I’m so excited about “Who Do You Think You Are” coming on tonight. You can catch it on TLC, and here is a clip of what can be expected this season.
I think it’s really cool that they take the celebrities and help them with their family tree. However, you know what I think would be cooler? Doing a non-celebrity person, such as myself, *cough *cough.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I totally enjoy the show and seeing what unfolds for these people. But I want them to help out people that can’t afford to follow the trail of the brickwall. Let’s face it. They can totally afford that journey without a TV show helping them. Us Non-Celeb folks can’t just pick up and go to the place that holds the next clue, with a team of genealogist sitting in the library waiting to tell us what they have found.
Anywho, I can quit dreaming of that.
I’ll just keep plugging away at little by little and maybe before I die I will find out what my 2nd great-grandfather Francis Hereford Williams’ real name is and who the father of my 2nd great-grandfather John D. Parks is.
Maybe I’ll find out how us Higginbotham’s really descend from the Barbados Higginbotham’s.
Maybe I’ll find out how my 3rd great-grandfather Rev. John J. Triggs came from England sailing his own ship at the age of 17 and became a Methodist Circuit Rider and delivered the word all through the Indian Territories, and who were his parents back in England?
Maybe I could follow the trail of my German ancestors, the Roleke’s, back to Germany and find out what their role was during WWII. Ok, maybe I don’t want to know that, but wait, I think I have to know!
Maybe I could find out about my Ball ancestors, and was the one born on the boat on the way to America from Ireland, really my 4th great-grandfather and what was his first name?
I could go on, but I’ll stop. I know you all have the same list like I do, just different names and locations.
I am blessed enough to be able to go to Washington, DC on Aug 1st. It will be my first trip and guess what I’m going to do? I’m going to the National Archives, of course! I’m going to see if I can find a clue to any of the above on my wish list!
I do have to admit, it would be great to have a team of genealogists waiting to help me, because realistically, I’m a little nervous about my first trip to the Archives. Any of you ever been? Got any tips? I’m so afraid I’m going to get there and spin my wheels and come home empty handed. I can’t afford to waste this opportunity. I have to come home with the goods on at least one of my ancestors!
So, what about it? If you showed up to the archives and the team from “Who Do You Think You Are” was there, and said “What do you want help with? Where do we start?” Which of your ancestors would you pick? Could you pick just one, or would you beg them to help with your whole wish list.
