Finding Treasures in the Family Tree
June 3rd, 2008 | 
Author: Have you started a family tree? The genealogy bug bit me the other day and I’ve been taking advantage of a “free” trial for ancestry.com.
It all started last weekend when my high school age niece asked if I knew more information about someone in our family tree. I really didn’t know anything more than what she knew which is about all anyone in the family knows. (I have a basic family tree that goes back 5 generations for both my mother and my father’s side, but there’s always room for more information.)
We tried doing some general research online, but we quickly figured out that we wouldn’t learn a whole lot that way. So, I opted for a trial at ancestry.com – what a great resource for information!
I found old census reports that lists family members and draft registration cards for male relatives. However, the most exciting find was the passenger list for the ship my maternal grandfather came to America on.
We knew the basic story behind his coming to America – he came by boat to live with an aunt and uncle when he was about 18. Now we know the details! He came on a French ship named the S.S. Paris (we have a photo of the ship now), applied for his visa permit in Prague, was 5 ft 9 in, weighed 170 lbs, was 19 yrs old, and more.
It’s a lot of fun trying to reconstruct our family tree and add information to it. I’ve even found some situations that sparked story ideas in my mind.
Back in 1685, something mysterious happened to a husband and wife – they died on the same day. Was it an accident, illness, or something more criminal? Curiosity really makes me want to know but I know I never will. Later on in the years, a father has two young children when the mother dies – possibly in childbirth. The father remarries within a year – what did the children think, what did the new wife feel, how did the father cope especially when the new wife was ready to give birth a year later? Do you see the stories?
So if you’re looking for something to do or maybe a plot twist, try researching your family tree. You never know what you might find! =)
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