Friday, January 13, 2012

Paper Trails

Have you ever wondered about the mountain of paper evidence we create just by being alive? Even when we die, the paper is still generated! You cannot escape it!!
The keepers of family history will forever be grateful for that fact!! It is amazing what you can learn from a simple birth certificate. I have even uncovered 2 different birth records for the exact same person, listing 2 different birth fathers!  No wonder my family seems to be so confused. The first birth father was a stranger; and the second birth father listed was a family member. How does that old saying go? "Oh what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive?"
The resulting child never did take on either of the fathers' names. He just kept his mother's last name. Perhaps next time I will begin rattling some chains!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Name Game

It has been said many times throughout history, that we are all related, or connected to each other. What started out as a simple search for my family tree has grown by leaps and bounds to become a forest of trees with infinite branches and twigs and leaves! It is therefore, quite easy for the family historian to get led astray from their main purpose, to follow another lead, another clue, which will in turn lead to more names! We must fight hard to avoid those temptations. Afterall, we will not live forever! Time is limited and must be spent wisely! That being said, I will present the following partial list of family names, both paternal and maternal that I am researching.
Guerin, Bulriss(Bulnes, Burliss, Boulerice), Fueilleret, Manor(Maner, Manard, Menard), Burnum, (Burnham, Bunum, Bonnette`, Burnam, Bonin), Bodah(Beaudin), Nelson, Cootware(Courtois, Coutware), Blow(Bleau), Monbleau, Cinjeux(Coryea, Carriere), Forest(Forrest), Wheeler, Lagrenade, Dalcour(Dalcourt), Bushey, Pigeon, Richardson, Boody, Barnes, Wiggett, Thompson, Downing, Hebert, Lavoie(DeLavoie), Tremblay(Tremble), Landry, LaRoche, Lafetier, Dupuy(Dupuis), Demers, Duval, Phaneuf, Farnsworth.
I wish you all happy hunting with your family names and all their variations!!