Geneology

[drywall]

I always thought it would be interesting to try to find out about my "roots" so to speak. My maternal grnadma (never knew my grandpa on this side) was born in Oslo when it was still called Christiana and part of Sweden. She came over here at the age of 16. My paternal grandparents came here from Germany in the early 1900's. I'm a relatively recent American. I had uncles that were born in Germany so technically, I can say I'm first generation American. Thats about all I know of my family.

Can any of you folks trace your families way back? Have they always lived where you live now?

[HighlandSniper58]

Although I was brought up in the south of England where my Father was a police officer, my roots are deep in the North East of Scotland where I live now. My paternal grandmother was of Scottish blood although born in the USA.

I can trace all of my blood lines back ten generations, and on one or two cases fourteen or fifteen - back to 1595 in one case.

Nothing special - Soldiers (three at Waterloo!), farm servants, domestic servants etc., although one notable ancestor was James Watt of steam engine fame, a distant Uncle. My g grandfather was a colonial policmeman in South Aftica in the 1890s, we had a couple of missionaries in India in the mid-1800s, but stragely no sheep steelers, convicts or transportees. A few crofters on the Western Isles, farmers, just honest, sold hard-working country folk.

I suppose my Family Hero was my 7x great grandfather who served in the Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) 1794-1815, he was in the same troop as Sergeant (later Ensign) Ewart, who captured the French Eagle at Waterloo. He survied his 21 years with the colours and went on to survive a further 20 plus years down the Scottish coal mines - they were tough in those days. Another military ancestor was killed serving with Sir john Moore at Corunna in 1809.

I suppose

[drywall]

Wow, 10 to 15 generations. I would love to be able to know what and where mine came from, what they did, etc. Even if any skulldugery was involved anywhere. :D

[Drone_pilot]

i can trace my ancestry all the way back to my father. :D

my claim to fame is i'm related through marriage to Richard Burton (the actor not the other one) his brother is married to my aunt.

[HighlandSniper58]

Drywall

The German records are superb - anythin g beyond about 7-10 generations here in the UK is very hard work, but in Germany it is much more easy - if you have some names, you could start via your local Mormon church who specialise in genealogy.

[Bombardier]

I can trace mine all the way back to my birth, LOL :D
My niece is actually doing a study into her fathers (my brothers) background so obviously I will benefit from that. For the english folk I am the first cousin of Les Battersby, and thats a fact, no duff. :roll:

[drywall]

I have tried a couple times to find out a few things but without much sucess. Grandpa may have "americanized" his name or had it changed inadvertantly by immigration people. And there is no one left to ask. On the othe side of the family, my grandma's maiden name was Johnson. She married another Johnson and it gets real confusing after that. Johnson is about as popular as Smith or Jones. Hard to track.

[Derrick Stephenson]

I know that on my mother's side I am related to the Horrock's family of linen manufacture fame (including Sir Brian Horrocks), and that my father's family originate from Sweden via Newcastle.
Derrick.

[82Rigger]

Perhaps one of my buds in the UK can answer a question for me.

Something I've been curious about for a time.

PM Winston Churchill's full name was Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill.
Lady Diana's maiden name was Spencer.

Any relationship there?

Thanks! Steve

[HighlandSniper58]

Probably - you know these British blue-blood aristos - all inter-related.

[Bombardier]

I dont think she is directly linked to Winston.
heres a liitle bit if History

Born July 1, 1961 Lady Diana Spencer grew up near the British royal family's estate in Sandringham, England. Her father became the Eighth Earl Spencer in 1975 and had served as a personal attendant to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Diana was acquainted with the family since childhood; she was Prince Andrew's childhood playmate and Prince Charles had dated her older sister. She was 19 and working as a teacher's aide when her romantic relationship with Charles began. They married in 1981 before a television audience of 750 million people. Even after Charles and Diana divorced, Diana remained the "people's princess" because of her devoted charity work. When Diana died in 1997, more than a million people lined up along the funeral route to pay their respects

[82Rigger]

Yeah, we Yanks watched the wedding on TV..thought it was just like a fairy tale and we got all teary-eyed. Then it turned out to be such a circus with the divorce and Charles's other woman and then pictures of Fergie running around half naked. Man! Glad it ain't me!

