| I would think that every American would want to | | | | I made the decision to travel to Europe tightly |
| know where their genealogy lies. Do you ever | | | | clutching a copy of the article. It was like having a |
| wonder who you're related to? Because America | | | | map pulling me in the right direction. I started out |
| is a land of immigrants, everyone's roots lie | | | | in Dublin where I found myself at the Office of |
| somewhere else. Are you curious where your | | | | Genealogy. I found my family crest and coat of |
| genealogy lies? | | | | arms. I brought them home as a gift to my |
| I encourage you make the decision to start | | | | Grandmother. When she died she willed it back to |
| looking into your families' past. Once you begin, | | | | me From Dublin I drove down to south eastern |
| you'll discover a world you never knew existed | | | | Ireland. I finally found the tiny town of Cappaquin |
| and find yourself on a fascinating journey. And, | | | | in the County of Cork. This is where the 100 year |
| better yet, maybe you'll be able to travel to the | | | | old newspaper article said I should be. I started |
| land of your family's history and see everything | | | | asking people if they knew of anyone with my |
| you've learned for yourself. | | | | last name. To my surprise, I found several people |
| I made that decision several years ago. I knew 2 | | | | I was directly related to. |
| of my great grandmothers, both of whom | | | | The most interesting part was going to the |
| arrived at Ellis Island in the 1880's. I've always | | | | graveyard and seeing the grave stones marked |
| been inquisitive and interested in history, so I | | | | with names of people in my family history dating |
| remember asking lots of questions. I learned that | | | | back several hundred years. I also went to the |
| my genealogy was of Irish and French descent. | | | | town Vicker where I found the city's book of |
| Fast forward 3 decades and now I'm interested | | | | births, deaths and marriages. Most European |
| again. So I spoke with my Grandmother about | | | | countries have some type of priest who keeps |
| my genealogy. She just happened to have an old | | | | such books. |
| newspaper article she saved from her mother | | | | But, you can go even further. Genealogy is a hot |
| about new immigrants arriving in New York. This | | | | topic today. Finding out where you really come |
| article was over 100 years old and happened to | | | | from makes you feel more at peace with |
| list my descendants, their age, who they were | | | | yourself. I don't know why but it just does. Unless |
| married to and where they came from. This was | | | | you're an American Indian, you will have to look |
| my best clue where to start. | | | | outside the United States to know your true |
| The newspaper article was like a goldmine for me. | | | | genealogy. |