Though I know a lot about my great-grandfathers' stories, I thought I knew enough to believe that neither American great-grandfather would have any military record, least of all in the US. Both were too old by the time World War II broke out, and only one was in the US during the first World War, and I know that he'd returned to Denmark and married soon after, so he had not served.
But I was randomly browsing through records on Ancestry the other day and found a record for a "Holger Hansen" with a World War II Draft card. The information looked like it could be him, but it made no sense, so I decided to investigate further. I was lucky enough to find the same listing at Family Search.org, and followed the link through. When I did, I got a shock. Not only was there a record of the record, but they had an actual image of it as well. Sure enough, the card was for my great-grandfather, Holger, who was 50 when he signed the card. Surprised but thrilled, I copied the information into my records for safekeeping.
Then it occurred to me that if Holger had a card, it was possible that Alex or his brother or even my grandfather or any of my great-uncles might also have a card in that collection. I was surprised to find none for my grandfather or anyone near his age, but I did find one for my other great-grandfather under the name Elias—the only time outside of Germany I've seen the name used for him. I suppose it makes sense, given that it was a formal document, but it was still great to see. I also found one for his brother, Jack.
I thought it odd to find this sort of record, especially for Alex. Jack and Holger were likely healthy enough, if in their 50s, but it does surprise me that Alex was made to sign one, given that he must have had his stroke by that point. When I looked into the records further, I discovered the reason. These were a special batch of cards for older men, ages 45-64 from many states throughout the US. It was called the "Fourth Draft" or "Old Man's Draft." More information about how and why these were collected can be found here at Family Search. The collection itself can be found here at Family Search.
All this goes to say that you never know about your ancestors until you look. Just because you're certain they never served doesn't mean there's no record of them during the wars they were alive in. Always check just to be sure. And certainly, if you had a male relation in the US in 1942, it's well worth looking into. It's particularly good for determining where that person was living, their birthdate, and may include a relation or close family friend that might lead to further information. Do make sure to look at the next slide as well, because the backs of the cards had more information--basic characteristics, as well as special, and in some cases this can provide a fascinating insight on your ancestor.
World War II Draft Cards
Brick Wall Update 2012
It's been a while since I updated my brick wall search. While I haven't gotten much further on some branches since my last update, I think they will go on the back burner, so that I can focus more on getting information on my great-grandparents and their parents, and leave any more researched lines out for now.
So here's my Brick Walls as they stand:
The Seneft/Senft/Hilingers
I still haven't determined where exactly Sedziszow, Galicia is. I have a few possible locations, all in various parts of Galicia. I seem to come up with new places in Poland every time I look up the town. At the moment, I'm inclined to believe that they lived in the area north of Krakow (the blue tags are all possible locations that come up when I look up the town name.)
I also don't know if Alec's siblings were all born in that same town as he was, or what his second brother's name was. I do have a couple of relations I should try to get into contact with to see if they have that recorded somewhere.
I do not know when the Senefts moved to England, only that they were there before World War I. I have a record for a gravesite for "Minne Seneft" in London, with a transcription reading "Loving daughter Jennie," which may well be Alec's mother Mindel and his sister Jennie, which means they would have been there before 1913, when the grave marker says she died. This fits in with them having left in the late 1800s sometime, so I'm inclined to believe this is her.
I know the fate of three children if I include Alec. I have a record of Jennie's immigration to the US in 1916. The record also includes the name of her brother, Jack, who I know was also already in New York City at the time, and her father's name (Leon) and his address in London. I also think I have found a gravesite for Jack in New York, though I have not confirmed that grave, either.
Alec was sent to Camp Douglas, though whether he was sent there alone, or others of his family went there as well, I'm still not sure. We currently have three photos of Alec while he was at the Camp (though one I'm less certain of than the other two), both of which are addressed to his brother Jack.
We also have a family book about Alec and Dora's family which includes a few details of their parents' lives, including Alec's mother Mindel, though all it really mentions is that she was last living in London. Leon is not mentioned at all because by the time the book was written up, Alec had reverted to his mother's surname as his parents were married only in a religious ceremony, and their offspring were therefore not recognized as legitimate by the German government.
The last formal record I have of Leon is his name on Alec and Dora's wedding invitation, which means that I know he was alive in 1919, and my grandfather stated he was dead by the time he was born in 1922, so I am still looking for some kind of grave marker for Leon in London, as I believe he lived there until his death. I know he was a Rabbi from family stories, so he may have been buried someplace special, but for now, that's all I have.
I wish I could find more record of the Senefts in London, and even more information about Alec's time in Camp Douglas. I'd love to know more about Alec and Dora's life in Frankfurt, but likely most of those records were lost during the war, and I'm grateful for what I do know, at least.
As for Mindel and Leon, I have no record of them before London. I hope at some point, I'll find something, but for now, I think that's unlikely.
The Kresch/Reich family
Most of what I know about Dora's family, I've learned in the last two years, and comes from a couple of photos and the family book.
I know that Dora was born in Czudek, a small town in Galicia (now Poland) near Rezeszow, and her father seemed to be a teacher according the family book. I know that she had at least one sibling, though relations have mentioned she had more. I only have the name for one, though, her sister Minna, who came to Frankfurt with her shortly after World War I.
I believe their father, Benzion, died before the girls moved to Frankfurt, though not sure when exactly. Their mother, Fiege Golda (not entirely sure what she went by), moved to Frankfurt at some point. Not sure if she moved with her daughters, or later to be close to them. I believe she lived in Frankfurt until she died in the late 20s or early 30s. I do know that she was also on Alec and Dora's wedding invitation, but her husband was not. This means she was alive in 1919 definitely, while he was likely not.
Unfortunately, both Kresch and Reich are far more common than Seneft and Hilinger for this area, so in this case I actually suffer from an excess of too many records, and not being able to narrow things down enough, even with a specific location for Dora's birth.
And like Mindel and Leon, I know almost nothing about Benzion and Fiege Golda before their daughter's birth.
I think my main problem with both families is that names were very fluid in this time and area. Both in writing and in how they were referred to. In formal records, you used one name, in every day life, another, so depending on who was writing the record, you would see a very different name. Not to mention the language barrier of the Hebrew/Polish/German mix, along with other dialects spoken in the area. I'm working on getting it all sorted out, but it will definitely take time to do.
The Rasmus Hansen family
This branch is going on the back burner. I've managed to get a better record of Rasmus's parents. I've found him and his parents in three separate census records, and on Maren Sofie's side, I have both her parents as well, if not precise records at the moment. It's enough for now.
This will probably get some attention anyway, though, because I'm slowly piecing together Oline's life for the book I'm writing about her, so more research will need to be done at some point.
The Park/Curran family
This one is also going on the back burner. While I haven't gotten any further on the Park side, I have managed to get the names of both of Elizabeth Curran's grandfathers. And I'm definitely back before my great-great grandparents, even if not in great detail, so I think I can wait on this branch a little longer.
