Rosemary (Kennedy) Kinney

Ancestors

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Biography

I first became interested in genealogy in my late teens to early 20's. That is when I started asking my parents and grandparents about who was who in the family and about our Ancestors. I kept hearing the words "You better leave those bones alone"! Well that just spiked my interest that much more. I wanted to know about my Ancestors, not so much about the immediate family but our "ancient history" of the past. Where did we come from before the early Colonies of the United States? How did we get here? What Nationality were we? And of course every beginner wants to know Which famous people are we related to? No one else in my family seemed interested so I really had to dig to get answers.

A cousin finally helped me get started on the first few generations filling in information I didn't have and then we would go scouting to cemeteries to find some answers. She would search court records, this was before internet.

Once I had a solid start I started doing research on my own and started building my tree in spiral notebooks. Then I ventured to LDS Libraries and lots and lots of microfiche/microfilm. At this point I finally took some classes in Genealogy so I would understand it a little more as far as research availability, records, and how to document my tree.

Over the years I built a pretty decent tree I was really proud of. It was a lot of hard work but I never gave up. I worked through each brick wall one chip at a time. Then came along DNA! Something that would guarantee solid proof of lineage. I was tickled beyond measure about this. I had my husband do his because I knew my line was solid. His line he didn't know much about. So off we sent to FTDNA for his test, then the wait for the results. Yep I was hooked. I began doing some form of genealogy every single day, even if it was only 30 minutes to update something.

As the years went by I finally decided to do my own DNA on Ancestry so I could get past a few brick walls that I had. I felt that maybe out there somewhere was an answer. I ordered my kit, sent it in and waited patiently for the results to show up now online.

When my results came in there was a mystery before my eyes! Ancestry said that I was part French!! Where did that come from!! More digging to discover who I am. Matches kept showing up and I kept peeking at them and trying to find a connection to my tree with no results. Then one day a match that was extremely close showed up. I made contact immediately. We discussed somethings and I made some phone calls. A lot of tears were shed and a lot of understanding took place. DNA doesn't lie. I found out that the only thing that can change your DNA is a bone marrow transplant.

After all was said and done, I had to redo part of my family tree that I had worked so hard on. I had to "erase" half my family if I wanted to put down the truth to pass down to my children and grandchildren. I began the tedious task of starting over.

I was very fortunate in a lot of ways. My new family welcomed me with open arms, and I never abandoned the family that I had known all my life. My family is my family. ALL of them.

I now encourage everyone I meet who is interested in their family history to have a DNA test done as soon as they are able to make sure they are tracing the right lines.

DNA gives you proof along with records such as Church records, vital records, military records. Just remember on some records such as death certificates they go by whoever provides the information, so sometimes it can be inaccurate. Census records are great, you just have to have an open mind and realize that who ever gave the information may not have ages correct and may not have been well educated in spelling names and surnames. Census takers too often misspelled names or wrote down what they "thought" they heard.

Always try to document as much as you can but the main thing is, enjoy discovering who you are and where your Ancestors came from and who they are because they are still a part of you!

Honor them in your research.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Rosemary Kennedy-Biological Thibodeaux at registration.

DNA matches with 2 half siblings, and first cousins on paternal side. DNA matches with my Mom and 3 half siblings, and several other immediate family members on maternal side.