I legit blurted out a laugh at your last sentence... my mom's side of the family ALSO claims we are descendants of Cromwell! There are, in fact, many Cromwells in my tree starting at the great-great grandparent level, but as you noted, it became pretty clear as the line traveled back it was just pointing to a bunch of 'regular' Cromwells :)
The whole time I was reading your essay, I was nodding and relating immensely to your journey, even though I am by no means a mathematician. In my amateur attempts at building trees on Ancestry over the years, the further back I went, the more unruly all the data got, and just didn't seem to add up....using paper and pencil to draw the chronology...so I would pause for a while until I got sucked in again. I find that the branches closest to the ground are the most interesting to explore. These younger history and information clues seem easier to validate and fit into my puzzle... but now maybe I will have to include an AI assistant in my next trip down an Ancestry rabbit hole!
Thanks Patty. As you get deeper into the tree, there are so many people’s trees who end up with Barons, Lords, Viscounts, Ladies, it gets a bit silly. I’ve yet to find any person of significance and I’ve got about 5,000 people in mine.
Great observation about the power of math in genealogy. The alternative is the Hapsburg approach to interbreeding that led to deformity and mental issues. As you work back through their line the braided rope becomes a thin thread which was a huge genetic weak link for the ruling family of most of Europe in the early modern period.
It’s as if Tom Holland meets Alaistair Cook..made me laugh as I was reading since before the train we probably lived within an area determined by our feet or a horse.
Great that you have access to records and I believe we can thank the Normans for their ‘Doomsday Book’ and general record keeping?
Hadn’t thought of Milton since I was in school..
If you make your own book of essays I’m definitely buying one..hey even if you’re not related I’m sure He’d be proud..
I legit blurted out a laugh at your last sentence... my mom's side of the family ALSO claims we are descendants of Cromwell! There are, in fact, many Cromwells in my tree starting at the great-great grandparent level, but as you noted, it became pretty clear as the line traveled back it was just pointing to a bunch of 'regular' Cromwells :)
The whole time I was reading your essay, I was nodding and relating immensely to your journey, even though I am by no means a mathematician. In my amateur attempts at building trees on Ancestry over the years, the further back I went, the more unruly all the data got, and just didn't seem to add up....using paper and pencil to draw the chronology...so I would pause for a while until I got sucked in again. I find that the branches closest to the ground are the most interesting to explore. These younger history and information clues seem easier to validate and fit into my puzzle... but now maybe I will have to include an AI assistant in my next trip down an Ancestry rabbit hole!
Thanks Patty. As you get deeper into the tree, there are so many people’s trees who end up with Barons, Lords, Viscounts, Ladies, it gets a bit silly. I’ve yet to find any person of significance and I’ve got about 5,000 people in mine.
Great observation about the power of math in genealogy. The alternative is the Hapsburg approach to interbreeding that led to deformity and mental issues. As you work back through their line the braided rope becomes a thin thread which was a huge genetic weak link for the ruling family of most of Europe in the early modern period.
Thoroughly enjoying your essays Rob..
It’s as if Tom Holland meets Alaistair Cook..made me laugh as I was reading since before the train we probably lived within an area determined by our feet or a horse.
Great that you have access to records and I believe we can thank the Normans for their ‘Doomsday Book’ and general record keeping?
Hadn’t thought of Milton since I was in school..
If you make your own book of essays I’m definitely buying one..hey even if you’re not related I’m sure He’d be proud..