Why genealogy?

[kerryb]

You're lucky mare, my family always glaze over when I start talking about the family.  If I can get my nephew on board I'll have a fan 

Kerry

[julianb]

I got into this as a result of a combination of things. 

I think the hype of the 1901 census going online first got me thinking about all this.  As a child, I remember talking to my mum's mother about her family, and the stories used to flood out; I was conscious that my mum would know all this, so resolved to get the most out of her while there was still an opportunity. 

I was also conscious that my daughter was growing up away from family (both mine and OH's) and didn't have the same regularity of contact with the wider family as I did when I was young.  Mobility may bring opportunity, but the nature of our communities change as a result of that - no great aunt bertha down the road to do a bit of babysitting and tell family stories.

So I got into all this for my daughter, and quickly to make the most of my mum's memories.  I already knew quite a lot about my mum's family because they all talked about each other (nicely, mostly  ). 

My dad's family was a bit more of a closed book - he didn't open up much, and has now been dead almost thirty years.  But I've found out stuff that is absolutely fascinating - like a great great grandfather who appears to have been an orphan, but became a succesful whitesmith and gunmaker - a cousin of my dad's (now in her late nineties) didn't even know that.

Where I have been fortunate is that about 40 years ago, my mum and dad sorted out all the family photographs they had, threw away the duplicates and put the remainder in a scrapbook with captions saying who they were.  That was a stroke of luck - they are now scanned into the computer and many of them are on my FH website.

I'm also lucky in that my immediate family don't glaze over when I talk about what I've found out.  My brother and his two (adult) children are occasional visitors to my FH site to catch up on the latest additions, and my mum often recalls something else when I tell her what I've found out (pencil and paper always to hand when I ring her!).

I even can get my daughter interested sometimes - the photos are a great opportunity to talk about how people lived in the 20th and 19th centuries - just to remind her how lucky she is 


JULIAN

[MarieC]

Keep working on that nephew, Kerry!

I fear I'm among those doomed to have to talk to Rootschatters about my finds.  Though you never know - maybe one day, I will get through to a nephew or niece!  I've pretty well given up on my brothers.

MarieC

[elin]

Marie, I'm hoping that one day my 3 year old grandson will take an interest.  I look after him a lot and so I will start brainwashing him now! 

Anyway  for now I shall be very happy to talk to Rootschatters about my finds and my brick walls.  It is lovely to have people to share the excitement with and to get pleasure from the stories of others.

Elin

[KathMc]

Now to gush a little: my cousin who gives me the hardest time called the other night. We were talking about a gift for our aunt's 80th bday party. Her daughters had suggested gift cards to restaurants, and my cousin said to me that I should give one of the great old photos I have in a nice frame. Wow, was that a compliment I heard.  I told her my true intention was a narrative, but the party is 2 months earlier than I thought it would be and don't have time to have it ready for her. but I was so happy my cousin was at least trying.

Kath

[Trees]

My father in law has the same attitude"why are you spending so much time on the past?" So it was with trepidation we prepared a This is your Life type book for his 80th birthday Photos of his mum and dad as youngsters their family homes his childhood his schools,military service and so on what a pleasant surprise at the party surrounded by friends and family a cursory look and thank you but the next visit he was gushing and anxious at last to tell us about his childhood , What a difference now we don't feel so guilty when we go on a fact finding trip to a distant record office..still cant persuade him to come along for the ride though. get it ready for Christmas and give the framed photograph for her birthday
Trees

[cavegirl]

I made a few cursory attempts years back when the 1901 census came online, but didn't get very far. I'm sad to say that the real reason I got back into it was the deaths of both my very much missed grandparents. 

I just felt  though I needed to be connected back to them and to know where I came from. 

When we were clearing out their house we found a very old photograph of my Grandma's Grandparents - my mum knew who everyone on the photo was, and it all snowballed from there 2 years later and nearly 700 ancestors later I'm still going strong. 

[Gilda10]

Being rather bored at work today I have just read this message and all the replies and feel I have to say that I agree with everything that has been said.

I started my family tree about 7-8 years ago.  Not only did I start mine but my husbands also, so I tend to dip in and out of both.  I am totally absorbed and hooked.  It is like a drug, a need a daily fix!

I too find that people glaze over when they ask what hobbies you have and you say genealogy and then they quickly change the subject.  I now have a 1 year old grandson and a grand daughter of a couple of months old so I shall, on the quiet and as they get older, get them interested and then I shall have someone to talk to about it.

[genjen]

Welcome Gilda, but beware - once you have found this site, you will find that little or nothing else in your life gets done!

Maybe you could talk to your grandchildren whilst they are sleeping, thus creating in them an unconscious desire to be in touch with their past. They will then ask you the questions rather than you having to risk the glazed eye reaction. Good luck.

Jen