General Chat

I was always interested and wanted to research my family history but way back in the early 1970's there were few things available and I thought the only way would be to go and visit the place - many many miles away - where my ancestors came from. Obviously now it's all different with the internet etc. But I started in 1996 after my father in law died and I found loads of old certificates clearing his house. Now I've researched all lines and am hooked! I also joined my local FHS even though my ancestors don't come from here. Found it so interesting ended up on the committee! I think it's so good that younger people are interested and can actually find the time to do it.

Hi Sarah i'm 43 and by no means would say i'm middle aged, i don't intend to get their until at least 65 lol i've been interested in family history since my teens, but really started to get into it 18 months ago, my kids sometimes help me the 2 that are quite interested are 16 and 25 though my other 3 tolerate my excitement. I think you will find that as its time consuming, younger people don't always have as much time due to work and family life, as thoughs of us that are retired whether medically or aged. But i do know quite a few people that are in their 30's and younger that find it interesting. Happy Hunting Sandra

When I started, I went to the local college course and I was the youngest (39) by quite a few years. This was over four years ago and we all still meet up once a month to keep in touch. The oldest is now 78. Youngest next to me 60. We all enjoy each others company, I am very friendly with one of the ladies who's just turned 60 and am so pleased I started in the first place. I attended 4 courses in all and in that time I think there were probably only 3 other people who started who were younger than me. They didn't keep with the rest of the group, it seems that the original class really got on.

Sarah I read your question again and no, I don't think it's sad - as long as people continue to be interested in family history (and I'm always reading that the popularity of genealogy is soaring) I don't think it matters what age people are - if people aren't interested when they're younger, they may well be when they're older. I went to do a part-time degree at university in the evenings when I was 23 and I was the baby of the group (by at least a decade) for a couple of years. It was a brilliant experience for me to mix with people from different backgrounds and of different ages and helped to open up my world a bit. Sorry for going on but you might find that mixing with the older ones at the family history thing might be a really positive thing:) David (who actually wishes that less people would get into genealogy so that his certificates might get here quicker from the GRO)

I had a similar problem when I joined my local photography society when I was 15. I was emphatically the only person under 40, and felt a bit conspicuous by this. I remained there for 8 years, best moment came when I beat more experienced photographers to win a competition (plus trophy), one year. However, as far as I'm aware the problem still remains in that they don't seem to be able to attract junior members.

You all scare me :-)

I bought my first certificate when I was 14, joined my first family history society when I was in my 20s, and can still feel the baby at some meetings. The hidden generation is working, or bringing up kids, or both, and has little time for formal meetings. Part of the problem is the advertising. It isn't always where you'd notice it. Most organisation would like to attract younger people, who have views and can help modernise societies. They signally fail, because nobody knows they exist. The basic question is, did you enjoy yourself, or did the grannies scare you stiff? Views, please? B

You're right about the archives! I went to a couple and was the only person there under 50 I think lol (I'm 26) The "older" people oin my family don't have the time or patience to do anything like this.

Very encouraging Dan.I am glad the younger generation are finding an interest in their roots.Must say you write well-Rose

Well if it is only for the middle aged and elderly then I better pack it in (am 29)! My initial interest started around 10 years ago and remember attempting to draw my family tree on an A4 piece of paper. However, it's only in the last 2-3 years that my interest has soared. Whilst it may have been stereotyped as being for those who've taken early retirement, I'm finding now that whenever I mention family history, more people of my age or younger are relieved to find that they are not the only ones who harbour an interest, no matter how small.

I must admit I was over fifty before I had any interest in family history - didn't have time, I was a working Mum!

Sarah - You must try and come to the London meet in February, Us young ones will need some help controlling the more mature members! lol becx

Is early 30s still young? lol - No it isn't only for the middle aged and elderly, but in my experience they have more spare to time to spend in libraries and record offices. Whenever I get a chance to go to a records office I feel really young:)) I've been actively researching (as opposed to just bothering elderly relatives with questions) since I was 15 but didn't do much in my 20s because of a lack of time - being able to do so much online is just sound:)

I am 64 but have been researching my Tree for 30 years so was only 35 when i started. I didn't spend much time on it in those days as I worked and we didn't have the internet, but I make up for it now i have retired. perhaps that is the clue - time, not a lot spare when you work full time, older people sucha s myself seem to have more time to spend on hobbies and obsessions. Sarah, you can always start a discussion on F History on this board, we will talk about anything!!!! Ann Glos

