Tip of the Week #377: I Found a Castle in My Family Tree
I’ve been spending some time lately researching my family tree.
A friend of mine told me about FamilySearch.org, a genealogical site maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). They have been collecting and preserving genealogical records for generations. You don’t have to be a member of the church to use it. I am not.
FamilySearch gives you access to billions of historical records: census records, birth and death records, marriage records, military records, old photographs, and much more.
Start with someone you know—a grandparent or great-grandparent. Enter a name, approximate birth date, and where that person lived. From there, start working backward.
You never know what you’ll find.
I’ve found ancestors who fought in the Civil War, including my fourth great-grandfather, who fought and died at the Battle of Franklin in 1864. I now live in that town.
I also learned about Sir Rhys ap Thomas, my thirteenth great-grandfather, who once owned a castle in Wales. This castle, in fact:
https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/carew-castle/
I am going to see if I can get it back. I could use a castle.
Best of all, I was able to trace my line all the way back to my one-hundred-and-seventeenth great-grandfather… Aeneas of Troy, father of the Roman people.
For a Latin teacher, that’s a pretty big deal.
Maybe it’s all family legend. Maybe not. Who cares? I am not one to allow facts to get in the way of a good story.
If you enjoy languages, history, or just solving a good mystery, genealogy can become pretty addictive.
Check it out. You may be surprised by what you find. Start here:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/
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