The Jones family
This is the last of the family branches I'm going to focus on now. Most of what I know of this branch comes from my aunt and my grandmother, and family photos. But I know almost nothing about my great grandfather's parents before his birth.
I have birth dates and locations locations for both. Benjamin was born in 1865 in Caio, Wales, and Hannah was born Hannah Griffiths in 1863 in Newcastle Emlyn, Wales. I believe both locations are in south western Wales, though using Google Maps has not helped much, as each time I look, I seem to find slightly different information, and at least one of the two seems to have more than one possible location. For my current assumptions, click here.
I believe they married sometime before 1882, and at some point the couple moved together to Merthyr Tydfil in South Eastern Wales where they had seven children. I believe all of them were born in Merthyr Tydfil, and that Daniel, my great-grandfather, was the eldest.
Both their first and last names are incredibly common, which makes finding them without more specific information almost impossible at the moment. Trying to narrow down the areas of their birth is nearly impossible, even though I have locations for both. It hasn't stopped me from trying, but it is making it very difficult. I just wish I knew at least one sibling or parent for each of them. It would help narrow things down a lot.
I suppose my next step for this branch will be to get a subscription on a British site to get access to British birth, death and census records.
The Gabriel/Howells/Roberts Family
Another branch that can wait, as I have quite a bit of information on this family. Less so on the Roberts side, but that's still a step further back than I need to go right now.
As always, any help with any of these branches would be greatly appreciated.
Genealogy Year in Review 2011
This past year wasn't exciting as the year before, though I made a few minor breakthroughs, and there were a few more changes in my tree.
I've now been blogging here over two years, and it's definitely helped me get things in order in my family tree, and in my search for more.
My new filing system, started last year, has helped me greatly in my search, and in keeping track of what I have. I also got a new printer/scanner from my mother-in-law, which has meant being able to re-print my entire tree (though it will need updating again soon).
Changes in the family
We lost a few members of the extended family this year. One great-aunt that I knew fairly well growing up, and another who I might have met once or twice, but mostly know by name. This does mean that on both sides of the family, only one family member from that generation is still around any more on three sides of my family tree. On my dad's side, it's his maternal aunt, and on my mom's, it's my grandmother. The only one that still has a number of members is my paternal grandfather's. Three of his four sisters are still around.
We also gained a few new members this year, both in the close family as well as the extended family. One of my second cousins married this year (possibly more than one, I'm not entirely sure at the moment), and my sister and another second cousin had children. My nephew, who was born December the 11th, and our cousin's daughter, who was born December 29th. Again, there might be more there, but those are the two I'm certain of.
Brick Wall Progress
Hillingers: While I have not gotten any further back on this side of the family, I have confirmed that Mindel Seneft (nee Hilinger) died in London, or is at least buried there. I found a grave marker with the name "Minnie Seneft" with an inscription by one of her daughters on it, the same name as one of the two I have listed. So while I'm not 100% sure it's her, I am fairly certain it is.
I also had one picture confirmed (as the opposite of the great-great grandfathers I suspected), and another as a great-great aunt I'd guessed at.
Hansen (Sealand branch): I've confirmed Rasmus's parents' names, as I've found him in at least three Census lists, including one with both his parents and his first wife, so I know that I've got the right ones now.
On Oline's mother's side, I haven't gotten much more, but I'm working on what I do have so that I can write a book about her. I've been organizing the notes and letters I do have, and trying to learn what I do have so that I know what I still need.
Park/Curran: I've made no progress on this branch this year, but I think once I've finished Oline's story, this will be my next project, as May's (my great-grandmother) family has always held a fascination for me, ever since my grandfather died. They're the reason I started doing all this, and I hope, in time, to get much further back, and learn which of those lines, if any, hailed from Scotland.
The Welsh Lines: Still sorting through these. I've made no big progress aside from finding my Canadian relations in the early 1900s censuses. I'd love particularly to make progress on my Jones line, though at the moment, that's highly unlikely to happen any time soon.
Software Update:
After playing with The Master Genealogist, I'm going to shelve it for the moment. It seems too old-fashioned and clunky. I've stopped playing with Legacy, though I might go back to it as well. At the moment, Family Tree Maker has my most complete family tree, but I'm slowly working on creating a sourced tree in Roots Magic 5, their latest build which was released this year.
Roots Magic seems to work quite well as a replacement for Family Tree Maker, as does Legacy, but Roots Magic seems to appeal to me better. I've two branches mostly sourced in it at the moment (though I need to go back and find the Census information on the Welsh lines mentioned above), and I'm currently working on one half of a third—the Norwegian branch, which is one of the two biggest lines in my tree.
Family Tree Builder also released a new version this year—mostly website-based, but there are some interesting things in the new release that might make it worth putting my info online, if private.
Posts here at Oh, Spusch:
I finished doing my Surname Saturday posts this year, though I think at some point, I will revisit them.
I also did a series I called Where We're From, which focused on all the locations my direct ancestors lived, were born, or died over the centuries.
Both helped me understand a lot more what I knew and what I needed to know, and I'm hoping to find more of that sort of thing to post in the coming year.
The Examiner
This year, I also began posting as the Seattle Genealogy Examiner. This has meant (mostly irregular) posting of articles on Genealogy, both in Seattle and in general, and going to the Seattle Public Library and the Seattle Genealogical Society to learn more about both.
In the coming year, I hope to do much more, and I hope you will all check out my articles.
Resolutions for the coming year:
* To get in contact with one or more of my grandfather's sisters, and ask them what they remember about their parents, and anything they might remember about their great-grandparents (though that won't likely be much).
* Finish adding all my sources to the family tree in Roots Magic. And possibly make a file to store those things that have not yet been added.
* Find at least one more piece of information on each of my four branches.
* Do at least twice-monthly articles here at Oh, Spusch.
* Post at least two Examiner articles a week. Try to write at least three.
* Send out an Email at least once every three months to the family to get more information.
* Keep Facebook family groups updated—post at least once a week.
And to everyone reading, have a fabulous new year, and good luck in your own Genealogical pursuits.
Finding Oline Correspondance 5
And here is the summary of Marilyn's trip to Denmark with her cousins. I have to admit, I have not done more than scan this before now, so I'm curious to see what she has to say. With as long as I've been researching this side of the family, it's fascinating to me how much I know, and just how little I still know, in spite of everything, both at the same time.
I recall what first started me on this road—an assignment for a women's studies class on my family. We had to write a paper on three generations of women in my family. Being the family genealogist, I decided to go home and look at my family tree. The story of my great-grandmother dying so young stuck out to me, and my grandmother was still alive at the time, which meant I could interview her for the paper, so I felt it would be a fascinating story to do.
I really had no idea how detailed this search would become, nor how involved I would find myself in my great-grandmother's history. I'm fascinated by everything I've learned, and really, I can't wait to learn more. I'm just glad I got the chance to talk with her about Oline. It's definitely one of my treasured memories.
