What are some interesting things you have learned while doing genealogical resea

Question:I've been doing some genealogical research for the past few years, and I've found out some pretty interesting things about my ancestry. For one, I'm descended from Henry II of England through an illegitimate son of his and I'm also related to the English religious reformer John Wycliffe. I also have an ancestor who was a Quaker who died from his injuries after being whipped. Another ancestor was a Jacobite rebel who was exiled from Scotland to the colony of Maryland when he was about 14 years old. And most people probably wouldn't admit to this, but I think that some of my ancestors may have engaged in a little bit of inbreeding! I suspect this, because my great-great-grandfather and my great-great-grandmother both had the same last name when they married! (In a way, that's kind of creepy!) What interesting things have you learned about your ancestors while doing genealogical research?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've been doing some genealogical research for the past few years, and I've found out some pretty interesting things about my ancestry. For one, I'm descended from Henry II of England through an illegitimate son of his and I'm also related to the English religious reformer John Wycliffe. I also have an ancestor who was a Quaker who died from his injuries after being whipped. Another ancestor was a Jacobite rebel who was exiled from Scotland to the colony of Maryland when he was about 14 years old. And most people probably wouldn't admit to this, but I think that some of my ancestors may have engaged in a little bit of inbreeding! I suspect this, because my great-great-grandfather and my great-great-grandmother both had the same last name when they married! (In a way, that's kind of creepy!) What interesting things have you learned about your ancestors while doing genealogical research?

The most interesting fact that I've learned about my family is that my great grandmothers father was the son the slave owner. When he died his son became the Master of the house and produced two children with my great-greatgrandmother. When she married the second time and my great grandparents were sick his family still took care of them and gave free medical services. Since he followed in his grandfathers footsteps and became a doctor!

Probably the oddest thing I have discovered is that my great-great grandfather helped form the library in which my wife now works.

I am a Mayflower descendant and one of my ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence (he was depicted in 1776 as a drunk but many think he actually had Parkinsons). On the other side, I have O'Learys (descended from the woman who's cow "started" the Great Chicago fire) and MacLeans from Scotland via Nova Scotia.

Have learned entirely too many things to post (most if not all were new to me). However, believe that the 'inbreeding' you speak about...was more than likely a marriage of cousins.
Not unlikely at all and that's why I always (if possible) document my ancestors' siblings. Because...it's happened...I get down about two or three generations...and sigh...if I don't have the sibling lines...it never fails...have to go back and document them. As a few of my cousins and I were wont to say: They married their own.

I learned that my family had a lot of pre-marriage pregancies! Other than that, they were just your normal hard working people with very close family ties.

My mother's family had this absurd story that sounded like a movie plot from the 40s, in which a commoner lad eloped with the daughter of a baron in Austria, and daddy chased the two of them all the way to Hamburg, where they escaped on a ship to America. On board another woman passenger died giving childbirth, and they adopted the infant. My cousins were a bit split over whether this was another example of certain family members hitting the beer a bit too much. But I found out it was true! Descendents of the rescued baby to this day live in a small town in Indiana.
And on my father's side, my 4X great grandfather loaned his second best horse to Paul Revere!

That I have visited,lived or was in an area they lived in and did not know at the time,but had a feeling I was there before. I don't believe in reincarnation but maybe we inherit memory cells from our ancestor's. There were a lot of preachers and heck raisers. Some were under "suspicion " of getting too friendly with the indian's.One got a fine for horse racing on the Sabbath.One got scalped one had a brother marry into a tribe.Some inbreeding (cousins)on the early Scotch side.They all fought in every war and some brother against brother.In early Colonial American genealogy,you may find no proof of marriage because if there were no marriage bonds,it could be because unless you were married by a preacher from the church of England you were not recognized as married and any preacher not from The English church would be hanged.(There was a tax or bond for marriage) at least in Va. and Carolina's There was a Bastard Bond for illegitimate children,the mother,the father or someone would have to pay the fine so society would not have to support the child.The mother was sometimes jailed,child was indentured until a certain age if no family member claimed the child. Everything was taxed.and taxed and taxed. Because of the taxes there are still a lot of records. In thier will people left things like spinning wheels,and iron pots,and a few spoons and plates.The luckiest thing is that my family came to America,even if some came as felon's from fighting the English. and religious fanantics,and rum running Captians,or "gentleman" A real melting pot.

1. My Great Grandparents were 1st cousins
2. That I am a descendent of Rev War Heros
3. That I am a descendent of both the Blue and the Grey
4. That I have made it to 1700s in my quest for ancestors
5. that I am proud of my heritage