Genealogy Chat

relatives re genealogy & their earlier lives?

(Duplicate post on General)

What they know about their family history, parents, grandparents and where they were from etc is always a good starting point. Also its suprising what relatives keep in their attics. I discovered birth, marriage and death certificates going back a couple of generations.

Thanks Catherine.

If you are meeting face to face I find I've got results by leading just a chat rather than an outright question session.
eg. Did you see your cousins much?....and later.....
Where did you go to school? What did you do in the holidays?
All manner of memories were recalled and when appropriate you can throw in a question....How old were you then?
Which town did you visit ?etc. to pinpoint facts.

I agree with Gwyn. I couldn't get anywhere with asking specific questions such as "Where was your grandmother born?". The answer would be "I don't know", but by saying "Tell me about your grandmother", out would pop where she was born.
The elderly don't seem to like answering specific questions.

Thanks Margaret and Gwyn

Interesting as I am meeting a second cousin on Tuesday. I did not know about her until last week but I do have a photo of her as a baby and her parents wedding photo.. We share the same gt grandfather. I wrote to her after a kind member on here sent me her address from the electoral roll.
She is pleased that I have contacted her but does not know of me. We live 7 miles apart.
I am so excited because she remembers my dad who died 22 years ago.
Confident things will go well and we can fill each other in on the family history
Best wishes to all
Joan

I always find that the older generation dont let go easily and I totally agree with Gwyn about getting into a conversation rather than sitting firing questions.
My aunt (now in her late 80's) wont answer direct questions but if she's in the right mood for a trip down memory lane then I can get away with a few without getting one of those 'mind your own business' looks lol

I have to agree that general chit chat is the best way.

My Nan was born 11 years before her Parents were married. I am in contact with her younger brother - my great uncle - who had done a lot of research into the family, but was unaware of the discrepancy. After lots of emails in which we agreed we would try to track where everyone lived to try to work out if his dad was my Nan's dad too - he showed them to his wife. She was able to confirm that my great grandmother had confided in her many, many years ago that my Nan was born out of wedlock, and the history around it! So I can now be certain that I know who her father was. My Great Aunt had kept this confidence for years until last week - and we may never have known the truth if the questions had been more direct.

It is amazing what information older family members have locked away somewhere

Good luck

Tina x