Just one letter today, though it's in several parts, as it was written on at least two occasions, and also includes the transcript of the trip. I hope you will find this as fascinating as I do.
As always, I've taken out any personal addresses and first names of family still living aside from Aunt Marilyn have been changed to initials. Also, any misspellings have been left as they were written to preserve the feel of the original document.
Idyllwild
July 6, 1987
Dear Maggie,
When I began to write a synopsis of my recent trip to Denmark in response to a special request from Luther's sister Bee, I found that it was becoming something that would be the beginning or rough draft of the complete story I want to write.
This enclosure is indeed rough, as you can see by the errors in typing and sentence structure. It needs and will get a lot of editing, but as I go through it, I am reminded of other events that will go into the final draft. However rough it is, I feel that you might be interested in the outline of my story now, and I am therefore sending you this copy.
If we are able to clear up the mystery of grandmother Sophie's father homesteading in Minnesota, that story will be included in the final. Therefore, the final will include whatever we find out about him and Oscar and Tina. It appears possible that there may be more cousins in the U.S. if Grandfather or Oscar or Tina left any behind. Uncle Hans says there are none, but he has not kept in touch for many years. We'll see.
Marilyn
I'm sending this to Torben also. I hope you received my letter in Chicago. It included 2 photos – one of Sophie and one of her 6 children.
I hope & expect that you had an enjoyable trip, liked Elderhostel, found the Chicago relatives in good form and Uncle Hans in good health.
Marilyn
P.S. My notes of our visit w/Uncle Has do not show that he had a picture of Sophie and Rasmus in his album. I hope you found one.
(COPY)
[Address redacted]
Idyllwild, CA 92349
July 1, 1987
Dear Bee,
I think I have been like a cow chewing her cud. I have had to pause for a while to digest my experiences in Denmark before putting much on paper. The pictures I took have slowly been coming back from the processor, and seeing them has helped in my "digesting" process.
Elsa and I flew together from LAX to Copenhagen, over the pole, and Karen met us there. She had gone from Chicago to Copenhagen a few days ahead of us to visit friends. We had just the weekend in Copenhagen to get over jet lag and visit two relatives and Tivoli and the Stroget. Can you imagine a world famous shopping street like the Stroget in Copenhagen closing at noon on Saturday? That's what they do – all over Denmark the merchants close at noon on Saturday. This is by law, and some Danes I talked to about it find it very inconvenient and don't like it. We visited in the suburbs of Copenhagen twice – the first to a cousin of Elsa's from her mother's side of the family, the second a cousin of the three of us from our fathers' side of the family. They all served beautifully prepared meals, delicious and fresh, on gorgeous china and crystal and sterling silver. That's one generality about Denmark I will make – no matter how simple the home or family I visited, they all had beautiful tableware to use of porcelain, crystal and sterling silver. I am sure you can understand how I appreciated that!
Early Monday morning we got our rented car, an Opel Kadette 2-door, and headed west for Jutland. There we vsited another of Elsa's two cousins. She and her husband and son live on an old farm of 18 or 20 acres that they have refurbished and updated. They have a small private forest, a few head of cattle, they plant a bit of grain and raise kitchen crops and honey. Some of this they sell, but they don't make a living at such a small farm. Ingelise is a nurse and works in nearby Arhus; Helge, her husband, is a professor of biology at Arhus University, and their son Hans-Jakob was just that week taking his exams to graduate from high school. Ingeliese served us the most succulent meal of the loin of a buck shot that year in their private forest. Only one buck a year is taken, and we were honored to share the most choice cut. We did some sight-seeing around Arhus, toured their farm, heard their stories, and generally had a lovely 3 days with them.
Then we took the back roads, through some tiny towns and countryside that was heartbreakingly green under a bright sun and blue sky to our Uncle Adolph and Aunt Agnes. They are very elderly now, but received us graciously by immediately pouring us a glass of liquere in lovely cut crystal glasses. Then we all drove to the home of one of their daughters nearby who set a spread of coffee and cakes and cookies and puddings to please a queen. Others in the family came to join the party, and I met a cousin I have long wanted to meet, charming Henny. One of her sons was there, equally as bright and charming as his mother. Another young man came by in his furniture van -- he works for a furniture company making deliveries, so he swung by on one of his trips in his van to meet us. We looked at lots of pictures and heard many stories, mostly in Danish. Thank goodness Karen knows the language!
From there we went to our cousin Anders in Randers, who was just back from the hospital, having had a hernia operation. But he was on his feet and was the gracious host. We stayed two nights with him and his wife and son and visited his sister Birte for one evening of cake and coffee at which all the rest of the family were in attendance – young and old. At Anders' suggestion, we spent one day visiting the ancient and preserved town of Ebeltoft on the sea shore of the Kattegat.
Where did we go next? We learned that I had yet another cousin in Denmark in my mother's family. Svend and his wife Kathrine lived near Arhus (south of the city) in Lindved, so we planned our trip to include a visit there. It was raining torrents when we arrived at his home, but we stayed for coffee and cake and the taking of some pictures. Svend is about 83, frail, but with such a fine-boned patrician face that I snapped several pictures in order to be sure to capture what I saw. They got out their photo albums to show us some of their lives and events and children and grand children. As soon as we left, I learned later, Svend telephoned his sister Ingrid to tell her all about our visit. We began to sense the excitement I was causing in my mother's family members.
We wound our wet way through the countryside, always taking back roads. We had a marvelously detailed road map of Denmark, and all the roads are so well signed, that it was easy and a great pleasure to wind around the countryside at will. I was doing all the driving because the car's insurance was in my name, but it was not a strain – except when I would try to back up. That funny Opel had a reverse stick shift nearly impossible to find, and when I did find reverse, I could not see out the rear of the car. There was a dangerous blind spot behind me and I needed the help of Elsa and Karen to keep me from hitting things.
We visited some distant cousins that Karen knew well, the Rolskovs and Nanna Christensen, a maiden lady with a huge loom in her basement and a beautiful set of porcelain cups and saucers and plates for coffee. We had dinner with Nanna on service of the old, classic blue and white Danish ware. The Rolskovs had two of their four children at home for a visit (they are in their 20's), and they could do well in English. They also have been living interesting lives of their own – much travel and taking work that was meaningful to them. The young man in the family, Anders, had just spent several months in the western United States living and working with native Indian families.. He had pictures and stories to tell that would be the envy of any other adventurous young person.
Elsa wanted badly to see Legoland for the benefit of her grandson John, so we drove there for a brief visit (it was nearby, and we left Karen behind to visit more fully with the Roskovs) in a driving rain storm. I think my photos for John did not turn out at all, but Grandma can tell John that she was there.
