WDYTYA (USA)

[Anne H]

A few days ago, Oprah had Emmitt Smith, Brooke Shields and Lisa Kudrow as guests and we were given a little glimpse of what's coming up for each of them. They seemed to have had quite an emotional and enlightening journey...had me in tears at times.

I'm looking to watching the show tonight.

Regards,
Anne H

[marilyn morning]

Tonight's show was very emotional with Emmitt Smith tracing his roots back to Africa (with the help of DNA Testing) I always get upset when I look over a US Census record that lists the amount of slaves one owned.


http://www.nbcdfw.com/blogs/blue-star/E ... 94602.html

[Anne H]

...and his was one of the fortunate families being able to stay together in slavery...although I'm not sure the right word to use would be 'fortunate'. Awfully sad though to realize his ancestors might be buried in that wooded area beside the 'whites' graveyard.

So...enjoyable but sad.

Regards,
Anne H

[marilyn morning]

As an option in the 1860 US Census, its listed in the description as

Color (White, Black or Mulatto)

Emmitt should consider himself another one of those very lucky researchers to be handed their family history on a silver platter.

I was amused when my husband asked me tonight after the show, why it is taking me so long to finish my research?

[Anne H]

Hi Marilyn,

Emmitt should consider himself another one of those very lucky researchers to be handed their family history on a silver platter.

I don't think Emmitt's lucky in that respect...he would have enjoyed finding the facts and family much more if he had gone the long way round like the rest of us.

Regards,
Anne

[LesleyB]

I'd agree on that one. Not long after I'd first started out, I was given a branch of my tree by a very kind contact, who had been researching for a while and was way ahead of where I was. It was interesting, and I was grateful for it as it saved me a lot of ground work (only checking of dates & facts required, and she had done a good job!), but although I have revisited that branch many times since and discovered more about them and filled in some of the gaps, I have never felt "attached" to it, or felt that involvement with this branch of the family which I very much feel for some other branches. I think part of the effect of working on the research yourself is the feeling of "ownership" which results - not only of the work, but of your personal connection to the people. I reckon this is the vital missing part if you are just handed a tree.

Best wishes
Lesley

[SarahND]

=D> Well said, Lesley!
And what about those of us who become more attached to other people's families than the actual relatives So many times when I have researched a family for someone I get impatient that they are not following through and finding the rest of the details. Often, I finally give up and look for them myself

Regards,
Sarah

[carlineric]

According to Chris Paton's "Scottish Genealogy News and Event" blog the US series will be shown just after it has finished in the US and it will be shortly followed by the new UK series of 10 editions. They are going to use the same narrator as the UK editions, probably due to continuity as they are taking out the ads and the cliffhangers before them. He also mentions that there are going to be another 25 editions of Heir Hunters

Eric

[marilyn morning]

marilyn wrote

Emmitt should consider himself another one of those very lucky researchers to be handed their family history on a silver platter.

Lighten up folks, I was being sarcastic.

Regards
Marilyn

[paddyscar]

WDYTYA is a bit of irony, isn't it?

Here we are slogging in the trenches, whipping out our hard earned coin at every turn; some of us longing to persue research in the 'old country' (whichever one that may be); wishing for backroom access to areas not readily available to the public and I don't see anyone beating down our doors to offer us the most amazing 'freebie' of all time.

Ah well, my roots will have to be discovered the way my ancestors did everything else - scrimping and saving; taking a chance; hard work and faith! At times difficult, but look at where we have arrived =D>

Not being one to close the doors, should Ancestry come looking for me, I would certainly entertain their offer

Frances