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Creating a Personal History of Ancestors (view source)
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== [[Image:Campbell, | == [[Image:Campbell, Adam R, Family Photo.jpg|thumb|right|Campbell, Adam R, Family Photo.jpg]]Ancestors Personal History == | ||
If you have ever read a historical novel or narrative, you know how interesting they make history to be. So why don't you try to write one about your own ancestors. <br><br> | If you have ever read a historical novel or narrative, you know how interesting they make history to be. So why don't you try to write one about your own ancestors. <br><br> | ||
But you asked, how do you write a personal history of an ancestor who may have lived hundreds of years ago and left no diary? It is not easy, but you can make some assumptions like authors of such works do.<br><br> | But you asked, how do you write a personal history of an ancestor who may have lived hundreds of years ago and left no diary? It is not easy, but you can make some assumptions like authors of such works do.<br><br> | ||
For example, we can assume that if person left his home land to come to American, he did so for a reason. We might be able to figure out that reason by studying a little of the history of the country they immigrated from.<br><br> | For example, we can assume that if person left his home land to come to American, he did so for a reason. We might be able to figure out that reason by studying a little of the history of the country they immigrated from.<br><br> | ||
We may find out that they came to American because they were being persecuted for their religion or political convictions like the puritans. Or they came because they were just plain hungry and tired of not having enough to eat like the Irish in the 1850's.<br><br> | We may find out that they came to American because they were being persecuted for their religion or political convictions like the puritans. Or they came because they were just plain hungry and tired of not having enough to eat like the Irish in the 1850's.<br><br> | ||
=== Typical day in the life on an ancestor === | === Typical day in the life on an ancestor === | ||
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=== 1800 Personal History Questions === | === 1800 Personal History Questions === | ||
Here is a list of 1800 questions you can use as memory ticklers. See [ | Here is a list of 1800 questions you can use as memory ticklers. See [[Creating_A_Personal_History|Creating A Personal History]] for other items you might want to research in writing these histories. | ||
=== Research === | === Research === | ||
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=== Immigrant Ancestors === | === Immigrant Ancestors === | ||
For your immigrant ancestors, you can also repeat these same questions for the area they settled in. You can use these questions until you get to a generation that has written records that you can access. However, you still need to know the history of the area.<br><br> | For your immigrant ancestors, you can also repeat these same questions for the area they settled in. You can use these questions until you get to a generation that has written records that you can access. However, you still need to know the history of the area.<br><br> | ||
And as I've said, most of this information can be had in a couple of books in a few hours of study. Your problem will be that it is hard to quit reading. You'll probably find that you just can’t get enough of those things which you know had a directly effect on your ancestors. | And as I've said, most of this information can be had in a couple of books in a few hours of study. Your problem will be that it is hard to quit reading. You'll probably find that you just can’t get enough of those things which you know had a directly effect on your ancestors. | ||
<br><br>Of my eight second great grand fathers, seven of them enlisted in the Civil War. The one that did not was an old man in 1861. However knowing this made me pay much more attention to the PBS series “The Civil War” produced by Ken Burns. I could just see my ancestors in the pictures that were shown on the TV screen. <br><br> | <br><br>Of my eight second great grand fathers, seven of them enlisted in the Civil War. The one that did not was an old man in 1861. However knowing this made me pay much more attention to the PBS series “The Civil War” produced by Ken Burns. I could just see my ancestors in the pictures that were shown on the TV screen. <br><br> | ||
The descriptions of the battles and living conditions gave me a good idea of what they went through. I have a much more profound respect for them and their devotion to duty.<br><br> | The descriptions of the battles and living conditions gave me a good idea of what they went through. I have a much more profound respect for them and their devotion to duty.<br><br> | ||
Anyway I think you can see how interesting history will now become when there is a personal link to what you are studying. These people become more alive to you and you’ll want to learn more about them. You know, we really are the sum of those who came before us. | Anyway I think you can see how interesting history will now become when there is a personal link to what you are studying. These people become more alive to you and you’ll want to learn more about them. You know, we really are the sum of those who came before us. | ||
[[Category:Personal_History|Personal_History]] | [[Category:Personal_History|Personal_History]] | ||