Genealogy Chat

My mum has shown a passing interest but dad and grandma have both got really into it (although in grandma's case I think I might have showed her too many of my findings at once and she got a bit confused). They all get amused when I find an illegitimate ancestor - haven't got anything more scandalous than that yet.

Sorry, this is nothing to do with the thread, but where did you find the evacuation plans for Yarmouth please? Jennie

My Uncle, who is now the oldest member of my family, was not interested in our family history and despite a lot of prompting 'couldn't remember anything'. Recently we met up and I casually remarked that his mother had two brothers. He was stunned - he had known nothing about them, had never heard of them, and frankly didnt believe me! I sent him copies of the two censuses on which they appear with the family. He is now, at the age of 79, surfing the net to try to find their graves - they died in WW1. I have told him how to order birth certs (I hadn';t done this) and he is away! OC

I persuaded mine to stay in Bradford on Avon as part of my birthday this year. I wanted to go to Stonehenge. Bradford on Avon was also where a large part of my family came from - I'd never been there. I booked us into an unusual B&B and fortunately the weather was good so he enjoyed it. (I kept the family stuff to a minimum though as he gets dead eyes quite quickly). Got photos of the church where they were married and buried from.

I think he only wants to deal in definites! Thinks it's all a bit hit and miss and assumptions - I DO try to put him right but........ Anyway, he has a lot of good points to compensate! A x

its funny you saying that he does sometimes say did they leave us any money ??? Thats all he seems to care about .

how did you manage that ???when we visit an Aunt miles away ,we go past the road where my Great grandfather died in a Workhouse I have asked him to do a slight detour, and take a photo of it or if its gone the road he thinks I am mad. But he is slowly coming round very slowly .

My partner too has only a 'polite' interest, so I am selective in what I show him - an article on the loss of a merchant vessel in WW2, the history of a great-uncle's mining career and 1802 plans for the evacuation of Great Yarmouth, incase of invasion by Napoleon, all got a response, whilst a death certificate showing somone died of TB or a will naming about 20 other relatives would be of no interest at all. Jay

Hi Valerie Your OH sounds just like mine! I did manage to drag him round part of London connected with my Grandad's family the weekend before, but it was under suffrance! A x

thats nice when that happens , my husband finds it all boring really he pretends to be listening but you can see his Eyes look dull, but I have been lucky and found a few rellies mainly Women who are as interested as I am , unless they are good actresses.

Hi Helen Lucky you for finding a bit of scandal! A x

Yes, even my jaded lot get excited when I find an interesting original document, or a bit of scandal!

We had a family wedding to go to, so I took copies of my two remaining Aunts' side of the tree to give to them, along with a few census images which I thought they might be interested in. They were so thrilled - one Auntie said 'At last I have a history!' This has given me a big boost as you can imagine. The moral of this is I suppose, don't get discouraged by the indifference of your immediate family!

I've been plodding along assembling my family history, with seemingly no-one else but me interested in it - but I was given a lovely boost this weekend!