[HighlandSniper58]

82 Rigger wrote:

and then pictures of Fergie running around half naked.

You just spoiled my supper! :shock:

[Bombardier]

Just brought mine back up blah,

[Derrick Stephenson]

Well I think Fergie's done a canny job at Man U.
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

Derrick :shock: :!:

[Polar]

Familly for my father side live in Sosnowiec for 5 generation. My grandfather was very know football player.(in Poland ofcourse) His wife, my grandmather during WW2 was prisoner in Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.(Her 2 sisters too)
For my mother side- father my grandfather was sergent in Czar's Army in Saratov,
Uncle my grandmother was pilot in polish squadron in RAF, but I don't have many information about him.

[Bombardier]

Uncle my grandmother was pilot in polish squadron in RAF, but I don't have many information about him.

It would be great to find out something about him ? :roll:

[HighlandSniper58]

Uncle my grandmother was pilot in polish squadron in RAF, but I don't have many information about him.

It would be great to find out something about him ? :roll:

If you have his name and perhaps date of birth, there are two sources - War Office Records, and the RAF Museum.

[Polar]

Uncle my grandmother was pilot in polish squadron in RAF, but I don't have many information about him.

It would be great to find out something about him ? :roll:

If you have his name and perhaps date of birth, there are two sources - War Office Records, and the RAF Museum.

When I see my grandmother next time I ask she. I remember that my grandmother has pic him in uniform. Mayby I finde this pic.

[Drone_pilot]

my grandfather was sergent in Czar's Army in Saratov

Any more infomation on him.

[Polar]

my grandfather was sergent in Czar's Army in Saratov

Any more infomation on him.

This was my grand-grandfather. He was in Czar's Army in first years XX century. He was comander of bootmaker workshop. My gradfather don't give me more information.

[drywall]

Hi Polar

My grandmother on my fathers side last name was either Svoboda or Swoboda i think. Is that Polish?

[Polar]

Could be, but I think she have conection with Czech. In Czech this last name is one of most popular. Svoboda is correct form Czech. Swoboda is correct form Polish

[drywall]

Ok, thank you. I had heard that she was Polish. :D

[Polar]

Many Americans have polish last name. In USA live most of all
polish on the world besides Poland ofcourse

[drywall]

That is a fact, Polar. Thanks. :D

[tosh66]

Most families in the UK can trace their ancestors back to 1760 around the time of the first official census (Doomsday book apart!) It becomes much harder before this date as Parish records have to be found and trawled through , and the more specific, the more difficult it becomes.

[HighlandSniper58]

Not stricly correct!

The first national census was in 1841 - and wasn't up to much. There had been earlier local censuses in some areas, but most were little more than polling lists and were of little use.
Parish by parish registers of births, marriages and deaths had been compulsory since 1553, but in most parishes, owing to a lack of enthusiasm by the parish/session clerks, these were either poorly kept, not kept up to date, or even dispensed with until the mid-1700s. There are however, a number of parishes - especially in the older inner cities, with superb parish records going back into the c.16th.

Civil registration i.e. central/official registration of births/marriages/deaths came into being in 1837 (England/Wales) and 1855 (Scotland). Although Scotland was later off of the mark, Scottish certificates even today carry far more information than their English/Welsh counterparts have ever done. Another huge benefit for the genealogist with Scottish origins is that in Scotland, you have a concession (not right) of access to the actual registers, or microfilmed copies, whereas in England/Wales you must actuallt order a copy certificate to get full details from it. I have spent many an interesting hour scouring the registers both in local archive offices and in New Register house in Edinburgh.

For those of you with European roots - I'm thinking of our US members here - many European countries have superb records - Germany and Poland for example, and it is amazing how few were lost duirng WW1/WW2 - even Jewish records largely survive intact!

for those of you who do not know - genealogy is a major part of the Mormon religion, and as a result, the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints have copied and microfilmed regords from all over the world. I have found their family history centres located within their reigous buildings to be most useful, and I have never been put under any religous pressure from their very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Local libraries often have mormon microfilms availble for use.

[tosh66]

Fair cop! You must have a memory like a computer, or you need a hobby!

[HighlandSniper58]

Fair cop! You must have a memory like a computer, or you need a hobby!

Trouble is mate - I've got too many hobbies, and I retain too much data as a consequence.