Genealogy

[h_padgett]

^{NOTE: I noticed most of the threads on this topic are old and locked, so if there is an open one already that I've missed I apologize.}

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Have any of you done any digging into your family history? If you did, did you find anything particularly interesting or shocking that you weren't expecting?

I started my search almost 5 years ago and just last year I discovered Johnny Cash is my 4th cousin twice removed; his great-grandparents are my great-great-great-great-grandparents. I've also found branches of my lineage extend back into Britain, Germany, and Scotland, but that's only on a small part of my dad's side of the family. Without record searches and DNA tests, which are out of my budget at the moment, I think I've gone about as far as I can go with my amateur searching.

[amyDAST]

That is so cool! I have been thinking about buying a kit to send off so information can be sent to me. I really want to do that. I should. Who knows what I could find out.

[nannycoe1]

If it wasn't so expensive I would like to do the genealogy thing.

[haimsterette]

My uncle was big into digging into our ancestry several years ago and discovered we're related to Lucille Ball, Amelia Earhart, the Wright brothers, and--creepy!--Lizzie Borden. I'm also Polynesian, Native American, and lots of European (Dutch, German, Scottish, Irish, English, French). 

[oldbuddy]

If it wasn't so expensive I would like to do the genealogy thing.

Are you aware that the Mormon Church has a genealogy website at FamilySearch.org that anyone can get a free account with, including non-members?

[BlackSheepNY]

Can't say that I've found anything shocking, but I do know I can't get very far due to the fact that they mangled my family name once my Grandparents on my Father's side arrived in the U.S. so it's very hard for me to find a lot of things due to the phenomenal misspelling of my surname.  I, too, would love to do the DNA test but it's out of the price range at the present time.

[ejholt]

I have been with ancestry.com for a few years now.  I have one line on my fathers side that we came through Joseph and Mary.  I have that line all the way back to adam and eve.  I have found out that Ronald Reagan was a cousin of mine on my mothers side.  Al so kin the the kings and queens of England.  Am kin to a lot of other presidents.  It has been fun finding out where you ancesters came from.  Hope everyone has a good day and may God bless each of you and keep you safe.

[UGetPaid]

I've been dabbling in my family history for about 20 years. I didn't "FIND" it (by that I mean I am not the one who discovered it), but my Great-Great-Grandmother was Judith Rebecca Washington.  Her Great-Grandfather was Charles Washington, brother of George Washington. George didn't have any biological children of his own, but did raise his step children with Martha. So he had no direct descendants of his own.

If it wasn't so expensive I would like to do the genealogy thing.

Nannycoe, there are TONS of free resources out there to find genealogy information.  The DNA tests can be very expensive. So can subscriptions to services like Ancestry.com, but you have access to so much through free outlets if you just poke around online a bit.  Also many public libraries have free computer access to many of the Ancestry.com databases.  You may need help at first figuring out what and how to access the information, but you could spend days at a time discovering details there!  All free!

[southernhorizons]

I have no idea how people trace their genealogy back into Europe. I wouldn't even know where to start. And many times I wonder how accurate their results really are, especially with common last names.

[linderlizzie]

I got far enough on one site to find out I would have had another uncle on my mother's side (not named) and on my father's side (Embry). They both died at childbirth. 

Now I know why my parents were so frightened for anyone who was having a baby in our family.

[linderlizzie]

If it wasn't so expensive I would like to do the genealogy thing.

Are you aware that the Mormon Church has a genealogy website at FamilySearch.org that anyone can get a free account with, including non-members?

Thanks for the info, oldbuddy. I'll check out that website.

[nadinastarr]

^{NOTE: I noticed most of the threads on this topic are old and locked, so if there is an open one already that I've missed I apologize.}

__________________________________________________________________________________

Have any of you done any digging into your family history? If you did, did you find anything particularly interesting or shocking that you weren't expecting?

I started my search almost 5 years ago and just last year I discovered Johnny Cash is my 4th cousin twice removed; his great-grandparents are my great-great-great-great-grandparents. I've also found branches of my lineage extend back into Britain, Germany, and Scotland, but that's only on a small part of my dad's side of the family. Without record searches and DNA tests, which are out of my budget at the moment, I think I've gone about as far as I can go with my amateur searching.

Yes, I've been doing my family genealogy for 23 years. School and other life events took hold so that is why it has taken so long. The most shocking thing I have found is that on one part of the family going back, we are related to several former presidents and also the royal family of Britain. I've also found, not so long ago, that one of my 2nd great grandfathers was registered on the Dawes Rolls. That proves I have Cherokee blood. Still trying to find it on my dad's side though.

If it wasn't so expensive I would like to do the genealogy thing.

There are a ton of free sites you can use. Many of the pay for sites, have everything the free ones do. SO if you want help with it, let me know and I will get you started.

I have no idea how people trace their genealogy back into Europe. I wouldn't even know where to start. And many times I wonder how accurate their results really are, especially with common last names.

I can help you get started. The easiest way to do so is go with what you know, your name, your parents and if you know your grandparents names and dates. Then, look through family photos. Those older albums, people usually wrote on the back of them who people were, different events, ect.

[autumnsparklemom]

My mom was doing this before she passed away, I wish what she found.

[oldbuddy]

My mom was doing this before she passed away, I wish what she found.

What she found may very well be online, depending on where she did her research.

[dancer139]

i have been looking into jour family for a few years now.  It is really interesting to find people that we didn't know about