We saw the cities of Silkeborg and Viborg on our way and stayed the night in a "kro" in Stor Binderup. The kro and a gas station was about all there was of the town, but the kro (inn) was especially nice. It was an old thatched roof inn with modern motel units added to it. It was locally owned and operated but a member of what is called "Romantik Inns." This one had been visited by Frederick V (king of Denmark in the 1700's), and that gave the place a special dispensation for something or other. Even though the motel units were new, they still had bathrooms that doubled as shower stalls with hand-held showers. You're lucky that your towels are still dry when you finish showering.
We were heading north the next day, our destination Løkken on the North Sea. Several towns we went through Karen knew well from her childhood. Her mother and father were in the hotel and restaurant business, and Karen grew up in several of them – in Ars, Løkken and Aalborg. At each of them we would wander around looking for the house or hotel she had lived in, and Karen would find the current owner and have long reminiscences with him/her. In the hotel in Ars, for instance, when she was shown the linen room, she exclaimed, "I had the measles in this room!" In Løkken we found the little home they lived in and ate lunch in a restaurant where her mother was cook during the German occupation. Karen left us briefly the next day to pay a personal and quiet visit to her father's grave. He died when she was still a teenager.
Elsa and Karen loved stopping at antique stores, so we did a lot of that. And as you can guess, I found the perfect remembrance of this trip to Denmark – a 3-piece set of coffe cup and saucer and cake dish in an old pattern – Royal Copenhagen "Henrietta." It is a very elegant pattern with lots of gold and small hand-painted flowers. It was an extravagance (I was sincerely trying not to spend much money for this trip), but Karen convinced me that it was a good buy. Inasmuch as Karen for 10 or 15 years was the buyer and manager of Scandinavian Design, an elegant store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, I felt she knew what she was talking about. There was of course the worry about getting it home intact, and it became the 4th passenger in our car – "Don't sit on Henrietta!" or "Is Henrietta safe?" or "Be careful of Henrietta!"
In Løkken, a summer resort along the North Sea, the rain became quite heavy, but it let up enough after dinner for us to walk down to the sea under a bright moon. We were staying in another old "kro" and had a dinner of local fish (plaise, coated in crumbs and fried in butter, big enough to cover the entire plate) with kartoffler (small boiled potatoes) and a vegetable.. In the main dining room someone was celebrating a birthday with about 100 friends – a sit-down dinner with full service, speeches and songs and much merriment.
Our arrangements were that I would do the driving, Karen would negotiate our hotel and dining arrangements, and Elsa would watch the map. At this particular dining room, we were led to understand that if we would eat what they were serving the birthday party people, it would be much appreciated by the kitchen staff. Of course we were happy to oblige. And another thing about staying at these little inns: they never asked us to register in advance or make any payment in advance. Often the room rent included conventional breakfast, so we would settle up the next morning. But we could easily have skipped out early in the morning without paying for our rooms. I wonder how they protect themselves from that?
That weekend was a holiday weekend – Whitsuntide. Many places were closed from Friday through Monday, and although we did not see evidence of many people on the roads, hotels and dining rooms seemed to be very busy. We had a hard time finding a place to stay after we left Løkken Sunday night, but Lady Luck and Karen were with us. Karen came out of a country kro that had no room that she would accept (she was particular!) when she spotted a taxi that just drove up and discharged a passenger. She engaged him in lively conversation, jumped into our car and said, "Follow that taxi!" So for 26 kilometers we followed him on a narrow country road, through forests and over moors of heather, and left him when he waved us off to the left, and proceeded to a charming, fine, old, complete country inn with swimming pool, walking and bridal paths, recreation house with sauna and pool tables, and a large dining room and bar. The lady manager came out with Karen, both of them chattering away, and Karen translated that there was a room for us if we would promise not to ask for breakfast before 9:00 AM! Also, they had just had a big party that evening to which they served wild boar and they were tired out. Karen inquired, "Is there any wild boar left?" So sure, enough we had a lovely leisurely meal of wild boar that evening, served by a charming middle-aged gentleman who, it turned out, was a guest (and friend) of the establishment and offered to help out by serving tables! The wild boar, incidentally, was good.
Another memorable adventure was our trip to the island of Samsøe where our Deerfoot Lane neighbor Ingelise Weber grew up and where her father and stepmother still live. Samsøe lies east of Jutland and is accessible only by ferry. We had a 9:30 AM reservation for the ferry so tried to find a room for the night before near the port of Hov. After much driving and a couple of disappointments in finding rooms, we got closer and closer to Hov and pulled up at the only kro in town. Karen went in to negotiate for a room and came out looking doubtful, but she said, "They have a room for us but the bath is down the hall and the sink in the room does not work. Do you want to look at it?" Well, we had to consider it. Our backs were to the sea, something Elsa said a good Viking would never allow to happen to him. However her mother (Aunt Helga) had always told her that whenever she might be in Denmark she should never worry about staying in a kro. A kro may be simple but will always be clean. So we said of course we would look at it. What alternative did we have? Upstairs we trudged, narrow, winding stairs they were, and looked at the room. Very simple with three cots and two windows.. Down the hall was the bath – toilet, shower and sink. Not obviously dirty, but not inviting, any of it. But what was our alternative? Nobody wanted to commit the three of us to such a deal. Suddenly Karen spied a dirty ashtray sitting on the toilet and dumped the butts into the toilet bowl with a comment. That made the chambermaid furious and she and Karen had a few words. I started to giggle and had to hide myself because I couldn't control my giggles. We said we would take the room, lugged our bags upstairs by ourselves (through the dining room with crumbs on the table), all while trying to help Marilyn control herself. I was having hysterics; I couldn't stop laughing at our situation. A GOOD VIKING NEVER LETS HIMSELF BE BACKED TO THE SEA!! We were a stone's throw from the harbor for the ferry to Samsøe and the beds were clean, so we slept well. Next door to the kro was a bakery where we bought some delicious pastries for breakfast and felt much better in the light of day. Karen went into the bar and paid the bill and came out saying it wasn't so bad after all.
A cup of coffee on the ferry and the antics of a group of school children going to Samsøe for a week's camp-out revived our spirits. The day dawned sunny and clear, and the island of Samsøe was out of this world with charm and a sense of living in a story book, and Lise's parents, Axel and Kisse, were as gracious as one could hope for. We enjoyed their charming old cottage and their erudite company, delicious meals (two of them), a walk around their acreage and a drive around their beautiful island. Axel is a retired doctor of veterinarian medicine and Kisse was a nurse from Copenhagen. They are both sophisticated, well traveled, educated to include the arts and literature, and gernerous to a fault. It was a memorable day for us. We left on the 7:30 PM ferry for our next stop.
