Author Topic: Why are the dead so interesting?  (Read 6783 times)

Offline coombs

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Why are the dead so interesting?
« on: Sunday 04 March 18 16:21 GMT (UK) »
May be answering my own question here but is it because they are dead that they are so fascinating?

Especially researching your ancestors, the fact you get so invested in someone who died 200 years ago or more, seems quite important.
Researching:

LONDON, Coombs, Roberts, Auber, Helsdon, Fradine, Morin, Goodacre
DORSET Coombs, Munday
NORFOLK Helsdon, Riches, Harbord, Budery
KENT Roberts, Goodacre
SUSSEX Walder, Boniface, Dinnage, Standen, Lee, Botten, Wickham, Jupp
SUFFOLK Titshall, Frost, Fairweather, Mayhew, Archer, Eade, Scarfe
DURHAM Stewart, Musgrave, Wilson, Forster
SCOTLAND Stewart in Selkirk
USA Musgrave, Saix
ESSEX Cornwell, Stock, Quilter, Lawrence, Whale, Clift
OXON Edgington, Smith, Inkpen, Snell, Batten, Brain

Online Viktoria

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Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 04 March 18 17:30 GMT (UK) »
In these days when we know so much about living people and so little, by comparison, about our ancestors, except for tantalising snippets it is natural now the means are available to try to find out more.
To "flesh out the bones" so to speak.
We are of them, maybe physical likeness,character similarities etc.
If only we could speak to them.
The questions we wish we could ask---.
There are so many reasons.In my case a longing for first hand accounts of some interesting events,,some tragic, others really inspiring.
Now no-one is still alive who had known these people there is a real sense of loss.
Whatever the reason I feel we are keeping their memory alive by researching their lives.
And how fortunate I feel when I find out about them , what hardships and mostly met with astonishing fortitude .
Good luck in your research. Viktoria.

Offline coombs

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Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 06 March 18 13:54 GMT (UK) »
In these days when we know so much about living people and so little, by comparison, about our ancestors, except for tantalising snippets it is natural now the means are available to try to find out more.
To "flesh out the bones" so to speak.
We are of them, maybe physical likeness,character similarities etc.
If only we could speak to them.
The questions we wish we could ask---.
There are so many reasons.In my case a longing for first hand accounts of some interesting events,,some tragic, others really inspiring.
Now no-one is still alive who had known these people there is a real sense of loss.
Whatever the reason I feel we are keeping their memory alive by researching their lives.
And how fortunate I feel when I find out about them , what hardships and mostly met with astonishing fortitude .
Good luck in your research. Viktoria.

Very true. We know much about the living. People who died centuries ago are more fascinating. They cannot speak any more so we have to try and find out as much as possible about them.
Researching:

LONDON, Coombs, Roberts, Auber, Helsdon, Fradine, Morin, Goodacre
DORSET Coombs, Munday
NORFOLK Helsdon, Riches, Harbord, Budery
KENT Roberts, Goodacre
SUSSEX Walder, Boniface, Dinnage, Standen, Lee, Botten, Wickham, Jupp
SUFFOLK Titshall, Frost, Fairweather, Mayhew, Archer, Eade, Scarfe
DURHAM Stewart, Musgrave, Wilson, Forster
SCOTLAND Stewart in Selkirk
USA Musgrave, Saix
ESSEX Cornwell, Stock, Quilter, Lawrence, Whale, Clift
OXON Edgington, Smith, Inkpen, Snell, Batten, Brain

Offline Mart 'n' Al

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Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 06 March 18 14:46 GMT (UK) »
Getting on for three years ago I started to try and find out more about my grandfather,  who died 15 years before I was born. Not only did I find that he was actually my great grandfather, but I got so sucked in to this whole game that I now know more about my ancestors than many of them probably knew about themselves. I also discovered that my sweet little old aunt was actually my grandmother and she was a bit of a "ladette" in the 1930s.

I've subsequently got increasingly interested in anything Victorian.

Martin


Offline BillyF

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Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 06 March 18 19:05 GMT (UK) »
In my case it`s the unanswered questions that arise from research, i.e why did my 2x gt grandmother Margaret not keep my gt grandmother Alice with her. There are trees online with Margaret`s 3 other daughters, but there was also a son who died at 5 days old and another son who I have found on the 1891 Census. All these 6 children were illegitimate but Alice was the only one to live with her father.

Also, on my Scottish side why my gtgrandfather left his wife and son, changing his surname to thta of his mother.

I`ll never know  but I do ponder on it almost to the point of obsession !!!

Offline coombs

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Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 08 March 18 15:49 GMT (UK) »
Wills can be good but I know of several ancestors who seemed to have property, (such as they are listed in a directory as a freeholder and weaver) or they were a tradesman and had children but never left a will. It was probably a private agreement that was taken or another reason. More people did not leave a will than those who did.
Researching:

LONDON, Coombs, Roberts, Auber, Helsdon, Fradine, Morin, Goodacre
DORSET Coombs, Munday
NORFOLK Helsdon, Riches, Harbord, Budery
KENT Roberts, Goodacre
SUSSEX Walder, Boniface, Dinnage, Standen, Lee, Botten, Wickham, Jupp
SUFFOLK Titshall, Frost, Fairweather, Mayhew, Archer, Eade, Scarfe
DURHAM Stewart, Musgrave, Wilson, Forster
SCOTLAND Stewart in Selkirk
USA Musgrave, Saix
ESSEX Cornwell, Stock, Quilter, Lawrence, Whale, Clift
OXON Edgington, Smith, Inkpen, Snell, Batten, Brain

Offline Intevel

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Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #6 on: Friday 09 March 18 10:14 GMT (UK) »
What I have a hard time grasping is how you don't wanna be friends with people who are alive. You wanna worship those that have passed on, and that's perfectly fine and great, but why do you look down on someone that is alive? Seems a bit disrespectful to the living. there has to be a balance.

Offline CarolA3

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Re: Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #7 on: Friday 09 March 18 10:28 GMT (UK) »
Intevel, a lot of people on RootsChat have a hard time grasping why you're so determined to pick fights over things that haven't even been said.

Remember, first impressions are important and this is only your first day here.

Carol
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Bullock, Cooper, Boler/Bowler, Wright, Robinson, Lee, Prior, Trinder, Newman, Walklin, Louch

Offline sarah

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Re: Why are the dead so interesting?
« Reply #8 on: Friday 09 March 18 10:32 GMT (UK) »
Intevel I am just sending you a PM

Regards

Sarah
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