tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post6551889755653139910..comments2024-01-19T09:55:09.354+00:00Comments on 'On a flesh and bone foundation': An Irish History: Tuesday's Tip: Family History: The problem of researching from the outside in...Éire Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04588116386284997687noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-77972718644483424472012-03-05T11:34:27.828+00:002012-03-05T11:34:27.828+00:00Hi Jo,
Thanks for your comments; it's lovely ...Hi Jo,<br /><br />Thanks for your comments; it's lovely to hear from you. I'm sure there are lots of Bobs out there. My Welsh born friend Bryan is on the opposite end of things; his father used to tell him they were related to horse thieves. Turns out he is distantly connected to the British Royal family. I think he'd rather be related to the horse thieves.<br /><br />Cheers to you,<br />JenniferÉire Historianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588116386284997687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-30732532536821309122012-03-05T09:35:38.832+00:002012-03-05T09:35:38.832+00:00Great post, Jennifer. I have met a lot of Bobs wa...Great post, Jennifer. I have met a lot of Bobs wanting to prove a connection to a famous Scot (Rob Roy, Flora MacDonald, Robert the Bruce) because "Grandad always said we were related". My own Grandmother claimed she was the great great granddaughter of Robert Moffat, the missionary. Yes we have the name Moffat in the family, but despite extensive research, there is no proof, and it seems unlikely. Perhaps someone jokingly told her about the connection when she was young, and she continued to believe it...Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04360272405643318813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-80611582663879830342012-02-21T23:40:52.932+00:002012-02-21T23:40:52.932+00:00Hi Jacqi,
Thank you for your comments; they are a...Hi Jacqi,<br /><br />Thank you for your comments; they are always appreciated. Congratulations on your great finds! You'll be making Bob jealous. :):) <br /><br />Although I am relieved that I have no Murphys in my tree I do have lots of Magees, Kellys, O'Tooles, and Fitzpatricks, not to mention a couple of Malones.<br /><br />Cheers to you,<br />JenniferÉire Historianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588116386284997687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-75031924123389014742012-02-21T18:43:48.655+00:002012-02-21T18:43:48.655+00:00I confess, Jennifer, that I've been tempted to...I confess, Jennifer, that I've been tempted to follow that same path--like when I (and a lot of other Booth descendants) hear that word-of-mouth story that we are related to John Wilkes Booth--until I realize how hopeless an attempt it would be to find the connection from the outside in, as you call it.<br /><br />On the other hand, I sometimes feel hopeless about finding our Irish ancestors. They seem so anonymous going back before a certain point in time. Despite your comment about being lucky that your surnames aren't common, I once found a family name--Johanna Falvey of County Kerry--and thought I was lucky, too. What an unusual name! Until I did some research and found that at that time, Johanna as a given name was not that unusual...and that Falvey in County Kerry could be considered something akin to Smith in America!<br /><br />Better to seek for those serendipitous finds like my two Tully parallel lines, both later producing the same priest's letter confirming the record of their ancestor's 1800s baptism. I only wish I could stumble upon more items like that!Jacqi Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03471698670217119444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-37099365122167402112012-02-21T17:49:20.803+00:002012-02-21T17:49:20.803+00:00Hi Pauleen, and Hi Claudia, and Hi Charlotte,
Tha...Hi Pauleen, and Hi Claudia, and Hi Charlotte,<br /><br />Thank you to each one of you for your comments. I really appreciate hearing from you.<br /><br />Pauleen, you certainly make a good point in saying that Irish research may be particularly prone to this kind of research given the challenges we face. I often thank my lucky stars that I don't have a surname such as 'Murphy' in any of my lines.<br /><br />Claudia, I too believe in gut feelings and rejoice that they often take me in the right direction, but everything has to fit, as you say.<br /><br />Charlotte, Thanks for being so honest, and bringing a smile to my face this morning. I think you make a really good point about how satisfying it is when we find the real connections for which we're searching.<br /><br />Cheers to each one of you,<br />JenniferÉire Historianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588116386284997687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-34900589076366257452012-02-21T15:36:34.774+00:002012-02-21T15:36:34.774+00:00Jenn,
When I read this post I smiled because I h...Jenn, <br /><br />When I read this post I smiled because I have been 'Bob', and I wondered if you were following me around. <br /><br />I completely understand his frustration since he's been searching for so many years, but I'd like to say to him when you find the truth about where the famous person actually fits into your family tree it's going to be so much more satisfying for you than jamming together things that just don't fit.Charlotte Averyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10894689884941333468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-66558583170981066872012-02-21T14:13:58.478+00:002012-02-21T14:13:58.478+00:00A lot of time I get the same "gut" feeli...A lot of time I get the same "gut" feeling, but I do not add them until<br />I feel comfortable that I can chisel it in stone. <br /><br />Most of the time my gut feelings are accurate but I have to have the names and dates fit.Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714440790407126206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390677411039765188.post-21153706938143828682012-02-21T10:06:42.155+00:002012-02-21T10:06:42.155+00:00Great post Jennifer! Very frustrating for you -and...Great post Jennifer! Very frustrating for you -and also Bob no doubt. I wonder if Irish research is particularly prone to this kind of "outside in" research given how many challenges it sets us to find the right family. I'm a big believer in the valuer of collateral lines -with the same caveats!Cassmob (Pauleen)https://www.blogger.com/profile/18397134336319778519noreply@blogger.com