Some time ago I met a gentleman who was waitng for a bus. As we were chatting he asked me what day it was. I replied that it was Thursday, why? He said since I retired every day seems the same.
I said "don't you have any hobbies?" and he replied "I never had time when I was working and now I'm too old to learn something new"
I told him that I was coming up for retirement soon and have the perfect hobby. I told him about my involvement in family history research.
The chap said he didn't have any family so it would be a waste of time him doing that.
I gave him a challenge 'If I can find you some family would you be interested?'
"But I don't have any family" he said. "Just answer the question" I replied.
"Well I suppose I would" he went on..."It would be nice to have someone to talk about old times to and perhaps to visit. It would give my life some purpose as I feel useless at the moment."
I encouraged my new friend to come along to the next meeting of our Family History Society which was in two days time.
I was a bit skeptical whether he would show up but at 7pm there he was. We went in and I introduced him - 'John' was his name - to some of my friends. Within five minutes John met someone who he had worked with several years ago. He chatted for a while with his old workmate, then the evenings talk started. The talk was about local historical buildings and the businesses that occupied the buildings.
"My uncle used to run a business in that shop" John whispered to me, pointing to a slide that our guest speaker was showing.
At the end of the meeting John told me that he had enjoyed his first evening out since he had retired and said he would like to join the society. I got him signed up right away.
John never misses a meeting now and has even started researching his family tree. He's even met several 'Distant Cousins' who he keeps in touch with regularly.
John thanked me for introducing him to this facinating hobby. He now has plenty to keep him occupied. John now has 'Family' again. He has a great social life and a wonderful hobby.
If you are coming up for retirement, take a tip from John. "Join your local 'Family History Society' you won't regret it."
Find YOUR local Family History Society here: http://familyhistory4all.co.uk/family_history_societies.htm
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Monday, 17 May 2010
Browsing Old Cemeteries
Browsing Old Cemeteries
It is often assumed that family historians and their hobby is a bit of a bore!
Not a bit of it...Enjoy just ONE PAGE of several of family historians humor. More can be found at: http://familyhistory4all.co.uk/articles.htm
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
And, one who can enjoy browsing old cemeteries...
Some fascinating things on old tombstones!
Harry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York :
Born 1903--Died 1942.
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the
car was on the way down. It was.
=============================
In a Thurmont, Maryland , cemetery:
Here lies an Atheist, all dressed up
and no place to go.
=============================
On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in
East Dalhousie Cemetery , Nova Scotia :
Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102.
Only The Good Die Young.
=============================
In a London , England cemetery:
Here lies Ann Mann, Who lived an old maid
but died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767
=============================
In a Ribbesford, England , cemetery:
Anna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread, And
the Lord sent them manna. Clark Wallace
wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.
===============================
In a Ruidoso, New Mexico , cemetery:
Here lies Johnny Yeast... Pardon him
for not rising.
===============================
In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania , cemetery:
Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake.
Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.
==============================
In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery:
Here lays The Kid.
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger
But slow on the draw.
================================
A lawyer's epitaph in England :
Sir John Strange.
Here lies an honest lawyer,
and that is Strange.
=================================
John Penny's epitaph in the Wimborne,
England , cemetery:
Reader, if cash thou art in want of any,
Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.
==================================
In a cemetery in Hartscombe , England :
On the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went
out of tune.
==================================
Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls ,
Vermont :
Here lies the body of our Anna,
Done to death by a banana.
It wasn't the fruit that laid her low,
But the skin of the thing that made her go.
==================================
On a grave from the 1880s in Nantucket ,
Massachusetts :
Under the sod and under the trees,
Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.
He is not here, there's only the pod.
Pease went to God.
==================================
In a cemetery in England :
Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, so shall you be.
Remember this and follow me.
To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone:
To follow you I'll not consent.
Until I know which way you went.
Enjoy your Family History
Jim Ackroyd: http://familyhistory4all.co.uk/articles.htm
It is often assumed that family historians and their hobby is a bit of a bore!
Not a bit of it...Enjoy just ONE PAGE of several of family historians humor. More can be found at: http://familyhistory4all.co.uk/articles.htm
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
And, one who can enjoy browsing old cemeteries...
Some fascinating things on old tombstones!
Harry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York :
Born 1903--Died 1942.