Since it remains light until 10:30 or 11:00 PM, we drove across the bridge to the island of Fyn to visit Bogense where Aunt Helga grew up and where Karen knew several places to buy products of folk artistry. We spent a lot of time on Bogense for Elsa, and it was very, very old and charming. We stopped in two places where Karen knew the artists and bought a few little things as mementoes. Spent a lot of time at the Bogense kirke (church) because Elsa had to check out the new arrangements they make for burials. All these years Helga and her sister Anna have been paying to maintain their parents' graves, but this past year they would not allow them to do so. It seems that many churches in Denmark are now planting over old graves with grass, especially near the front entrances, and not allowing old gravesites to be renewed. Many of the new places are being redesigned to accommodate the ashes of cremated people, since 85% of Danes are now choosing cremation. It takes less room in the churchyard, is the reasoning. Anna is understandably upset that she cannot continue to renew her parents' grave, but now Elsa can convince her that she is not the only one to suffer this disappointment.
I'm out of order in this story, I see. I am reminded that before we left Jutland we also drove to Give to visit the grave of Karen's mother, but after more than an hour of searching, we could not find it! Karen was naturally very upset, but she will return to Give after her trip to Stockholm and Helsinki and Leningrad and visit during the day when she can have the help of the official people at the Give church. We were there after 5:00 PM. Then we drove to Thyregod where my father, Elsa's father and Karen's mother were brought up, but it was late then, too, and the church was locked. I have many pictures of Thyregod from our trip in 1978, so I did not mind missing the inside of the little old church.
After visiting Bogense, we drove for the night to Nyborg, the ferry port that goes to Sjaelland. We were getting near the end of our trip and my visit to my mother's people in Fjenneslev and Alsted. We stayed in a grand, new Best Western hotel, one of those set up for conferences, and situated facing the water. It was very modern, still uncompleted in some areas. But as new as it was, the shower was a corner of a tiled room screened off with a shower curtain.. That evening I hosted a dinner for the two cousins to celebrate Elsa's 59th birthday and to thank them both for the many nice things they had done to make the trip possible and such a pleasure.
We were due at my cousin Ingrid's home in Fjenneslev/Alsted by 2:00 the next day, so in the morning we drove north from Nyborg along the seashore to a lovely little old town named Kereminde. We passed, and stopped to photograph, two grand private estates, working farms, really, and one of them being owned by a baron whom Karen knew – of course! She found out all about him and his family from the gardener on duty whom she engaged in a lively conversation. In Kereminde there was a very old cottage turned into a museum that we visited and enjoyed very much. It had a special showing of authentic utensils, furniture, clothing, etc. of the Danish housewife during the 1930's. Naturally we all recognized many of the implements that were in the kitchens when we grew up.
Lunch was had on the ferry during the hour's ride to Sjaelland. Drove to Alsted and pulled in on time to meet cousin Ingrid and her husband Poul. After warm greetings and being shown to our rooms, we of course sat down to have coffee and something. I don't really remember what we ate, but it may have been that they waited lunch for us. They were sitting by the front window when we drove into the yard, I know. Poul took us for a drive around the area while Ingrid finished preparations for the family dinner at 6 PM. He took us to the Alsted church where Luther and M and I visited in 1978 and where I thought my mother had been confirmed and baptized. But she did attend the schoolhouse which was next door to the Fjenneslev church. If all this confuses you, I'll try to explain.
Fjenneslev, Alsted and Flinterup are three tiny towns of a few farms all within eyesight of each other and separated by rolling lands of pasture and crops. The school and a very historic church are in Fjenneslev; my mother was born in Alsted/Flinterup on the family farm still referred to as Stubbegaard. Alsted is where cousin Ingrid and cousin Ulla live and Fjenneslev is (I think), where cousin Kathrine lives. The lines blur, but I was told that the official of division between county seats goes right through that area. The records from the church at Fjenneslev belong at the "county seat" in Sorø and the records from the church at Alsted belong in the "county seat" at Ringsted. Because the church at Fjenneslev has so much ancient history to it, it is classified now as a national treasure of sorts and is supported by the state, while the Alsted church is still a little country church serving the people nearby. The records show that my mother was baptized and confirmed in the Alsted church.
My father, however had told me that he visited Mother at her home in Fjenneslev, so naturally when Luther and M and I were in Denmark in 1978, we went to Fjenneslev and assumed that the Fjenneslev church was Mother's. At that time, the lady who was tending the church for tourists told us that the records were sent to the "county seat" in Ringsted. When I wanted to trace her, therefore, I wrote to the Historian at the Ringstead office. That puzzled my relatives very much because it was wrong. But it was really good luck in the end, because when my letter of inquiry was received by the local historian in Ringsted, he was about to forward it to Sorø. But knowing that Sorø did not have as good a local historian as was in his own office in Ringsted, and since the lines blur in that area anyhow, he gave my letter to one of his people to work on. Mr. Kjaer-Hansen was able to work across both lines of official demarcation and come up with the answers I needed.
I don't think my family members in Alsted/Fjenneslev/Flinterup had anything but a casual interest in family history until my letter came along and until I came along to visit them. Ingrid and Poul put on a beautiful dinner party for us all that first evening – 11 of us, counting Elsa and Karen. None of them could speak any English and I was glad to have Karen along, but the conversation was so excited (at a Danish dinner table everyone talks – nay, shouts – at once!) that not too much got through to Elsa and me. I did understand, however, that they had a great deal of difficulty accepting the fact that I was in Fjenneslev in 1978 and did not come to see them!
Karen left the next morning for Copenhagen and then on to Stockholm, Helsinki and Leningrad and return to Copenhagen before returning to Chicago. Elsa left for her flight to Los Angeles on Saturday morning, and I was left along with Ingrid and Poul and all these relatives until the following Thursday! Oh, but they were hospitable. We tried our best with sign language, a Danish-English phrase book and a smattering of German that Poul and I knew. They had had a German army officer billeted in their home during the occupation of World War II. The cousins each took turns having me over for a visit, a dinner and something special. Two of them had daughters-in-law who knew English, so that helped us a lot. Sunday, cousin Frede (a man) and his wife, Gudrun, son Leo and daughter-in-law Lisse (who knew English) and their two children, 11 and 15 years old, devoted the entire day to me. I was picked up at 9:30 AM and taken to the old family home, Stubbegaard, in Alsted-Flinterup. This is where my mother and her 5 brothers and sisters grew up. A young couple now owns the farm and it is there livelihood. One barn is for pigs and one for cattle. We were shown around and invited in for a drink of wine with the owner's mother and the farm hand, Torben. Jorgen's wife was in the hospital, just having given birth to their first baby. It was raining torrents that morning, but we proceeded with our visit as if it did not matter. And it didn't. Those people are used to weather like that and continuing doing whatever needs doing. Then we visited the family farm of Frede's son Leo, took pictures and looked at family photos and old inherited items, like a large trunk that belonged to my mother's brother Herman (Frede's father). Off to Frede and Gudrun's home next for a big dinner. Then off in two cars to tour the countryside, two huge and beautiful estates with handsome manor houses, one with absolutely gorgeous grounds that the public allowed to enjoy. After that, we found ourselves deep into the countryside at a very, very old cottage that has been turned into a place that serves coffee and aebleskiver and is very popular with those in the "know." It was a wonderful day, and Lisse was a charming young woman, easy to talk with about affairs of the day for Denmark.
