Roots & Rabbit Holes

It’s Week 36 of 2023’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge and the theme is “Tradesman.” When I initially found the marriage record for my...

Charles Barr, my great-great grandfather, was originally from Canada. He eventually moved to Salem, Massachusetts where he worked for...

The topic for Week 34 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is “Newest Discovery.” My newest discovery was made two weeks ago, when...

During the past week of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, I was supposed to cover the topic of Strength. I’ve been on vacation, and...

After serving in Okinawa during WWII, Grampy Phil was relocated to Korea after the Japanese surrendered. While there, he and his fellow...

“Flew the Coop” is the topic for Week 31 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. There are a few Salem witch ancestors on my dad’s...

“In the News” is the topic for Week 30 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. My 3rd great-grandfather, Charles Henry Turner, had a...

Week 28 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is Random. When I received this year’s prompts and began brainstorming, I decided I’d...

If I spread out five random pictures of my grandfather on a table and said to a total stranger, “This is Fred Turner. Can you guess his...

We’re halfway through 2023’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge! This week’s topic is Slow. When I was a sweet, innocent, four-year-old...

It’s week 25 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. This week’s blog challenge was another tough one for me – Fast. No one in my...

Week 23 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is So Many Descendants. One of my most prolific ancestors was my 3rd...

Week 22’s theme of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is At the Cemetery. Between at least one person in the house being sick for...

Week 21 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is Brick Wall. Last year, I think I used my Free Space week to cover this topic, and...

It’s Week 20 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge and the topic is “Bearded.” Because few of my ancestors and relatives had beards,...

“Bald” is the topic for Week 19 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Most of the people in my family have been blessed with full...

Week 18 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is Pets. My mother’s family had tons of pets growing up because my grandparents didn’t...

Week 14 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is "Begins with a Vowel." I’ll start right at the beginning of the alphabet with the...

Week 13’s theme for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is “Light a Candle.” My mother-in-law very kindly remembered my grandfather...

Sometimes when I’m building my tree, I’ll come across a well-documented line that goes back pretty far. In my excitement, I add the...