GENEALOGISTS - MODERN ARCHAEOLOGISTS

DIGGING UP THE ROOTS OF THEIR GENEALOGICAL TREES

by Val James (A Beckwith from Down Under)

   When we first learned about History, Geography at School, about Stonehenge, the Pyramids and the Stone Statues on Easter Island, we all wanted to become Historians, Geologists and Archaeologists. Now, as Genealogists, our dreams are to find something in the past, unknown to our Generation.

   We love to get lost in History and the Mists of Time hiding it. Living in and visiting places which have stirred my imagination, I have studied the History of, visiting archives in libraries, Churchyard Graveyards and Local Cemeteries, Some, dating back to Settlement Times. Reading the Inscriptions on old Headstones made me ponder on the hardships and Diseases these Pioneer Families had suffered to settle in our Country.

   I have written Short Stories and Poetry about some of these places After spending many years doing this I decided it was time to study the History of My Family Genealogical Tree. On keeping a Chart of the Family Names since 1600A.D. For 20 years in a drawer I decided to contact the same Cousin who had done the research of these Charts to Get a copy of the Ancient Chart from 1200 A.D.

   So, my ‘ digging’ for the Past began in Earnest Having the World - Wide - Web at My fingertips. The knowledge to be found on the Web is amazing. Finding scores of people researching the same name, it seemed like everyone had become Archaeologists digging up the remnants of their past Generations. When finding some “ Gem of information” quickly brushing away the Dust of Time and Polishing it up with Pride. Going through different Links to different Countries to find Written History of my Ancestor’s Achievements and their Spirituality in County Journals. Also, to see Ancient Maps with the old roads marked and the Geographical areas of the Villages they had lived in. Some, with their Manors marked on the maps. To read documented pages on the Churches they had built and photo of some still Standing and the ruins of others, all with their Graveyards. Some of those buried there had Family members buried on our soil and some in distant Lands.

   To read in Archived Documents, my ancestors had lived through the times of the Invader wars that tried to change their Religious Beliefs and their way of life On reading of a Family Member who lived in the time of Henry V111 who had paid a Tithe to the King of 40s in food and 12p in money. Sadly to read the Execution lists from the Newdegate Prison, still standing today, Which King Henry V111 had ordered to be built to imprison the Hundreds and Thousands of People he had ordered to be arrested for such Minor things such as, Having money and no work or no money. For having stolen food for their starving Family.

   During his Rule he had ordered 70.000 people, some Nobility and Gentry, his own Wives, Soldiers and Servants and destitute, to be Hung and many Beheaded saying they Had plotted Treason against him. Finding out some of the Ancestors had, when their wives did not bear Issue Divorced these wives, intermarrying with distant relatives to keep their lands safe in The Family name.

   Also finding some of my Ancestors had Titles of Nobility and some had been Reverends Who had built or funded Churches to be built onto Their Family Homes. Some had been Admitted to Corpus-Christi and had been buried in the York Minster and other Minster Churches. To read, in a York Journal of an Ancestor who had been sent to prison for refusing To watch a Play with the County Sheriff. Possibly one of the York Plays Performed yearly on the Feast Day of Corpus- Christi. A prominent Doctor in the Family who was the Personal Physician to the Famous Bronte Sisters, on his death had bequeathed his money to have the York Minster Bells repaired And money for a new School and Prison and money for the Poor. The York Minster Bells are rung in his Honour each day. He was buried near the Alter In the York Minster.

   A Family Reverend who had fully documented the History of a Village and all the Villagers Births, Deaths and Marriages of the village he lived in is still available on CDRom and Microfilm in his own handwriting. To read the tragic story of a Father and Son both having the same name and both Being the sheriff of the same County 30 years apart had shot themselves dead. Was this a freak repeat of an accident or was there an hereditary disease they both Suffered from which had driven them to this way of death? Feeling confused by the repeated naming of a whole family’s children with the same Names sometimes by siblings. Obviously the name was important to the Family to be passed on.

   Also the large families and even larger number of children dying in infancy While on this Journey into the Past, many of my secret questions have been answered. This search has helped me understand why my interests in some subjects are so Important to me and not to others in my immediate family. Finding all these ‘Treasures From The Past” has proved to me without a doubt, Genes are carried forward to Future Generations. This proves the old saying, ‘What has happened in the Past, will happen again in the Future.” As the World goes around so, Time goes around and around again.

   During this Search I have ‘met’ on the Net many Relatives from different Roots of our Tree. We share one thing in common; all are digging in the Past to bring knowledge into Our Generation to send forth into the Future. The Family I have met and shared information with has enriched my Life making the New Leaves growing each day open up and shine. We must all tend, with care, our Genealogical Tree.

© Val James 2002, All Rights Reserved.

WRITTEN BY VAL JAMES [NEE BECKWITH]
MOONBI MOUNTAINS
NSW
AUSTRALIA
ADDRESS PO BOX 54 MOONBI NSW 2353

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