Genealogical Research

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@dfollin (24172)
United States
June 12, 2008 4:57pm CST
Genealogical research is my favorite hobby.It is very addictive and intresting.A safe addiction thou,unlike gambling,alcohol and drugs.I have talked to some people who had started their research and stopped.I asked them why and you would be amazed at some of the excuses I have heard.There's not enough time or patience for it,ok,that's understandable.This one is funny.A woman told me that she found out that a distant cousin,6 generation's back and two over had commited suicide and it upset her so much that she had to stop. Now,I think I have heard it all! I think I like the most is meeting distant family members.Do you research? If not why not? If you do,what do you like about it the most?
2 people like this
4 responses
• United States
17 Jun 08
Addictive? The understatement of the century dfollin. I have been researching genealogy - my family and those connected, as well as doing research for other people for 40 years. I suppose saying it's a passion is also an understatement. The history, the lifestyles, the food they ate, what they wore, employment,,,it all gets me. Soooo interesting to me. If there is one thing I could say I like the most, it would be the intense research that takes me back as far as I can go. I've followed several families back to the 1600s. One family I've traced back to the 1400s. Each generation makes me want to find out more. I love it.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Even in the census records there are errors.In the early 1900's and 1800's there were more illiterate people,who could not spell their name or the census taker would spell it incorrectly and the citizen would not correct them.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Jun 08
Plus the fact, census takers sometimes spelled a name phonically, in many cases from how they 'thought' the name should be spelled and/or from their own personal education. Several (MANY) names I have come across in my direct lines are spelled so many different ways, along with some of the spellings being shortened drastically when a family member who couldn't read or write told someone their name, they couldn't pronounce it according to the accent or what they thought they heard, so they wrote it down extremely shortened from its original. For instance, one line in my family is Hooper. The name originates from Hooppaugh. Variants of the name are Hoppaugh and Hoppaw, most recently translated to Hooper. Another name is Bell....originating from Beal, Beall, Bealle and Beale. In one census it is mispelled R eal. Still another is Levrets. Variants in that name are Leverest, Leveret and Leverrette. Good Grief. Not to mention the Smiths and Smythes. LOL It's a blind treasure hunt. And then - there's the variants in dates of births. Oh My Goodness! LOLOLOLOL
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 08
I understand those errors and the people who won't respond. There is a book, which lists what is supposed to be our family ancestry, however, the entire entry is completely incorrect. Like you, one of my duties is to try to correct that information through verification and documentation, which will prove beyond a shadow of doubt, the supplied information in the book is totally wrong. Of course, it's due to some guesses and not having access to the information we have today. Those errors have caused a lot of (ancestral) misconceptions in the past, but have supplied me with a triumphant challenge.
1 person likes this
@isaiah12 (416)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I am researching my family now. It is very interesting. And sometimes very hard. My mothers side was easier than my fathers side. My grandmother on my mothers side was a writer and a saver. She had newspaper clippings from wedding, births, deaths, etc. She also did some research on her side which all helped me. But on my fathers side! Some of his fathers side changed their name from Montigny to Martin when they moved to Abington, Massachusetts. And sometimes they went by De Montigny. Then on my fathers mothers side, the Ainslie line.... my great-great-great grandfather ran away from him, then his family disowned him. He would never speak of his family. So nothing has been passed down through the family. And I can't get anywhere trying to look up info where he was born. So I'm not sure if there was any name change along the way. Or why there seems to be no record. My great-great grandfather Ainslie married a Lincoln. Who if you go back is related to President Lincoln.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Sounds like my family.It was easier to research my grandmother's family because alot of research had already been done.Most of my family that side were helpful in answering my questions.My grandfather's side the family was and is not so cooperative.Plus it didn't help that my grandfather did not talk much about his family.Wow,President Lincoln,cool.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
12 Jun 08
I spent a couple of years doing my family research, I found it addictive as well, it was great getting the certificates and finding out more about the next generation back, I love going to the library looking through the micro fiche, it is amazing how one can get attached to some of the relatives in the research and you have never even met them...I think it is great to do a family tree...
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Book - A writting with various kinds of information
I have met quite a few.I live in the area where my ancestors came from Ireland.Those one that came from the next generation ancestors that migrated to other states I email,snail mail and talk to them on the phone.We have genealogical libraries here where we look at the micro fiche at the census records and there is thousands of books there.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I have done a bit of research and was able to latch on to some (new found) relatives that have my father's ancestry traced all the way back to the 1500s - that was a real coup! I'm having trouble on my mother's side, but I've had email correspondence with several people on my father's side and it's been fun. My husband is research his and doing quite well with it. He's been able to provide information to some others that have been researching as well.
1 person likes this