Fun with genealogy

by Bill Osler May 25, 2007 11:59PM PDT

I can't believe the amount of energy my wife spends on genealogy research. I've never been that interested. Sure, I am amused by stories like the one about my great grandfather leaving Carter County, Tennessee a few steps ahead of the sheriff. I've always wondered whether my passion for chocolate is connected to my relationship with some guy named Hershey in Pennsylvania. But those are old family tales of unknown reliability ... not something I would ever research.

My wife has finally worked long enough and networked with enough other genealomaniacs that she is coming to interesting conclusions. None of them verified, of course, and I suspect that some of them are not verifiable. Alas.

She claims I'm a direct descendant of Geoffrey Chaucer. Maybe I should have paid more attention to Canterbury Tales. Or not. I know my mother wouldn't have approved of great granddaddy telling such stories to her children.

My wife also tells me that my parents are distantly related. No, I don't mean second cousins. Hillbillies don't all intermarry. The fact that they are distant cousins shouldn't be too surprising, since both have roots in Carter County, but we never really knew for sure.

Alas, she tells me that I'm not related to Sir William Osler. She is. Oh well.

Bill Osler

Discussion is locked

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Genealogy has a way of generating unique 'highs'.

by Kiddpeat May 26, 2007 12:26AM PDT

You must think like a detective, spend vast amounts of time pursuing rather elusive leads, and every once in while you actually hit that goldmine.

I remember pursuing one great-great grandfather in this fashion. He was born around the time of the War of 1812 in Virginia, and spent most of his life in Baltimore as a coach builder. I searched high and low for any record of his birth or death. I still haven't found his birth records (and parents), but one day I found him buried near Chicago within a few miles of my house. Amazing! It's the thrill at the end of the quest.

Unfortunately, I have not had the time in the last few years to pursue that research. Perhaps, one day, I will resume.

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KP, check to see........

by Angeline Booher May 27, 2007 4:29AM PDT

..... (if buried in a cemetery - not a family one) if the cemetery has a "cemetery book" which recorded thew burials.

Also, check the newspapers in that area for his obituary.

I did that for one of my ancestors Not in person, though, but by hiring a professional. The cost was quite small. I got an envelope of copies of records for about $10. And that was before so much is now available via the internet.

Genealogists can be located through the nearest Genealogical Society.

Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email
semods4@yahoo.com

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Yup! They have a book which is how I found his grave.

by Kiddpeat May 27, 2007 5:45AM PDT

I was tracking either his wife or son, probably based on a death certificate, and asked the cemetary person if they had any more people with the same last name. None of the graves have markers, and I have not yet located any obituaries. The Newberry Library in Chicago also has a copy of the cemetary's burial records. There are also no probate records.

I started pretty late in life also, but have been successful in locating several distant cousins who supplied information.

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I didn't have any interest in genealogy....

by Angeline Booher May 27, 2007 4:54AM PDT

..... until after I was 50 years old.

By that time those who could have provided crucial information had died. Like the place name of my Irish immigrant ancestor. All of the US records say only "Ireland". genealogists I hired there reported that so many of the records are "torn and tattered", had been burned, and also that some mothers did not register their male offspring for fear of conscription. The Cunard passenger lists of that era were burned. he appears on no passenger lists.

And his naturalization papers say only "Ireland".

So jot down all you can. You might develop an interest one day.

Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email
semods4@yahoo.com

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Re: Ireland

by C1ay May 27, 2007 10:13AM PDT

Ireland was my mother's maiden name....

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My wife started early ...

by Bill Osler May 27, 2007 10:52AM PDT

She has been working on genealogy and oral history for her family for well over 30 years. Since she's reportedly only 29 now she apparently started young (actually she was only a few years shy of 29 when we married a couple of decades ago ... but we won't talk about that)

Her research on my side has been helped considerably by genealogists on both sides of my family who have shared their findings with her.

She threatened divorce when she found a Union soldier in my family but I think she's finally reconciled to the possibility that Yankees aren't all vile carpetbaggers. I hope she doesn't find a Union soldier in HER family tree ... I don't think she could bear it. (Just kidding ... on both counts ... but she did tease me some about that D--- Yankee soldier lurking in my family tree)

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Gasp...Slaves!

by Dragon May 27, 2007 3:34PM PDT

She's just found out that some distant relatives -- great grand dad [and also his dad] or something, had slaves. She's a bit disconcerted over it.

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My wife found something like that too ...

by Bill Osler May 28, 2007 8:18AM PDT

She didn't exactly find slaves, but she did find some relatives from her side who are African-American. The ties between the families are far enough back that the ties were likely master/slave rather than married peers. We don't have enough details yet to be sure.

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My wife has recently discovered

by Dragon May 27, 2007 9:36AM PDT

Ancestry.com. She has a free month to play with it, but it has proven to be very addictive.

There is a lot to work with, there, including searcheable copies of real documents from census figures, from military, marriage certificates, and so forth.

She's made a lot of progress.

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She's all over ancestry.com ...

by Bill Osler May 27, 2007 10:41AM PDT

Unfortunately there is a charge after the first month or so. And then there are premium features. And so on. Addictive indeed.

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Burning the midnight oil!

by Dragon May 27, 2007 11:44AM PDT

And she's been watching less TV, too. A lot less.

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Family legend has it...

by EdH May 28, 2007 10:33AM PDT

that we are descendants of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. I have no idea if it's true or not, but who would make that up?

It also makes me a relative of Batman!

Fun with genealogy

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