Tracing Roots

​At the time I am writing this column, I have officially been a member of Ancestry.com for maybe 45 minutes. Less than 15 minutes was all that it took to have me hooked! My grandmother and I had looked into it years back, but after her death in 2011, I was no longer interested. But here I am now, already needing an intervention!
I suppose attending a Lunch and Learn session in the Old St. Stephens Courthouse started it and then it was compounded by attending Old St. Stephens Day on Saturday. I love a good story and the stories of Mahala Martin and Temperance Crawford are among my favorite local stories.
What’s the point in genealogy? Why has it become such a booming business and hobby? I think it’s because of the stories. Secretly, we want to be connected to someone important historically so that we can proudly tout the accomplishments of our forefathers, George Washington, the Wright Brothers, Pocahontas, the list can get lengthy. I’d personally love to find a little green leaf that connects me to Mark Twain or Laura Ingalls Wilder. I don’t think it’ll happen, but one can dream!
My wise friend Cindy laughs at genealogy. She bluntly states that “There’s a horse thief in every family.” Her western logic rings true. I’d guess that most people have at least one person on the family tree that they aren’t so proud of, but that person has a story, also.  There are lessons to be learned from both the venerated and the scorned.
Genealogy is the task of tracing one’s ancestral roots. In this progressive Internet age, it has become a popular hobby, due to the ready availability of databases, records and photographs online. Genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States; gardening takes the top spot.  The research of lineage has spawned a billion-dollar industry that includes websites, books, television shows and ancestry DNA testing.  While popular, ancestry research is certainly not new. Biblical accounts provide generational listings for Jesus and the patriarchs. Although today’s methods are certainly easier than ever. Just a few minutes on the right website can have a person wonderfully distracted!
Starting with what you know is the best way to begin most tasks and genealogy is no exception. Family Bibles usually contain a family tree page that provides a wealth of knowledge because in generations prior, they sat down with a pen and filled those things out. From what you know, you will slowly move into the unknown and see names that are not familiar. With access to government census records, names, birthdates, occupations and all household members can be seen.
If puzzles and mysteries hold your attention, there’s no doubt ancestry research will as well. There are so many different ways to approach it and a variety of sources for information. There are different reasons why people choose to take up this hobby. For some, it’s mere curiosity. Others have specific reasons, such as wanting to prove ancestral connections to a lineage organization (Daughters of American Revolution, United States Cavalry Association, Order of the First World War), tracking family medical issues, validating family lore and preserving a family legacy. Genealogy research not only connects an individual to the past, it also assists family members by helping them connect in the present. Social media has proven to be a beneficial tool to connect long-lost relatives.
If genealogy research was “just” a list of names, I’d be bored, but there is so much more to it. I have found pictures of my grandparents and great-grandparents that I have never seen before and I’m starting to see a pattern with some “family names.” Based on what I’ve seen, I’ll stick with it, add some pictures of my own and maybe a few family anecdotes. I didn’t go looking for a new hobby, but I suppose I have one now. I want to see more pictures and read more stories…even stories about “horse thieves.” After all, according to Plato, “Those who tell the stories rule the world.”