UN SUCCESS STORIES

[wini]

For months, I have been trying to find some Sutherland rellies.
I eventually found my Grandfather's sister had moved to Tain in the late 1890's she lived until she was 99 and I then remembered an Aunt Isobel (0nly a distant aunt) from my childhood who it turns out was her daughter. She has died but I traced her son, and I thought maybe he had the key to what I was looking for only to find that his mother burned all the papers when Grandfathers sister died.
Wouldn't it make you spit.

wini

[Russell]

Hi Wini

It could make you weep when you find out stories like that. The memories of a whole family line gone, with only the formal registration documents as evidence that they ever existed

That's when I realise how fortunate I have been to have a bunch of hoarders who kept all official papers and every photo taken - even the ones which were terrible.
In the days before the written word, an oral historian was appointed. Maybe we should appoint family historians to ensure all the things we have gathered stay together safely.
Maybe the box of old papers under the bed should have a notice on it saying 'Family History Documentation - Do Not Destroy'

Look at it as a challenge Wini Just think of all the other sources you will have to dig out to fill the gaps

Russell

[joette]

My Granny was fizzing when her brother-theonly survivng son amongst seven sisters cleared out his pigeon loft & burnt what was being stored there including the family bible which she as the eldest daughter would have cherished.
Luckily she had a great memory(when not telling a few porkies) & I was able to trace back on her McKimmie line to 1750 from her snippetts from the Family Bible.
We have in my Grandpa's medal box precious papers/photos/letters etc.
He must have been a man of sentiment for there are little mementoes like postcards & letters which his sister sent to their Mother-along the "Put the kettle on I will be returning tomorrow afternoon have had a great holiday" variety. He was not the eldest son so I am presuming that he went & helped himself when his Mother died.He spent if the Censuses are correct most of the time living next door with his brothers & his maternal Grandparents & had a lot of their family papers also.