General Chat

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

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.

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

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.

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 all scare me :-)

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

Im 28 x

Hi Sarah. I have been doing my tree for about 15 - 20 years and I am only 62, not yet middle age. Go to the meeting you might learn something that you can tell us about. :-))) Neil

If teachers didn't torment you by making you write out your family tree in French, Spanish and German (to make you learn family vocabulary) then young people would be more into it; I shall never forget the trauma of showing baby photos in class and describing them in German. Seriously, until a few years ago, research meant going to libraries and record offices; only the retired had time for that.

I've spent some time this evening reading over what everyone has written. Its really made me feel that 'real' people do do genealogy. When I watched those BBC progs. recently I felt as though the genealogy bit was done 'behind-the-scenes' and we were treated to a 'heres one someone else prepared earlier' kind of thing. Results are good, but I'd far rather know how they got there! Funnily enough I rather think archaeology suffers the opposite when Time Team run around digging things up without showing any post-excavation work on TV! And thats all the fun stuff too :) I'd love to come down to London but can't commit myself right now. Although I currently live in the Midlands I've got a job interview in Scotland next week, so if all goes well will be living far too far away to meet up in London! Where I'm going it takes 2 hrs to get to Berwick-Upon-Tweed! Keep up your research everyone, you've been an inspiration tonight!

I remember that article, Daniel!! I find people's ages vary from teens to 80+. Joy

Notice Daniel said he has seen as young as 10yr olds in Record Offices. My g.dau was bitten by the bug when she was 8 and in desperation at the Record Office I asked what age they could research. No problem - every Saturday would see us there and with each week she grew in confidence - Miss Efficiency itself with notebook, fiches etc. Ended up telling me what I should look for. I recall she was especially interested in tithe maps and enclosures etc. Has lost interest in it for past 4 yrs or so - but the seeds have been sewn and will with the fullness of time, I expect return. She is doing A level history and has been charged with the duty of making sure my records are taken care of! Internet and GR has made life a lot easier as in the 'olden days' it was Record Offices and some of those were grotty - now so much can be done at odd times from home. Family history has been one of the fastest growing hobbies over past 20 years. Myself I have always loved history from an early age and like to know what makes people tick. Husband says I am nosey but I prefer the description 'enquiring mind'! Ann

hi sarah,i only wished id started younger..im 27 but my 8 yr old loves sitting here watching me check stuff,add info on my tree,shes trult facinated with it all and hopes to carry on from me for her grandchildren(so she says).just think with jobs that are demanding and raising families people are to preoccupied until their thirties?!!

G'day Sarah. I think its a personal choice regardless of age. I was 21 years old when i became interested. That was 35 years ago now. I still love it, and spend about 3 hrs per day every day. I remember the mess i was in at first, with bits of paper all over the place, and 100s of surnames and dates that i could never find, all piled up ontop of each other.lol But as i gained patience with age, i learnt the word "Methodical". Being a bit older now and having my own home, i built a Study/Den for my research, and now have filing systems. But i still on the odd occasion have papers all over the place.lol Computers have made it so much easier, and a bit more A-Z at a touch of a button. When i first started at 21 it was a race to see if i was connected to the world, or wether Mark Anthony and Cleopatra were my relo's,(lol) but now its more the History side of my Ancestors, as apposed to how many. There is so much info out there,if you take the time to listen to the experts, and take notes. And personally for me now, i have found that its not always how many you have in your tree, or how long you have been researching, its what knowledge you have gathered along the journey. Again for me, its what i know about my Ancestors and how everything had to happen at a specific time and place for me to be here answering your thread. It makes me also feel that i am meant to be here. ( a good medicine for the soul.) Our Ancestors do have a story to tell, and if people take the time to listen, look, and learn, then you will succeed in your quest. You can complete your tree. Its a bit like gambling. You have to set yourself a limit. But then again, its also a legal drug!! Cheers. Tony Oz.

Hi Sarah, I was in my early 20s when I first started, which was about 25 years ago and I still spend loads of time on it, and I'm STILL stuck on some lines. Some go back to the mid 1600s, some are stuck in the early 1800s and one is totally stuck in 1893. Like many others, for years I spent every day I could spare searching at local record offices and libraries. It was a slow process , but I loved every minute of it, even if I spent all day searching and came back with nothing to show for it. 25 years ago I hardly ever met anyone there who was under 50, let alone under 40! Most were retired, but it didn't stay that way for long, not once family history societies and magazines etc. started to appear. The internet has opened up the world of family history to millions of people, and I bet a good proportion of those are young people, so you are definitely not on your own. Carole