One night was set aside for dinner with cousin Kathrine (pronounced "Katrina") and her husband Jorgen. They had a house that is an antique dealer's dream – the furniture and artifacts would bring a small fortune in the right hands. Again, we ate a delicious meal off lovely porcelain, intricately cut crystal and handsome sterling. But no vegetable or salad. Roast beef, boiled potatoes, rich brown gravy, pickles, and for dessert a fruit pudding with rich cream. Their son and family came over after dinner, and so the table had to be set again for coffee and pastry before we went home. One of the most interesting items of that evening was seeing a copper coffee urn that Kathrine has, supposedly handed down through the family from my great-grandfather before he went to America to homestead on a farm in Minnesota. This is a mystery because they have the coffee urn but never heard of the fact that their grandmother's father had gone to America. Uncle Hans in Omaha had been very specific about the fact that when he came to America in 1912 he went to work on his grandfather's farm in Minnesota. I have the local historian, and others, working on clearing up this mystery.
The evening we went to cousin Ulla's for dinner was something else. Her husband Poul ("farmer Poul") was a large and exuberant host, pouring snapps and wine and drinking "skaal!" as often as possible. That meal was a formal "kolde table" smørrebrød meal, with lots of fish, meat, bread, more meat and more bread, and on and on. Then the table was cleared, we went into the living room to discuss the family tree with the local historian Mr. Kjaer-Hansen who was their guest, and then the table was set again for coffee and dessert. A daughter and her son came to pay their respects, and Poul grandly commanded his grandson to sit next to me and speak English. The poor kid was embarrassed, but I tried to be easy on him and soon we were comfortably talking together. The rest of them carried on their talking in their typical Danish way. I think I remember this from my childhood. The adults sit around talking excitedly and loudly, two or three at a time, shouting across the table to make a point, always with jovial good humor. They interrupt each other, embroider each other's stories in tandem, disagree and correct each other, but I never saw a frown. It seems like a game, and even though I couldn't understand them, I watched in amusement and amazement and pretended that the conversation was a ball that I could watch bounce from court to court. But as it always turned out, there were usually three balls going at once!
One day Ingrid and Poul took me with them when they went to the Alsted church to put fresh flowers on the family graves. This was very charming and quite moving to me. They did their gardening and watering on each grave and explained who each was who lay beneath us. A caretaker came by and chatted a bit, then went up into the belfry and began pealing the bell. Poul told me I could go up and watch, so I did – in the little door with the huge key, up the worn stone steps, winding in a tight curve, then up a ladder, the wood worn smooth as silk, into the belfry. The two bells were hung on massive beams; the light came in through small windows in the steeple, the attendant was pulling on the clapper with a fat rope, and the sound went through me in waves. After ringing one bell for about 5 minutes, he moved to the second bell with a different tone and began to strike the hour of 5 o'clock. But he struk it 9 times for 5 o'clock. It was an emotional experience for me; I felt as though I were in another world, and indeed I was. The waves of sound brought me to tears, and I wept for – I suppose – the lost memory of my mother. That experience was fairly early in the week I spent with Ingrid and Poul, and after passing through that emotion with the bells, I enjoyed the many other sights and sounds with a better balance of joy and learning.
And so the day came to leave for Los Angeles. Ingrid and Poul rode into Copenhagen with me to be sure I didn't lose my way or need their help. They are in their early 80's, and I certainly did not want Poul carrying my heavy suitcase, but they wanted to be there and I worked it out so he did not get to carry my suitcase. If it had been a lovely day weather-wise, they would have stayed in Copenhagen and visited Tivoli before taking the train back home, but it was raining again. I'm sure they needed their daily nap when they returned home as it was. I said goodbye to them reluctantly, but I shall always remember them with deep affection.
Luther met me at Immigration and had a welcome-home gift of Flora Danica perfume spray! It took me a week to settle down from the excitement, and I don't know that I ever will. This trip was such a highlight that I am a changed person. I have a lot of great pictures and it will take some time to get them all in order and to write up the story of it. Now I have a lot more people to correspond with, also. And who knows, perhaps some of those grandchildren of the cousins will pay us a visit some day. That would be nice.
If you can sit through this long letter at one sitting, I congratulate you, Bee. I'll close here without further ado.
Lovingly,
Marilyn
As for me, I'll leave most of my thoughts for another time because this is so long, but I have to say I envy her the chance to have gone. It sounds like it was a truly incredible experience.
Finding Oline Correspondance 4
A very short post today. I've got Marilyn's reaction post to her Danish trip after this as well so I'll have that to post next week. Beyond these two, the notes are scattered, so I'm not sure how much more I'll type up for now. I'll probably pop in periodically to do more, but I think after Marilyn's reaction, most of what I'll share will just be snippets, rather than whole letters.
If family have anything else to add to the search that they know about, I'd love to hear it. Every time I look at these letters, I find a bit more, so I wouldn't be shocked in the least to learn there's more out there. Genealogy is an ongoing process that can never reach it's ultimate conclusion because there is always more to find.
Next month (Tuesday), I will be starting NaNoWriMo, so my attention to Genealogy will be minor at best, but I do promise I'll be back, and hopefully I'll have all new things to share.
These letters in this post take place between the siblings' visit to see their Uncle Hans and Marilyn's trip to Denmark. The first is a letter from Evelyn to my grandmother about their visit to uncle Hans. The second actually takes place after Marilyn's trip, but before she wrote up her notes about it, so I've included it here as a link, since I actually wrote it up before.
As always, I've left any misspellings as they were written to preserve the feel of the original document.
Dear Margaret:
Your letter came sometime ago but have been busy so delayed answering. I feel I have known the Hansen family forever and sure enjoyed your visit. I'm so glad you wrote to Hans & this week he got a letter from someone from Cleveland & he remembered attending their wedding so word is getting around & mail is important to him although he doesn't feel capable of answering.
We went to our last graduation tonight. Our granddaughter graduated with honors & made the Nat'l Honor Society & got a letter in music. She will enter Nebr. Business School to learn court reporting. She wants to be a lawyer & figures she can pay her way with that skill.
Did you know Elk Horn Iowa is a Danish Community, the largest in the US? They had a big celebration last week. Several years ago one of the Danes bought a windmill, had it dismantled it & reconstructed it there.
This is the season for Eastern Star Luncheons so I have been visiting other Chapters. I don't know many in other chapters but they usually have interesting programs and it's nice to be among people.
Thanks for the pictures and I saw Marilyn's. Hans always shares his letters with me.
We took him cemetery on Memorial day.
Today my back was hurting so I didn't go to his room so Maral went up & then they came down & we visited in the lobby but I couldn't stand the smoking very long.
My cousin & wife came to visit Thursday. They live in Phoenix. My brother and another cousin came and we talked over old times like you folks did.
