Geneology

Sera I was going to have you e-mail me about genealogy instead of putting on here but then I thought this is such a great hobby that so many can do I would share it with everyone. You can get a good mental workout and a physical workout by doing it. You have to like cemeteries though.

 

I started in 2000 trying to find an uncle that had disappeared over 50 years before for my dear sweet uncle that I was very close to. Sadly I did find him right away and he had died a few years before in CA.

 

I did not think I had a very common maiden name but as I started looking at different web sites I found all this info where other people were looking for the same last name. I didn't even know my great grandparent's first names on my dad side. But I was hooked on genealogy. I bought a program for my computer, Family Tree Maker, which I have no vested interest in but I love the program. I joined Ancestry.Com, which again I have no vested interest in but I think it is one of the best online. Back then they did not have the census cataloged and I had dial up internet so I would set up all night looking through census to connect family members to each other. Now it is all cataloged and all you have to do is put the name in and all the info on that person comes up. I was lucky that where I needed to start was only 4 hrs away so I started taking trips by myself to court houses to find documentation. To me if you don't have documentation to back up your info it is just hear say. I have walked through every cemetery in southern Illinois looking at stones.

 

One of the great things is I have found live relatives I never knew existed and become close to them through genealogy. I have had people share documentation with me and send me pictures of my family that I never dreamed I would ever see a picture of. I have solved mysteries and caused more mysteries I have yet to solve.

 

Genealogy is something that never ends, you can do it the rest of your life and not be done. But be prepared info that has been passed down for generations maynot be true.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

 

I have Family Tree Maker too, along with a subscription to Ancestry.com.  These really help.  Also, check old newpaper obituaries in the cities your relatives lived in.  They used to put a lot of family history in the obits.  I also look in newspapers and search a relative's name to see if there were any articles about them.  The communities were so small back then that if there was a church meeting they would list everyone!  LOL

 

I have also googled names of family and sometimes you will find other family members that have posted things on the Internet.  You do need to check the stuff out, though.  Sometimes birthdates, etc. are wrong.  Also, many people have the same name.  You want to make sure it is a relative of yours.  You do that by checking their spouse, names of children, etc. and see if it leads to you.  Back in the 1700-1800's, people named their children after family members.  I found a family...different last name because of marriage...but nearly all the children had the same unusual first names as my relatives.  That told me that I needed to search out this family more and, sure enough, he was a grandfather of mine!  It gets really exciting.  It's like you are a detective in a mystery.

Lastly, if you know the state and city of a relative, google it to find what county they live in.  Here is a couple of sites that are free.  One is the US Genweb.  The other is from the Morman Church.  They have wonderful records earlier generations...not just Morman families.  Hope these help you get started.

 

http://www.ancestorhunt.com/mormon_church_records.htm

 

http://usgenweb.org/

Sherrine

OK thats it for me. I'll be asking FM questions somewhere else. Don't appreciate it.

I think genealogy is a wonderful way to do something very important and useful AND take your mind off of the pain of fibromyalgia.  That's one reason why I got so involved in it.  It's a wonderful hobby and I'm in the process of putting together books, with the genealogy and any articles that I find, for my children.  What a wonderful gift of history for generations to come!  And, the reason I have found the time to do this is because of fibro!  There are too many things that are painful for me to do, but genealogy is not one of them!

 

But, we should not let this start a three page post.  So, if any of you are interested in more info about genealogy, I will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.  Just email me!  I'm sure Marlee will be happy to help you so you could email her too, but please wait until Ken's back home and Marlee is her "pleasant" self again!     Gotcha, Marlee! 

 

Sera, please don't leave.  We enjoy you on this forum and  you don't want to leave all the friends you have made!  We are still here for you so please stay. 

 

Sherrine

Sera,

 

I too have a precious daughter, so I understand your drive to protect her.  I hope you find all of the info. you need to put an end to this disease in your family.

 

Hugs - Austen

Good luck to you Sera............I know some of the background of my distant relatives and although interesting,a lot of them have unsavory pasts lol. The only thing health wise I came up with is diabetes and fibromyalgia, so far. I truly hope you find all you need to stop the dreaded BC in your family. But while you are on your journey I am so happy that you decided to stay a part of our family here =)

Soft Hug's,
Karen