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Are y'all into genealogy at all? As an adult, I've learned that history really IS interesting! It's all in the details. The stories behind all those boring dates and places. In high school, they didn't tell us about how Francis Marion led the redcoats on merry chases through the swamps of South Carolina, earning him the nickname Swamp Fox. Or how Rose O'Neal Greenhow toured Britain and France, hobnobbing with nobility, to muster support for the Confederacy. In all fairness, given they had less than an hour a day to cover thousands of years, anything more than the bare bones just wasn't feasible. Home schooling SO rocks!
I'm not sure if my fascination with history led me into genealogy or vice versa. It was such a kick to learn that one of my ancestors rode with Marion, but learning that he (Marion) had once fought against the Cherokees put just a bit of a damper on that enthusiasm. And to obtain copies of Confederate pension records for 2 of my great-great grandfathers. One was wounded at Olustee and sent home, temporarily, to recuperate. He was actually at Appomattox in April of 1865.
I think, for me, there is a deeper motivation for researching my ancestors. There's a part of me that needs to know that I am related to some 'good' people. Growing up, my immediate family personified the term 'dysfunctional'.. and then some. I sometimes wonder whether others are likewise - or otherwise - motivated. Just my curious nature. 8-]
What I'm Loving Wednesday!
8 months ago
7 comments:
Homeschooling DOES rock and I admire you for giving that gift to your DS.
I'm not 'into' geneaology so much. Not because it doesn't interest me - it's just that I have so many other interests that use up all my time. It's one of those things I think I'll get to one of these days. My daughter however, HAS spent quite a bit of time digging and researching and e-mailing... she has a blast with it. Can't speak to her total motivation.
I can see that you would have a need to find some 'good people'. I'm sure there were many. Every family has its struggles and its dysfunction. There are always those praying grandmothers somewhere down the line I believe make the difference for generations to come. Someone in your family no doubt prayed for you and you have turned the tide on your family's future. God bless and have fun finding the 'good'.
Meems @Hoe&Shovel
Family history is a most addictive hobby. You'll discover heroes and villians and lots of ordinary folks who've done extraordinary things. You'll follow your ancestors around the country and around the world. You'll learn about places you'd never consider otherwise.
Best of all, you'll get involved with a fabulous community of people researching their families. It's a caring and supporting community that has a significant online presence. Stop by sometime and see for yourself.
Denise - Family Matters
I've looked up my ancestors also. The best one I've come across was a veteran from the Northern side in the Civil War. He went to every reunion up until 1895 I think - I have the ribbons he got. That's all on my father's side. My mother's ancestors were Polish so I hit a wall there. My dad however is French Canadian on his father's side and Dutch and English on his mother's side. The French Canadians were also war veterans and skilled workers - tinsmith, carpenter, etc. There is a line of alcoholism that runs through them, though - the two French Canadian transplant brothers had children - and one of those didn't live to be very old - died of alcohol related problems. The stories my father tells me from his childhood are all dysfunctional. One of his grandparents had a baby that slept in bed with them, and it was smothered. That marriage went to hell after that. My father's parents were Dysfunctional with a capital "D" - interesting stories, though. I met my father's parents - spent a little time with them when I was small - once again I'll used the word Dysfunctional. So, I'm pretty happy with now - the past looks like it was fairly bleak in my family tree.
I wanted to find out more about my father's side of the family because no one else in the family had ever really delved too far into our past. My mom's side we knew about, but dad's had alot of questions. In doing research, I became friends with a distant cousin I never knew about, who actually gave me quite a bit of information as her family still lives in Hatchbend where my grandma was born.
I also found out that one of my sister's neighbors is actually a third cousin. My sister freaked out, especially since she's never particularly liked the woman and now..hey, hey...we're cousins!
I still have many questions and things and places I want to see in north Florida. Working on my genealogy has been a wonderful, fun and exciting experience. I haven't done much with it in a couple years (kind of hit a wall), but I'll never stop searching and exploring!
I make my living researching other people's history so I leave my own family to my mom and my uncle. Some cool stories they have gathered. My family on their side goes all the way back to Jamestown. I love what Meems said about how someone in your family prayed for you and that is why you turned out so well. I have always thought I am a product of my grandmothers' prayers and know my kids are a product of their grandmothers as well.
Meems, I have a notion my first MIL did her share of praying, bless her heart. 8-]
Denise, thanks for the link! I'll definitely check it out.
Suze, I reckon every family has its tales, huh? 8-}
SwampAngel, what a hoot that your cousin lived so close to your sister and she didn't know. Do they like each other now?
Cathy, I'm not so sure I've turned out well yet, but I'm working on it. 8-]
Nah, they still don't like each other much!
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