ISLE-OF-WIGHT-L Archives

Archiver > ISLE-OF-WIGHT > 1998-04 > 0891827712


From: A McMURTRY <>
Subject: Genealogy Humour
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 11:55:12 +1000


> Morning/Evening All,
Came across the following and thought it was a good laugh. I think I
said yes to just about every LAW.

Angela

> Have you seen "Murphy's law for genealogists"?
>
> The public ceremony in which your distinguished ancestor participated and
> at which the platform collapsed under him turned out to be a hanging.
>
> When at last after much hard work you have solved the mystery you have
> been working on for two years, your aunt says, "I could have told you
> that"
>
> You grandmother's maiden name that you have searched for for four years
> was on a letter in a box in the attic all the time.
>
> You never asked your father about his family when he was alive because
> you weren't interested in genealogy then.
>
> The will you need is in the safe on board the Titanic.
>
> Copies of old newspapers have holes occurring only on the surnames.
>
> John, son of Thomas, the immigrant whom your relatives claim as the family
> progenitor, died on board ship at age 10.
>
> Your gr grandfather's newspaper obituary states that he died leaving no
> issue of record.
>
> The keeper of the vital records you need has just been insulted by an
> another genealogist.
>
> The relative who had all the family photographs gave them all to her
> daughter who has no interest in genealogy and no inclination to share.
>
> The only record you find for your gr. grandfather is that his property was
> sold at a sheriff's sale for insolvency.
>
> The one document that would supply the missing link in your dead-end line
> has been lost due to fire, flood or war.
>
> The town clerk to whom you wrote for the information sends you a long
> handwritten letter which is totally illegible.
>
> The spelling of your European ancestor's name bears no relationship to its
> current spelling or pronunciation.
>
> None of the pictures in your recently deceased grmother's photo album
> have names written on them.
>
> No one in your family tree ever did anything noteworthy, owned property,
> was sued or was named in wills.
>
> You learn that your great aunt's executor just sold her life's collection
> of family genealogical materials to a flea market dealer "somewhere in New
> York City"
>
> Ink fades and paper deteriorates at a rate inversely proportional to the
> value of the data recorded.
>
> The 37 volume, sixteen thousand page history of your county of origin
> isn't indexed.
>
> You finally find your gr. grandparent's wedding records and discover that
> the brides' father was named John Smith.
>
> from South Bay Cities genealogical Society >>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: MURPHY'S LAWS of GENEALOGY
> Resent-Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 16:49:22 -0800 (PST)
> Resent-From:
> Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 18:40:17 -0800
> From: "moon" <> (by way of Genealogy Records Service
> <>)
> To:
>
> Here it is on the Cusp of Spring and I hope you need a good laugh!
> cya LCranston
>
> Have you seen "Murphy's law for genealogists"?
>
> The public ceremony in which your distinquished ancestor participated and
> at which the platform collapsed under him turned out to be a hanging.
>
> When at last after much hard work you have solved the mystery you have
> been working on for two years, your aunt says, "I could have told you
> that"
>
> You grandmother's maiden name that you have searched for for four years
> was on a letter in a box in the attic all the time.
>
> You never asked your father about his family when he was alive because
> you weren't interested in genealogy then.
>
> The will you need is in the safe on board the Titanic.
>
> Copies of old newspapers have holes occurring only on the surnames.
>
> John, son of Thomas, the immigrant whom your relatives claim as the family
> progenitor, died on board ship at age 10.
>
> Your gr grandfather's newspaper obituary states that he died leaving no
> issue of record.
>
> The keeper of the vital records you need has just been insulted by a
> another genealogist.
>
> The relative who had all the family photographs gave them all to her
> daughter who has no interest in genealogy and no inclination to share.
>
> The only record you find for your gr grandfather is that his property was
> sold at a sheriff's sale for insolvency.
>
> The one document that would supply the missing link in your dead-end line
> has been lost due to fire, flood or war.
>
> The town clerk to whom you wrote for the information sends you a long
> handwritten letter which is totally illegible.
>
> The spelling fo your European ancestor's name bears no relationship to its
> current spelling or pronounciation.
>
> None of the pictures in your recently deceased grmother's photo album
> have names written on them.
>
> No one in your family tree ever did anything noteworthy, owned property,
> was sued or was named in wills.
>
> You learn that your great aunt's executor just sold her life's collection
> of family genealogical materials to a flea market dealer "somewhere in New
> York City"
>
> Ink fades and paper deteriorates at a rate inversely proportional to the
> value of the data recorded.
>
> The 37 volume, sixteen thousand page history of your county of origin
> isn't indexed.
>
> You finally find your gr grandparent's wedding records and discover that
> the brides' father was named John Smith.
>
> from South Bay Cities genealogical Society
>
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> To:
>
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