Monday, September 7, 2009

Family History

Has anyone caught the genealogy bug before? For some reason out of the blue, I have an overwhelming urge to find out more about my families history! Above is a picture of my Danish Grandparents and my two aunts are uncle. This was taken before my Mom was born and she is 84 years old now!
This is a picture of my handsome Danish Grandfather John Winther Jensen Egelund. I found the ships manifest for the Ellis Island web site from when he came over from Denmark. I've caught the genealogy bug pretty bad, been spending hours going over information, signed up on Ancestry.com, Family search.org, and another website that's free called My Heritage.com and have been passionate about working on this. I even started working on my husband family tree too and have been so lucky to trace back one side of the family to the 1500's!!!!!! I wanted to squeeze as much information out of my Mom in regards to memories, customs, celebrations and of course recipes and have grand plans to get something composed to give to my nieces and nephews for Christmas....that being said it will probably be Christmas 2010 or 2011, but the important thing is I'm working on it!
Anybody else have the bug? Curious minds need to know :)

20 comments:

Melinda said...

Hey Nan--
Thanks for the get well wish--each day is better.
Geneology huh??? I've thought about it alot
of and on over the years but haven't gotten into it yet--maybe when I have more free time
Ha!!!! This isn't going to stop you from blogging is it????? Better Not!!!

Melinda

Elizabeth said...

I think it is so interesting to delve into the past and see where you came from. My mom's side of the family is well documented, because she comes from a very famous family in Panama. We are descendants of a General that helped free Panama from Spain. In my moms old history book there is a picture of General Fabrega, and I asked her how weird it was that her relative was in her history book, she didn't think it was that big of a deal, but when I went to Panama as a kid, being a Fabrega was a big deal. Anyway, the whole family is listed on an elaborate family tree.
My dad's side is a bit more confusing, so that is the one I'm after now.
Love the photos you included, what a beautiful family you come from :)

BECKY said...

What a fun adventure...delving into the lives of those who have gone before you!! I've thought about it but know how time consuming it can be, so it's not something for me right now. That's so awesome that you have gone back to the 1500's! My grandmother on my Mom's side got the bug, and I think she went pretty far back. I'll have to check with my uncle and siblings to see if they know or have a record!! Have fun with it!!

Hey did you ever go and look at Gracie's blog?
Just curious!
Love ya, and hope your week is wonderful!!
HUGS,
Becky

Martha said...

Yes, I've done a bit and before the internet, there is a great place in Indep, Mo. to do research -- lots and lots of books that are not online!

It's fun to find your relatives generation by generation!

Anonymous said...

M4layne said,
I have always been into genealogy. I am making great gains since I retired. One of my cousins has really gotten interested in our golden years. It is such fun when you discover someone that you have been searching for over a period of time.
Ancestry.com is great. I also check the county/parish, in Louisiana, for their local genealogy files. They usually have good listing and most have a census of the cemeteries in the county/parish.

joyh82 said...

I have not gotten too much into it but would love to work more on it when I get the time. I love all the history and old pictures are awesome.

Cass @ That Old House said...

It is so fascinating to look into the past, to see where our families have been, and how it influenced where we are going!

My family is all from Norway -- near neighbors! One of the things I miss most, now that my Mom can't communicate sensibly anymore, is her wonderful stories of her parents, aunts, uncles -- all that family history. How I wish I had written it all down!
Cass

Elyse said...

hi!

i just found your blog and think this post is so interesting. how lucky to be able to gather all of this info. i have been to those websites, i just haven't signed up/paid to pursue but i'm definitely interested in doing that sometime. very cool!

xo

Twyla and Lindsey said...

Nancy, this is so very interesting! My son and I are so interested in our geneology lately! We've been researching and going to cemetaries we didn't even know existed visiting the graves of our ancestors. I think it is wonderful and important to know these things. I need to write down as much as I can, sadly so many I could have asked are already gone. Very cool that you're into this too! Twyla

Carol J. said...

Hi Nancy. Man, did you cause trouble when you mentioned the site My Heritage! I was supposedly getting ready to be all domestic and make supper, just stopping by that site for a second. NOT! One hour later, my family came crawling across the living room floor, barely conscious from hunger! They are so needy!

What a cool site, though! I started both mine and my husband's family tree, then saw that my son's name appeared on someone else's tree!!! Now I have to find time to figure out what that's about!

Alice said...

Yes, for a long time I've wanted to trace back on both sides of the family. My grandfather was an orphan so I don't know how that will work. My 11-year old daughter and I planned to begin this as a summer project, but we waited too long. Also, I'm a cheapskate and don't want to pay for it--thanks for the heads up on the free site!

Michelle said...

Hi! I just stumbled upon your blog and have enjoyed reading your posts! I, too, have been bitten by the family history bug! It's so much fun isn't it?

Sandy said...

Just passing through and saw your genealogy post. I love genealogy and searching for family history. Have found quite a few names from the past. My Mother is from Kingman KS and I also have family in other parts. My Dad is from Alabama where I now live. Good luck in your search. There are some very good sites that are free to help you in your search. Here is one that has a bunch of information...
familysearch.org.

shaybert said...

Nancy!
I have a retired teacher maiden second cousin once removed who spent a lot of time with the family "widow aunts" whose hobby was genealogy, so we have a good amount of information that goes way back. Ours too goes back to the 1500's with at least 4 family members coming over on the Mayflower (one of whom fell off and was gaffed to be saved). It is so fun! Wish I had more time, someday... Blessings, Shay
www.thirtyandholding.blogspot.com

Connie from Beverly Hills California said...

Beautiful pictues!! Had a great visit. Stop by when you can. Connie

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Nancy,
What great old family photo's. My Mom, Dad and Sister have worked on all our family history. It really is amazing what you can find out and who you look like. Everyone says I look like my Grandma Kate who passed away when I was just a baby so her picture means so much to me.
I don't know if I mentioned this or not, that my husbands father was 100% Danish. His Danish last name was changed to sound more American, hench the funny way our last name is spelled.
A wonderful post,
Enjoy your day,
Elizabeth

Sandy McClay said...

These photos are incredible! And welcome to the wonderful addictive world of genealogy! I have been working on my family tree for about three years now, and I am sorry I am getting to the end of the journey! But I have others that I am helping so it keeps going.....you have a wonderful site! Please stop by and see the new blog I started in honor of my grandparents....they were the ones that started the journey for me.

Betsy said...

Yes, my sister and I have been working on my Moms and Dads side of the family. Wow, lots of work, gets complicated with boundary changes, ships lists and found that the census and obits. are not all that reliable . My hometown library has Ancestors.com for free, I have been fortunate in that area. Trips to Washington and now one to Louisiana, get to see some places that I never thought of going. Yes ITS ADDICTIVE. I can relate. Love you blog and will have to come back to visit.
Betsy

cherry said...

Yep I have....I have tons of old photos..dating back to the tintype...I don't know who they all are. I cherish them anyways....love yours. cherry

Anonymous said...

I love your posting and your blog! I am into genealogy too and have been working on my husband's family history for about five years. I have started working on my dad's history, dealing with one of those "brick walls" that makes the hunt all that more intriguing.
Visit Ladybugcreek when you get a chance and scroll down a bit. I have quite a few old pictures on my blog as well.
I'll be back!!
Karen
Ladybugcreek

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