Ancestors who were genealogists ?

[amazon510]

My grandfather, b. 1909 knew and remembered a lot about his family, and he also did a lot of research in parish records, etc. I was interested in genealogy when I was only a teenager, and so he told me a lot of stories about the family and now that he's gone I have all his notes and records.

I've expanded what he learned, but the basics of the direct line is mainly the same as what he recorded.  Lucky that he did too - my g-grandfather's birth record is missing (my grandfather couldn't find it either), and without my grandfather's personal knowledge we wouldn't know his birthdate or who his parents were and I'd be totally stuck. 

The downside of having a previous genealogist to go on is that in some cases I'm not sure if some of his notes are based on written sources or if they were personal knowledge/family tradition.  There are a few things he told me that I haven't found written evidence for - so are they family tradition, or some record I haven't seen yet?  Or have I found some records that back up something that was only a family tradition for my grandfather?

Wish I could talk to him again.  Even though he told me so much and I tried to write it all down, there are still so many more questions I'd like to ask.

J.

[coombs]

My aunty born 1946 who is alive thank god has done some research.

My Titshall family left a family bible spanning 1790s to 1890s. It gave dates of births of ancestors before civil reg began in 1837 where the baptisms dont record date of birth.

[derby girl]

I have letters from a gentleman from Toronto asking my great grandfather if he can come and visit him to ask about his family history (and he supplied a family tree showing his connection, which is fun).  As far as I know my great grandad helped him;  I keep wondering whether I could write to the address in Toronto - it would really help to clear some problems - but feel the family are unlikely to be there still - the date of the letters is 1926.
Derby Girl

[Gaille]

My Dads dad was the family 'hoarder', he had loads of papers & photos of both his family & my nanas family which I was lucky enough to inherit.

There are LOADS of papers and photos going back generations - but very few with names on which is so frustrating - esp as the photos are from mixed up from both sides of the family so I have to make educated guesses on names sometimes.

My biggest regret goes back to a New Years Eve when I was around 18........... Grandad was here I can see him now sat on the sofa with a drink chatting away to me as I got ready to go out ................ and I remember he was telling me about New Years when he was younger, and about his parents and their various family members ................ but I was 18 & more interested in going out with my friends & partying ............... I wish SO much I could turn the clock back & ask him all the questions I have now about them!

Gaille

[dobfarm]

My lot  were mostly Ag labs from Warks, Derby's and Yorkie who were total illiterates! so not much chance for me having ancestors as genealogists-come to think! with my typing skills and schooling in English lit    the habits still persists. 

[Windsor87]

My greatx7 grandfather, William Rose (1740-1807) was a noted genealogist of his day in Banffshire.

He was quite obsessed in proving his descent from the Rose Family of Kilravock (the Rose clan chiefs), and was pleased with himself when his line was accepted by the then clan chief, Hugh Rose. When he fell out with his employer, the 2nd Earl Fife, he was ridiculed for being so proud of his tenuous link the the Kilravock Roses. William also helped other notables trace/prove their lineage and was known for his impressive collection of manuscripts...until he went broke.

I have never actually seen or read any of his genealogical work.

[mrs.tenacious]

When I first got into family history 3 years ago, I was delighted when my mother gave me the maternal family tree originally compiled by her cousin in the early 1990's.  In those days, before present technology, this was obviously the result of him having spent a lot of time in record offices etc, and I will always be grateful for that 'head start'. He passed away in 2001.

However, because on my mother's paternal side they had at some point added "Aldridge" to the family name of Hayden, I spent at least 6 months pursuing records of the Aldridge family from Sussex on Uncles Jim's tree who, it turned out, were absolutely nothing to do with my ancestors. Hey ho!

Mrs. T.

[Les de B]

When my mother died in 1989, I found a family tree that she drew up, though only of her immediate family, siblings and parents. With that family tree, was a letter dated 1978, when a distant cousin of my mother wrote to her requesting that family tree. Obviousl,y my mother did the family tree, but never replied.

So, in 1996 I replied to my mother's distant cousin with that family tree (better late than never!), and from that date I also started my own research.

Les

[sandra B.]

Back in the 1960's, I began conversing with a branch of my family of North whose mother went to South Africa back in the 1800s. She had no children so decided to pass on to me the decendency back some 100 years. That was the start of being bitten by the bug. From there I found that going back some further 200 years a Benjamin North was a genealogist in a distant part of the family.
Also on my Cockroft side my grandmother in Halifax had sold a book previously for quite a substantial sum of money which had all the history and genealogies going way back.
My own children not interested but my brother who will carry the name on has a son who is. Have kept full records now on both sides back to 1600s with the help of genealogist friend of mine.
Sandra