Grandma's Genealogy Poem, and others

[Berlin-Bob]

I found this recently on http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/magazine/augsep2003/gen_poem.htm. I haven't checked out the site, so I don't know if it is worth adding to "Sharing useful links", but I thought this might raise a few chuckles, (or "don't I know it !!" groans) ...

I've been doing family history for nearly 30 years,
Diligently tracing my illustrious forebears,
From Pigeon Lake to Peterborough, Penrith to Penzance,
My merry band of ancestors has led me quite a dance.

There's cooks from Kent and guards from Gwent
and chimney sweeps from Chester.
There's even one daft fisherman lived all his life in Leicester,
There's no-one rich or famous, no not even well-to-do,
Though a second cousin twice removed once played in goal for Crewe.

I've haunted record offices from Gillingham to Jarrow,
The little grey cells of my mind would humble Hercule Poirot.
I've deciphered bad handwriting that would shame a three year old,
And brought the black sheep of the family back to the fold.

My bride of just three minutes, I left standing in the church,
As I nipped into the graveyard for a spot of quick research.
Eventually I found an uncle, sixty years deceased.
That was far more satisfying than a silly wedding feast,

After three weeks of wedded bliss, my wife became despondent.
She named the public records office as the co-respondent.
I didn't even notice when she packed her bags and went
I was looking for a great granddad's will who'd died in Stoke on Trent

But now my 30 year obsession's lying in the bin
Last Tuesday week, I heard some news that made me pack it in.
Twas then my darling mother, who is not long for this earth,
Casually informed me they'd adopted me at birth!

[Berlin-Bob]

Ever wondered why the details in the records don't always match up with what you know ??

Some of the answers are here .....

http //www gro-scotland gov uk/grosweb/grosweb.nsf/pages/gems sorry link broken at the moment

[moscan]

Genealogists Collect Dead Relatives

A family tree can wither if nobody tends its roots.
Many family trees were started by grafting.
Any family tree produces lemons, nuts, and a few bad apples.
Ever find an ancestor HANGING from your family tree?
Every family tree has some sap in it.
Genealogists are time travellers.
Everyone believes in heredity until their children act like fools.
It's hard to believe that someday I'LL be an ancestor.
Many a family tree needs trimming.
My ancestors must have been in the government witness protection program.
My family came on the Mayflower...or was it Allied?
My family tree must have been used for firewood.
My hobby is genealogy and I raise dust bunnies for pets.
Only a genealogist regards a step backwards as progress.
Reminder: undocumented genealogy is mythology.
So many ancestors, so little time.
Whoever said seek and ye shall find was NOT a genealogist.
Genealogists live in the past lane.
I think that I shall never see a completed genealogy.
Genealogists collect dead relatives


And I think we all say this prayer at times


Prayer For Genealogists
Lord, help me dig into the past,
And sift the sands of time,
That I might find the roots that made
This family tree mine.
Lord, help me trace the ancient roads,
On which my fathers trod,
And led them through so many lands,
To find our present sod.
Lord, help me find an ancient book,
Or dusty manuscript,
That's safely hidden now away,
In some forgotten crypt,
Lord, let it bridge the gap that haunts
My soul, when I can't find
The missing link between some name
That ends the same as mine.

[Pollynation]

whilst searching for my family tree i came upon this:-


THE GENEALOGIST'S LAMENT
I started out calmly, tracing my tree,
To find, if I could, the making of me;
And all that I had was great grandfather's name,
Not knowing his wife or from which he came
I chased him across a long line of states,
And came up with pages and pages of dates.
When all put together, it made me forlorn;
I'd proved that poor granddad had never been born.
One day, I was sure the truth I had found,
Determined to turn this whole thing upside down.
I looked up the record of one Uncle John,
But then found the old man was as young as his son.
Then, when my hopes were fast growing dim,
I came across records that must have been him.
But the facts I collected made me quite sad,
Dear old great granddad was never a dad.
I think maybe someone is pulling my leg,
I'm not all sure I wasn't hatched from an egg,
After hundreds of pounds I've spent on my tree,
I cannot help but wonder if I'm really me.
Author Anonymous


thought it was good, it sounds like me 

[MrsLizzy]

This is good, Poll!  I started as a 17 year old - phoned up the then St Catherine's House and asked for advice, but got a snooty switchboard operator who told me dismissively "It takes a lot of time and a lot of money."  I thought something unprintable and got on with it.  Over 20 years later, here I am, several cousins richer.   So it just goes to show, you should completely ignore anyone who tries to put you off.  I had read about "family stories" so I expected the family story of "a French lady in the family" even though it was quite a modest one, to have no basis in fact.  Turned out they were right though!

[Berlin-Bob]

Another lament:

I've been doing family history for nearly 30 years,
Diligently tracing my illustrious forebears,
From Pigeon Lake to Peterborough, Penrith to Penzance,
My merry band of ancestors has led me quite a dance.

There's cooks from Kent and guards from Gwent
and chimney sweeps from Chester.
There's even one daft fisherman lived all his life in Leicester,
There's no-one rich or famous, no not even well-to-do,
Though a second cousin twice removed once played in goal for Crewe.

I've haunted record offices from Gillingham to Jarrow,
The little grey cells of my mind would humble Hercule Poirot.
I've deciphered bad handwriting that would shame a three year old,
And brought the black sheep of the family back to the fold.

My bride of just three minutes, I left standing in the church,
As I nipped into the graveyard for a spot of quick research.
Eventually I found an uncle, sixty years deceased.
That was far more satisfying than a silly wedding feast,

After three weeks of wedded bliss, my wife became despondent.
She named the public records office as the co-respondent.
I didn't even notice when she packed her bags and went
I was looking for a great granddad's will who'd died in Stoke on Trent

But now my 30 year obsession's lying in the bin
Last Tuesday week, I heard some news that made me pack it in.
Twas then my darling mother, who is not long for this earth,
Casually informed me they'd adopted me at birth!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I posted this earlier on, 
and people have added to the thread

Thanks for the reminder,  I have merged the threads -  Moderator

[MrsLizzy]

Love that one!  With me and my husband, it's the other way round - I'm the one obsessed with graveyards and record offices.  He reckons I'm just obsessed with dead people.

 

[Pollynation]

there's some good poetry on here.

My husband thought i was obsessed untill i started doing his tree, ( i got stuck on mine). he quite interested now

only been doing this for about a year, so i'm quite new to the game really.
But i intend to carry on till they put me to rest in some quiet bit of churchyard

Pauline

[MrsLizzy]

One year we were stuck for ideas for a birthday present for my mother in law, whose birthday falls in late November.  Around the middle of August, my husband suddenly said "I know what you can give Mother for her birthday!  Research her family history!"

I said "In three months??!"