Genealogy Chat

Hi Sarah I'm lucky enough to have a few family anecdotes about my poverty stricken ancestors who sidestepped the law (without getting caught) to support their families, as well as those who chose to migrate/move to another country. However, all have been padded out with details of social and employment conditions of the day - google 'timelines' for what it was like then. Each member of my family has their own 'book' which begins with either a picture or written chart of their family tree back to their g grandparents. Successive pages are devoted to stories of their own childhoods, as well as that of their parents, grands and great grands. And of course I scan photos wherever possible. Updates of the 'events' of the past year are part of their Christmas gifts. Once we get back to gg grands, I include the stories I've heard of poaching, how the headstone was cracked - and repaired - and include information about the life and times of a private in the Boer War, down a Welsh coalmine, sergeant in WW1 and what the medals were awarded for, etc. For the youngsters in particular, listing them as the No 1 person (Me) on the ancestral chart, gives them a sense of importance and they can't wait for more stories. Today, I attended the naming ceremony of my third g neice and already the other two g nieces are complaining that they have to wait another 8 months til Christmas when they'll be given a hard copy description of the event with pics included. Remember, it's as important to record today's stories as it is to remember yesterday's - and if you don't do it, who will? Hope this helps Cheers Sue in Western Australia Sue Winter Lifestory Writer (08) 9451 3157 If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance!

Sarah, If you want to give a picture of how your ancestors lived, it might be worth investigating local and social history as well. Perhaps start with something easy like who was on the throne at the time, move onto major wars (eg the Napoleonic Wars affected people deeply here and there were town/village parties when it ended). With the help of military websites, I've built stories around two individuals, for example, who literally gave their all for King & Country in WW1. Rather than just accepting that they died on a certain date, I looked for the circumstances surrounding their sacrifices. Have learned an awful lot that way - wish I'd listened properly when I was at school!! Good luck with your writing. Regs Jane

I am currently doing just that. I have started from my great grandfather and worked forward and backwards. I chose him because a couple of years ago we had a family reunion to celebrate his 150th birthday (it was a great excuse for a party!) and people from each branch of his descendants attended about 80 in all. I have written the information in story form and included scanned copies of photo's and certificates in the text, cropping and downsizing where necessary to fit them in. I have then gone back through the ancestors for him and for his wife. His father died in the Crimean war when he was 3, so I have included extracts from the regimental history about the battle that he died in. The regimental museum has been really helpful in supplying me with that info. The family then travelled to New Zealand, a young widow with 3 small children, one a baby born after her fathers death. I have therefore included information that I have found about life on the immigrant ships. I then wrote about his children, much of that information I gleaned by talking to my uncle and a couple of his cousins who shared information about their parent, and aunts and uncles. I added hard evidence that I was able to find from electoral rolls and newspapers of the day, there are of course plenty of photos of that generation. I have then included all of the family from the following generations up to the latest addition to the family 3 months ago, and for that I have just used the report from my family tree programme, so it is just the basic births, deaths and marriages. I had originally hoped that I would be able to include stories about the members of my fathers generation in the same way that I had about my grandfathers generation, but that was proving much too larger task. I will do that for my father and his brother just for the immediate family though. If we don't get this information down while there are still people who remember, it will be lost. Christine in NZ

I haven't finished mine yet but I have started two. One from myself back telling all I can remember, little bits like neighbours and friends, school day even the hated school dinners. Then the family I have found from research I have worked back Generation 1, 2 etc. Putting down all that we know. Where brother or sisters are, Aunts and Uncles. When I have got back to census, I try and put each down as well, where they all are. A bit like a story, the thing I have to work out is how in incorperate my family and my husbands so our children and grandchildren will know who we are talking about. Even if we have the family tree on a disc if they don't have the program how will they see it. But as long as I have written everything down on Word and saved that at least they will have plenty to go on. Irene

Book wise, I've scanned in photos I want to use and inserted them into the text of what I'm writing to protect the originals - also I can print out as many copies as I want and they'll all have the pictures. Secondly, I had an idea this week - for engaging the younger members of the family in family history - of making a story sack of our ancestors. Along with a big tree, photos, easy-to-read- history, I though of including things my grandparents enjoyed doing as well - e.g. a CD of their favourite music, a packet of their favourite sweets, postcards of places they lived in/went to on holiday. Perhaps also making a family tree into a jigsaw for the younger ones to put together so they can see how the family fits together. Put 'story sacks' into Google if you haven't heard of them before. Also if you can suggest any more of the type of things to put in, please let me know! hope this is helpful Lesley

Thank you for your help, it has given me alot to think about. Sarah

Hi Sarah, My partner brought me the family tree maker for my birthday and with a few clicks it gives you reports based on the information you have submitted. It's great. Nicky

When I asked a similar question last week I had some good replies. If you search for 'want to make a book..' you should find the thread.

Has anyone wrote up their research, to pass on to other family members? How did you go out it? What information did you use? How did you display it? Any infomation or websites would be of use. Please help i am stuck!!!!!! Thank you