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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1999-04 > 0923444153


From: "D. Spencer Hines" <>
Subject: Re: Burden of Proof On The Advocate
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 14:15:53 -1000


Vide infra.

Good For You. <g>

That's a very ethical position indeed.

Cheers,

D. Spencer Hines

Lux et Veritas
--

D. Spencer Hines --- "Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit." Publius
Virgilius Maro (Virgil) [70-19 B.C.] [Aeneid I, 203] Aeneas, seeking
to comfort his men as they contemplate an arduous journey to Italy,
reassures them that, "Someday, perhaps, it will be pleasant to
remember all this."

Renia Simmonds <> wrote in message
news:...
> I disagree with you, Grant. If the study of genealogy is not the
study of our forbears
> with regrards to whose genes we have inherited, then why bother? You
could have
> anybody as an ancestor, rather like that hysterical April website
some wag referred us
> to.
>
> So many of our forbears were farmed out to other families as
children, as servants,
> and apprentices and even as child brides whose fiancee died before
the wedding day,
> that you could have the pick of your ancestors. I suspect that is
what some of you
> would like, because I read all sorts of rubbish on some of these
newsgroups that is
> totally unrelated to rigorous research, but betrays only ignorance,
laziness, and
> wishful thinking.
>
> I remember one client, who, quite seriously, wanted me to prove his
descendancy from
> Adam. I did not cash his cheque, and told him to read all about it
in Burke's Peerage.
>
> Renia
>
> Brant Gibbard wrote:
>
> > On Wed, 31 Mar 1999 16:30:16 +0000, Renia Simmonds
> > <> wrote:
> >
> > >No. The whole point of GENEalogy, is the study of ancestry via
the genes. It is
> > >not supposed to be an emotional issue based on whose funeral we
cry at, or
> > >whether our birth mother or our adoptive mother had more
influence on our lives.
> > >Genealogy is not the study of social history. Family history
includes the study
> > >of social history, "putting meat on bones" as the saying goes,
but even there, it
> > >is the genetic influences that predominate.
> > >
> >
> > That is only one possible interpretation of the uses and meaning
of
> > genealogy, and probably the least useful one. Except in medical
> > studies of the transmission of inheritable diseases the actual
genetic
> > parentage is largely irrelevant, although in most cases it will
> > correspond to the "social" parentage.
> >
> > Do not confuse historical etymology and current meaning. It is
true
> > that the gen- root comes from a word for "family", but to a Roman,
an
> > adopted child was part of the "gens" in every way, both legally
and
> > socially, and was considered to no longer be a part of the blood
> > family even if the birth parents were still alive (as they
frequently
> > were with noble adoptions).
> >
> > Brant Gibbard
> >
> > Toronto, Ont.
>
>
>

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