I came across these a few days ago in a family history society magazine. I’ve tidied them up a bit.
The Ancestors’ Commandments
- Thou shalt use the same forenames for at least one person for every generation, preferably at least once in every family, just to cause confusion.
- Thou shalt wait the maximum amount of time before registering births and deaths, or better still somehow forget to get them registered at all.
- Thou shalt have two forenames, and use them both separately on official documents, but never together.
- Thou shalt change your forename at least once during your lifetime.
- Thou shalt use every conceivable spelling for your surname, and make up a few others as well.
- Thou shalt never use the same year of birth or birth date and always vary it adding a couple of years here and taking away a couple of years there.
- Thou shalt use the house name and country as your place of birth and not the village or town.
- Thou shalt completely disappear without trace for at least 15 years of your life and suddenly turn up again.
- Thou shalt use at least two different versions of your father’s name.
- Thou shalt not use family members as witnesses at your wedding(s).
- Thou shalt get married somewhere where neither of you live.
- Thou shalt not have all of your children baptised and shalt not always use the same church.
- Thou shalt move between counties at least once every ten years.
- Thou shalt move hundreds of miles from your home at least once.
Brilliant, aren’t they. And so, so true. I think Noreen and I each have a full house in our family trees.