This year, I’m participating in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. It’s giving me an opportunity to interact on my webpage and write a blog again!

The topic for week 1 is “In the Beginning,” which involves thinking about where the interest (obsession!) with genealogy first started. For me, it started frankly due to losing my mother and maternal grandfather before the age of 13. If you are unfamiliar with my blogs from a couple of years ago, I was raised primarily by my maternal grandmother. My maternal grandfather and I were very close until his death when I was 12.

My grandparents did not talk much about their families. I knew the names from my baby book. I was fascinated by my Barber family (my maternal grandfather’s family). I knew they were from the next town over (Elba, NY). I also knew my great-grandfather had an unusual name, Freeman. This name has been passed down through several generations. Freeman’s father was Martin Freeman.

I started researching at our local library, back when there were no records online. But then, I had a breakthrough. I had the great fortune to meet the Elba Town Historian at the library. I told him about my family, and he promised to send me the information he had about my family.

True to his word, I received a large packet of information—family sheets with names, dates, spouses, and newspaper clippings. From that time on, I was hooked! I learned so much about my Barber family, information I still use today.