I am 15 and have been researching since Summer 2003. I was really intrigued about my family especially my great grandmother who had 13 children and got married when she was my age. I think it's wonderful that so much information is available online as I live too far away from where my ancestors came from. I want to visit Edinburgh and visit scottish archives, but I find the whole thing daunting. Last year I managed to visit my grandmother in Stopsley and was able to see my great great grandparent's grave in the churchyard, but no one seems to understand my morbid fascination with graveyards. lol Daniel, I remember reading your article in Your Family Tree, it was very good, I really enjoyed it! Lucia :-)

I'm 51, so unfortunately come in this catagory, but don't think of myself as old. (that's trying to wriggle out of being old!!) Most people I know who even have a vague interest in this are about my age, except for one bloke at work, he is only 27, and as I said a bloke, another rarity! It is him who suggests the visits to FRC. But when we get there, he seems to be the youngest by far! Suex

My problem is that my Mum's Mum isn't interested and nor is my Dad. I don't really talk to my Dad's side of the family and my Mum has become increasingly busy juggling a full time job with taking a City and Guilds course. I find it so frustrating that I have no one to really chat to about my research, particularly as my Mum's father is dead and its his family I'm tracing at the moment! The one thing I dislike about trying to chat genealogy online is that I don't really know how to start a conversation up about it. A lot of the boards are designed for specific questions and so you don't really see any discussions starting up. Oh well, nevermind. The world aint perfect :)

I must admit I enjoyed wandering round churchyards from an early age! At one point I tried to do a survey of an old churchyard where I live that had been turned into a park. Unfortunately it was a well known local hang out for drug users and so my plans were quashed by my parents.

Daniel - I think you've hit the nail right on the head. You're obviously very clever with your head screwed on straight. I admit most of my mates think I'm barmy! Last week though on a day trip to London with my boyfriend I managed to persuade him to let me have 10 mins in the Family Record Office on Myddleton Street. An hour later I was having to drag him out of there so we didn't miss the train home! I've always enjoyed history in one respect or another, which might explain my archaeological career path. As I said before, I think its great theres more young people out there than I realised and I look forward to chatting to you more in the future.

You don’t often hear the words youth and genealogy in the same sentence, but things are changing. As a sixteen year old, you may not expect someone of my age to be interested in genealogy. To some it is, `an old person’s sport`. I and many others disagree with this. In the past few years there has been an influx of people wanting to know their family’s past – young and old. I started my research three years ago at the even younger age of thirteen. Back then, I had never heard of the word genealogy but knew that I wanted to have a family tree. I have always had an urge to discover my roots and find out where I belong. I’m sure this is the case for many young people; they want an identity for themselves. Other young researchers are left family trees by relatives who have passed away and want to discover more. Some are told incredible tales of distant cousins which just cry out to be investigated. Family folklore whets the appetite of many and sets the imagination alight. Keen to find out more, we turn to genealogy to gather hard evidence in the form of certificates and the like, to see if there is any truth in granny’s far-fetched stories. Before the introduction of family history websites such as Cyndi’s List, Genes Reunited, Roots web and many others, research was much more difficult. Back then, younger generations didn’t want the hassle of dragging themselves off the football pitch to the local record office. Now you can pay a visit to the World Wide Web from the comfort of your own home and discover relatives you never knew existed; a 21st century luxury which makes life much easier. This isn’t to say that the record office has become obsolete in recent years. In fact, quite the opposite. They have become better used than ever before by people of all ages checking indexes, browsing old books and searching for clues for that long lost aunty or uncle. Visit any record office and you will be surprised at the diverse age range you will find there. I have seen people as young as ten helping their fathers and grandfathers in their quest for family knowledge. Besides, when my grandparents were teenagers they just couldn’t afford to take up the hobby which, as any family historian will tell you, can become quite expensive. Nowadays the youngest generation is reported to receive an average of £7.82 a week in spending money from their family. That’s a considerable amount more than what my grandparents or even parents received when they were my age. In 1959, a male manual worker received an average of £13.15 per week. With this meagre sum, a man had to support himself and his family whilst maintaining a decent standard of living. For those earning less than that, life was much tougher and their children would be lucky to receive money for some extra sweets from the corner shop, let alone £7.82! For youngsters who today have been bitten by the genealogical bug but are not old enough to earn a wage, this money is a great help in pursuing the hobby. Once upon a time it was mainly the older generation who researched their family trees. They had retired and had the time to spend dredging through libraries and grave yards. Often spurred on by some family event such as a birth or a funeral, they realised that they were indeed mortal and began to look for immortality. Now with the help of technological advances the interesting and rewarding world of family history has been made more accessible to all ages. With science moving so quickly in this day and age it is only natural that more and more people will be join in. Genealogy is definitely no longer, `an old person’s sport`.