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Everyone has a story
Family stories, at best, usually have a mere grain of truth in them, almost universally contain large measures of exaggeration and "self-aggrandisement" and sometimes, even huge amounts of complete fiction. Researching family history, therefore, becomes an exercise in debunking the family myths. The main reason I began researching my family history was because my mother, who perpetuated many of these myths, strenuously attempted to deter me, which, of course, had the opposite effect and peaked my curiosity.
The blog was primarily a great way to keep, organise and cross-reference my own notes; include links, photos and other media quite simply. It's also easy to update when I find new information. I'm related to all of the people here, either by blood or by marriage. If you're related to any of the people written about, maybe you'll recognise them from the surnames. If you are, do please get in touch. I'm happy to share research, records, family trees, etc.
Why Inherited Craziness?
n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.