Did you know that there is an International or National Genealogy Day? I didn't and I've been working on my family tree and genealogy for more than 20 years!
Here's the scoop on Genealogy Day: It was created in 2013 by Christ Church, United Presbyterian, and the Methodist Church in Limerick, Ireland to help celebrate the church's 200th anniversary.
For this day, Christ Church brought together local family history records not only from its own combined churches but also from the Church of Ireland parishes, including the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) and the Church of Latter-Day Saints (Morman).
The people in attendance could then use the amassed marriage and baptism records dating back to the early 1800s, such as Limerick Methodist Registers and Limerick Presbyterian Registers, to find out about their great-great-grandparents.
The idea proved so popular that the day was repeated for the next two consecutive years and has inspired many people to take a look into their family tree to find out a bit more about where they came from.
So, do we celebrate National or International Geneology Day in the United States?
Yes, but it's just not as popular as it is in Great Britain and some other Western European countries (the day, that is).
That said, Genealogy Day is a day that can inspire you to learn who your ancestors were. Perhaps you'd like to learn more about them. You may also discover some interesting stories along the way.
For instance, I discovered that one of my maternal fourth-great-grandfathers had been killed in a barroom brawl when he was 68 years old in 1850! The story goes that he liked to visit a local public house in northeastern Pennsylvania that served alcohol. According to a local newspaper of the day, and in newspapers as far away as New Orleans, he was killed by a hit to the back of the head from a chair after he became embroiled in a rousing political discussion with the owner of the public house. However, at some time during the fracas, he had picked up a rock and threatened to throw it at one of the participants in this discussion who happened to be the owner of the public house and very influential resident of the county. Uh-oh, did I just discover one of my "black sheep" ancestors? I can't really be sure from the newspaper clippings. More research!
Wow! Interesting!
Here are two accounts of the "Fatal Affray." One is from The Wyoming Democrat, Tunkhannock, PA 1849-1854, Sept. 3, 1850, and one is from the Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisianna. Notice the differences?
So, after reading and researching about this ancestor I thought it may be a good idea to find out what were the hot topics of the day in politics. Here's some political information that may have led to his demise.
It seems that our country was very divided in 1850 over several political issues.
Led by Henry Clay, the name “Whigs” was derived from the English antimonarchist party and was an attempt to portray Jackson as “King Andrew.” The Whigs were one of the two major political parties in the United States from the late 1830s through the early 1850s.
Whigs and the Slavery Issue: The Compromise of 1850 Realizing that this sectional divide could split the country, Whigs and Democrats came to a compromise that they hoped would prevent secession. There was no compromise that could keep the Whigs united, which contributed to the party’s demise in the 1850s.
The Compromise of 1850 was introduced in the U.S. Congress. The legislation would eventually pass and be highly controversial, but it essentially delayed the Civil War by a decade.
The above was just one example of the interesting information that I discovered in my family tree. However, I have found many more interesting stories about my ancestors, mostly good, heartwarming stories, by researching my family tree. What will you find?
Here are a few ways that you may want to celebrate Genealogy Day:
How To Celebrate Genealogy Day
Well, it is a day that can inspire you to learn who your ancestors were. Or maybe learn more about them, such as what they did for a living and where they once lived.
You may also discover stories along the way as well!
So, with that in mind, it’s a great idea that a date has been set aside for our ancestors and the pursuit of discovering who they were.
Take that family history journey!
Once you decide to go on that journey it may become addicting! It's always important to know where you came from.
So take up the family history journey and see where it will take you! You will be surprised by what you will discover. Trust me I’m a genealogist.
It is no secret that genealogy or family history is one of the fastest-growing hobbies around. Everyone knows someone who’s doing it if they aren’t themselves. It has finally become an accepted hobby, so it is nice to see it recognized with a Genealogy Day.
But what should one do on Genealogy Day? Here are a few ideas:
1. Enter more names into your family tree. Do you have lots that you’ve found, but just haven't got around to entering into your genealogy program? Oh, wow do I understand that!
2. If searching is more your thing, why not instead of heading to the usual sites, you visit try a different one.
3. If it’s a nice day, take a trip to a cemetery (or two or three), and do the grave walk.
4. Visit a relative, and ask them a few questions about their past, and be sure to take notes, or record it by audio or video.
5. Start (or continue) scanning your photos and documents. The pile will eventually go down, I promise.
6. Filing. I know it’s not a fun job, but it’s even less fun when you can’t find that record that you know you have … somewhere. So spend an hour and do a little filing. You’ll be thankful for it later.
7. Create a timeline of one of your ancestors, and see where you have gaps. It’s quite fascinating to see.
8. Find a comfy chair and read a genealogy magazine or two.
9. Watch a Google Hangout on Air, or listen to a genealogy Podcast.
10. Visit your local genealogy or historical society.
That’s just a few suggestions, and there are literally hundreds more, and I’m sure each of you will find your own way to celebrate.
So Happy Genealogy Day!
Comments