Thursday, September 20, 2007

Fun with Family History

I heard from a member of the San Rafael Ward that attendance is way down in the Famiy History Center. Were all my efforts in vain? I thought I made myself perfectly clear. Do it or die!

OK, OK I am kidding, sorta.

I thought I would share a little success story to inspire. I know a lot about my ancestors and to me it is difficult to imagine not knowing the details of their lives.

The first family I ever worked on was a family by the name of Vandersluys. I didn't really know what I was doing for several years, but I stumbled along and found this and that. The family were in England from about 1732 and I have tried several times to find the Dutch connection. So in about 1750 I have a Lambertus Vandersluys, soldier, named as father on a christening record in Exeter, Devon, England. Just last week I found a contract, dated 1710, for a Lambertus Vandersluys to build a theater in the Kaatsban in the City of Utrecht, Holland. I don't know the exact connection yet, but this is a first step that has taken 15 years to make. Are they related? Probably!

Now the fun begins to find a birth/baptism record for a Lambertus Vandersluys, son of Lambertus, in a city the size of Utrecht. I know this might sound daunting, but oh the joy when I do find that record.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Price of Beauty


I have been thinking about the beauty I left behind in Marin. I have had moments of despair over the insane cost of living and the toll it takes on the inhabitants. When I lived in New York City there were many transplants from the Caribbean living in the gritty city. I wondered why anyone would leave a tropical paradise behind for a life in New York. Now I know. You can't eat the scenery.

The cost to live in beauty is that the individual risks becoming ugly. Road rage, anger, stress, and impatience are byproducts of treading water and only barely keeping your head above the surface. I miss Marin, but the price was much too high.