Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

[leswp1]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

I keep posting this because it worked for me. Post up a thread with what you know on ancestry as well as search out anything that might be on the message board for someone even remotely connected and comment. That is how the Swedish side found me.

[Kepler]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

Your grandfather was a wise man.

I dunno if moving to East Orange New Jersey is wise.

Maybe in 1880, though. It actually looks... nice.



Though I think he spent most of his time here:

[joecct]

What tools did you use to track the Norwegians back in the home country? I have the name and date that my great grandfather crossed over, and he went to a weird destination (NJ instead of the Great Lakes) so I have hopes.

Your grandfather was a wise man.

[Kepler]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

While in Sweden and Norway, we visited two of the farms that I traced family back to. At both we met people that were living there.

In Sweden, the people that were currently on the farms where my ancestor was from also had ancestors on that land when my ancestor was there. They were able to track back the names I gave them, and they confirmed the exact section of the farm my ancestor ran/owned, and also provided more detail on the family, and the events that led to my ancestor emigrating to the US.

In Norway, we found that the guy we found, and talked to on the farm was actually a distant cousin. We drove up, introduced ourselves, and he introduced himself, and his last name was the same as my mom's maiden name. After looking in his records we found that his 4th great grandfather and my mom's 4th great grandfather were brothers. Pretty cool to track down the information on the farms, actually go there and then on top of that actually find a living relative.

What tools did you use to track the Norwegians back in the home country? I have the name and date that my great grandfather crossed over, and he went to a weird destination (NJ instead of the Great Lakes) so I have hopes.

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

Were they still farming the land?

In Norway they were. It was a different family farming the land in Sweden, since in that family, there aren't any living relatives left in that area.

[leswp1]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

What do you use for a private tree? At some point I need to create one and get things more organized. I've been at it less than a year in my defense.

I have an extra disc for FTM Mac based (if you are an apple person) if you want it. They sent it by accident. It is a version or maybe two back but it will go and and if you like it you can upgrade.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

Wow! that is way cool!

My father wants the DNA test for Christmas. My Stepmum is adamantly opposed to any discussion re family history. It is useless to look back, blahdybladyblah. My Dad loves to tell stories but they are always together and she shuts him down. This may be the opening I have been looking for!

I highly doubt that your father will match me.

I have taken the autosomal DNA test from both FTDNA and Ancestry. I like FTDNA much better. I have also taken Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA tests from FTDNA. IMHO, the mitochondrial test was a waste of money.

[leswp1]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

What do you use for a private tree? At some point I need to create one and get things more organized. I've been at it less than a year in my defense.

I have Family Tree Maker. Love it. Lots of options, allows syncing if you want, populates fields. etc. I don't publish online because I have pages and pages of notes that are private. Not that expensive and functionality is so much better than ancestry.com online

[Drew S.]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

I have one that in no way reflects what I have on my private tree but it opens the door.

What do you use for a private tree? At some point I need to create one and get things more organized. I've been at it less than a year in my defense.

[leswp1]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

It is definitely worth it then. If you have an ancestry tree you can find distant cousins which could be of interest to you.

I have one that in no way reflects what I have on my private tree but it opens the door.

[Drew S.]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

I know it isn't all that accurate but it allows me to talk about it without my stepmum telling my Dad it isn't important.

It is definitely worth it then. If you have an ancestry tree you can find distant cousins which could be of interest to you.

[leswp1]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

Some of my family members did the Ancestry DNA test and it was pretty underwhelming. They try to guess where you come from but it is a very inexact science. The only good thing is that it can confirm various ancestors based on other people's DNA.

I know it isn't all that accurate but it allows me to talk about it without my stepmum telling my Dad it isn't important.

[Drew S.]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

Wow! that is way cool!

My father wants the DNA test for Christmas. My Stepmum is adamantly opposed to any discussion re family history. It is useless to look back, blahdybladyblah. My Dad loves to tell stories but they are always together and she shuts him down. This may be the opening I have been looking for!

Some of my family members did the Ancestry DNA test and it was pretty underwhelming. They try to guess where you come from but it is a very inexact science. The only good thing is that it can confirm various ancestors based on other people's DNA.

[walrus]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

While in Sweden and Norway, we visited two of the farms that I traced family back to. At both we met people that were living there.

In Sweden, the people that were currently on the farms where my ancestor was from also had ancestors on that land when my ancestor was there. They were able to track back the names I gave them, and they confirmed the exact section of the farm my ancestor ran/owned, and also provided more detail on the family, and the events that led to my ancestor emigrating to the US.

In Norway, we found that the guy we found, and talked to on the farm was actually a distant cousin. We drove up, introduced ourselves, and he introduced himself, and his last name was the same as my mom's maiden name. After looking in his records we found that his 4th great grandfather and my mom's 4th great grandfather were brothers. Pretty cool to track down the information on the farms, actually go there and then on top of that actually find a living relative.

Were they still farming the land?

[leswp1]

Re: Geneology Thread: Where did we come from?

While in Sweden and Norway, we visited two of the farms that I traced family back to. At both we met people that were living there.

In Sweden, the people that were currently on the farms where my ancestor was from also had ancestors on that land when my ancestor was there. They were able to track back the names I gave them, and they confirmed the exact section of the farm my ancestor ran/owned, and also provided more detail on the family, and the events that led to my ancestor emigrating to the US.

In Norway, we found that the guy we found, and talked to on the farm was actually a distant cousin. We drove up, introduced ourselves, and he introduced himself, and his last name was the same as my mom's maiden name. After looking in his records we found that his 4th great grandfather and my mom's 4th great grandfather were brothers. Pretty cool to track down the information on the farms, actually go there and then on top of that actually find a living relative.

Wow! that is way cool!

My father wants the DNA test for Christmas. My Stepmum is adamantly opposed to any discussion re family history. It is useless to look back, blahdybladyblah. My Dad loves to tell stories but they are always together and she shuts him down. This may be the opening I have been looking for!