A Little Genealogy Humor

You know you're too deep into Genealogy when . . . .
Your fear of snakes and bugs is
overshadowed by the need to get
through those brambles to that
old gravestone.

July 9, 2009

THE ELUSIVE ANCESTOR . . . . . . . I went searching for an ancestor. I cannot find him still. He moved around from place to place and did not leave a will. He married where a courthouse burned. He mended all his fences. He avoided any man who came to take the U.S. Census. He always kept his luggage packed, this man who had no fame. And every 20 years or so, this rascal changed his name. His parents came from Europe. They should be upon some list of passengers to U.S.A., but somehow they got missed. And no one else in this world is searching for this man. So, I play geneasolitaire to find him if I can. I'm told he's buried in a plot, with tombstone he was blessed; but the weather took engraving, and some vandals took the rest. He died before the county clerks decided to keep records. No Family Bible has emerged, in spite of all my efforts. To top it off this ancestor, who caused me many groans, Just to give me one more pain, betrothed a girl named JONES. by Merrell Kenworthy

My Favorite Genealogy Poem of All

FAMILY
I saw behind me those who had gone and before me those who are to come.
I look back and saw my father, and his father and all our fathers . . and in front to see my daughter and son .
And the sons and daughters upon sons and daughters beyond.
And their eyes were my eyes. As I felt, so they had felt
And were to feel, so now, as tomorrow and forever.
Then I was not afraid, for I was in a long line that had no beginning and no end.
And the hand of his father grasped my father's hand and his hand was in mine . . . and my unborn child or grandchild took my right hand, and all up and down the line, that stretched from time that was to time; time that is and is not yet.
Raised their hands to show the link, and we found that we were one, born of woman, son of man, made in the image, fashioned in the womb by the will of God, the Eternal Father, and now we know, we are all family.
by. . . Richard Llewellyn

Thursday, March 5, 2009