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Subject: [WEDGWOOD-L] Genealogy humour
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 03:09:03 EST

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Subject: [SPRINGER-L] Genealogy humor
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I found this on another genealogy list. I hope that you all enjoy these.
DEB

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".
*Your 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 great 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 great 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 grandmother'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, 16,000-page history of your county of origin isn't
indexed.
*You finally find your great grandparent's wedding records and
discover that the brides' father was named John Smith.

I'll add one more from personal experience:

Your aunt's new husband thought that the family photographs grandma
collected for over 90 years were only fit for a bonfire. Your uncle saved
the last 20 lb box out of three. They haven't spoken since.

==== SPRINGER Mailing List ====
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