Do you ever think about your ancestors?

Question

Not just parents, grandparent, etc. But WAY back.

How far back can you trace? Have you done research?

It's odd sometimes to think that each of us had relatives living and trying to make their way 500 or 1,000 years ago.

I met and remember one grandmother and one great grandmother. Who do you remember?

Any other thoughts?

Great answers! Thanks! Keep 'em comin'! :)

Answer 1

I do. I think about wh my ancestors were like waaaay back when - like when they were still in Africa. I wish there was a way to know some of the history. As blacks, its really hard to trace anything since we were bought and sold, and had names given to us, and were always separted, that kinda sucks. I used to HATE doing the "family tree" assignments in school, because we simply couldn't go past my great-grandmother/father - the rest were slaves.

Answer 2

I have been doing genealogy for about 16 years. Every time I work on it, I do think about my ancestors. How did they live? What did they look like? Do I look similar? What kind of fears or hopes did they have? I try to put a human element that sometimes is lacking from looking for names and dates.

As for tracing my family tree, I do have one line that goes back to the late 1400s in what is now Southern Germany. I think about the wars that erupted in that area during the time period that my ancestors lived there. So many religious wars happened there. What were my ancestors thinking during every war? Did they fight and survive? Were their homes destroyed and did they rebuild?

I then think about my ancestors in this country. What were they doing during the Revolution? I know a few did fight. What about the others? Were they Patriots or Loyalist? I am still not sure a few. I haven't done that kind research yet.

What about the Civil War? I know 3 served in the Union Army, but what my Kentuckian ancestry? Still need more research there. It would be interesting to know if families were divided.

I could go on and on, so I had better stop before I write a book. LOL. Thanks for the question.

Answer 3

I remember both paternal and maternal grandparents and my maternal great grandmother.

But, that being said: Point One; there is not much you can do about ancestors or family in general. You are what you are and that's what you got!

If you have done some research into your past, and don't like what you saw, see point #1 above.

If you do like what you saw, see point #1 above.

It's up to each of us (and our responsibility) to make the most and best of ourselves as we can. Thus perpetuating the family, gene pool, civilization and mankind in general.

This is the rub that I have with the lazy ones who think they can just get along without an education. Living off the system. Robbing and stealing from others, some body else owes me, etc, etc. Each of us either moves the human race upward, or downward, based upon our choices in life and what we do with our lives. Whoops.

Probably more than you asked for.

Answer 4

I can trace my family back to the Mayflower (not its first voyage). On my mother's side. My eldest sister has been researching our family. I'm not sure how many generations back she's found.

I knew one great grandmother and both my grandmothers. My father's father (and a sister) died in the flu pandemic of 1918. My mother's father died when I was a little girl. I don't remember him. I also remember a great aunt that we used to visit every Sunday after church. She'd give each of us kids a quarter. We thought we were rich! I've read a couple of books about the flu of 1918. It's helped me to feel closer to my grandfather. My dad was only 2 when his father died.

My heritage is mostly Irish. I am fascinated by all things Irish. As you might guess by my name.

Answer 5

I think about my ancestors, all the time. I can trace my family all the way back to the 1600s. I did research on it, as it turns out some of my family came to America as Hessian soldiers during the revolutionary war.

Answer 6

Sadly i dont kno n e of my familys past. I think about it alot. Im not even sure wut heritages I am. I think about it ALOT lol I wish I knew where I came from. I only got my immediate family. Sum random cuzins I dont keep in touch wit, but everyone else died b4 I was born or wen I was rele little. All I kno is wen Im about to get married, were getti n blood tests so I kno 4sure we aint related!

Answer 7

the human race will never come to an end,YOU are going to be an ancestor in a few years to come,so shapen your life so that you will become the best one to remember.
good luck.

Answer 8

I can trace some of my family back to 800AD.

I often think about them, and makes me wonder whether they had it easier or if we do.

I also wonder did they thing about their future relatives (us)?

Answer 9

it would be intresting to know and i have thought about it from time to time but all i know about my ancestors is that that came to america from ireland in the early 1900s...

Answer 10

yea one of mine is John Hancock