I sure miss the typewriter, Charles took it when he went to Ca. and he's not back yet.
Keep in touch with Hans. He still talks about your visit.
Evelyn
The second letter is one I wrote up in this post, which details part of Marilyn's trip to Denmark and a conversation about their maternal grandmother.
Next week: Marilyn's trip to Denmark
Finding Oline Correspondance 3
I'm a bit behind on this. A few things came up in the last few weeks, so I've been distracted. But hopefully I'll be back on track these next two Fridays, because starting the first I'll be doing NaNoWriMo for the fifth time, which means I'll be very distracted for most of November.
But as soon as that is over, I plan to get back on track, and maybe write a good deal more on Oline.
Today I have the letter from their cousin Ingrid Hansen; a letter from Marilyn to her siblings containing the letter she received from Evelyn Deats, who was Uncle Hans's caretaker when they got back in touch with him; her response to Evelyn; and a second letter from the Ringsted Archives.
As always, I've taken out any personal addresses and first names of family still living aside from Aunt Marilyn have been changed to initials. Also, any misspellings have been left as they were written to preserve the feel of the original document.
Dear Marilyn,
Thank you for your letter, and for the foto.
We are looking forward to see you here in Denmark.
We hoped very much, that you arrive after the 3rd of June.
We are in Norway from the 26th of May, until the 3rd of June, and will be very sorry, if we do not see you.
In your letter, you asked for our telephone number, here it comes: 03 64 82 37.
We do not speake English, so we hope, your cousin Karen Margrethe will call us, when you arrive Copenhagen, and we hope, she will be helpful, when we meet you.
Will you please send the name and address of the family in Jylland.
We will then take contact with them.
Ingrid Hansen.
(signed) Ingrid Oline Hansen
Dear Torben and Maggie:
Following is a copy of the letter I received from Evelyn Deats of Omaha:
Dear Marilyn,
I am Hans' step-daughter in law. I am the one who takes care of his mail, his business and visits him every Thursday. Your letter came yesterday but I won't be able to get to Hans for a few days as we are snowed in as you can see by the papers.
I don't think Hans could call you on the phone. He is very deaf. He has a Hearing Aid but doesn't wear it much as he has an infection in the ear and goes to Uni. Hosp. Almost every week for treatments. So glad to hear from you as the only address I had was Kai Hansen and I wrote him about Hans.
Hans address is Douglas County Hospital
4102 Woolworth Ave., Room 424
Omaha 68105
On July 6, 1 day after his 96 birthday he had a gall bladder operation at Lutheran Hospital. He was very sick as it had damage his liver and colon and was there till the end of July when the Doctor had him moved by ambulance to County (this is more of a rest home, but they do have a couple od doctors therepart time. It’s a very old building but he gets wonderful care, its clean, and the nurses dearly love him. His mind is so clear, and his sense of humor so great, they have lots of fun with him. Mostly colored nurses but so kind, most of them call his "pop" and call to him as they pass his door and always stop to say "hi" to me when I visit.
Hans is the only one they can visit with as most of the patients are in wheel chairs and most don't know where they are. I've thought of moving him but decided it's best to leave well enough alone.
I got him on Medicaid now so that helps financially. They take most of his social security but leave enough for me to buy his personal things each month. My husband Marcel, his step son, is getting senile and not much help, and Elene, his step-daughter, is getting senile and is no help at all. She was in hospital and rest homes from July 30 till mid Oct. and I went to see her several times a week and took care of her finances. She's back in her apt. now.
I wound up in hospital the last week of Febr. With a bleeding ulcer from all the extra responsibility so now I just take care of Hans. I'll be 80 in June and I wear a back brace so I don't get around much but I still drive the car so if you come by plane let me know so I can meet you. Hans and I have had some good talks about Denmark and his family. I found an old album with pictures of his family in it. I'll take it to hospital when you come and he can tell you about them. I hope he will give it to you as it wont' mean anything to us. After he moved to County I asked him about hisfolks names he said his mother was an Olsen with an "E" but it took some time to remember her first name and then gave me his fathers name and said he died when he was 3 or 4 years old. I've really got to know Hans since he's been at County. When he was in his apt. we didn't see him much as he was independent, didn't need help but always came to our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He was known as the Mayor of Park Ave. He walked down to the church to the site for his noon meal each day and was always a hit with the ladies. I know you will enjoy him. Awaiting your visit.
[address redacted]
P.S. It looks like we are snowed in for several days. Had to go out the front door only have a narrow path from side door to garage. Neighbor tried to use our snow blower on it but it got clogged up. Beats all, had such a mild winter – no snow – and now with early flowers out and trees budded this has to come. Have grandson stranded in St. Louis till planes can fly again. Live in Nebr. And you find a variety of weather that's for sure. Hope you can read this. I miss my son's elec. Type-writer. He's in Palm Springs for a few weeks. Drove an old couple out there.
Maggie: Torben called this morning. He has reservations on United Flight #277 April 25 arriving in Omaha at 9:57 AM. He'll meet us at the baggage place if we miss him at the gate. He leaves Tuesday the 28th at 9:30 AM. Those flights are very convenient to ours.
Torben has agreed to bring his tape recorder. I think it's younger and less bulky than mine. I will ask Mrs. Deats to have 2 rooms reserved for us at a motel reasonably close to where Uncle Hans is staying. Maggie, would you please ask R to arrange for a car rental for us when we arrive at the Omaha airport? I bought my ticket directly from United, so I don't have an agent to go through for the car.
Torben: Maggie and I will meet in Denver and fly from there to Omaha on the same plane: United #280, arriving in Omaha at 8:36AM. We leave Tuesday the 28th on United #667 at 7:35 AM.
Tomorrow morning I start 2 weeks of jury duty in Riverside, and on Easter Sunday we'll host a dinner here for the Sanborns, Johnsons, Sauters, Alexanders and N Hansen. Then it's off to Omaha and an adventure I never dreamed would happen!!
Keep in touch.
Marilyn
April 5, 1987
Mrs Evelyn Deats
[address redacted]
Dear Evelyn,
The long distance telephone lines have been busy between here and Seattle and Cleveland since I received your letter. Thank you for writing such a nice, newsy letter.
You wrote me that you had written to a Kai Hansen about Hans. Would you please give me his address?
My brother and sister and I are planning to fly to Omaha on Saturday, April 25. Our planes all arrive in Omaha at about the same hour (8:30 Am and 9:57 AM), so we will rent a car at the airport when we arrive. We have reservations to leave Omaha early the morning of Tuesday, April 28.
May we ask that you call a motel to reserve rooms for us that are reasonably near Douglas County Hsopital? We will need one room for Mr. Torben Hansen of Cleveland, Ohio, an one double room for my sister Mrs. Margaret Hillinger of Seattle, Washington, and myself to share. A reasonable price would be about $40 per night per room. We will need the rooms for 3 nights – the nights of April 25, 26 and 27. Tomorrow I begin two weeks of jury duty; otherwise we would be able to visit Uncle Hans earlier. I do hope we don't tire him out too much with 3 days of visiting, but I could not obtain a return flight at a reasonable price earlier than Tuesday.
