{"id":775,"date":"2017-10-28T06:00:40","date_gmt":"2017-10-28T06:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thefhguide.com\/blog\/?p=775"},"modified":"2019-01-16T17:56:55","modified_gmt":"2019-01-16T17:56:55","slug":"cousin-contacts-can-bring-astonishing-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefhguide.com\/blog\/cousin-contacts-can-bring-astonishing-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Cousin Connections Can Bring Astonishing Results"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you gone to the Memories<\/strong> section of Family Search yet?\u00a0 The Family History Guide<\/a> can teach you how to use this valuable section that is accessible on the Home page<\/strong> Project 2<\/a>.\u00a0 The Memories Section of FamilySearch<\/a>\u00a0is a compilation of photos and stories and documents that you or others can add to your ancestors’ pages.\u00a0 The advantage to that is that once added, they can be preserved and shared in a safe place for all to enjoy.\u00a0 It is so worthwhile to learn how to use this feature of FamilySearch Family Tree.\u00a0 Your precious photos and documents will be so much safer there than is a box somewhere.<\/p>\n

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As we search for and gather these items, I was reminded of how vitally important our cousins are in helping us find and preserve these sources of documentation for our deceased family members.\u00a0 You may have more cousins than you realize as you go forward doing your family history.\u00a0 Over the past 7 years I have found several cousins that I did not know previously that are also doing our family history.\u00a0 We collaborate now and this really reduces a lot of duplication of our efforts.\u00a0 One is a first cousin whom none of our family was aware of until just three years ago.<\/p>\n

I reached out to one cousin, whom I had only met once as a child, regarding our common grandparents.\u00a0 Once she realized I was doing Family History she was very generous and sent me a great deal of information her mother had left her.\u00a0 She had no particular interest and was planning to throw it out.\u00a0 Instead she mailed it all to me.\u00a0 In the packet was a wonderful, flawless portrait of my great grandfather, Thomas Rees. 1846-1898<\/p>\n

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She also included his obituary that was written in Welsh in a New Cambria, Missouri newspaper. That was filled with valuable information about his life.<\/p>\n

\"\"It took about a week to translate it but it was so worth the time and effort.\u00a0 This obituary was the gateway to finding several generations in our family, all the siblings of my great-grandfather. Even though there were only four boys listed in the obituary, Thomas had four other siblings still living in Wales.\u00a0 We were able to visit their village in Rhandirmwyn, Carmarthenshire two years ago.\u00a0 Their home was even still standing and we met locals who have become friends.\u00a0 Now, these precious ancestors, who suffered and sacrificed greatly can be remembered forever through the Memories section of Family Search\/Family Tree.\u00a0 Being able to learn how to use this feature in the Family History Guide can help you do the same. Never hesitate to check with your cousins about common ancestors.<\/p>\n

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