One wish

[Ayashi]

If you could have one FH wish, what would it be?

1) For a mysterious inheritance to appear for you (like from heir hunters or something)

2) A much searched for record miraculously appears.

3) The discovery of a new living relative

4) For more family history records to become available

5) To have one opportunity to time travel. Where would you go or who would you visit?

6) Something else (please specify)

Just thought it might be interesting to ask around

It has occured to me though that if I chose no 5, with Bradys in Ireland, Hines and Urwins near the Scottish border and Jones in Wales, if I went back to talk to ancestors I probably wouldn't understand a word they said 

[Roobarb]

I wouldn't wish for number 1, I think most family historians are in it for the fun (although no doubt there are some will seekers). When I read number 2 I was about to choose that but then spotted number 5 - the ability to time travel. I would love that! I would visit Topsham in Devon (have become obsessed with it since my recent visit) and see how my ancestors were living  at that time- gt gt gt grandfather was a Mariner so may be away at sea (but I'd like to 'land' when he's there) his wife and daughter making lace. I'd like to time it for after the birth of gt grandfather. The old town has been very well preserved so the houses probably didn't look very different from outside but I'm sure they did inside! It would be fascinating to see their way of life.

[lizdb]

Initially I went for 4 - more records available, so I could piece together more of my families history. But then realised 5 would be better, instead of relying on what records have survived about my ancestors, and my interperatation of them, maybe wrongly, I could actually meet the people myself! I would travel to various villages along the Sussex coast, especially stopping at Poling to chat to John and Elizabeth Edmonds about their family, their lifestyle, and to double check John's parentage with him!

[Bilge]

No5. I would go armed with every device to record details from all my ancestors.
Hopefully take more of a interest in it than the rest of my family over the centuries.

Oh and keep an eye open for witch hunters as no doubt we would be classed as one with our knowledge of the past and future.

[millymcb]

Of course, if you went back and met your ancestors you wouldn't know if they were telling the truth or not - especially as they would wonder who this lunatic was who popped up asking them lots of personal questions

I'd quite like to go back and visit my 3 x great grandfather's shop - I could hang around and meet all the locals from the village and get all the gossip that way.

Or visit my great grandfather in India where he served in the army for 12 years - and find out why no one in the family ever thought to mention it.

I'm patient enough to wait for new records - as I'd rather they were transcribed correctly rather than quickly

I've been lucky enough to find some lovely living relatives already ..

And if course - if someone did pop up with a bit of an inheritance I wouldn't say no

Milly

[Aulus]

Definitely 5 - time travel.

I have a long list of people and times I need to visit ...

I like the idea of going to a village shop to get the gossip - that sounds better and much more convenient than confronting these people directly.  I think weddings would be good to go to too - all those people there.

I'd also like to ask Florence (see my avatar) to tell me something about herself.  Anything!  And then I'd like to talk to her husband, to find out his side of the story as to what Florence did so that nobody would talk about her ever after.

But it's not just dead people that I'd like answers from.  My grandfather's second wife is still alive (well, she's on the electoral roll), and I'd love her to tell me more about him and why he divorced my grandmother (rather than relying on the hearsay from the other side of the family).  I've written to her, but she didn't respond. 

[MarkyP]

Most definitely 5.

I really need to go back to the Isle of White around 1750, if someone could oblige? 

[Erato]

Time travel.  I'd go back to the end of the Precambrian to witness the explosion of life forms.

[ozlady]

No.5. I'd find my g.g.grandmother and boy, oh, boy, would I have some questions for her!