How do we differentiate between Fact and Fiction?

[chiddicks]

Interesting story Nifty sometimes keeping secrets for too long ends up being far worse than the actual secret itself. Also the burden of responsibility of the person keeping the secret can be a tough cross to bear

[coombs]

Also sometimes I wonder if genealogy is really for me if there is always the chance of informal adoptions and the odd NPE to be thrown into the mix, are some of the lines I am tracing really my ancestors? Is DNA testing blowing our research to bits and revealing surprises?

For instance if your ancestor was the oldest child and the bride was several months pregnant at the time she married, does make you think. I have a bride who was 7 months pregnant when she married in May 1784, and the eldest daughter is my ancestor, born July 1784 in Bethnal Green.

I know they say it is whoever bought you up and was a major influence, but genetics also plays a huge part in shaping your lives.

[iluleah]

We can't really....... all we can do is use the written records we can and 'trust' they are true.

One of my great grandfathers civil records and parish records tell me 'factually' who his parents were........ after 40 yrs of research I 'beleive' the father documented is not his real father and I 'beleive' strongly who was and so also have family history documented based on civil/parish record proof and family history documented on who I 'beleive' is his father line along with why I 'beleive' it.

[Nifty1]

Interesting story Nifty sometimes keeping secrets for too long ends up being far worse than the actual secret itself. Also the burden of responsibility of the person keeping the secret can be a tough cross to bear

You have only read a fraction of it ;
I intent to attract the attention of the maker’s of something like WDYTYA and perhaps get some help with some of the points that have eluded me in telling something of the saga in the richness that I think it deserves.
I am searching for a folder of pics of GF that my late uncle gave to my cousin at my mother’s funeral in 2011. After I had uncovered more about gf’s life I tried to contact  said cousin and found that he had died.  I contacted his widow  She had no idea where the pics were. In thinking as to where they might be  I am hoping that he gave them to his son through his first marriage, but, as yet have failed to contact the son.

[Gone]

I've a marriage certificate for a 2x great grandfather that shows him 10 years younger than he really was, probably to make the age gap between him and his second wife more acceptable (20 years reduced to 10)
Other records for him are pretty accurate before and after the marriage
I also heard from a reliable source that a great uncle's birthday was earlier than his birth certificate claims.
Griff

[coombs]

I think you just have to hope for the best in FH, and just conclude that the father named on the birth/baptism cert is the father, and just go for the 99.9% chance and always leave room for the 0.01% realm of doubt. If you want 100% then maybe genealogy is not for you, always allow a small shred of uncertainty, and you will feel better. Bridal pregnancy was rife as well, hence shotgun weddings.

[chiddicks]

Also sometimes I wonder if genealogy is really for me if there is always the chance of informal adoptions and the odd NPE to be thrown into the mix, are some of the lines I am tracing really my ancestors? Is DNA testing blowing our research to bits and revealing surprises?

For instance if your ancestor was the oldest child and the bride was several months pregnant at the time she married, does make you think. I have a bride who was 7 months pregnant when she married in May 1784, and the eldest daughter is my ancestor, born July 1784 in Bethnal Green.

I know they say it is whoever bought you up and was a major influence, but genetics also plays a huge part in shaping your lives.

I think a lot of us have similar examples in our own families, if I do the maths on a lot of the births, 9 months isn’t always the answer. I have others where grandparents are listed as parents and mothers become older sisters, it happened quite a lot.

With regards a NPE, I have a very close NPE, discovered through DNA and I know we all look at things differently, but I now look at it that I have three lines to follow on that side instead of two.

But that might not be for everyone

[Nifty1]

‘ genetics also plays a huge part in shaping your lives.‘

Indeed.

I would like to know how.

Can anyone recommend any material on what is known about the mechanism of transmission of family traits through the generations ?

[coombs]

‘ genetics also plays a huge part in shaping your lives.‘

Indeed.

I would like to know how.

Can anyone recommend any material on what is known about the mechanism of transmission of family traits through the generations ?

Through DNA I should wonder.