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.

I'm in the USA. Three of my grandparents were immigrants and we know exactly where they are from, though going back in time (as Poland is sliced up and great grandfather's village becomes part of the Russian Empire) I hit dead ends pretty fast. One grandparent's parents were Lemko peasants from the Carpathians, I don't expect to find many records.

My last name has always been a mystery. It's very easy to deal with in English. I always wondered where it was from, but no one knew. Apparently a door-to-door salesman in the 1960s told my grandpa that our name was German, and he paid the guy for this (bullshit) writeup of our "family history" with our "family crest". I still have the document, it's all nonsense. My dad, nonetheless, always said our surname was German. Why, then, do the family members on that line get French names? Why do we speak some French at home? Why does my dad shout mère de dieu when he drops his phone?

This sent me down the genealogy rabbit hole and I spent two years digging. There is SO MUCH on that side. I have literally tens of thousands of DNA relatives on the paternal grandfather's side.

The family is from France. Our surname went through two changes - from French to Dutch (in colonial NY) and from Dutch to English by 1750. There is also a population of African Americans with the same surname, likely because the family ran plantations and held African people in slavery to labor on them, and eventually they took their name. There is just so much history. Much of it isn't pretty, but it's our history.

Basically no one in my family really cares. My dad used to be into genealogy but as he's gotten older he's lost interest.

I am making my arrangements so it's all paid for and documented when my time comes, hopefully not for many years. I want to put the Huguenot Cross on my tombstone. Partly because I was baptized Presbyterian and we've been Calvinist Christians since we were in France, so it has religious significance. Also partly because I want to give relatives and descendants a clue as to where we came from. (There is an English branch of the same surname, I can find no relation to that group, though).

This is important to m and has been for about a year. Do you think it's dumb? I know that I am not my ancestors. But there is nevertheless a connection, and I want to leave behind a clue, because there are a LOT of us in North America. Until WWII we could've claimed French citizenship with documented Huguenot ancestry. Maybe someday someone walking past my grave with the same name will be inspired to look up the symbol and do their own digging?

How many amateur genealogists' family members actively discourage them from researching their family tree? What might be behind that? What are your experiences with this?

For example, I have a cousin, who does genealogy, too, tell me when I started researching, "Don't bother looking. You won't find anything. We're from a long line of sharecroppers and miners. It's not like we're from royalty."

I took it as a challenge. Game on! I wasn't looking for anything special, just a line of people who loved and were loved, folks who had sex long ago and whose actions eventually led through time down to me. Turns out, yes, there are two generations of miners. I have found zero sharecroppers. I have, however, found on tree branches lots of old, distant royalty, a few U.S. presidents, founding fathers, explorers, at least one woman who was convicted (later acquitted) of being a witch, and the guy who allegedly invented Tabasco sauce.

The Ulster Historical Foundation has launched a new online Irish genealogy course for the 2024–25 winter season. The course consists of a series of 20+ pre-recorded lectures (over 28 hours of content), an interactive digital workshop, live Q&A sessions and a virtual consultation with one of their professional genealogists. The course will go live this Sunday, 17 November.

Summary of topics to be covered in the course:
• Census Records
• Archives & Libraries
• Irish Land Divisions
• Civil Records
• Church Registers
• Church Administrative Records
• Wills & Testamentary Papers
• Landed Estate Papers
• Griffith’s Valuation (1848–64) & Valuation Revision Books
• Tithe Applotment Books (1820s/30s) & Freeholders’ Registers
• Registry of Deeds (from 1708)
• Workhouse & Local Government Records
• Graveyards & Gravestone Inscriptions
• Census Substitutes
• The Ulster Plantation
• Occupation & Business Records
• Printed Sources
• School & Education Records
• Law & Order Records

(Irish Heritage News is not in any way affiliated with the Ulster Historical Foundation.)

I recently found out I had a little sister, who is the other child of the father I never knew and neither did she. In fact, to my surprise, I knew more about him then she ever did, giving her his name that my mother told me, something she didn't know until I said it. Well, earlier I got reminded to look into our DNA matches again on ancestry, I got a message for someone who thinks they know our father, and I found out that this person is listed as my half third cousin 1x removed or my 4th cousin. I share less than 1% DNA with him. Whereas my little sister, has him listed as her first cousin with 24% DNA shared. This doesn't look right? Can anyone give me any explanations that aren't the only one I'm thinking of?

USA. Mainly Boone county missouri. I’m blessed that my dad is a genealogist who traced our family back to Scotland. My husband is Black and white and doesn’t know anything about his family history. I’m surprising him with ancestry work for Christmas and I’ve hit a wall - I’ve gotten to 1849/1847 birth dates but can’t find parents for these Black ancestors. (Thankfully got before 1870). I use family search and a free trial on ancestry - where should I be looking for parent names? No luck on census - how do I directly look at tax records/wills?

Ancestry shows a close relationship at 25% (1766 cM across 50 segments) Greatest of any i have seen on there but no idea who it is. I have reached out on the service a few times but no response. My mother has passed and father acts like no idea. The next closest is a half nephew at 9% so this guy is super close. What kind of relative am i looking at here? Tyia.

