

Elin

KathMc · « **Reply #79 on:** Thursday 22 May 08 21:09 BST (UK) »

Mine too, but I still love them all.

Kath

MarieC · « **Reply #80 on:** Friday 23 May 08 08:51 BST (UK) »

Yes and yes! I love mine, but I'd love to find a bigamist or murderer or something to give it a bit more colour!

Having said that, have just discovered that an uncle of my ggrandfather (who seems to have been quite a rough and tough rogue) was killed by a knife wound in a fight with a nephew (not my ggrandfather!) near Darwin when it was called Palmerston, and right on the edge of the Australian frontier!!!

MarieC

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