What's the big deal sbout genealogy?

[lspencer534]

I know who my grandparents, aunts, and parents were. I know who my first cousins are. At the urging of friends I've tried to research my family tree...but it just isn't interesting to me. Does it make a difference or change anything about how you view yourself? Help me understand the fascination with this; just how is it important? I'm not disparaging the subject at all for those of you who are into this.

[DAB]

children are hereditary - chances are, if your parents didn't have any, you won't either.

never got interested in digging up who i was distantly related to...unless they wanted to give me some $$$...so far....no luck. :kick:

[CP]

Well, I have no clue. My mother was born late and I was born late so all the grandparents were dead and gone by the time I could pee standing up. I don't even know where to start. I don't even know what their names were.

[Jeff '79]

It would be neat to see if you were related to Adam, or Eve, or maybe a Pilgrim or something like that imo.

[MattW]

People who think it's important, think it's important.

I think it's interesting because it tells me, more or less, what my life expectancy ought to be, and what I need to be watching out for, as far as fatal genetic propensities.

But no more than that.

[boracayjohnny]

I learned bullets to the head and knives to the heart mean don't be an asshole. YMMV.

[C5Nate]

I tried as well as many in the family and ran into more questions than answers.

My Grandmother on my father’s side is Native Blackfoot Indian. To get proof of this is nearly impossible, but to look at pictures of her, it is very obvious.

There are many benefits in having a Native American heritage.

Since she was born on a reservation, there are no “official” birth records. When she died, she was listed as Caucasian, just because that’s what they did back then.

[JRD77VET]

Various relatives have done the research back on my paternal grandparents side to the 1732 when my ancestors came to this area in Pa from the Germany Switzerland area. They traced it back there to the early 1500's.

My mom researched her side back when her ancestors came to NC in 1800. Lots of interesting facts were found.

[Munch]

There are many benefits in having a Native American heritage.


Don't need a fishing license!

[lspencer534]

People who think it's important, think it's important.

I think it's interesting because it tells me, more or less, what my life expectancy ought to be, and what I need to be watching out for, as far as fatal genetic propensities.

But no more than that.

Question: I would think that'd you'd know what your parents/grandparents died from. Going back to, say, 1900 did people even know what viruses, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cervical or breast cancer, etc. were? How could you learn your propensities?

[JRD77VET]

Question: I would think that'd you'd know what your parents/grandparents died from. Going back to, say, 1900 did people even know what viruses, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cervical or breast cancer, etc. were? How could you learn your propensities?

Reading about my ancestors, I determined that horse thievery resulted in premature death. :D

[lspencer534]

Reading about my ancestors, I determined that horse thievery resulted in premature death. :D

Did that prevent you from rustling? :rofl: My great-great-(maybe a few more greats) was the president of "The Free State of Jones". Jones County effectively seceded from the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War. He who walks down the middle of the road gets hit by traffic on both sides, so he was tracked down and hanged. You won't see me doing that.

[MattW]

Question: I would think that'd you'd know what your parents/grandparents died from. Going back to, say, 1900 did people even know what viruses, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cervical or breast cancer, etc. were? How could you learn your propensities?

My people have been, for a long time, of a scientific and engineering sort; they wrote things down.

So I have good "Born... Died" numbers for absolute longevity; and fortunately (or unfortunately) my male ancestors back to the late 1700s, at least, didn't die from anything un-identifiable.

Seems to be a long unbroken string of heart failures to this point. So, I know what *didn't* get them - no pneumonia, no "consumption".. just long life and hard work. None of them died younger than 64, none of them lived to be older than 80.

:eek:

Matthew Duncan, son of Clyde Wray, son of Thomas Wray, son of John Kimmus, son of Knox Eagleton, son of John Knox Alexander, son of John, son of Alexander...

:cheers:

[ConstantChange]

I couldn't care less. It has no influence how I live my life or how I think about things.

[Blue 92]

I do it off and on and this:

.....It has no influence how I live my life or how I think about things.

is true.

However, it was interesting to discover that my 8th Great Grandfather was killed by Shawnee Indians in 1759.

