How many of us can write inspiring biographies of our ancestors and relatives based on what we discoverd about them?

Question

We collect and put much information under a timeline or various headings in the biographical sections of our profiles.  I find many profiles stop there.  Do we feel we can actually not write a biography.

Robert Hughey of Glasgow was born in Scotland in 1755 and died having married twice and having many children, etc.

Or even more simply, Robert was born in 1755 and died in 1825.

What information do I need to make Robert's life come alive?  Do I need to know anything about his wives or his neighbors or his children?  Do I need to know whether or not he was drafted by the British to fight in their Highlands Regiment that was defeated at the Battle of Cowpens?  Do I need to know that he never returned to the land of his birth?

Think about how you are going to write their life story once you collected enough "data" on them and their family here in the New World or there in the Old County?  What makes Robert a notable person in his day and what makes me remember who he was and how he became important in my life.

How many of us have written actual biographies of our relatives?  And how many of them did we actually write and not copy from someone else.

Comments

It would be good if everyone could have a biography but most people live their lives unnoticed by the world, not making much of an impact on culture or society .

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Eddie,

I understand in a way.  Isn't it also true that it is we descendants who make the choice to write or not to write about our ancestors and our relatives?  It may even be our story about them that will make them a notable in the future?  Everyone doesn't have the same life, but what was it about my cousin, Peter Michael Taborsky (1952-2017), that would make him notable in my eyes?  We all are born and we all died, but life is about what happens in between those two events.  It's been said, "No man is an island unto himself" and "Each person is a part of each person he or she meets."  We need to get inspired and start writing about these people's lives as they lived them. 

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Nice Post David. Why don't you come be part of the Biography Builders

This months theme is people born in the 1700s.

Answer 1

I try to do so if I can find out anything of note and can connect it to the lives of either their own relations and place or the society the person lived in. Have a look at Woolcock-108 as this is a bio which I'm quite proud of. The more recent, renowned or infamous the person is, the easier the bio is to write as there is more raw material in my experience.

Answer 2

I usually hone in on one part of a life, and this is the death of my g-g-g-g grandfather:

Charles J Martin died when the wagon he was driving crashed down an embankment into the St. Mary's River near Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Dawson's Fort Wayne Daily Times reported the following on 19 Feb 1861:

On the 19th inst. as a team of two horses and a wagon in which was contained two women and two men (one a catholic priest located at the French settlement about five miles north of this city) were going out of town in the evening, and when entering on the new bridge which spans the St. Mary's River near Rudisill's Factory, a trace breaking, the horse commenced to buck---at which time the two women jumped out, but the team (horses and waggon[sic]) and the two men went over the narrow embankment into the tail-race of the factory, which was made deep by the rise in the river. The priest and waggon and horses were recovered, but the unfortunate driver, drunk as he was, sank instantly and rose no more. The current of the water from the race doubtless took him out into the main stream where he floated away. He name is Charles Martin, and at the writing as not been found.^[6]

The following day, the same paper printed a correction:

We yesterday stated on information common on the street, that Charles Martin, who was drowned at the St. Mary's Bridge, was absolutely drunk at the time of the casualty; but his friends now come and desire us to say that our information was not correct---and such we state on their authority.^[7]

Son Auguste (August) Martin offered a reward for the recovery of his father's body stating, "A reward of $50 will be paid for the recovery of the body of Charles J. Martine [sic], who was drowned in the Saint Mary's River on Tuesday last (February 19). Said Martine was 60 years old, about 6 feet high, hair and complexion sandy, and bald on the top of the head. The right foot was bent inwards from the ankle being broke. He had on two heavy grey coats, black pants, and high boots. Had $5 or $6 and some notes in a large pocket book."^[8]

The widow, Frances Martin, filed a suit to be reimbursed for the expenses ($300) incurred during the search and recovery of her huband's body. She sought the money from her son, Auguste, and was denied by the judge, stating that the widow was "neither poor or needy" and that the estate is "amply sufficient to pay expenses thereof and leave enough to supply said widow during her life."^[9]

Answer 3

In general I think it is important to try to write about a persons history rather than bare genealogical facts.

The word inspiring doesn't relate to many of my ancestors. Because they were mostly poor agricultural labourers, the stories I find are usually  to do with breaking the law, insulting the neighbours (or in one case the Baptist minister) or receiving poor relief. 

