What I’ve loved about genealogy is finding which traits come from which ancestors. I was raised in a risk-adverse family and always took jobs I hadn’t the faintest idea how to do. Scared my family to death. Worked in total terror and usually succeeded. Turns out a grandfather was a gold miner from Alaska down to Central America. So I’m thinking that type of mental risk taking was genetic.
I searched all along one line asking each new cousin I met if they were from the line where my joy of life originated. All said, sadly, no. Finally found the source back in 1748. Isn’t there always one ancestor that just “fits” and you connect with emotionally?
What a story! What an ancestor!
I had one of those experiences, sort of. Great grandfather who is buried and lived not ten miles from my house. Saw his photo for the first time in 2015. Made me cry. Odd reaction on my part. His birthday was Oct. 6.
I am fascinated by what you just said. I connected with an ancestor who was 2 years old when his father died. His widow moved to California, a bold move in 1900. California has excellent records and good newspapers and I have followed this ancestor for a long time. I keep hoping he had at least one offspring but I have never found one. I have found three of his wives. Maybe there are more.