Exploring your family history is usually motivated by a natural curiosity, a desire to understand where you came from or perhaps to set a record straight. You won’t always get the answers you want, though. So, it’s good to go in with your eyes open.
In one news story over the summer, none other than presidential candidate Kamala Harris was caught up in a genealogy storm, when it was suggested she may be distantly related to an Irishman on record as being a slave owner in the Caribbean, one Hamilton Brown.
According to the news article, she wasn’t even researching her family history. It was her father who raised the matter in an essay several years ago. Since then, other historians have been investigating public records.
Dealing with the unexpected
Let’s start by noting that whether you do it yourself or work with experts like us at Family Wise, you are in control of your own family research. You can set parameters, choose to stop if you do not like what you are finding out, and it is private. You are almost certain not to have the high profile of a US presidential candidate where the research and speculation gain a life of its own!
Nevertheless, your research could be hurtful to you, and other people who will learn of the news if you share it and, if you interview family members as part of your research, it could dredge up unwanted memories for them too. This doesn’t mean you should not proceed, but it may give you a steer as to where to look, who to ask, and how far back to go.
As a busy genealogy firm, we have seen it all, so we are well-placed to flag things to watch out for. Here are a few areas to consider as you embark on your research:
- If there are criminals in your family tree: Depending on the crime this could be upsetting or bring a sense of shame. We explore this in much more depth here.
- Changes in societal attitudes: A distant ancestor may not have been a criminal to have engaged in something we find morally repugnant in today’s world. Slavery was not abolished in Britain until 1834.
- An awful tragedy: You may find out that your ancestors were victims of a terrible crime or another tragedy that shaped the course of your family for generations. Decades or even centuries later this may cause shock and distress upon discovery.
- A soap opera plot twist: Well-hidden relationships, infidelity, an unknown adoption… There are many ways in which you may unwittingly turn your family history (and sometimes the present) on its head.
Stick or twist?
So, what do you do if your family history throws up something difficult to face? Things are not always what they seem, so where possible it is worth cross-referencing records to ensure that there is not a mistake. A misspelling, two people with the same name, or a document incorrectly filed are just some of the ways you could be left with the wrong impression.
In some cases, you might consider a DNA test to challenge or reinforce the paper records. We looked at DNA and genealogy when Meghan Markle announced the results of her DNA test.
If you get to a stage where you are confident in the outcome of your family history research, it is then up to you whom you share it with. Think about how people in your family may receive the news. Is it fair for them to know? Or is blissful ignorance better?
Also, give yourself time to process your findings. You are not accountable for the actions of your forebears, but it can be a complex situation to come to terms with.
Help from Family Wise
We have vast experience in carrying out family history investigations for our customers. This means we can take the workload off your shoulders should you want to commission us. But it also means we can help you understand the results and put them in the context of all the other family histories we have researched. If you would like to start exploring your family history, please get in touch.
