Find Ancestors

Exactly what I was going to say, Claire! Find something that interests them, and then they have to listen to the rest of it.

My nephew was quite thrilled to hear that he had a greatx3 grandmother named Dorcas (I have a great-great-great-grandmother named *Dorcas*??) and a greatx2 grandmother called Alice Cooper.

I forget what it was I told the dish-do-er in the household a couple of weeks ago that actually lifted the glaze from his eyes. It took a minute for it to get past the glaze and sink in, but it did. Oh, I know what it was -- an ancestor of mine who seemed, I had just found in a resource someone pointed to in a thread I was working on, to have been discharged from the army sometime in the early 1800s. That was concrete enough to get his attention -- someone who had likely been in the Napoleonic Wars.

My mum loves hearing the stories, even about my dad's side, since she was close to his mum. My dad, sadly, died only a few weeks before I discovered genealogy on line.

So, the oldies may not be interested in hearing what you find, but make sure you make 'em tell you what they know!

My lot show no interest although Dad "tries" to help. 3 years of work & not a spark out of any of them until Boxing Day.

"Mum I've been treeing"

"Again!!!!!!" says Mum " you want to do more housework instead of sitting at tha computer"

"Ah but Mum I've got a news paper cutting, I know all about the 1865 house fire that killed your 2 Great Aunts"

Bingo, all eyes on me, all of a sudden my treeing became the most interesting thing in the world, even overtaking Emmerdale

Hubby was totally disinterested and threatening divorce if I didn't "get off that b...y computer", until I found out that his grandfather and gt uncle were both illegitimate and Polish, now he can't wait for the mailman to arrive. Everyone else just glazes over and thinks I'm mad, especially when I ring them to tell them I've just found so and so born 1500 in cornwall!!!!!!!!!! But we still have a few mysteries to solve, a few shocks to get over, and a few laughs to have at names and occupations! Have a lovely new year everyone, Linda in Tas (where you'd think it would be warm right now.............:)

Bringing this back for the new year- happy new year all ;-)

Oh I agree with all of you and more!!!!

OH not really interested except if it's his family and they live overseas. Have found some in Canada so maybe he is hoping for some long distance reunions over there?
Daughter ,who started the whole thing rolling with a simple question about her being the only member of the family being born in Cumbria, rolls her eyes and tutts a lot because since she left home her bedroom has become the archive room and when she comes home she can't find her bed for bits of paper.
My Dad knows nothing I until I reveal some interesting fact and then say's" Oh yes I remember someone telling me that " Grrrrr.
My Mum,God bless her, is interested. She was the youngest child of a second marriage and her father was in his late 60's when she was born and had 12 children in his 1st marriage and 6 in his 2nd so a lot of ground to cover.
I haven't been so fulfilled in years and since I was made redundant don't know how I found time to work.

Happy Day's

Sue

PS
I talk to mine as well

I too am addicted,
but...I ask...do others talk to the people they have been tracing for so long and eventually find them, I get so excited, out comes, "Oh there you are, my goodness you've led me a merry dance my girl" And what I get from my son is "My god mum do you realize you are talking to dead people" hmmm does he not understand, these people are real.

And hubbly says, so how about my family, hmmm little difficult as they come from Poland, have tried dear, but....

But I just love it.

Amber

I must be one of the fortunate ones!

My partner is very supportive of my research into the family history. So much so, they have started their own tree. As for the kids - we have none!!

Being a first generation Australian, from Scottish and German parents, it is within my interests to find out where I came from.

My mother (the Scot) is amazed at how much I have been able to find out about her family - sadly there seemed to be very little communication about anscestors, aunts, uncles and "skeletons" from generations past. Family history just never seemed to be spoken about.

It's site like GR that make it all come together and make it a rewarding (although at time costly) pass time.

Eric in Aus.

I have only recently started tracing my roots, but have found my great grandparents and now very nearly my great great ghrandparents!

My fmaily remember little infomration so its a case of ordering alot of certificates here.

I find it very interesting!

I am in the same position as many of you. No one is interested except me. Their eyes glaze over, and change the subject. I don't care anymore. I just carry on digging.
I am happy.

My OH just makes totally unhelpful comments like 'leave it.............they're all dead anyway', but he is quite tolerant. Although I do have to make sure I'm off the computer by the time he comes home from work and wants to check his e-mails. Oh, and I do also have to hide the credit card slips if I've been buying a lot of certs..........otherwise I get a beady look and a comment like 'what's all this then?.

My OH has not interested in genealogy at all.....except for when I found the death of his Dad's mother in the 1961 and sent off for her death certificate.