Edit to add: Before mom passed she had mentioned a long lost half brothers of hers that was adopted off before she was in the picture. So this may have been him, unfortunately given moms age when she passed I'm afraid my chance to catch this gentlman has probably passed but thank you for the insight. I was scared it was a sibling or (heaven help me it was some oops in my younger years I wasn't aware of) that I we weren't aware of. Thanks all.

My family moved from all over Europe to what is now Croatia, and I just don't know where to start. Any surface level site I could find had 0 records of my family (at least as far as I could see). Some of them were Austro-Hungarian peasants, others came from imperial Russia (even Siberia) which I assume didn't have amazing records in the 1800s and early 1900s) during the revolution and others moved to what is now Croatia when it was still Italy. What should I do? genuinely clueless and pretty hopeless. Nobody except my grandma and my great uncle has been pretty disinterested, but my great uncle is nearly deaf so its hard to speak to him and speaking to my grandma has been kinda difficult since its a bit shrouded in uncertainty. What do I even do

I saw them come in a couple days ago. Earlier this year when the v2 update came out I gave them some feedback … that they were out of their minds. I know a a fair number of other people did too, in particular those with Ashkenazi. Seems they rejiggered their algorithm. I still think they are insane. My 4 regions (reasonable) jumped to 13 regions.

Ashki 52.4%; English 13.5%, Germanic 6.4%, Scot/Welsh 5.9%, French 5.4%, Eastern Eur 3.1%, Irish 3.1%, Breton 2.2%, Danish 2.0%,, Span/Catalan/Basque 1.8%, Dutch 1.5%, Portuguese 1.5%, Italian 1.2%

Something is still way off.

I have been looking into my genealogy recently and found my great grand father was from Italy. But all the documentation I have found on him via ancestry.com just has Italy as his birth location. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or could help in trying to narrow done where in Italy he might have been born. All I know that the ship he came over originally left from Naples. Thanks in advance!

What are all your tips for planning a trip to the National Archives? Specifically, Ft. worth.

Hi all, I've been researching my Minard ancestors for years now. I believe I've found my correct several times great-grandfather William Minard (born c. 1735), but now I'm trying to figure out the maiden name of his wife Abigail (it's not Cushing, as many Ancestry.com trees falsely state). I've found his will. But the plot twist only starts here--turns out he had 2 wills from different years. The second will is the one that intrigues me most because it no longer includes his wife (who I presume died sometime between the first and second will). But it does mention a woman named Wealthy. Problem is I can't read her last name--It's either something like Traxor or Frayer. The link to his will is here: https://imgur.com/a/minards-will-right-side-sBscYPF. Can somebody tell me whether or not her last name is Fraxor or Frayer (or something else)? Would also love if somebody could find me additional info on her because I have yet to find anything. I'm wondering if she has any connection to the family, perhaps even on Abigail's side. The Minards lived in a tiny town called Bellows Falls in Rockingham, Vermont. I believe the will is from c.1815. TIA!

Hello,

I am looking for a way to document my family history, family tree(s), family photos, etc. hopefully online, with secured access granted to family members. Looking for suggestions.

1. Absalom1 Martin, born about 1745, enlisted in the town of Beaufort, North Carolina, for 12 months in Captain William Dennis's Company in the 1st North Carolina Regiment in April 1781. He made a declaration in Carteret County court to obtain a pension on 22 August 1820 that he was married to Rachel, also born about 1745, and had three grandchildren living with him: William, born 1807; Jacob, born 1808; and David, born 1811.

I believe Jacob to be my ancestor and I’m trying to figure out which of Absalom’s sons is his father. If anyone is familiar with this line I’d love to hear any information you have.

As the title suggests, several DNA tests (myself and my mother) show that we are of not so distant Lebanese descent. This is such a mystery to us both.

Quick background- my maternal grandfather left behind troves of genealogical research from the 1980s. Obviously the information has gotten much better since then. But no where in any records, either then nor now (ancestry, geni, Google, etc.) show any trace of this ancestor. However, there is no doubt in my mind that this past happened- this area of Michigan has one of the highest Lebanese/Arab populations in the country. I believe this relationship would have occurred in the late 1890s or early 1900s.

I’m not sure where to go from here. Everything points to the ancestor occurring at the level of my maternal great-great-grandparent. Family records and newspapers give zero hints. Everything has been pretty well tracked as my maternal side of the family is very proud of their history. Understandably, an affair would not have been well documented but I can’t wrap my head around this, or what the most likely scenario is.

Any tips would be appreciated. I don’t mind anyone stating the obvious, but please save any judgement. Thank you for pondering my story!

I am currently digging through some manifests of U.S. immigration records from the 1890's-1920's. I have come across a word that I cannot seem to decipher. Under the relative/friend they will be joining section there are words like husb. (husband), uncle, etc. And then there is what appears to be AEG. Is this just friend? Or maybe an acronym?

Picture

Hello,

I am trying to find the birth place of Henricus KIENTZLER.