Even when I want to tell those stories I find it really hard. I love researching and if I've found a lot then want to cram in every single thing I found , complete with if' buts and maybes. (not forgetting  sources)  I lack the skills to get it together in an interesting way  and in the end often give up (as here https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dunkley-217 I wanted to tell the story of  a man who seemed at first to be an  irascible local rogue  but quite frankly ended up as a drunken bully  but in trying to keep to the facts wasn't producing the result I wanted .I easily got diverted to researching other peoples ancestors from my locality. (I do  envy those people who are able to use copies of documents and newspaper articles, this page would be far more visually appealing if I didn't have to copy out the text from the newspaper because the images are copyright)

 I haven't even created the profile of my most interesting relation, a bushranger in Australia who was hung for his exploits His story is interesting but I in a way dread starting  because I have found, just too much information.

However, sadly, especially for  the  females in 'my' tree, there are not even attempts  to make interesting profiles. If they are mentioned in records then it's usually a by product of something their husbands did.  such as the one that  was left  on parish relief when her husband disappeared.. she wasn't to know he had started a whole new family elsewhere.  Otherwise, there is  often very  little to relate beyond the bare facts and there are  even fewer of those before  the first census in 1841.

Comments

I agree, Helen. I've only found a couple of well-documented women whose profiles would be interesting to write and for others to read.

Answer 4

Unfortunately I am a great researcher but a terrible writer. So I pretty well have to stick to the facts.

To me that is the most important that the facts are right.

Someone can always write a biography from them sometime if they wish

Answer 5

I spent quite a bit of time researching my family and I've finally gotten to a point where I've started writing biographies. 

See: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hawes-1662

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hawes-1661

It's actually been a really enjoyable exercise for me and I do take it slow. One sentence at a time. I'm hoping that this effort, if nothing else, will make me a better writer. And, I know I have a long way to go before it becomes interesting. Only way to figure it out (at least for me) is to just jump into it. 

As I've spent time doing this, I get better ideas on how to improve my profiles. Maps, historical context, etc. It's also helped me see where I'm potentially missing information. 

So far, I find everyone interesting. Even one of my great aunts who never got married, never had kids, lived with her parents her whole life and was a local teacher and eventually a dress maker.

She is part of the Family. In my eyes, the biography is part of the story of the Family. The Family, to me, is the only way you can really understand them all very well. Both the family they were born into, and then the family they create (if they do).

So, I guess the detail here is the *inspiring* part. Giving them life on the internet is inspirational to me. I imagine some cousin or distant relative that wants to know where they came from and they'll have a start. 

I'm inspired to do more! :)

Stef

 

Comments

Excellent profile Stef.  Well done!

Answer 6

I'll admit,   I'm big on sources and  "stories"  but fall short on biographies.

Since biographies take a lot of time to write and research, the majority of biographies I write are for people I knew.  The process takes interviewing others who actually knew the person and trying to collect their stories.

As a result,  some biographies are too painful to write until some time has passed.  

However,  there are some biographies I've written just based on their military, census records, etc..... but writing  a biography for profiles based solely on the records  doesn't seem as pressing to me.  Facts and stories aren't actually lost because I failed to personally write the biography.....

But you make some great points David.

Answer 7

I have tried and failed many times at writing a.biography. All the biographies that are on profiles that I mange. Are written by others. Some are from old letters I found, obituaries, or other news articles. I think I fail at writing them myself. Because I either try to throw in too much pizzazz, or I make them so dry, that I pass out in mid sentence.

Answer 8

It's great when the profile is a great read. Trouble is they take so much time. Even if all the sources are already on the profile before you start, they have to be checked. Half a day minimum. Full biographies will always be in the minority so enjoy them when you find them.

Answer 9

This is in rely to the question about people who actually write biographies of family members.   I do.

I divide my time each month between Wikitree and personal projects.   That's one reason my contributions here are about 200 a month.

I am the eldest in my family and the last who will actually remember some wonderful people from my family and my husbands family.   Our children often don't have an appreciation for the struggles and times our family members experienced.  My current "publication " form is by developing photo books through online companies.  They are a combination biography with as many photos as I can find as well as images of documents and grave markers.  The text is done in MS Word with end notes for the sources.   It has to be scanned as a jpeg for the book.   I make copies for each of our children and family members who express an interest.

Completed so far:

My in-laws :  Helen  Griffith & Fred Duve   Fred died before I became a part of the family.   I got to know him through stories told by Helen in the three years I was blessed to know her and from my husband.   I learned much  more through research and was able to include a brief history of their families.  About 35 pages

My husband John Duve  - We were married 38 years but research found photos of him in grades 1-3, his years growing up and 2 prior marriages.  And of course all of the children who later became part of my family.   121 pages

My brother-in-law who died this year.  A soft  cover  book of his early life with as many photos and document images as I could find.   Copies sent to each of his  children, my children and relatives who attended his funeral.

Current project:  My parents about one quarter complete

My goal would be to have enough copies out there that a few may find their way into the hands of future family genealogists who will continue our story.