Question

Retroactive Rules for Ancestors: 1700 - present

1. Every ancestor is required to have a family bible which records with complete legiblity the previous two generations and the following two generations
2. For every child of said ancestors, ancestors will make an exact copy of said family bible. For the original, arrangements will be made to pass said original to the most promising genealogist among their descendants (ME!)
3. Ancestors are to have, in addition to said family bibles, complete family group sheets for all family members with no informational fields left blank
4. Children and grandchildren and further descendants of said ancestors are required to repeat 1, 2 and 3
5. Ancestors are required to have deeds for every land transaction with inscribed permanent stone markers at the corners of their lands, leaving room for the recording of later transactions
6. Ancestors are required to have wills and in said wills put the complete names of all inheritors and their relationship to said ancestors. Said ancestors are also required to include in their wills the reason(s) some inheritors get little or nothing. Said ancestors are to assure that all important family heirlooms descend to the most promising genealogist descendant (ME!)
7. Ancestors are required to have gravestones put up for all members of their families that predecease them and (later) for themselves. Said gravestones are to be made of stone that does not deteriorate and are deeply and legibly inscribed with all pertinent information including, but not limited to, descent from previous ancestors, exact dates of birth and death with places of each, marriage(s) date(s) and place(s), baptism date/place and, if an immigrant, the name of the ship and date/place of arrival
8. Ancestors are required to keep diaries which include all of their doings, especially in the case of participation in any armed conflict
9. Ancestors will leave personal descriptions of all their family members, including the previous two generations, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles children, grandchildren, etc., and all marginally related individuals. Descriptors such as Beulah the Nut or Cy Brown the Drunk are especially encouraged.
10. (add your own)

Comments

Thanks for this; would it be asking too much to extend this back to 1455? Printed Bibles were available, use them!

---

I’ll go for that, except some of the others might have to be modified to fit the earlier date, right?

---

This evening I will text all my ancestors and suggest they read and comply with the rules.

It was actually rude of them to overlook these record keeping details in the first place.

---

This is wonderful! If only...

---

Time machine. Work on that time machine, Robert! 

---

I see they’ve managed to reverse time a tiny fraction of a millisecond already. Can 1700 be far behind?  Or is it ahead?

Here’s to the land of the long leaf pine...

---

Carolina! Carolina! Heaven's blessings attend her!

While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her;

Though the scorner may sneer at and witlings defame her,

Our hearts swell with gladness whenever we name her.

 

Hurrah! Hurrah! The Old North State forever!

Hurrah! Hurrah! The good Old North State!

 

---

Don’t know this one.  Could you hum a little? I’ve only been here 20 years

---

Found it! https://www.ncpedia.org/symbols/song

---

You’ve been here long enough. I’ll adopt you as a Tar Heel.

---

Thanks.  I needed that.

---

These rules are perfect except for one thing -- it needs an amendment to #8.  8b. Diaries should also be kept to include 'unarmed' conflict.

---

Good one, Janice!

Answer 1

Ancestors, census enumerators, and any other record keepers are required to write legibly and in a non-fadeing and non-bluring ink, preferably on waterproof and fireproof paper.

Heirlooms must have documentation that goes with them that describes the origin of the object coming into the family and meaning of the object to the family as it is handed down. A list of who has it in their possession, and duration of possession, along with any changes/damage should be kept. Drawings and photographs at certain intervals are encouraged.

Photographs of ancestors should be copied and dispersed to all descendants of each ancestor, with notes on who is who and positioned where in each photo. Again, preferably on waterproof and fireproof material.

Any and all documentation shall have copies in all languages common to areas the descendants live in, as well as new copies in any new languages that become common as the family spreads or moves.

All documentation shall be made easily avalible to all descendants, and an up-to-date address book shall be kept by each member of the family so the descendants can all communicate.

(How do I make a good DNA rule pre-DNA that doesn't seem creepy?)
A Tradition of keeping an intact tooth with tooth pulp encased shall be kept in a heirloom box with clear identification of the prior owner. This shall be passed along to the most promising geneologist along with other heirlooms. This shall be used to create a DNA record at such time that the technology becomes possible.

