Genealogy Chat

Bear in mind that sometimes families just pass down what someone else told them, whether in good faith or knowingly to deceive. There is a lovely genealogy joke about someone being told his relative had 'fallen at Waterloo'. He had images of a Napoleonic War Hero, when what really happened was that the chap fell over the escalator at Waterloo Station!! Or being told that someone served the Queen when they served at a pub called The Queen. nell

Louise, It is an interesting question. Certainly I have encountered this sort of thing in my own family, and it appears on these boards all the time. There are of course no doubt numerous reasons why our ancestors made up such stories. Sometimes to hide an unsociable truth (eg-children out of wedlock), sometimes it seems that they just fantasised. It strikes me that part of our mission is to debunk such stories and uncover the truth, however unpalatable it might sometimes be. Ian

Maybe it was just a family joke. Marion

i have always been told that my great grandfather was left on the workhouse steps and that they named him. i had no idea where or when he was born. i ordered his marriage certificate just for a clue of his age and where he lived. it arrived saturday and his father was named not only that but his brother was a witness, i have checked the census and i have found them. i just cant believe that poeple can lie so much.