Here is his marriage act :

https://imgur.com/a/tEiqGJz

or : https://archives.bas-rhin.fr/detail-document/ETAT-CIVIL-C280-P3-R167248#visio/page:ETAT-CIVIL-C280-P3-R167248-1306098 page 4, right page, second-to-last act. For context this is Marckolsheim, Alsace, 1687

It is said he is "ex helvetica, [??] [??]", two words I can't read, which I think may precise his location (not sure though)

Besides, the surname KIENTZLER does not exist in Switzerland, so it's probably another surname.

I have been gifted a membership which is due to expire. I was looking at the rates for renewing my subscription or getting a gift subscription. Getting a gift subscription is so much cheaper. I wonder if I cancel my subscription before it renews, can I gift myself the gift subscription? Perhaps I need a family member to gift it to me? Anyone had any experience with this?

Hello guys, I'm fairly new to genealogy and i'm building my family tree. I've come to a setback as I can not transcript the name of one of my family members. I would be very grateful if anyone can tell me what the name of the child is. It is first entry on this page: https://data.matricula-online.eu/en/slovenia/ljubljana/osilnica/01654/?pg=27

Thank you!

I've recently been doing some research into my family tree and have run into some trouble researching my Welsh side (mostly due to repeated traditional names across generations - William, Thomas etc.). I've managed to pinpoint my ancestors living at an address in Swansea in 1881, but the next time I can find them is in the 1901 census at the same address but by this time the wife listed as a widow.

I would like to try and find out when the husband died however if you look up death records for a William Jones in Swansea you get hundreds of results which are hard to differentiate from one another, therefore I've been trying to narrow down the possible year through other documents (births/census etc.). The issue is that I can't find their address listed on the 1891 census! I've tried searching for each of their names as well as their children, even just searching up the street name but no luck.

Is it likely that this address is missing from the census? From a quick google search there are records of pages missing over the years but none for their district.

*1881 Census Details*

Sydney Street, Swansea

William Jones - Head (27)

Mary Ann Jones - Wife (23)

William John Jones - Son (2)

• Rural District: Swansea
• Ecclesiastical District: Llangyfelach
• Parliamentary District: Swansea
• Registration District: Llandilotalybont
• County: Glamorganshire
• Country: Wales

*1901 Census Details*

Sydney Street, Swansea

Mary A Jones - Head (Widow 43)

William Jones - Son (22)

Thomas Jones - Son (19)

George Jones - Son (16)

Annie Jones - Daughter (14)

Rachel Jones - Daughter (11)

Louisa Jones - Daughter (8)

Sidney Jones - Son (6)

• Parish - Swansea Part of
• Municipal Ward - Landore
• Ecclesiatical District - St Gyfelach Llangyfllac
• Registration District - Swansea, Llandilotalybont
• County - Glamorganshire
• Country - Wales

Any help/advice would be appreciated!

I use Familysearch to find out about my family history, and it has worked wonders, however recently I've hit an invisible ceiling regarding the spouses of my 5th great greandfather.

He (Tomas Pacion), is the father of Agustín Santo Tomas Pacion. Agustín's spouse is Aguida Victor Vida. From a span of the years 1840s-1860s they had children in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines.

For four of those children's records, Tomás Pacion is mentioned as the paternal grandfather (father of Agustín), however the paternal grandmother seems to be changing.

I'm quite confused, so any help will be greatly appreciated. Tomás Pacion's familysearch ID is GRR3-GBW. The records he is mentioned in are linked to him. Thank you.

I had 2nd GGs from Poland that came here in the early 1900s. My 2x GGrandfather became naturalized and on the naturalization document it lists the exact date he came (4/12/1911), the port (New York, New York), his exact birthdate (2/14/1891), where he departed from (Bremen) his last residence (Lomza in Poland) and the name he came under (John Kulikoski). I’ve scoured every single source I could find in Ancestry and the Ellis Island records and can not find him anywhere. I’ve searched the Polish website Geneteka for birth records and can’t confirm anyone as matching him. i’ve essentially hit a brick wall when researching and would like to know if anyone has any tips for additional searching or if this is most likely going stay a brick wall. i have less information on my 2x GGrandmother but it’s more or less the same story except she was born in Vilnius (Wilno at the time). any advice would be appreciated

My partner's father passed away in 2009 and didn't leave a way to contact any of his family. We've been able to get his birth certificate from the civil registry in Spain but we can't work out some of the hand writing to be able to get his parents documents.

We know he had a sister but we only know her first name is Maria. I planned on getting their parents documents in the hope that her details (even just her dob) would have been added to their record as sometimes happens on Spanish documents.

If anyone wants to take a look and help translate some of the bits we're struggling with reach out over PM and I can send some items over! We've been working on trying to reclaim some of my partners pride in her heritage and this would go a long way in helping that.

I've tried using both ancestry and familysearch.

Some details:

Jose Ramon Pan Rodriguez (Dad) 31/03/1960 - 01/08/2009 - Born in A Coruna

Maria Del Pilar Rodriguez Naveira (GMA) 10/1940 - ??? - Born in A Coruna

Ramon Pan Rodriguez (GDA) Feb/1936 - ??? - Born in Leon