If you have any suggestions of somewhere we might take Uncle Hans for a drive or a meal, we would appreciate your telling us. And of course we will telephone you as soon as we arrive.
Thank you very much for your help. We look forward to meeting you.
Marilyn Weare
Marilyn, Maggie and Torben visited with their uncle Hans on April 25, 26, and 27th. The notes for that visit can be found here.
Dear Mrs. Marilyn Hansen Weare.
Mr. Kjaer-Hansen, who has made the research concerning your family has got a letter from your cousin, Ulla and has asked me to translate it to English, which I am pleased to do. (I enclose the original letter)
"Dear Marilyn.
It certainly was a surprise to hear signs of life from our cousin in America, but it was a pity that it was not many years ago. I remember tha Father many times said, "If only I knew where Line's children were".
For many years, you know, we did not hear from Uncle Hans, either. but then suddenly there came at letter, and as far as I remember he had been married for 18 years. I think that Father had him searched for by the Salvation Army, -- without result.
Frede has been here to-day and has shown me your letter. It must have been very nice for you to meet Uncle, and nice for him as well. After Father and Mother died I took over the Christmas letters, -- it rarely became more, but a sign of life is also good.
You ask if we cousins know each other. Yes we do, for we don't live far from one another, and I live next to your mother's uncle's farm, but it has just changed hands.
We are still having visits from Mr. Kjaer-Hansen from the localhistory archieves, with whom you have been corresponding. He is doing a good piece of work for us.
We are looking forward to seeing you. Give our love to your two cousins and to Margaret and Torben.
Love to you from mu husband and myself
Yours Ulla. ".
Translation by N.J. Hansen
archivist.
Mr. Kjaer-Hansen asked me to send you the "family-tree", and we hope that you understand it, but we can talt about it, when you come.
The family tree referred to in the letter detailed the Hansen family starting with Oline's parents and going through their grandchildren. I have a photocopy, which also included this picture of their children:
L-R: Top: Oline, Herman, Maren Hansine
Bottom: Ole, Johanne, Hans
If any family members would like a copy, just contact me and I will get it scanned in so you can have one. My copy isn't the best, but it is a wonderful record to have.
I still have a good deal more to come: another letter from Evelyn, and much more from Marylin, including a summary of her trip to Denmark. I'll do my best to get at least some of that up next week.
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - The Ancestors GeneaMeme
Am a bit behind because I got a temp job this week, but until I can get more letters typed up, Randy Seaver posted his Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, and I couldn't resist:
"Your missin, should you decide to accept it is to:
1) Participate in the Ancestors GeneaMeme created by Jill Ball on the Geniaus blog.
2) Write your own blog post, or add your response as a comment to this blog post, in a Facebook Status post or note, or in a Google+ Stream item.
Thank you to Jill for the SNGF idea! Jill is collecting Ancestors MeGeneaMeme entries too.
The rules, and the Meme list, is given below in my response."
Here's what I have:
The Rules:
The list should be annotated in the following manner:
Things you have already done or found: bold face type
Things you would like to do or find: italicize (colour optional)
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type
You are encouraged to add extra comments in brackets after each item
The Meme:
Which of these apply to you?
1. Can name my 16 great-great-grandparents
2. Can name over 50 direct ancestors
3. Have photographs or portraits of my 8 great-grandparents
4. Have an ancestor who was married more than three times
5. Have an ancestor who was a bigamist (not that I'm aware of at this point in time)
6. Met all four of my grandparents
7. Met one or more of my great-grandparents (Met three of them, as a matter of fact. And remember two quite well. I was lucky that way.)
8. Named a child after an ancestor
9. Bear an ancestor's given name/s
10. Have an ancestor from Great Britain or Ireland
11. Have an ancestor from Asia
12. Have an ancestor from Continental Europe
13. Have an ancestor from Africa
14. Have an ancestor who was an agricultural labourer (The Welsh and Danish sides were both heavy farming families)
15. Have an ancestor who had large land holdings (not entirely sure, though I think not. I think most family farms were fairly small-time, though I could be wrong.)
16. Have an ancestor who was a holy man - minister, priest, rabbi (Lewis Edwart was apparently very big in the Quaker church before they left Wales, and at least one of my Jewish great-great grandfathers, if not both, were Rabbis.)
17. Have an ancestor who was a midwife (unsure, though it would be cool)
18. Have an ancestor who was an author (unsure, but I do know that writing runs in the Bordewick family, at the very least. Google Fergus Bordewich.)
19. Have an ancestor with the surname Smith, Murphy or Jones (Mostly Jones. Though I think I might have seen a Smith somewhere. I could be remembering ex's family, though.)
20. Have an ancestor with the surname Wong, Kim, Suzuki or Ng
(what, no Scandinavian ones? Or is that too automatic if you have Scandinavian roots?)
21. Have an ancestor with a surname beginning with X
22. Have an ancestor with a forename beginnining with Z
23. Have an ancestor born on 25th December (not that I'm aware of)
24. Have an ancestor born on New Year's Day (ditto)
25. Have blue blood in your family lines (who knows? I suppose it's possible.)
26. Have a parent who was born in a country different from my country of birth (both of them, actually. Mom was born in Canada, and dad in Germany, though he was born on a US military base, so he's a US citizen.)
27. Have a grandparent who was born in a country different from my country of birth (All but one, actually. Germany and Canada. The one born in the states was even born to immigrants.)
28. Can trace a direct family line back to the eighteenth century (two of them--one Danish line and one Welsh line.)
29. Can trace a direct family line back to the seventeenth century or earlier (Just the Danes.)
30. Have seen copies of the signatures of some of my great-grandparents (At the very least, Holger Hansen and Daniel and Eliza Jones, though I'd have to look through my papers to be sure.)
31. Have ancestors who signed their marriage certificate with an X (not that I know of)
32. Have a grandparent or earlier ancestor who went to university (My paternal granfather did get a degree, but I believe he's the only one. I'd have to check on my maternal grandfather, and I'm fairly sure none of my great grandparents attended a university.)
33. Have an ancestor who was convicted of a criminal offence (none I'm aware of, but that doesn't mean there weren't any)
34. Have an ancestor who was a victim of crime (my great-grandfather was killed by a motorist when he was crossing the street. Though I'm sure there were plenty more.)
35. Have shared an ancestor's story online or in a magazine (Many here in Oh, Spusch.)
36. Have published a family history online or in print (two books sister and I put together for our families.)
37. Have visited an ancestor's home from the 19th or earlier centuries
38. Still have an ancestor's home from the 19th or earlier centuries in the family
39. Have a family bible from the 19th Century (No, but I believe someone in the family still has the Howells bible.)
40. Have a pre-19th century family bible
So what about you?