I'm so excited!

[selfraising]

The catalyst for this seems to be loss of a loved one. My various aunts started tracing the family tree when their mother (my grandmother) passed, but didn't seem to get too far. I have now thought of taking up the challenge - I have just lost my own mother recently and all the birth certs/photos/general info has come to me.

I've got as far as a relative being hanged at Jedburgh for sheep stealing about 300yrs ago - I have a feeling we're all going to wrong uns

Crikey, how did you manage to find that out?

[selfraising]

I was given a small family tree by my nan years ago for a school history project. It recently got unearthed and given back to me in amongst some other stuff Dad had knocking around his house. I had a go at filling in some gaps but did not do very well. Nan died a couple of weeks ago, and family members I haven't seen in years, (and some never met) were there, and my Dad's cousin is now in touch with me on FB and he has posted old photos, I commented that it made me want to have another go at the tree, but my aunt has said she has done it to about 1750 and she will copy it all for me when she has time. Its so interesting.

You might still be able to find out a bit more though, there seems to be an awful lot available on the internet these days

[pipscariad]

As one who has recently set to with seriousness on the family tree - well, my big sis has, so I can't take the credit really! - this strikes a chord with me. It has been sooooo exciting, it's wonderful to find out more about the people who have helped make you who you are. We made a really amazing discovery a couple of months ago when we found out that we shouldn't really have the surname that we do, as our paternal grandfathers family all changed their name when he was about 12! We have yet to find out why - dark dealings we suspect!! And that family also lived really close to where we now are in Wales, which was a huge surprise and made me go all sort of tingly at the co-incidence (we had always thought that they had stayed in the North East, from where most of my family originate). So, I know how you feel, it's very addictive. We are currently waiting to hear from the Hussars archive department re the rogue great grandfather, so hopefully that may shed some more light on what happened. The amusing thing for us was that we have gone from having one very common surname - Brown - to discovering that we should really be called *trumpet fanfare*........Smith!!!!! Alas, doomed to non exciting names . Having said that, I liked Brown so much, I kept it when I got married

[Nicos]

I've been researching my family tree for a few years- at one time 5-6 hrs per day!!!!

Found out loads.and strangely it makes me feel a more 'complete' person.
I've loved tracing back where peeps have moved from/to- and am in contact with a few extremely distant relatives.
Met a few too- and even managed to 'drag' my mom along to meet some of her tree ...and having met them suddenly made her realise the warm feeling I had towards them.
( her g'ma and his g'pa were cousins- and would have sat on the same grandparents knees...awwww)...managed to get a few photos too...and some were scarily similar!!

Let us know how you get on...it's very interesting!

[selfraising]

As one who has recently set to with seriousness on the family tree - well, my big sis has, so I can't take the credit really! - this strikes a chord with me. It has been sooooo exciting, it's wonderful to find out more about the people who have helped make you who you are. We made a really amazing discovery a couple of months ago when we found out that we shouldn't really have the surname that we do, as our paternal grandfathers family all changed their name when he was about 12! We have yet to find out why - dark dealings we suspect!! And that family also lived really close to where we now are in Wales, which was a huge surprise and made me go all sort of tingly at the co-incidence (we had always thought that they had stayed in the North East, from where most of my family originate). So, I know how you feel, it's very addictive. We are currently waiting to hear from the Hussars archive department re the rogue great grandfather, so hopefully that may shed some more light on what happened. The amusing thing for us was that we have gone from having one very common surname - Brown - to discovering that we should really be called *trumpet fanfare*........Smith!!!!! Alas, doomed to non exciting names . Having said that, I liked Brown so much, I kept it when I got married

Oooh how intriguing!! Perhaps there was a family fall out and thats why they chose to change their name!

[selfraising]

I've been researching my family tree for a few years- at one time 5-6 hrs per day!!!!

Found out loads.and strangely it makes me feel a more 'complete' person.
I've loved tracing back where peeps have moved from/to- and am in contact with a few extremely distant relatives.
Met a few too- and even managed to 'drag' my mom along to meet some of her tree ...and having met them suddenly made her realise the warm feeling I had towards them.
( her g'ma and his g'pa were cousins- and would have sat on the same grandparents knees...awwww)...managed to get a few photos too...and some were scarily similar!!

Let us know how you get on...it's very interesting!

Oh god! I feel another addiction coming on! Still waiting for tree to come through the post because although I now have the report, I need to look at the tree for it to make sense. I'm hoping it will be in the post today!!!!

[Nicos]

Addicitve???- oh yesssss...esp in winter when you can't work in the garden/lottie.
Makes the post much more exciting too!!!!!

...do have a go at your German family if you can- you'll not regret it. The longer you leave it the more of the 'oldies' in the family die off and you'd kick yourself at not meeting them- and sharing their knowledge!

[pipscariad]

Oh god! I feel another addiction coming on! Still waiting for tree to come through the post because although I now have the report, I need to look at the tree for it to make sense. I'm hoping it will be in the post today!!!!

Ah yes, it's addictive indeed! Both my OH and my sisters OH were ancestry widowers for quite some time, there were grumblings of dissent in my household I tell you! The children were especially unimpressed !

And I remember the tenterhooks of waiting for postal deliveries too - all the docs went to my sisters house, but I was waiting for the calls to say they had arrived. Good luck with it all, and thanks for sharing your excitement with us

[selfraising]

Addicitve???- oh yesssss...esp in winter when you can't work in the garden/lottie.
Makes the post much more exciting too!!!!!

...do have a go at your German family if you can- you'll not regret it. The longer you leave it the more of the 'oldies' in the family die off and you'd kick yourself at not meeting them- and sharing their knowledge!

Yes thats true but at the mo, I wouldn't know where to start hmmmmm need to come up with a plan

[Nicos]

Yes thats true but at the mo, I wouldn't know where to start hmmmmm need to come up with a plan

Here's a starting point at least!!!

German Genealogy - Trace Your German Family Tree in Germany | Deutschland

I bet there's quite a bit to get hold of because of the demand for holocaust information????

I've only done UK/Ireland and USA- so no use to you there -sorry!

[selfraising]

Aaaaw thanks Nicos. I will have a read!

[rogesse]

Selfraising - must admit to being a bit dishonest - my aunt did most of the work but her research looks good. There was always the family legend but getting through the scottish 'registration' was difficult!

[selfraising]

Selfraising - must admit to being a bit dishonest - my aunt did most of the work but her research looks good. There was always the family legend but getting through the scottish 'registration' was difficult!

Hey, not really dishonest, the work was just shared I'm still waiting for the family tree to arrive in the post, the anticipation is driving me nuts!

[rainbowbrite]

ooh this sounds so interesting, how on earth do you do a family tree though, you lot have got me all interested now

[Glutton4...]

I was really interested in this subject as a kid, and got both my Nan's to write out their trees as far as they could remember. It must have been a five-minute wonder, and I have since lost the info. All my Grandparents have gone now, but I think it's something I shall do in the near future.

My FIL researched his a few years ago - he's from the poor side of the family, the other side are stinking rich - just my luck LOL .