Genealogy - Learning from our past

Stepping back in time . . .Fascinated by what has come before. . .What affect does a man have 100’s of years before who connects only with the slimmest chromosomal connection . . . Oh, wait, I’m adopted . . .What affect does a man have 100’s of years before that has no connection with you by time or space or even the ribbon of DNA?



I don’t have the answer for you, but I know that I am hooked. Included in my mass of information is my very first family tree from circa 1978 or so (which by the way is not the best school project because it can lead to soooo many questions from children - like adopted children). In only goes back four generations, but it was important enough to save with every move and actually gave me the very first pieces of information to help me delve back when I was old enough to really do it.

One of the things that I find most interesting is that every time I delve in I see something new; I find some interesting correlation or commonality; and I always find a new story. Today, I found that years ago one of my relative lived in my hometown before it was even a founded town. The poor man died about a year after marrying his wife by falling out of a tree. His wife remarried and had 7 children and three step-children.

What did I learn from this you ask:

1.Be careful when you climb a tree or your whole life may be summarized by your foolishness.
2.Life goes on no matter how great the tragedy.

My favorite part of the rummaging into the past is that my daughter does it with me.