Genealogy Forum NEWS
August, 1998
Random Thoughts
MY FAMILY TREE
submitted by
GFS Cindy@aol.com
I started out calmly, tracing my tree,
To find out, if I could, the making of me.
All that I knew was my great-grandfather,s name,
Not a thing about his wife, nor about whence he came.
Through villages I chased him, cities and states,
Coming up with pages of odd names and dates,
And when I put them together it made me forlorn;
All I could prove was that he never was born.
One day, though, I was sure truth would be found;
New sources were sure to turn the whole thing around.
So looking eagerly at records of great uncle Lee,
I found that his father was younger then he.
Next, crestfallen, fond hopes fading fast,
I discovered more records out of the past,
And what they confirmed indeed made me sad;
My dear old great grandpa was never a dad.
With records that prove I was hatched from an egg,
Do you think some rascal my be pulling my leg?
After all these years of researching my tree,
I can't help but wonder: Am I really me?
Author Unknown
Searching For Ancestors
submitted by
GFS LynnB@aol.com
I went searching for an ancestor. I cannot find him still. He moved around from place to place and did not leave a will.
He married where a courthouse burned. He mended all his fences. He avoided any man who came to take the US census.
He always kept his luggage packed, this man who had no fame. And every 20 years or so, this rascal changed his name.
His parents came from Europe. They could be upon some list of passengers to the USA, but somehow they got missed.
And no one else in the world is searching for this man So, I play geneasolitaire to find him if I can.
I'm told he's buried in a plot, with tombstone he was blessed but the weather took engraving and some vandals took the rest,
He died before the county clerks decided to keep records, No family bible has emerged in spite of all my efforts.
To top it off this ancestor, who caused me many groans. Just to give me one more pain, betrothed a girl named JONES.
THERE YOU GO!!! :-)
Name Changes
submitted by
Shebac1@aol.com
I ran across this information,while not complete,it does suggest what can happen when searching for a particular name.
FEMALES MALES
Polly for Mary Riah for Azariah
Mercy for Mary Harry for Henry
Dolly for Dorothy
Patty for Martha
Sukey for Susan
Bede for Obedience
Mabel for Mehitabel
Ellen for Helen
Alice for Elsa
I'm certain there are others that escape my memory currently.It also annoys me that a person might be documented ie: William T. Washburn. So we go searching, but all we can find is Tom Washburn or perhaps when he got somewhat older he becomes to his friends and relatives "Wash" Washburn. Some of these instances indicate that a researcher must have a very open mind, be able to make quick association among names.
Dear Ancestor
submitted by
GFS Mead@aolcom
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
-Author Unknown
----
I saw this poem awhile back on the Rootsweb or USGenWeb email lists and can't recall who the submittor was. I have typed it up on the back of several 3 x 5 index cards, laminated them & attached them to the stems of silk flowers to leave at the graves of my various ancestors. I also add my name & address on the card, that way if another descendant happens by, they can contact me if they like.
Beginner's Center | File Libraries | Internet Center
Message Boards | Resource Center | Reunion Center
Surname Center| Previous NEWS Issues
BACK to Cover Page - GFSNEWS 08/98
© 1998 - 2004 Graphics By Carol, All Rights Reserved
Content © 1998 - 2004 GFNEWS, a monthly publication of Golden Gate Services, Inc. of Armada, MI The Editors welcome your ideas and articles, success stories, favorite genealogy research tips, comments and suggestions. The Genealogy Forum is a proud member of the FGS - Federation of Genealogical Societies