Was able to trace my Mother's side of the family back to 1542 in Switzerland.

[JRD77VET]

Did that prevent you from rustling? :rofl: My great-great-(maybe a few more greats) was the president of "The Free State of Jones". Jones County effectively seceded from the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War. He who walks down the middle of the road gets hit by traffic on both sides, so he was tracked down and hanged. You won't see me doing that.

It was extremely strange coming from a Mennonite back round to find out that one of my relatives was on the wrong side of the law. :leaving:


Interesting history on The Free State of Jones. :seasix: :sadangel:


My Mom came across some sad facts during her research. She was following one branch of her family tree and three generations came to an end within four days ( of the same year --late 1800's ).

She contacted the county records in Wyoming were it happened and talked with the lady in charge of archives. A week later, she got a phone call and was told the story of what happened. ( she also got a copy of the news paper )

One cold winter night, Grandpa was refilling the oil heater and it caught fire. The entire house burned down while everyone was in. Everyone succumbed to their burns and died within four days. Three children, both parents and both grandparents. Grandpa was the last to die. :sadangel:

[lspencer534]

It was extremely strange coming from a Mennonite back round to find out that one of my relatives was on the wrong side of the law. :leaving:


Interesting history on The Free State of Jones. :seasix: :sadangel:


My Mom came across some sad facts during her research. She was following one branch of her family tree and three generations came to an end within four days ( of the same year --late 1800's ).

She contacted the county records in Wyoming were it happened and talked with the lady in charge of archives. A week later, she got a phone call and was told the story of what happened. ( she also got a copy of the news paper )

One cold winter night, Grandpa was refilling the oil heater and it caught fire. The entire house burned down while everyone was in. Everyone succumbed to their burns and died within four days. Three children, both parents and both grandparents. Grandpa was the last to die. :sadangel:

Sad story about Grandpa and the rest of the family. :sadangel:

[JRD77VET]

Sad story about Grandpa and the rest of the family. :sadangel:

:iagree: That part of the family tree was literally cut down :sadangel:

[BuckyThreadkiller]

If you don't know your family heritage, how do you know when to be all righteously indignant and offended and stuff when you are discriminated against?

Knowledge is power and without that knowledge you can't tell when you are being disenfranchised and victimized because of something that may or may not have happened to your Great Great Great Great Grandfather's Uncle.

[nhlgopens]

We found out that we are related to a signer of the Declaration of Independence. :seasix:

[ZipZap]

The buck stops here.

[LATB]

It would be neat to see if you were related to Adam, or Eve...

:skep:

[pappytinker]

I know that one of my ancestors was a seafarer. He came over on the Mayflower. Then, somewhere along the line, (I don't know if it was him or his son) about 17 generations back one of them got hooked up with a native American. There is also a good chance that I am distantly related to the "Bam" guy... Emeril Lagasse. Lagasse is my grandmother's maiden name and some relatives still live in the Fall River, Massachusetts area.

One of my aunts was real interested in the family heritage and did a lot of research. That is the only reason I know this background.

[MEC5LADY]

I don't know much other than I have Native American ties somewhere down the line. Overall, I'm pretty sure I'm a mutt.:rofl:

[99 pewtercoupe]

Mutts make the best pets:dance:

[MEC5LADY]

Mutts make the best pets:dance:

:kimblair:

[mrvette]

many thoughts, long stories, but doubtful most would read anyway....

Russian background, DC region, cold war, FBI at church...on Mass Ave NW just down hill from the Wash Nat. Cathedral....

knowing now that the family town where my grandparents fled in 1895 or so, no longer exists...wiped off the map bay socialists/commie bastards...and then people wonder why I HATE do mo craps and commies???

CS101 and that stands for Common Sense....not Computer Science.....


so yeh this shit gets political really quick with me.....tough shit....

:cert:

[theriver]

Just think, by next generation most people in this country, formerly known as USA, will be able to trace their roots to Mex.

