Did you know it's actually common for people not to know their grandparents first names or anything beyond them? With great-grandparents and great-grandchildren in attendance at the Richardson Family Reunion again this year we routine surpass that norm.
I think attending Essey & Richardson family reunions all of my life had a fundamental impact on who I am. Very few of my friends and peers’ families had reunions at all and I was always aware of how much family I had and actually knew compared to them.
At reunions, Dad would always say, “Those are your cousins – it doesn’t matter how far removed – go play.” I really enjoyed being part of a mob of kids but at each reunion, my favourite time was spent tagging along after him while he explained how each person was related to the next – Don Hall’s oral family history. These days I wish I’d followed him around with a tape recorder instead of just an ear. Dad had a reverence for family and reveled in those moments when everyone was together and enjoying simple pleasures on a summer day.
For me the family tree I started 25 years ago is just an extension of my family – an attempt to write down what Dad carried around in his head, and a way also, to remember and never forget those who have passed and can’t be with us literally on days like Sunday’s reunion.
Ian was hooked by the genealogical bug during our 2004 Scotland holiday while helping me with Mum's family tree. He had to wait until our Australia visit in December 2005 to start his own research but in the short time since (thanks to some very helpful family members and online searchable British databases) he’s nearly caught up with me.
We both use Family Tree Maker (computer program) to store our trees. This program makes copying the trees to CD and/or generating and printing charts and reports very easy. I realize not everyone is as passionate about history or our ancestors as we are but if any family member is interested in seeing what we have or having copies of documents, etc. we’d be happy to share. After all the more people who have copies the less chance there is that our research will be lost again.
posted by Anney @ 5:14 p.m.
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