Writing stories that link to my family tree

[bobbyfamilytree]

What makes Gambrills' site so good is the uniqueness of it and also because i research the same name.
I certaintly am no story teller and leave that up to other folks like Gambrill whom do a fantastic job and hope he continues to grow his website.

[Gambrill]

Hi Bobby - yes I am still working on family stories - a couple of new Gambrill stories have just been added to

www.
mylookbackintime.com

For other readers who are looking for inspiration. A wonderful site that got me thinking about approaches to a family history site is "This is Findon Village" - history about a small village in Sussex (South Downs). Sorry I don't have the link at hand - just try findonvillage with the usual www. and .com additions.

John Gambrill

[mfwebb]

John's site was the inspiration for me to start putting my site on the internet and I look in regularly.

I haven't exactly given up on the idea of publishing my family history in book form but, for now, I am building my family history on-line
www.
mfwebb.co.uk/mysteriousorigins

Many thanks for the inspiration you give to all of us.

[pottoka]

I really enjoyed reading this; well done.

I do have one little niggle, though, I'm afraid, especially as we lived for several years in the town where he was born and so came under the influence of his importance in French history: what you say about Henri IV.

I quote: "1. (from my grandfather- born in Kent, England) - ”... our Gambrill family in Kent were Huguenots”.

Huguenot was the collective name given in the 16th century to those of the Protestant faith in France. They were persecuted after the king of France converted to the Catholic faith, and then ruthlessly enforced catholicism on the population in the 1600s. About 200,000 Huguenots left France, settling in non-Catholic northern Europe and the American colonies. Over 40,000 made the short sea crossing from northern France to south-east England."

The king of France who converted to Catholicism was Henri IV, and, when he did so (on becoming King of France, because he had already done so rather than be killed during the St Bartholomew's Massacre less than a week after he had married the current king's sister, but then he changed back to protestantism again), he actually put an end to two decades of religious war and persecution in France by signing the 'Edit de Nantes' in 1598 which guaranteed religious tolerance and freedom for protestants to practise their own faith.

Henri's grandson, Louis XIV, began a policy of conversion to catholicism in the 1660s and finally banned protestantism in France by the 'Edit de Fontainbleu' in 1685.

[Gambrill]

Thanks pottoka for your input on the Huguenot history.

How much information to include is an ongoing struggle for me, and a topic worthy of further discussion in this forum, which let's not forget is titled Writing up your family history.

When I started on my journey I tried to define my audience. Was the audience my close family, my extended family, family history buffs, a one-name group ... and so on. After much soul searching and discussion with family i defined my target readers and clearly spelt it out on the Home Page of my website:
" My aim is to pass on information to all extended family, especially younger members, in a way
that tweaks their interest in past family connections. "

This could mean different things to different people - but I have found it very useful to refer back to as I start each story. For me, younger family members is a big focus. I try to think back to books and stories that not just captured my interest, but were thought provoking and left me wanting to find out more.

Images and photos are key in my stories. Often a story comes from an old photo or document. I will tell my readers to look at details in the image with me as they read along. I don't lecture - I try to include readers in the journey. Often, I'm not sure of the end ... and that's OK.

.... back to my website writing now.

Regards
John

[mfwebb]

John -- I know your site is aimed at your extended family, but it is a great inspiration to many of us who are not your family members, extended or otherwise.

With

www.
mfwebb.co.uk/mysteriousorigins

I'm afraid I am being a little self-indulgent. Whilst I tell myself I'm doing it for the good of family members and extended family, my target audience at the moment is probably just me. I am really enjoying putting my family history on line and I use it as a personal reference whilst doing my further research, which I am doing lots of now that I have retired as well as building the website.

When I started over 20 years ago I had the intention of publishing it in book form -- I still do -- but when it will be complete enough to do that I just don't know. In the meantime, on-line is the best I can do.

Thanks for the tip about the Findon Village site -- another great inspiration.

[pottoka]

Thanks pottoka for your input on the Huguenot history.

How much information to include is an ongoing struggle for me, and a topic worthy of further discussion in this forum, which let's not forget is titled Writing up your family history.

When I started on my journey I tried to define my audience. Was the audience my close family, my extended family, family history buffs, a one-name group ... and so on. After much soul searching and discussion with family i defined my target readers and clearly spelt it out on the Home Page of my website:
" My aim is to pass on information to all extended family, especially younger members, in a way that tweaks their interest in past family connections. "

For me, younger family members is a big focus. I try to think back to books and stories that not just captured my interest, but were thought provoking and left me wanting to find out more.

I don't lecture - I try to include readers in the journey.

John

John, you'll have to forgive me! Not only did I forget your aim in my post, but I'm pedantic to boot. I drive my poor husband up the wall with the unnecessary details that I put in my tales of "what happened today": I'm surprised that he still puts up with me (selective deafness, probably).

I love history; I even wanted to be a history teacher until we jumped from the interesting Tudors to the dry politics of the nineteenth century and had to learn lists of boring dates and Acts of Parliament. Yes, stay focused on your younger readers and drawing them in to want to know more and find it out for themselves. You already have a lot of merit for all that you've done.

[AnjaliUK]

Brilliant, I love it! I especially like the trees with the stars linking to the different stories. I read the one with the pig thief and also like the way you've interjected between the records with your commentary, bringing the otherwise dull baptism records to life. Really good job.