When you are a descendant of a black sheep there are many surprises in your family tree. I descend from three (or more) black sheep which means there are way more surprises in my research than knowns. When I start searching any one person in my tree, and find records straight off I am truly surprised. Genealogy research for me is one surprise after another.
My husband's family tree is way easier to search. There are no true black sheep in his lines, but there are many surprises. When I become frustrated or tired while researching my bramble bush I take a break by digging on his side. It's a nice feeling to create a proper tree with clear lines. His family is well researched on his father's line due to their United Empire Loyalist connections. He is related to the husband of Laura Secord. You can read more about this War of 1812 heroine here: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/laura-secord
pssst -- she didn't actually have anything to do with making chocolate
I would have to say my biggest surprises was when I found out that my grandfather was not Clyde Robertson of Scottish descent. He was not born in San Francisco as he claimed. He was not an only child whose parents died before my dad was born.
At the age of 29 (pregnant with my second child) I found out that my grandfather was actually Max Pellack of Ukrainian descent. He was born in northern Saskatchewan. His parents were both alive at the time my dad was born. He had 3 older siblings, and 3 younger siblings.
My first success in genealogy researching was when I connected with the daughter-in-law of my grandfather's youngest brother. Finally I was making progress in repairing my fractured family tree.
At the age of 49 I received my Ancestry DNA results.
This was my second biggest surprise. I am 12% European Jewish. Finally I understood why I tan a golden colour when I am blonde and pale skinned. The Eastern European genes are strong. My dad was positive that it wasn't from his side. He was sure it was from my mom's side. He agreed to do his Ancestry DNA since my mother had passed away.
Surprise - dad is 27% European Jewish. One of his grandparents was Jewish. His grandparents followed the Greek Catholic faith when they arrived in Canada from Ukraine. I haven't yet found church affiliations in Ukraine for my great grandparents (Austrian Empire at the time they immigrated in 1909).
We can't be sure why my grandfather changed his name and ethnicity. It could have been because of the persecution associated with both of them. I feel sad that I didn't know my own roots. All the years that I read medical study after medical study referencing the genetics of Ashkenazi Jewish people I had no idea I had any sort of connection.
On my list of ancestors I am seeking more information about are Lena & Clara Pellack born about 1915. There is some confusion about the twin female infants listed in the 1916 census, but no longer present for the 1921 census. Family have suggested to me that they weren't actually the children of Alexander and Mary, but maybe neighbour children there on the day census was done. They are recorded as daughters, but it is true there are mistakes in the census records. The idea that I have two great aunts that have been totally forgotten saddens me. I will keep searching. Maybe the 1926 prairie census will have more information for me when it is released.
No one should be forgotten.
Still researching my role in my own family story!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
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