Internet research has made tracing family roots much easier than it was back in the 90s. Back then, I sent out flyers to family members and asked them to mark any names, dates and notes they could recall. It was quite the ordeal!
Now, family search dot org makes it quite easy, but you have to do your fair share of detective work, because some of the info isnt always entered accurately.
Part of that problem is the lies that were passed down thru generations. I thought my great grandfather's name was William. Turns out he was born Heinrich Wilhelm. And when he got the marriage license, he listed his bride as Ida Gorland. Turns out, it was Ingeborg Grahn.
But as a researcher, I'm not only interested in a list of names and dates. I like the stories that go with it. For example, Ida's dad, Markus, left her and her mother, and got involved with another woman and she had 6 half siblings that were never known. Until we started researching!
But if its just a list of names, I'll brag and mention that i'm a descendant of Queen Elizabeth. She is my 9th cousin 3 times removed. *blink* It comes down from my mother's family side.
No matter the family history, we are who we are. But I still like to know the *stuff* !
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