Nothing unusual in that you might think..but OH's Dad was orphaned at the age of 12 (1924) ...so we were always told and was an only child.

When the death certificate arrived...her daughter was the informant!

Shouted to OH. "Your Dad had a sister!"

Traced her marriage, found she had 3 sons. Discovered one in somebody's tree but he told me he had died but the other 2 were still living!

Eventually traced them and wrote letters and received a phone call from the oldest aged 88 and he was delighted to know all about his Uncle who he hadn't seen since before WW2. Even more pleased to know he had a cousin too!

Last September we travelled down to Dorset to meet my OH's 2 cousins and their wives that he never knew he had. They gave up photos of my OH's Dad when he was a young boy plus photos of their Grandfather. My late father in law had no such photos in amongst his possessions at all.

OH thinks genealogy is a good thing to do now.....even if I do sit on the computer for hours searching for for more info!

My husband (& his only sibling) knew nothing about their family except a couple of family legends. And they weren't interested, .......... until I turned up the family legends. Now they're really into it. When we went to the UK last year my OH & his sister met a cousin whom they hadn't seen for 40 years - found by me through the help of this site!!

We also went around Bristol taking photos of places ancestors had lived when I found them on the census. They're hooked now, but happy to let me do the detective work.

The amazing thing is there are connections between our two families although OH & I met & married in Australia.

Ozi.

when I asked my son if he was interested in what I had found he just said "I don't like the ones that are living much, so I certainly don't care about dead ones"!!! So there we have it!!!

Great joy for me when I found a first cousin about a year ago - found her through GR after lots of searching and was gobsmacked to discover that one of her brothers - another first cousin - had lived about four miles way for the past thirty odd years but sadly died about a year before I knew about it.

My husbands family were really horrible to me and as my lovely husband has now died - I sometimes wonder if he was really related to them - I have no interest in where they came from - just glad they are out of my life!!!

n

I should have tried that Susan....my Dad was Methodist (sort of)........... his eyes would have gone "Ping".......

Dad - "What we are really related to the Lord ???"

Dad
{Thought you said my g. grandad was from Wales and had something to do with a coal business......"

Big help....my Dad !!!!

Five years after starting my family research what does my Dad know.......
"aye, I had a brother, aye, know who my mother and father were.........
and after that I almost came to a grinding halt.....but now I'm back to the 1700's ....

Is my Dad interested????

No chance !!!

You are not alone.....we have been struck by "The Bug......accept that the others in your family aren't interested YET !!!!

Oh I love it but the negative attitude of the "nearest and dearest" can get you down. I am tempted one time to scream "my god I have found a Lord in your tree" just to see reaction.LOL

Regards

Susan

My immediate family are not interested in genealogy and suggest that I should be doing better things with my time. My elderly Uncle (he is 85 years of age) loves hearing of my "finds" and has been most helpful giving me bits of info on names and places. I must say I am addicted and spend many early hours (don't sleep very well) researching and I have corresponded with so many nice people from various parts of the world.
I recently located a second cousin who I never knew about and she and her Mother are coming to visit next week. This is particularly exciting as her Grandfather disappeared and our family never saw him again and they believed he came to an untimely death. My cousin's father never knew anything of his parents' origins and he died not knowing that he had 8 Aunties and Uncles and numerous cousins.
Maybe one of my grandchildren when they are older will be interested, anyway the hard work has been done and I have enjoyed doing it.
If it makes you happy then keep doing it!

Lyne

My Dad wanted to do this, but died 20 yrs ago before computers made things so much easier (well sometimes!). His mother had been orphaned, and I felt I came from a small family. Now I have traced beyond that, there are so many in the family! It gives a sense of grounding to know who your ancestors were, and where they lived. I have visited places I wouldn't have, otherwise. And a 5th cousin I wouldn't have known about is over from Australia, so I'm looking forward to meeting up. You meet so many nice people, sharing trees, etc. Even if your nearest and dearest don't share your interest, what fantastic records to leave to other members of the family who may be interested, even if it is when they are older.
Happy hunting, everyone. If you enjoy it, it's doing you good!

my familie.s eyes glaze over whe i present them with names etc: i am doing it for them i ay. but that is alittle porkie i just love it and will carry on to the year dot whenever that is. genny

Hi,

My hubby isn't really interested but he has taken me to the local cemetry after I'd failed to find my gt gt grans grave. Even though we had a plan and directions from the local council to help us it was a struggle but he wouldn't give up. We found it eventually totally overgrown. So although he isn't interested when I'm on the computer he will do his bit. I can't believe how addictive this research is. The first thing my 98 year old gran asks when I visit is have I found anything else out. She has been a marvellous help to me.

Chris