Hello from the States (Georgia & Alabama)

[DJHammond]

I've been interested in family ancestry for years. But it was only about ten years ago, after retiring, that I became serious in the quest. I think perhaps it's because I enjoy mysteries, or solving puzzles. Finding a missing relative is similar to finding a missing piece, or discovering a clue. I've been a sucker for mystery novels since a kid, and grew up on Holmes, Marple, Poirot, etc. I began with my father's HAMMOND line. Luckily, a few of my relatives had already been working on their versions of what they thought to be our Hammond "tree". They were kind enough to share their work as a foundation for me. I chose to use the now popular, and almost monopoly, ancestry.com, as my online software tool, and storage box. I just read recently that genealogy is now the hottest topic, second to porn, for online searches!
After beginning with my Dad's paternal lines, and working back through several generations, I began to work on my Mom's family. It became almost mind boggling. But I have a pretty good sense of where they came from and a little bit more of who they were. Surprising were the other surnames that were part of me,, like Strickland, McWhorter, Rogers, Hicks, Lovelace, Money, Johnson, Wilson, Calhoun, and so on. With each step back (in generation), an entire broad spectrum of family history was waiting to be discovered! An example, one set of my 7th Great Grandparents turned out to be Patrick and Catherine Montgomery Calhoun from County Tyrone, Ireland (now Northern). She was one of those massacred by Cherokee Indians in South Carolina in 1760! My 8th Grt Grandfather was Reverend Alexander Colhoun, Vicar of Templecarne, and also at the Parish Church in Clogherny. And those just before him spelled their name Colquhoun. It keeps going back to my 26th Grt Grandfather Gilbert Colquhoun in Dumbarton, Scotland. I'm overwhelmed.
So my interest in British Genealogy has grown exponentially by Centuries! And my interest in the tumultuous histories of England, Ireland and Scotland are calling for more of my time.
More currently, my Dad, who passed away this last March 2015, at almost 89, was a young red-faced 17-yr-old when he joined the US Army in 1943. His supply unit was part of Patton's 3rd Army. Their troop ship, the Mataroa, brought them to Bristol on April 26, 1944, where they boarded a train for Devizes to the Army base just on the edge of town. He loved it there, and told stories over and over about it. As they prepared over the next months for the Invasion, they road their bicycles and enjoyed the locals and good food.
So Hello to all.
Wish me luck. I may end up in some "roundabout" seeking assistance.

Dan

[christanel]

Welcome to the British-Genealogy forums Dan

Wow what an interesting lot of ancestors you have. You have now joined our band of genealogy addicts so will be right at home and very welcome.
Having gained so much experience researching in the US you are also going to be a great help to others whose ancestors crossed the oceans to settle in the US
If you do decide you need some help with a recalcitrant ancestor just pick a suitable forum, tell us what you know and what you hope to find out and our eager and knowledgeable sleuths will do their best to help.

Christina

[Dennis/06]

Hi DJ, I believe that my paternal great grandmother (or great, great grandmother) emigrated to America. Her surname was Hammond. She would have been from Leicester in the UK. Any links with your family? Kind regards, Dennis Hammond

[DJHammond]

Christina,
Thanks so much for the kind Welcome.
This Forum "stuff" is all new to me, so I may make mistakes.
I do already have a question regarding a phrase for a child's Relationship as listed in the 1861 Census for Yorkshire, Wombwell. It appears that it reads "a child at nurse", which doesn't make sense to me. The girl is 7 yrs old. I will look at the Forums to see who to ask.
Dan

[DJHammond]

Hi Dennis,
I will have to review my family. But I would need to know her Given or First name. Any idea of approx. age? Or perhaps where in the States she may have lived?
Dan

[geneius]

#1

I think perhaps it's because I enjoy mysteries, or solving puzzles

Probably just about sums most of us up, love a good mystery, a lot are presented on this forum, somehow between us we are successful in breaking down that