What motivates us?

[northernsearcher]

I have been doing family history research for seven months and am finding it fascinating.  I have had a lot of really useful and helpful advice and information from many Rootschatters, but as I search and often with help find I wonder why I and others am doing this.  So, what motivates us? I would love to understand why we are all doing this.  Does anyone want to explain it?

[Roobarb]

I think that for many of us it's a curiosity about the people who made us who we are. Are we like our grandparents or even great grandparents in looks? Did we inherit any traits from them? And going further back, what were the lives of our forebears like? What were the places like that they originated from? Personally speaking, I found a great affinity with the place where my paternal ancestors originated.

And of course there's the morbid curiosity - were any of them workhouse inmates or criminals? Lives that were totally unlike any of ours.


Then there are the people who've convinced themselves that they're descended from royalty! Mine? All Ag Labs and Miners but they're mine!

Fascinating!

[Jeuel]

Well I think I like the idea of putting names to my ancestors and recording their lives, so they aren't forgotten.  There are interesting stories along the way.

Doing all branches of my tree & my husband's I am able to see the broad social trends in society over a period of time (from rural lives lead in a small radius to more social and geographical mobility as the centuries go on).  It's also interesting to see how my English lot contrast with husband's Welsh lot.  You can see patterns of repeated history emerging.

I am just interested in stories and people and those of my own family are naturally of most interest to me.  And the decisions they made and the things that happened to them have contributed to who I am.

[Erato]

shameless curiosity

[ggrocott]

The thrill when I finally dig out another bit of information - just found a death I have been looking for for about six years!

[danuslave]

Ag Labs and Miners

Mine too, but imagine the excitement of finding a blacksmith in 2 separate families!!   

Linda

[kerryb]

shameless curiosity

  I like that!

The trouble is once I started my shameless curiousity is never satisfied, and here I am 6 years later and I know I will carry on for many years to come with more questions to answer.

And yes to date most of mine are Ag Labs, farmers and anything else to do with the land but hey I don't care if they weren't rich or royal, the stuff I have dug up on some of them so far has proved them to be interesting and colourful people anyway.

Kerry

[mrs.tenacious]

What motivated me? Hitting 50 and realising that my parents knew so little about their family a generation above, and I wondered why. And if I didn't ask them lots of questions at this point, so much information would be lost for ever.  I guess it was hitting the middle years milestone that brought it all into focus for me.

Researching my family history turned out to be one of the best things I've ever undertaken.  I've re-kindled an interest in social history and loved trying to solve the 'jigsaw puzzles' of following my family's lives over the years.  I've been able to answer some unanswered family questions, and it's meant some of my family being in contact with wider family after many years of minimal contact.  It's a 'hobby' that I find absorbing and relaxing, and helps me switch off from my everyday, sometimes stressful ,working life.

Finding Rootschat, and the friendly, helpful people on it, has been an extra bonus!

[Thamesite2017]

Researching my family history turned out to be one of the best things I've ever undertaken.  I've re-kindled an interest in social history and loved trying to solve the 'jigsaw puzzles' of following my family's lives over the years. 

Mrs tenacious, love your reply
yes it is sad when you suddenly realise that there is no one older to keep the family memories alive
and like you I became equally interested in the peole as a whole
what they were doing, what the lives were like
I've become therefore addicted to looking at the people as awhole in the town, their occupations, where they were living etc.
All in all what a great hobby (addiction!!!)
Bye
Althea in NZ