There is something thrilling about discovering parts of your family history Victoria. We can uncover stories of fame – or infamy – fortune, grit, determination, love and heartache. We can also find missing ancestors, unknown stories and give your ancestors a place in the context of their communities, the world and their surroundings. However, despite, what some think and what can be portrayed on television programs and advertisements for genealogical programs, not everything can be found; whether it was never created, has not been retained, has been destroyed, or is closed for public consumption.
From something as simple as a nickname that an ancestor may have been known by their whole life, or a funny story that is local legend within a community, more often than not these are not discoverable in the public record. Many assume that what is common knowledge within their own family will be available to historians and genealogists; this is simply not the case. We can work within the parameters of the records that are open and available to us, using our skill, expertise, and knowledge to discover those stories and give an understanding about your ancestors. However, often these personal and nuanced stories have been passed down through oral histories, they can be myths and stories that have become lore in a family, but have grown from something that’s knowledge is only contained within a family or family unit.
Family history Victoria can help us learn more about our ancestors, and can be an eye-opening and exciting peek into the past, but we need to keep in mind that sometimes there is little, or nothing there to discover.
That does not mean your ancestors lives were not worth talking about, it just means that maybe they lived their lives “under the radar” or that the records are closed, or do not exist. Keep in mind that these were pre-social media and internet days, and many lived their lives within communities, worked hard, and raised large families. However, all research may be considered positive if it is viewed that a particular document or direction has been “ruled out”.
Want to see whether we can find the stories of your ancestors? Get in contact here to see whether we can help.
