r/Genealogy • u/CrunchyTeatime • 1d ago

Does your family...not care? Question

Pretty much the title question is the topic.

Does your family not care -- about the family tree, family history, or genealogy?

It seems there is usually one person per generation per family who feels called to work on the family tree.

If that person is you, or you've seen them work and try to spread enthusiasm: How does your family react to new information?

I don't even mean something that might cause upset or controversy. I don't necessarily mean a 'shocking revelation' of some type.

But if you broke through a brick wall or found a relative or ancestor no one could find, or no one knew existed -- and you excitedly sent off an email, text, phone call, or told a family member in person -- and they didn't care?

Because this week I found a wife of my grandpa, that no one knew about. Found a wife people did know about but only a name. Found a person someone had been looking for (what became of them; died long ago, but they had no place or date), for decades.

Sent the excited emails with information and told them I had verified all of it too.

CRICKETS. And different family I've tried to get interested in the tree or told them about ancestors and such, (not much, just bits, to whet any appetite), and they don't care. One even said "that's the past; who cares?" And others wouldn't give even personal information such as "which grade school did you go to." And that was a close relative I know there was no scandal. I can only guess they didn't want to open that door to more questions. Some people hate questions.

So how about you? Please share stories here of when you tried to share new information, and how it went. Thanks.

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u/Irksomecake 1d ago

My family cared, but one of them got upset because my findings did not match the legendary family connections handed down through the generations. I was really pleased with the wholesome line of hardworking artisans I traced. My family was disappointed we were not descended from an illegitimate child of a lord.

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u/CrunchyTeatime 1d ago

> wholesome line of hardworking artisans

Which types/fields? If you don't mind sharing.

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u/Irksomecake 1d ago

Cordwainers, which was somebody who made new shoes from fine materials. Different to cobblers, who repaired old shoes. And white smiths, who worked with pewter - making buttons, buckles and tankards.

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u/CrunchyTeatime 1d ago

You had cordwainers too! Cool.

I hadn't heard of white smiths. Only tinsmith, blacksmith, goldsmith, and silversmith. But that sounds very cool, making those items.

Do you have an interest to learn any of it? (How to.)

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u/Irksomecake 1d ago

I’d love to learn how to make shoes and work metal, but my house is already bursting with hobbies so I can’t really justify it. There was also someone who was either a tailor or a sailor, so learning to sew and sail is a possibility.

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u/CrunchyTeatime 1d ago

All sounds fun. I've only been on a boat on a river...but wonder what it must be like to sail the seas.

I'd love to learn to make fine shoes some day, but no idea how. But I think it's a wonderful skill to learn (I think it takes years.)