An Open Letter to my "Upstairs" Relatives
Dear ________:
I am your _________ and living in the late 20th century here in
________. I am sitting in front of a microfilm projector (I'll explain
what that is in a later email) in a great research library run by really
nice people trying to decipher the small and shaky handwriting of your
parish's curate. He must have been either vertically challenged or had
palsy, because it's unreadable! At least I think it's your parish! I'm
not even sure of the decade! Thanks for leaving such a good paper trail.
(Sarcasm intended.)
According to family legend, you and your wife___________ had _____
children, some of whom lived beyond infancy. Yet not a single one was
recorded in the parish records! I can't even find your marriage
certificate. You two WERE married, right? Didn't you know that there would
be legions of people like me fanatically spending their waking hours and
small fortunes looking for any and all traces of your lives?
Were you just stubborn, couldn't afford the fees, or not members of the
Established Church? You're wondering, "What's all the fuss, we're dead
as
doornails?" We're not sure, but I think down here we're infected with the
same disease: "Rootsus obsessionus". Of course, WE are going to leave
better records
for our descendants!
Anyway, I'm glad I was able to vent my frustrations upward. If I
couldn't do that, I'd have probably popped the obnoxious researcher next to
me who is right now translating an old record in German - and out loud, for
goodness sake! I have an idea....When I'm "dead-on" (pardon the
expression)
to finding the correct record, give me some sort of sign. Make the
projector bulb flicker twice. Or, if it must be done in the privacy of my
home, I have a cocker spaniel. Talk through him. That will get my
attention for sure.
Thanks for listening. I'll be better in the morning..... I'll be back
at the library tomorrow night for
Round 14, so catch me there.
Sincerely,
Your
____________________,
______________________________
****************************************************
I would have to insert Mr. ? CARTER b. in Ohio ? and wife Mrs. (?) ? b. in
Pa. ? daughter, Elizabeth Jane CARTER b. 1838 in Fountain County, Indiana.
And as Daddy used to tell me:
"Don't worry about bitin' off more'n you can chew;
your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think."
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