[beadist]

I grew up with my fathers family history all around me, so I don't remember a time when I wasn't aware of it. A retired Civil War Colonel did a book on our family tree and it goes up to my grandfather. We're all descended from 2 Swiss brothers who came to the Mohawk valley with a bunch of Germans about 1710. Another man extended the family tree up to the 1980's.

Growing up, I saw my name in history books, church windows, historical signs along the roads, etc. The old farm buildings, cemeteries, churches and tons of relatives with various spellings of the last name are still along the Mohawk River yet everywhere I've lived I find someone with the name. I even found it on a sign at Devendorf Park in Carmel CA. I have always joked about there being one side that stays "home" and then there are the travelers. I'm one of the travelers. :yesnod:

I say look into your history. It's nice to know where you came from. You can see many traits that seem to follow the family throughout the years or in my case, 3 centuries. Give it a shot. You may come up with some fun stories. The one below is my favorite. He was my 7 times great grand uncle.

Cliffs: During the Revolution a 12 year old boy was captured by Indians, scalped, survived till the ripe old age of 85. His scalp never healed.

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx182/Beadist/Various%20Photos/jacob_devendorf.jpg

Jacob Diefendorf, the pioneer settler, was born in Corry's Town, (Currytown), town of Root, county of Montgomery, September 23d, 1769. He was of German descent. His grand parents having emigrated from Germany early in the eighteenth century. His father, Jacob Dievendorf, with his family, was living in Corry's Town at the time of the invasion of this place, July 9th, 1781, by a party of tories and Indians under the command of Captain John Dockstader. Jacob with others was captured by this party, and taken south into the town of Sharon, where on the following day, Dockstader's force having been overtaken by Colonel Willett and his men, they prepared for battle by killing and scalping their prisoners. Jacob was seated on a horse; looking back and seeing them kill and scalp his fellow prisoners, he placed his hand on the forehead of the horse, and leaped, striking on his feet on the ground. He ran a short distance, but was overtaken and knocked down by a blow from a tomahawk upon his right shoulder. Jumping upon him with his knees, the Indian who had struck him cut off his scalp and he was left for dead. When he returned to consciousness, bleeding, weak and trembling, he arose and tried to walk; but finding his strength insufficient, he again lay down and partially covered himself with leaves, expecting to die. Colonel Veeder and his men passing that way on the day after the battle, found Jacob lying across a tree, insensible, and took him to Fort Plain. There his wounds were dressed, and he was placed under the care of Doctor Faught of Stone Arabia, where he remained about five years, but the scalp never permanently healed over. He lived to a ripe old age, and toiled excessively in clearing up and preparing the virgin soil for the growth of the life sustaining cereals. Jacob Dievendorf was married to Margaret Bellinger May 13th, 1801, by whom he had six children, three of whom are now living, the only ones who separated from the parental home and had families -William H, the only surviving son, Mrs. Hannah Dockstader and Mrs. Margaret Snow. Jacob Dievendorf, with his denuded scalp, was a living monument of the atrocious cruelty practiced by the Indians upon the early white settlers, with and by the aid of the British and tories, as those of this country were called who espoused the cause of Great Britain during the Revolutionary war. He lived and amassed a large fortune, including many hundred acres of land; died October 8th. 1859, being 85 years old, and was buried in the family burying-ground. Thus passed away from earth an honest, upright and just man.

[1911fool]

I descended from my dad, who was his father's son. Who also was his father's son. He had a brother who was also his father's son. They had a sister who started out as his father's son but due to a unfortunate accident on the farm he became a she. She had 3 kids while she was a he, but only one lived to produce any grandchildren for her. So her grandchildren started out with grandpa and grandma, but ended with grandma and grandma. So their grandma was really their grandpa, but no one ever spoke of her penisectomy. It was a sore subject. After several years no one was really sure which grandma started as grandpa. It didn't matter (s)he was loved all the same. Her name when she was a he was Lester or Les for short. She always liked the name Ann when she was a he so after he became a she, she changed her name to Ann. The people were confused so they just said Les be Ann. Later it got shortened and spoke faster and became Lesbian.

Now you know the rest of the story....... Lester also had a cousin who he was really close to named Moe.

