Thursday, July 12, 2018

Low Energy Week

It is hot again and promises to continue the rest of the week.  Therefore, I am doing things that expend the least amount of energy possible.  It is too hot and humid to work with yarn.  Can't even scrape up enough energy to sew.  I have been neglecting my genealogy research, so this seems like a good time to put in some serious computer time where my only exercise is fingers on keyboard.

I love reading other folks blogs about their searches for ancestors.  Most times they give me new ideas about where to look online.  Sometimes their family stories are inspiring or courageous or amusing.  I am surprised at how many will go to great lengths to try to prove royalty or celebrity in their family lines.

Me...I like the black sheep.  The ones that other researchers in my family have glorified, ignoring  their sins.  Like one of my great grandfathers.  He served in the Civil War and was wounded in battle.  I will give him credit for that.  But nobody else mentioned the fact that he was court-martialed for being drunk on guard duty. He remained in the army as it was wartime and every man was needed to fight, but he forfeited most of his pay for three months. I once asked my Dad about him and Dad's reply was that his grandpa 'sure did love his booze.'  He was the reason my grandmother, his daughter, made my grandfather sign a paper stating that Grandpa would stay away from liquor.  Grandma wouldn't marry Grandpa until he signed on the dotted line.

Another ancestor has been praised by other researchers as the hero who was the first of that family line to reach the shores of America - the New World.  And that much is true.  However, while combing through old court records I found that this ancestor was a real bugger.  He harassed his neighbors to the point of being involved in several lawsuits.  He was put into stocks in the village square for leaving his wife alone long enough for her to become pregnant with another man's child.  Eventually the local citizenry had had enough of him and he and his wife were banished from the town.

Now here's the rub.  This boy child born to the wife is the ancestor from whom my family line descends.  If all of this is true and even though he carries the family surname, he may not be blood related.  So I am off to see what I can find out concerning this dilemma.

I love a good mystery, especially when it is within my own family.  :)

11 comments:

  1. His name wouldn't be Loren Duetz; would it?

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    1. Gorges...You have one of those in your family tree too, huh?!! Nope, not him. I don't use his name because I still have older relatives who would be broken hearted if I toppled their hero from his pedestal and I just don't have it in me to do that. :)

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    2. Well, vicki, the story was similar enough that I had to ask! - lol

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  2. Interesting what can be uncovered!! Not sure if you watch much TV but there is show called Who Do You Think You Are, and its celebrities finding out about their ancestors. I enjoy watching it if I happen to catch it. Would be interesting still with an average Joe but it nice to see some of these celebrities in a more normal setting and not acting.

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    1. Jenn...I don't own a TV any more, but I did find 'Who Do You Think You Are' online and have watched several episodes. I'm not interested in the celebrities. I mostly don't know who they are. I found episodes from the UK and Australia in addition the US and the fun part for me is watching how they find the information. I am limited to computer searches, but it is amazing how much data is online these days.

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  3. Great post. Might have to look into geneology at some point. The man who I knew as my maternal grandfather was actually my mom's stepdad. So I too have a whole side of my legacy to explore.
    Skipped my swim class this morning and went to two gardens instead. Didn't have the energy to do both and it's hot today,at least for here, so I needed to water. MrDog is at the groomers for a long needed bath.
    Take good care and stay cool.
    SJ

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    1. SJ...Too hot here to do very much. Reading and working on genealogy has been the extent of my energy output today. We have a little family restaurant on one corner of this block. Son said he would go there and bring me back a club sandwich and fries. It is way too hot here to cook, too.

      You have a mystery in your family to uncover. My problem with family mysteries is when I get going on one, I can't leave it alone until I find an answer. Good thing I enjoy the research!

      Hope your gardens stay green and growing. Some places here the heat is just burning up the plants.

      I'll bet Mr. Dog will be happy to be clean and brushed and all spiffy. I remember while working at the dog grooming shop, dogs would come in all quiet and acting old, but afterwards they acted like puppies!!

      Of course, I am happiest when clean and brushed and all spiffy, too. :)

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  4. Did you see all the rain up north last night. WILD. I walked out this am to dump the trash. OMG its was gross, no air moving. Went and cut half the yard today. Just the front half. My wife looked puzzled. Well its too warm to do the whole yard, and if the caretaker drives by she can see its cut. Curb appeal. I for one need to spend more time looking for skeletons in the closet. I may have to go down to Lakewood Cemetery, and see what records they have. I know there are one or two others who have taken up residence there, besides my grandparents. Keep cool, before you know it, there will be a knock at the door, old man winter again.

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    1. Rob...I checked the weather radar last night and saw there were storms rolling through northern MN. They seen to be getting lots of rain, where it keeps going north and south of us here. I heard where the temps are supposed to drop here next week. Sure hope they are right.

      I don't know if you know about the 'Find A Grave' website
      https://www.findagrave.com/
      I have found lots of my ancestors there and often there are spouses or siblings listed. I sure enjoy digging around to find as much as I can about my ancestors. I think it is important for the kids and grands to know where they came from.

      Stay cool, and you are right. A few months and we will be complaining about the cold and snow!!

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  5. I have a stack of books to help me trace my family history. It's been on my list of to-do's, but the list keeps growing. This year weeds win (or lose depending on how you look at it). I surely hope to save my garden, but I keep thinking of everything else I am unable to do too.

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    1. Kristina...It seems to be a matter of priorities, doesn't it. Fact is, you can't eat a family tree, but your garden will give your family nourishment. I think you may be a bit like me in that we have many interests. I thought when I retired that I would accomplish many things, but the reality is that in order to do all I still want to do, I will have to live to 147 years of age. :)

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