Why History is Important in Genealogy

Have you missed records in your family history? A knowledge of history, social history, helps you understand what records you may have missed. It also helps you grow closer to your ancestors as you learn about the circumstances of their lives.

Good history websites:
Google Scholar

00:00 - Introduction
00:54 - Importance of Social History
03:26 - Sources for Social History Information

#familyhistory #genealogy #ancestry #familysearch

[dranet]

Thank you! I've been telling people for ages to learn the history and events of the areas where their ancestors lived to get a better idea of who they were and what motivated them. I have an example... around 1890 or so, a bunch of my Lyles family moved away from Kentucky. Mostly to Texas, but also to other states. Some dropped the -s and became Lyle. What happened? Well, my 3rd great grandfather was shot and killed. He was apparently making house calls to the home of the local doctor's house to spend time with the Doc's wife. Doc came home and shot him dead. That event drastically changed the family dynamics. If it hadn't happened, maybe I'd even be living in Kentucky today! Really glad I found that newspaper about it, or I wouldn't have known the facts. Just that the family moved away from Kentucky.

[BradfordNeedham]

About 1780 my Foshay ancestors who had been living in Westchester New York for generations suddenly moved to St. John New Brunswick. I asked my wife, a historical novelist, why that might be. She replied "do you recall anything big that happened...say in 1776?" Doh! My ancestors were Loyalists (Tories) who were a few of the 10, 000 Loyalists who fled the American colonies as a result of American independence. So it helps to keep even the really broad brush strokes of history in mind. Thanks for the tips!

[patranye]

Understanding the history surrounding the time and place of your ancestor can be critical to understanding their potential reactions to that information. Thanks, Aimee, for a great video and topic!

[kimberlytyda]

The history search has sent me down a number of rabbit holes related to parts of history I never learned much about. For example, I found a military transportation record for my GGF during WWI. The ship was going to Vladivostok, not France. This was the first time I learned that the U.S. sent troops to Russia and Siberia near the end of the war. Now I know!! 😊

[pjsisseck]

Around twenty years ago, I wrote an essay on "The Near-Famous Robert Wilds". My third great grandpa always seemed to be just down the road, or in the back room, or closely acquainted with events and people of significance. Yep, I include social history, geography, natural disasters, politics, and whatever else might "flavor" the story. Ever so much more interesting that a dry recitation of facts and figures, no?

[nanfrostsfashionfocusstyle]

Good info. I have often wondered why people settled in certain areas. Sometimes it's obvious but sometimes it's not. I think learning what was going on in the country of origin as well as the place they landed in the US can hold more clues than we can imagine.

[ThisIsMyYoutubeName]

6:53 Where can I find this specific map?

[lionheart]

Very important info here. I hope many researchers get to it!

[ThisIsMyYoutubeName]

I’m so guilty of this and wish I had more interest as a child. But I’m also aware of the majority of my ancestors being Acadian. I know that they have never taught us anything about the Acadian people despite living in the Acadian region of Louisiana. I just wish I knew migration patterns to understand my DNA better

[sharontabor]

All geneolgists are historians (or should be), but not all historians are genealogists.