Genealogy questions....

[jimlongley]

It must come as a shock that many Americans don't have a drop of noble blood, except possibly through rape or fornication. Rape was considered a privilege of conquering armies, and the European aristocracy at some times and in some places had a delightful custom called droit du seigneur.

In many cases the ancestors of people before the 19th century were illiterate. Some were displaced by wars, famines, or economic distress. Some were forcibly transported for being poor, or adhering to the wrong religion, or backing the losing political party. Some were enslaved.

Maintaining family genealogies in the castle keep was not an option.

Mind you, I'm not complaining. My grandparents moved to the U.S. from Ireland and never looked back. Ireland remained one of the poorest and most socially backward countries in Europe for the following century, while we did quite well.

- Jim

I'm a descendant of William the Conqueror. I also had an ancestor on the Mayflower. I'm only starting to get interested in genealogy. Unfortunately my greatest source (grandmother) died this summer just as I was getting interested.

Speaking of the Mayflower, look up Thomas Goffe. My ever so great grandmother was his sister.