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Take me right? I have ancestors I know nothing about. I was doing some research just now on Ancestry. Apparently I have Swedish records going back to the mid 1500s. Only problem is, I know nothing about these people. Why is it that we know nothing about those before us?

I've taken to archiving everything I can. I have some knowledge up to a few of my third great-grandparents. Anything prior I don't know. If you can, I'd recommend doing the same. Be warned though, it is time consuming. You also may dig up stuff about people and or yourself you may find shocking (and the rest I'd have to write is for another post).

So what do you all think? Why is it we don't know about our past ancestors?

Take me right? I have ancestors I know nothing about. I was doing some research just now on Ancestry. Apparently I have Swedish records going back to the mid 1500s. Only problem is, I know nothing about these people. Why is it that we know nothing about those before us? I've taken to archiving everything I can. I have some knowledge up to a few of my third great-grandparents. Anything prior I don't know. If you can, I'd recommend doing the same. Be warned though, it is time consuming. You also may dig up stuff about people and or yourself you may find shocking (and the rest I'd have to write is for another post). So what do you all think? Why is it we don't know about our past ancestors?

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[–] • 3 pts

Because we don't live in the lands of our ancestors anymore.

If you lived in Sweden you could go down to the local church and look up centuries of your families marriages, baptisms and deaths. Its entirely possible that you'd own a 400 year old family business. You could go visit a family plot and see generation after generation of your ancestors. If they could speak to you from beyond the grave you'd understand since you still share the same native tongue. And it's not just a single lineage line, its all of your lines as well as those of your spouse, neighbors and friends. You'd all share the same lineage and its evidence would be all around you.

[–] • 3 pts

Very interesting. I'll keep this in mind. Thanks