[Juggalo1]

I don't think that I would do the work, but it can be interesting to read. Someone from our family who I never heard of before contacted my dad a few years ago to add us into the tree. My sister and father have been helping out a bit and we get updates from time to time. Many different spellings of the last name and I am not sure how accurate it is but it goes back to like the 1500's or something like that. Has a picture of the family crest which is kind of cool.

Like I said, I wouldn't go through the work, but if someone else is going to do it, it can be quite an interesting read.

[Cybercowboy]

Yeah, my father's mother's aunt did a huge geneology of that side of the family back before I was born. In the copy of the book my grandmother had, I was penciled in under my parents (my father's name was printed in the book, mom and the kids penciled in...) There were a few interesting things about it. For one, my grandmother's grandmother appears to be full blood Indian. Her grandfather was an albino and fought in the Civil War. He was wounded in one of the major battles and left for dead by the Confederates, who were taking prisoners to Andersonville. The reason they left him is they thought, with his silver hair, he was old. In fact he was about 18 at the time. Fortunately they left him because Andersonville was pretty much a death camp. He survived and had a family, which again was fortunate for me.

My great-great (seven greats total) grandfather was Richard Stockton, who signed the Declaration of Independence and was taken prisoner by the British and held on a prison ship in New York Harbor for six months, including the wintertime. This utterly ruined his health and he died a few years later. The only reason they released him at all was that he was on death's door.

This aunt of my grandmother traced it back all the way to two women, daughters, who came over on the friggin' Mayflower, no joke. She wasn't sure which one of the daughters was our ancestor though for some reason. I think they may have been twins.

[lspencer534]

I descended from my dad, who was his father's son. Who also was his father's son. He had a brother who was also his father's son. They had a sister who started out as his father's son but due to a unfortunate accident on the farm he became a she. She had 3 kids while she was a he, but only one lived to produce any grandchildren for her. So her grandchildren started out with grandpa and grandma, but ended with grandma and grandma. So their grandma was really their grandpa, but no one ever spoke of her penisectomy. It was a sore subject. After several years no one was really sure which grandma started as grandpa. It didn't matter (s)he was loved all the same. Her name when she was a he was Lester or Les for short. She always liked the name Ann when she was a he so after he became a she, she changed her name to Ann. The people were confused so they just said Les be Ann. Later it got shortened and spoke faster and became Lesbian.

Now you know the rest of the story....... Lester also had a cousin who he was really close to named Moe.

:rofl:

[Dave]

I know who my grandparents, aunts, and parents were. I know who my first cousins are. At the urging of friends I've tried to research my family tree...but it just isn't interesting to me. Does it make a difference or change anything about how you view yourself? Help me understand the fascination with this; just how is it important? I'm not disparaging the subject at all for those of you who are into this.

It's simple: Some people are interested in History, some aren't.

As far as history goes, if you're interested in what happened at any given point in times past, why not be interested in what happened in your own family tree?

Personally, I can trace my surname back to the 900s. There is a lot of interesting history over those ~1100 years, and I'm fortunate that much of it is well-documented. I find the whole thing interesting enough to have made a trip over to Europe 2 months ago to attend an extended family reunion with "relatives" whom I had never met until that point in time, the closest being a 7th cousin. I saw my Great Great Grandfather's grave. Stood in the church that my relatives helped construct in the early 1700s (complete with stained glass window in memory of my Great(x7) Grandfather), and saw various castles and manors closely associated with my family long before then.

[Blademaker]

My Aunt traced our family waaaay the hell back to Gawd knows when, found out I had a great uncle killed in a bank hold up. :sadangel:

Problem was, he was the one robbing the bank, and a guard/cop capped his ass.

She dug up a buncha other shit as well. I come from a long line of jerks. :yesnod:

[...Whitepower...]

I could care less.

That being said I am distantly related to Colin Powell.

[jaxgator]

My dad recently researched his genealogy. Because he was adopted, it was nice tio finally find out my real heritage.

It would be neat to see if you were related to Adam, or Eve

:skep:

That's pretty much what I was thinking too Lars. :lol: