My sister doesn`t want me to do the family history.

[GAYNOR WILKINSON]

A lot of people are afraid of things they don't know enough about. I have recently started researching my family tree and have found it interesting, exciting, frustrating and every emotion in between. Sadly both my parents have passed away and with them a whole volumes of information that would have been very useful to my research. In the past there didn't seem to be so much need for written information as families usually stayed around the same place, Granddad would have married the girl who lived in the same village, that sort of thing but nowadays the family is so fragmented, we move around much more, get divorced, have children outside of marriage. We don't necessarily know where or who  we came from. I genuinely believe that we should have our family history recorded not only for our own amusement but for future generations to look back and see who we were and what lives we lived.

Carry on and good luck with your research and your sister.

[johngirl]

THankyou gw1979,

Your reply is exactly how I also feel on the subject of family research. My parents are also both passed on as well as most of my Aunts and Uncles. Most of our family history information has gone with them. My sister is probably afraid of things she dosen`t know about. My sister lives in a world where everything has to be perfect family wise so thats why she is probably frightened to find out about our family history just in case there are things that are not quite perfect.
I have found a few interesting things in my research but nothing that doesn`t happen to other familys.

Thankyou again gw1979.

  Johngirl

[ozlady]

I agree absolutely. In my case, my children were born in a different country, one they know something about , have visited..... but they have very little knowledge of the history and no idea at all as to where some of their ancestors were born, so how will THEIR children know anything? At the moment none of them are particularly interested in family history and my grandsons are babes, but who knows, there might come a time when they might be interested. I shall leave all my info and records to the kids and it's up to them what they do with it.

[Tricia_2]

To add my twopennorth I had a similar problem with mum's sister many moons ago. One day I recieved an email from her objecting to her name being posted on GenesReunited. ...

Did you know that it is against the rules to add any living person's name to Genes Reunited without their permission?
I know a number of people who have not agreed and I thinks that this is their right.

[mongoose2]

I find it strange that a persons name (no other personal details) can be "against the rules". Your name is in the public domain in many places. As I said I was in communication with my cousin who raised no objections and to replace one name in the middle of a tree looks decidedly odd. I wonder how many trees on Genes and elsewhere are placed there without "permission" from the people concerned.
As an example I noticed a tree on the Internet the other day with full details of all family members right up to the current day, a practice I would not condone. This tree contained children born in Australia as late as the 1990's. My own practice when given information from contacts on genes is to only add people born before 1910 so as not to rum foul of anyone still living.

Barry

[Ann Baker]

To add my twopence worth

Go for it. I've found out a lot my dad in particular never knew, found lost family members, found a few skeltons along the way but hey it's great fun and I have learned so much about social history too. Also have met some great friends thru doing it as well.

If things are uncovered that are senstive is about how they are handled that's important but it shouldn't stop you doing the research.

Go for it!

Best wishes

Ann

[johngirl]

Hi Ann,
Thankyou so much for your reply. I`m still going for it and ignoring my sister.
It will be her loss. I have also learnt so much doing my family history.

   Johngirl

[drodgers34]

A lot of people are afraid of things they don't know enough about. I have recently started researching my family tree and have found it interesting, exciting, frustrating and every emotion in between. Sadly both my parents have passed away and with them a whole volumes of information that would have been very useful to my research. In the past there didn't seem to be so much need for written information as families usually stayed around the same place, Granddad would have married the girl who lived in the same village, that sort of thing but nowadays the family is so fragmented, we move around much more, get divorced, have children outside of marriage. We don't necessarily know where or who  we came from. I genuinely believe that we should have our family history recorded not only for our own amusement but for future generations to look back and see who we were and what lives we lived.

Carry on and good luck with your research and your sister.

Apparently people left 'messages' on the 1901 census which have survived. You could try leaving a message on your next one.

Rather than being us being coy about info the govt should allow us a lazy half gig to leave a message for posterity

[Evie]

If things are uncovered that are senstive is about how they are handled that's important but it shouldn't stop you doing the research.

I completely agree. My Grandmother had 6 illegitimate children and never married. My Aunt just clams up when asked about her, yes I know it is her prerogative and I know she would rather me not delve into this side of the family but hey it was my Dad's mother as well. It just makes things a little harder (too late to ask Dad now) to find out the info, more fun I suppose if not frustrating at times. I'm not here to judge, nor am I ashamed, but like my cousins just interested in our roots.

Keep going Johngirl, have fun