Genealogy and Family Roots

Hello everyone...!

I have been on the couch since I woke up this morning - but I have been quite productive. Earlier today, a family member of my husband posted a black and white photo of their grandmother's family farm. The comments from their friends and family took off like a house on fire.

As I sat there watching the comments roll in, I immediately thought to myself - why not set them up a Facebook Cousin's page "Descendants of ...." to capture all of these rich memories and conversations along with their photos. After all, being the genealogist in the family, I eat this stuff up - whether they are of my family or not!! LOL Sometimes, I think I AM more passionate about learning people's family history than those who the information is originally for.

I messaged the lady who I have been friends with now for many years and dangled the carrot in front of her. She jumped on it like a hot potato.

I have spent the last few hours setting up their cousin's Facebook group and posting pictures and documents that I have found while researching my husband's family tree. The conversations have been priceless. I don't know why I didn't think of this years ago!!!

My husband's grandparents - his father's Mother and Father had 12 children. Within the Facebook group, I set up individual Units in order to capture their children's names. Under each one of the Units, I then add the names of their children and so forth and so on. For instance, my husband only knows a few of his 1st cousins in this particular line - by setting the group up in this manner, it will make learning who this person is or that person much easier and as he and I talk about his family tree and I show him where people fall - he will be able to visualize it understand his family roots easier.

It's interesting to me how much history is lost through the generations because the stories aren't captured or documented. By having a Facebook group set up specifically for families, these memories can be captured and saved for a lifetime.

For instance, I posted this photograph- I didn't realize looking at the photo that this man was blind. I was taken back with what I thought was a Uniform jacket. (I'm still not sure if it is or not). Immediately, an Aunt of my husband commented and shared the story with the group of how he was blind. An amazing piece of family history to learn about. Being who I am, I immediately started asking the 'who, what', how, why, where' questions in hopes of learning 'how' he became blind and whether or not he was blind due to genetics and if it is hereditary.

William Thomas Durbin, 1841-1905, 2nd Gr Grandfather of my husband

I feel accomplished today. I am now inserting these precious nuggets into my husband's family tree that I've learned about today. I love filling in the pieces of family roots! Today, I'm filling in family history for the Smith/Durbin branches on my husband's family tree.

Soon, he will have his DNA results back, and hopefully, I will be able to take all that I learn from this group and figure things out rather quickly. 

Have you started your family tree? 

Heart to Heart Soul Creations

H2hsc2020

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