I periodically research my ancestry. Been doing it on and off for a few years now. Collecting bits and pieces from relatives. Digging through government records. Putting together a puzzle that's been scattered for generations.
Haven't really used the online tools much yet. Most of what I've found has been through word of mouth and official records. Old documents. Family records. The stuff that doesn't show up in a database search.
My father's side traces back to the Alsace Lorraine area. That borderland between France and Germany that's changed hands more times than anyone can count. Grandfather wa born on a ship on the way to the States. Got that side back to the 1700s. That's where the trail goes cold for now.
My mother's side goes further. Back to England in the 1600s. I've got a lot more information on that side. Generations of it. And a lot of military service to this country. All the way back to the Revolutionary War. Knowing that men in my family fought to create this nation and then continued serving it through the generations means something to me.
I've hit one brick wall though. A great great grandfather who's just missing. Can't find him. It's like he vanished. I have my theories. One is that he moved to Algeria. But it's unproven. Just a hunch based on fragments. Maybe I'll crack it eventually. Maybe I won't. That's how this goes sometimes. Not every question gets answered.
I enjoy history. Always have. And I think it's important to know where you come from. Understanding the people who came before you gives context to who you are. The decisions they made. The places they left. The wars they fought. The struggles they survived. All of that is part of my story whether I knew it or not.
Every time I dig into it I learn something new. A place I didn't know. A connection I didn't expect. A piece of the puzzle that clicks into place after sitting loose for years.
I'll keep at it. No rush. It's not going anywhere. And neither are the dead. They'll wait for me to find them.
Anyone else research their family history? What have you discovered?
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
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