You know you're addicted to Genealogy when ....

[guest189040]

When I went into the small graveyard in Glasson Dock and found my Great Great Aunt’s grave an immediately recited her life story to my Wife and how her Husband who was a fisherman probably sailed my Great Grandfather William over the River Lune a farm in Heaton with Oxcliffe where he had a job and where he met Isabella, the love of his life.

[coombs]

A Joel Isaacs of Great Yarmouth died in 1846 aged 98. He was buried in the Jewish Cemetery there which is a relatively long way from the town centre, just outside the old town walls. So he was born c1748. I cannot find him or his wife Rachel at all on the 1841 census. I have been past that cemetery countless times, always nice to have walked near the old man who died aged almost 100. 

[River Tyne Lass]

When my son got married and I watched their two friends sign as witnesses.  I sat watching and thinking to myself, this is no good - family members would be better for connecting/identifying down the line.

Also, when I realised I was starting to compare everything to the war even though I didn't live through the war.

[coombs]

You walk though a town/city graveyard or churchyard and look at headstones, and anyone who died in, say 1845, you think "They should be on the 1841 census". Or you see a headstone for someone who died in January 1852, you think "Well they made it to the 1851 census".

I cut through the church yard today, glanced at a stone and thought,ooh they'd have been born roughly around when the second church was built and they died before this (the 3rd) one was built.

Or you find the surname is a surname in your tree or extended family tree and try to investigate further.

[markheal]

From an old photo of High Street shops I notice one named EIGHTEEN which seemed unusual, so I had to check all families at FreeBMD named ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, upto TWENTY!

[louisa maud]

I was a total addict until recently,  knocked back by the death of a cousin from Covid in April, we woulld exchanged snippets although I  was more of an addict than he was but it was fun, I will get back to it but need something to spur me on, till then I try to help out on Rootschat

Louisa Maud

[coombs]

I thought this thread may need some resurrecting, as I join a local history group on FB about a town or village where my ancestors lived, and examine the surnames of everyone named in old photos and cry out "Probably a distant relative". Even though the groups have some FH aspect, it is more about the history of the village/town.

You see someone on a Facebook page in your region with a surname that is quite rare, and in your tree as well, and think "Distant cousin" no doubt.

You type "1763" instead of "1963".

[aghadowey]

When my son got married and I watched their two friends sign as witnesses.  I sat watching and thinking to myself, this is no good - family members would be better for connecting/identifying down the line.

Only fathers' names and occupations are on marriage registrations here so when youngest daughter got married they had both mothers sign the register as witnesses so that all four parents would be included which I thought was lovely.

[oldfashionedgirl]

I took a side step from family history into the history of our Victorian house and those who have owned and lived in it.
The purpose of the upstairs rooms is pretty easy to work out but the basement (and those of the other 7 neighbours) have been seriously mucked about with renovation wise.
I knew I was addicted when I found a 1911 council record of a survey and recommended remedial works for the drains.
At last I had a much better idea how the ‘servants area’ had functioned re wash house sinks, kitchen prep etc.
I was so excited but had to keep quiet in friends company less they think I was completely crazy