Welcome Mallory! I love the personalization of history that comes from studying genealogy too. Rarely does history focus on individuals and when it does, the people chosen are famous and harder to relate to as a result. Its wonderful when the combination of history and genealogy gives you the sense of 'walking in their shoes'!

Feel free to add posts and comments to any of the threads in the Guide to Cemetery Research discussions. They are all open. I'm still working on items from the first two chapters. :)

Hi I just joined this group and picked up the Guide to Cemetary Research on Saturday. My name is Mallory and I started doing genealogy on a regular about a year ago (although I've had an interest in it ever since I was a little kid). My research so far has concluded that my family came from all over the place - Kentucky, Indiana, Poland, Ireland, and Germany to name a few. I am truely addicted to my new hobby. I especially enjoy how much it has introduced me to hisotry in general. I wish I discovered it back in high school - all those history classes would have been a lot more interesting given my new perspective.

Look forward to discussing books with y'all!

Oh my! You have quite a few geographies to explore as your family migrated! I, too, have Mass, NH, Penn, Conn., New York and Maryland. Throw in some branches in Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina just to keep it interesting. :) This year my focus is on Maryland and, as always, Ohio.

Some of my maternal ancestors moved from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Iowa, then Washington. My paternal ancestors moved from Connecticut, Mass., New York, Penn., Maryland, Illinois, Colorado, Wash.
Mary

Mary,
You have a LONG history in Washington State! Since your family migrated after the railroad, I suspect they stayed mostly in New England or did they leave tracks for you to follow as they migrated across the county?

You are right that genealogy can be addicting. It is great that you are not only preserving your parents work but extending upon it!

Liz

My name is Mary & I live in central Wash. State. Both of my parents had done lots of genealogy research, and a couple years ago i inherited the information. So I'm fairly new to this addicting hobby. Like Liz, both of my parents' families trace back early settlements in New England, from England & Scotland, although i have a great grandmother who came from scotland in 1911. There are a few families from Germany, Belgium, and unknowns. Both my mom & dad's families came to Washington State in late 1800's, early 1900's, after the railroad was built.

I started doing genealogy about 18 years ago. I love viewing history from the perspective of its effects on the 'common man'. So, my research tends to encompass history as well as genealogy. Most of my family were very early immigrants so my research is focused on the United States. My immigrants came largely from the British Isles and the region that is now Germany and Switzerland. There is also a Dutch contingent who settled in New Amsterdam. I love unraveling puzzles so I actually prefer to research 'brick walls'. Perhaps I am somewhat of a glutton for punishment!

I noticed that we have some new members to the group and some who have not yet posted a message to the group. It is always nice to know a little about each other! Please tell us a little about yourself and your genealogical interests.