Duncan (my eldest son) and I have been busy in Edinburgh for most of today tracing our family tree back through the generations. We've managed to go back as for as my great, great grandparents so far and will be visiting Register House again tomorrow to see if we can trace even more relatives. It's tiring on the eyes and gives you back ache but it's strangely addictive. When Duncan suggested that I help him out I wasn't at all keen on the idea but now I'm hooked!!! He only has a week off work and today and tomorrow are the only days he has spare for us to do our research so we'll be starting off at around 8am tomorrow as Register House opens at 8.45am. We'll probably sytay until it closes at 4pm so don't worry if you don't see me around during the day. I'll be back here tomorow night. Hey maybe I'll find out that we have some famous folks from waaaay back - who knows - stranger things have happened. :-D Has anyone else ever tried to do their family tree and what did you discover about your ancestors if you did?
Mum and I have gone a fair way back, and discovered several skelatons in the cupboard which made hunting a little tricky. We have reached a bit of a standstill, but in the New Year mum is coming to stay for a long weekend and we are going to have a good look at the census online to see what else we can discover.
I've never delved into this as I fear that I too may become addicted I'll cave someday though. But I'll add something, a linkie http://del.icio.us/popular/genealogy
My aunt traced the Carter side of the family back to guess where Scotland in the 1600's and the Bowlin side so far is somewhere in Virginia about 1720 it is strangly addicting
I have traced my branch of the Kirkpatricks back to 1750. But there are two lines of thinking as to which ancester fits in where. If it is the one, then I would be in direct line to Queen Elizabeth. A Kirkpatrick married into the royal family during Edward the 1st's reign. But I don't think that is the line to me. I think my ancestor was John Hugh Kirkpatrick who came to America in 1750 at the age of 9. I have had several relatives named Hugh.
I have a chart that I can trace from me back to a passenger on the Mayflower. But my more direct realtives, who came here more recently, are from Scotland on both my parent's sides, MacDougall & McCash. A bit of England, and though we had thought my maiden name to be English, it turns out to be a Dutch word meaning "technician". There's alot of folks from Wales throughout my lineage, and since my sweetie is part Welsh too, that's the heritage my son lays claim to. Can you tell I actually like history, lol!
I think I could trace the English side through my mother quite easily. I'm not so sure of my father's side. His parents are from Norway and Finland and the name was changed upon entry into this country. It all seems so murky. I know it must be rewarding to really work at this and have one's efforts pay off. muddy
I haven't done much, I have gathered info from various family members. I have Rapp, Hedrick and Brown (German), Glenn (Scots I think). I know next to nothing on my Mom's side (Hedrick and Brown) her parents died before I was born and even tho they had family Mom doesn't remember ever meeting them. My Dad's side (Rapp and Glenn) I have some info on Rapp and a little on Glenn since. My grandmother (Dad's Mom) refused to talk about family history because she was afraid we would find horse thieves.
My mother spent 20 years pre computer working on hers. She then passed it on to me. I traced 8 lines back to 1648 all in the Netherlands. I could not go back any farther because the Dutch saw no real need for last names. My first ancestor to come to the US was in 1848 claiming religious repression...those native Dutchmen were waay to liberal for their tastes. I wrote two books about my research, neither of them of any interest whatsoever to anyone unless his name was in it. My ancestors came here to get out of debtors' prison in Amsterdam. There were a few here in this country who spent some time as guests of the country because they seemed to have sticky fingers.
I've done a lot of research through local sources and ancestry.com. My ancestors are mainly from England, Sweden and Ireland, however some came in through Canada, but originally from Ireland or Sweden. Also traced my husband's family back to England, France and Germany. Found his side way back, mainly England. My great-great grandfather was a merchant seaman. Most my ancestors were farmers.
Good luck in your finds I have info on my moms side .Her mother was Moon or Moun and Moyne from Devonshire,England in 1220. The de Mohun(Mahan)was found residing in Devonshire England the Coat of Arms issued by the King of England is the 3 spellings which is confirmed the names.Regan Moon ,Baptismal records on microfilm was Somerset Co. ,Taunton,England .He was a granddad to my family .I have also info on her dads side that the Mosley's ,Moseley ,Mozley are also from England.I have the info but couldn't find it at the moment of just what part of England. This is always interesting to me.
Eileen just hope you are not kin to the one's who were hanged for poaching in Scotland the 1700's or did time for Bank Robbery in America in the 1800's. No celebrities on either side for me but some sho went astray.
I found some of my fathers family back to about 1790 and my mothers family back to about 1820. Hit a few brick walls and got a bit discouraged. All of their families are in Germany so the language barrier doesn't help! My husbands family was traced back to London England 1735.
Wow, so gardeners are genealogists too. We not only create, we have some sort of innate curiosity. Seems we are the cream of the crop <G>
