While working on a long and in depth genealogy project while living in Germany I discovered that more than one branch of my family tree decided to leave their native land for better prospects elsewhere. Children left their parents to seek their fortunes in more fertile lands.
On my mother's side the Huguenots left because of persecution. On my father's side, I swear living near Calais, made it so from one day to the next they didn't know if they were under British or French rule. Eventually they just gave up and moved to Canada. Was that any better? Not really since they settled in the the French Province of Quebec and struggled for freedom there as well. Eventually they moved to NY.
While researching my paternal grandmother's side I found that her ancestors were primarily English with some Scots and Irish mixed in. Borders blur and families find themselves on opposite sides of borders over night. Sir Hugh Tirel can be traced back to William the Conquer. No wonder Grandma was an imposing figure of a woman; it was in her genes. Her ancestors fought in crusades. One of her ancestors was the Prince of Poix. No not the modern day Prince of Poix who is an offshoot of a different family entirely.
I have found that trying to figure out where I came from isn't as easy as it seems to be. It is more than just being born. It is hertiage. That heritage can be passed on through adoption and not just genetics. Discipline, teachings, familial relations, cultural influences all comprise what makes us who we are and who we will become.
Alexandre Dumas' works were heavily influenced by his father, also named Alexandre Dumas. In the biography The Black Count, author Tom Reiss tells how Dumas went from slavery to become the equivalent of a five star general in the French military. Join From Left to Write on October 11 as we discuss the The Black Count. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
[CD] The Black Count By Reiss, Tom (Google Affiliate Ad)
My mother is native American,... but she was adopted out and in to a Itlian family. I couldnt agree more with " Discipline, teachings, familial relations, cultural influences all comprise what makes us who we are and who we will become." And the human experience has soo much varriant to it even with in a set culture.
ReplyDeleteI have Native American on my paternal grandfather side. His family emigrated from France to Canada where they married in the two hundred years of being there a native gal then moved on to NY. I'd have to look through all my research to figure out where and which one. I have pounds of paper on the research I was doing.
Delete"have found that trying to figure out where I came from isn't as easy as it seems to be. It is more than just being born. It is hertiage. That heritage can be passed on through adoption and not just genetics. Discipline, teachings, familial relations, cultural influences all comprise what makes us who we are and who we will become."
ReplyDeleteVery well said! My family is descended from a lot of places and we lost a lot of our heritage along the way. I wish I knew more about ours honestly. It is kind of freeing in a way though... like we get to lay our own roots now.
Each new generation creates a link to their past and future generation with their own stories, recipes, and teachings. I love how diverse we have become.
DeleteI am amazed that you know so much about your family's history!
ReplyDeleteFor me it wasn't all that difficult. I found out most of what I know now over three years of research. I found cousins that were also very helpful, three were genealogists, and published genealogy books on my family lines.
DeleteWow, you are lucky that you know so much! We know a little bit here and there but we have the classic Eastern European Jewry story, with a little middle eastern mixed in, and in fact, we have a similar situation where my great-grandfather lived in a part of Lebanon that was part of Syria at one point, and so there is some debate about whether he was Lebanese or Syrian!
ReplyDeleteEuropean territories were forever changing lines. Sometimes I think that the leaders had no conscious when it came to the lives they were uprooting.
DeleteI also love researching genealogy. My father's side is extremely traceable and my mother's side is a dead end starting right with her. Then there's my husband's side where I can't "prove" his father is his father. I like your quote about it being more than the bloodline. That's very true! And like the others have mentioned, very well said :)
ReplyDeleteI'm having some troubles researching my husband's side. They just don't recall dates and places.
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