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the
car was on the way down. It was.
=============================
In a Thurmont, Maryland , cemetery:
Here lies an Atheist, all dressed up
and no place to go.
=============================
On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in
East Dalhousie Cemetery , Nova Scotia :
Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102.
Only The Good Die Young.
=============================
In a London , England cemetery:
Here lies Ann Mann, Who lived an old maid
but died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767
=============================
In a Ribbesford, England , cemetery:
Anna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread, And
the Lord sent them manna. Clark Wallace
wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.
===============================
In a Ruidoso, New Mexico , cemetery:
Here lies Johnny Yeast... Pardon him
for not rising.
===============================
In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania , cemetery:
Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake.
Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.
==============================
In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery:
Here lays The Kid.
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger
But slow on the draw.
================================
A lawyer's epitaph in England :
Sir John Strange.
Here lies an honest lawyer,
and that is Strange.
=================================
John Penny's epitaph in the Wimborne,
England , cemetery:
Reader, if cash thou art in want of any,
Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.
==================================
In a cemetery in Hartscombe , England :
On the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went
out of tune.
==================================
Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls ,
Vermont :
Here lies the body of our Anna,
Done to death by a banana.
It wasn't the fruit that laid her low,
But the skin of the thing that made her go.
==================================
On a grave from the 1880s in Nantucket ,
Massachusetts :
Under the sod and under the trees,
Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.
He is not here, there's only the pod.
Pease went to God.
==================================
In a cemetery in England :
Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, so shall you be.
Remember this and follow me.
To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone:
To follow you I'll not consent.
Until I know which way you went.
Enjoy your Family History
Jim Ackroyd: http://familyhistory4all.co.uk/articles.htm
Monday, 10 May 2010
Family History Website - Guestbook
If you have your own family history website, then you really should set up a guestbook. It's easy to set up from your control panel or you can do a Google search for free guestbooks and then link it to your site.
I have guestbooks on both my family history sites:
http://familyhistory4all.co.uk
http://ackroydancestry.co.uk
My wife also has a guestbook on her sites:
http://ackroydfamilyresearch.co.uk
http://nolanancestry.com
We both get lots of interaction with our visitors using guestbooks and we have also discovered lots of distant relatives as a bonus.
So be sure to add a guestbook to your website.
Forums and blogs such as this one are also great ways to allow your visitors to interact with you.
Good luck with your websites
Jim and Carol Ackroyd
I have guestbooks on both my family history sites:
http://familyhistory4all.co.uk
http://ackroydancestry.co.uk
My wife also has a guestbook on her sites:
http://ackroydfamilyresearch.co.uk
http://nolanancestry.com
We both get lots of interaction with our visitors using guestbooks and we have also discovered lots of distant relatives as a bonus.
So be sure to add a guestbook to your website.
Forums and blogs such as this one are also great ways to allow your visitors to interact with you.
Good luck with your websites
Jim and Carol Ackroyd
Saturday, 8 May 2010
People are fascinated with their family history
People are fascinated with their family history:
Who am I? Where did my ancestors come from?
Are there any kings in my background? How about villains?
How in the world will I find out? Do I have to go to libraries?
Dig up old information and hunt through microfilm records?
Maybe I can just find it online! Then reality sets in…
I found a ton of genealogy web sites.
How do I search through each one? What information do I start looking for?
Do I really have to search for each person in my family tree individually?!
I don’t have that kind of time. I just want to know more about my family tree!
The answer is: http://familyhistory4all.co.uk
You'll find loads of advice to help you. Once you've learned the basics, it becomes fun...and addictive!
Who am I? Where did my ancestors come from?
Are there any kings in my background? How about villains?
How in the world will I find out? Do I have to go to libraries?
Dig up old information and hunt through microfilm records?
Maybe I can just find it online! Then reality sets in…
I found a ton of genealogy web sites.
How do I search through each one? What information do I start looking for?
Do I really have to search for each person in my family tree individually?!
I don’t have that kind of time. I just want to know more about my family tree!
The answer is: http://familyhistory4all.co.uk
You'll find loads of advice to help you. Once you've learned the basics, it becomes fun...and addictive!
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Family History For All - Newsletter
If you are interested in researching your family history then subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Benefits include:
Benefits include:
- New articles every month
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