So why bother?

I'm often asked why I do genealogy. If you're interested in genealogy, you can probably already guess my answer. But if not - here goes!

I recently looked at a map of a small Connecticut town dating from the late 19th century. On one street, I recognized almost every name. They were my ancestor's family: his parents, brothers, and cousins. I knew about their lives, their experiences, their dreams. In short, I could almost call them friends.

That's why I do genealogy. It gives me a connection to my past. In knowing my ancestors and their lives, I can truly tell you where I come from. In fact, I'm from here.