Comments

LOL! :) ... I love the tooth bit! If only my maternal grandfather had left me a tooth! I would then have hope that my unsolvable brick wall (his grandfather) could be knocked down.

---

Allison, these additions are rich! I’m adding them to my list.

How about... Ancestors marrying outside the gene pool are require to present a full and complete seven-generation genealogy (including aunts, uncles, and cousins to the fourth generation, in-laws, out-laws, etc) of the proposed spouse to the county clerk of court before the marriage can be approved...?

Answer 2

Ancestors are required to spell their names correctly in their native language and correct the census enumerator when there is a spelling mistake. :-)

Comments

Excellent inclusion! Good shows Natalie!

Answer 3

Lol, love this thread & rules!!!  I'll try to follow all of these suggestions for my great-grandchildren so they can find me:)

Answer 4

This is precisely why I use WikiTree, I’m telling all my relatives where to find our family on it and it’s in my will that someone must take over my profiles as per instructions on my profile page.  My mother past custodianship of our family archives and story to me before she died, I’m doing the same to one of my daughters.

Answer 5

Ancestors are required to have created or have in their possession a copy of an obituary that has pertinent information about the deceased ancestor including a brief biography, immediate relatives to include and not limited to parents, children and spouses. These obituaries should show the date of when it was posted in the local newspaper, the name of the newspaper and location in which it was posted.

Answer 6

You are the best, Pip!!  I might borrow this for one of my columns!!!

Comments

Go right ahead, Carole! Glad for you to.

Answer 7

• Census records must clearly state who a person is in relation to the head of Household. If Grandparent, grandchildren then missing generation names and located
• If the person is a visitor or boarder in the census then their nearest relations must be recorded so the family groups are kept together. 
• Wife's must record their parents location in their census records 
• Governments must keep all records in triplicate in separate locations
• If there is an identifiable government number then that is recorded on all documentation to avoid mistaken identities
• Birth/ death and Marriage records must have full dates of all family members recorded. Witnesses need their full dates and relation to the person recorded. 

Comments

Love that last one, Darren. I have so very many marriage record with bondsmen or witnesses but no idea how they’re related. Is it Uncle George or Cousin George? Over and over again.

Answer 8

So, no more hunting, going down blind alleys, finding unknown relatives, working sideways to go up?

You sure are taking the fun outta it Pip.

I would probably, in the past, been the one to ‘mess’ with the records if those rules had existed, so i guess you would still be beavering away!

Comments

 Even detectives need a little help at times. 

Answer 9

No I repeat No never not ever in no instance whatsoever will anyone anywhere at any time us a nickname.

Never.

Comments

umm … is Betty short for Elizabeth?

---

Gaile,

Nope. Mama named me Betty. More's the pity.

The teasing was relentless:

Blackbetty

Strawbetty

Bluebetty.

ad infinitum.

---

Same for my mom, and she had a sister named Elizabeth!

Answer 10

*All ancestors are required to know and record, at every opportunity, the maiden name of their mothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, and grandmothers-in-law.

*All ancestors are forbidden to reuse the name of deceased child for a following child.

*All ancestors are forbidden to give a name to a child that is substantially similar to the name of one of their cousins of the same surname.

*All ancestors are forbidden from remarrying to a spouse with the same given name or surname as any previous spouse.

*All ancestors are required to always use, on any form or document, their full name.

ex: William Robert Doe. Not: W. Doe, W.R. Doe, W. Robert Doe, Will R. Doe, Bill R. Doe, Will Doe, Bill Doe, Wm. Dow, Wm. R. Doe, W. Rob Doe, William R. Doe...

and certainly not Billy Bob Dough.

Answer 11

All newspaper obituaries of married women must state their first names, at least, and preferably their maiden name and parents’ full names. Birthplace would also be handy. Mrs. John Smith is totally unhelpful.