I have been researching my family history for the last twenty years. It is a hobby I inherited from my maternal grandfather who was fascinated with earlier generations. The interest skipped over to me, and I took up the hobby using his notes, a few recollections of my parents and much time in libraries. I made good use of the Mormons’ microfilms which had to be requested one at a time at the local Family History Center. (As a side note the Mormons do retroactive “sealing” of people into their faith. My grandfather would have been horrified to learn that he is now “sealed” with the Mormons.)
Eventually much information, a great deal of it wrong, became widely available on the internet. By then I had discovered that my paternal grandmother was Jewish. When I shared this knowledge with my father, he adamantly denied it. But it took a $69 DNA test from a company to confirm what my research had already determined. As seen above, I am 27% European Jewish, just as I had learned on my own. The other results verified the rest of my research which had my forebears nearly entirely from Great Britain and among the earliest settlers of New England.
No I didn’t learn that I was really adopted, nor do I have unknown half siblings out there. In fact the only close matches that the site recommended to me were cousins I had already identified, though never met. But it was a fun exercise, even if it simply confirmed that my years of more painstaking research were right.
Saved By Words 
Ha! I wonder what mine would say! 😂
LikeLike
If I were younger I probably wouldn’t have done it since I have no faith in the security of the information. So you may have to continue to wonder.
LikeLike
Very interesting info Elizabeth! I am interested in family history too 😀
What does retrospective sealing mean by the Mormans?
I am unfamiliar with that practice & terminology.
Jennifer
LikeLike
I am pretty clueless, but it seems to mean assuring that your ancestors get into Heaven the Mormon way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh…might have to do a little research when I get a chance then…because they run certain online genealogy sites don’t they?
LikeLike
They do but I don’t believe they can actually do any spiritual harm to ones outside the church. Their research is invaluable even if they did it for reasons different from mine.
LikeLike
Thank you Elizabeth.
LikeLike
That is encouraging to learn that your research was correct! I had never heard that about being ‘sealed’. Wow.
LikeLike
Historically speaking, it’s interesting to find out where one came from. What a great hobby.
LikeLike
Amazingly I discovered that my forebears from the 1600’s lived just across the river from where we live now.
LikeLike
I love your writing Elizabeth, It is unique and Your posts are informative and spark interest.
LikeLike
Thank you very much. I like hearing how they are received.
LikeLike