« Reply #16 on: Monday 16 January 17 18:34 GMT (UK) »
Things that interest non-genealogists from my experience:
1. Having photos of an ancestor immediately makes them more interesting.
2. Revealing that your ancestors came from a "different place", whether that be a county or a country.
3. Revealing that your ancestors were originally from the same place you live now, but moved away and recent generations only just came back.
4. Traits of ancestors that match the traits of living descendants. "This is who we get our big noses from".
5. Tales of sadness and hardship.
6. How far back the family has been traced.
Also it helps to stick with surnames they are familiar with. Even if the info you have on your mutual 5x great grandfather is really interesting, it means nothing to non-genealogists if it's a surname they have no immediate connection to.
My brother did ask me how the family tree is doing and I said that one of our ancestors came from our home city, Norwich, and moved to Bethnal Green. He said "So they went from Norwich to London and back again".
Another thing to interest non genealogists is telling them about the 2 convicts in the family transported to Australia. One for stealing a horse, and one for maiming someone. Juicier than stealing a basket of apples.
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