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People often say to do the things you want even if they are risky so that you will have interesting stories to tell your children and grandchildren. While maybe it’s not the best reasoning, hearing the wild tales from our grandparents’ or parents’ youth is always so fascinating because things worked so differently back in the day. 

Writer Jamie Schler asked people on Twitter to tell her some cool facts or stories from their family’s history and they had some very intriguing tales to tell. The writer herself shared a few captivating stories that you will find reading through this list. 

Image credits: Jamie Schler

So enjoy this list delving into some great stories from people’s genealogy and if Jamie Schler’s tweet reminded you of anything from your family’s history, please recount it in the comments! Also, upvote the stories that surprised you and impressed you the most!

More info: Jamie Schler

Now it’s not the same as it used to be. We don’t need to decide whether it’s a good or a bad thing, it‘s just different. That is why stories from the olden times are so attractive—because they are hard to imagine happening in modern times, but they did actually happen.

Also, some people revealed they are descendants of some really famous and influential people who had a great impact on how we live today.

#2

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

aktrentalange Report

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classbag
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And her name was Fortunata. Sounds like something someone would make up, but I kind of hope it's true.

Emily Robertson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg I'm so happy she didn't go to work that day. Just reading about the story it feels like you can feel the heat.

Joe Reaves
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope her family knew she'd skipped work to go on a date. Imagine knowing what was happening and thinking your daughter was in there...

Me
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was a horrible event. So glad she survived but the anguish she must have had afterwards.

Brian Bennett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the worst mass murders in history- It is still going on in the world today! So love saved your great grandmothers life! Wonderful!

Johnny U
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just listened to that episode on the Behind The Bastards podcast. Terrible event and loss of lives.

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#3

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

stephenfarrow Report

#4

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

LowRisingTone Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice photo, but it makes me wonder when Germany switched to driving on the left.

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If you ever want to dig deeper into your ancestry, the person you should look for to help you would be a genealogist. They are the ones who study descent lines and if you think that they are only interested in royal family trees, you would be wrong and ordinary individuals can use their services too.

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Bored Panda talked to a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Brianne Ellison, to find out what are the most common reasons people go to her when they use her services and according to the specialist it's "curiosity, to figure out if there is truth to family legends, family temple work."

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The whole process starts with an interview and deciding on a goal. Then a person should give the expert every bit of information they have for them to review. And then the professionals start their tedious work of going through records. It may take a while, but if you have a suspicion that your family should have some crazy secrets, they most probably will come out and maybe your boring family won’t seem so uninteresting after all. 

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There are times when genealogists just can find anything. Brianne Ellison told us, "There are some areas where not much information has been indexed and scanned to the main ancestry sites or has been lost. I make sure I've done an exhaustive search to my abilities, sometimes refer them to a specialist for their area, and try to find information that they may have not asked for so that they can at least have something new."

It is quite beneficial as well to know your family history beyond just satisfying your curiosity. Knowing where you came from gives you a sense of identity and belonging. It also makes you more resilient as most families went through tragedies in the past and knowing that they survived all of it can give you courage and assurance that you will overcome the bad times too.

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#11

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

buzzmom3 Report

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Kate
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those convicted in Salem were hanged, actually. Unless the ancestor was Giles Corey, in which case he wasn't stoned, he was pressed -- they piled rocks on top of him because he refused to answer the charge of witchcraft.

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It is also always better to learn from others’ mistakes than your own, so knowing what happened to your relatives in the past might prevent you from ending up in the same terrible situation. Or their lives might become an inspiration to work harder and repeat their success stories.

There are numerous other reasons why family trees and stories matter, so it is obvious that it is not a waste of time. It’s just a bonus if you had some really cool relatives who invented television or signed the USA's Declaration of Independence and you can tell about it in a Twitter thread. 

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#17

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

tweetybirdnnc Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clementines are yummy and your great great grandmother was a honey!

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#18

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

Laxpup Report

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skint boy
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, but that is completely untrue. The oyster from Rolex was named after the similarity of the case shape to oyster shells. The cases were invented in 1891 by Francois Borgel and patented by Rolex in 1926 after Hans stole/transferred the patent to one of his partner case maker manufacturers.

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#21

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lifesafeast Report

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Vicky Z
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was at the wrong side to the wrong countries all the time

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#22

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

Jessrm0205 Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you know which line? I took SP all the time in my years as a young adult because my grandparents lived about 30 miles south of San Francisco, where I lived.

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#23

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TuckerLangseth Report

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Vicky Z
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this the guy that used to hide kittens in his beard or am i confusing him with someone else?

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#27

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Bob10092043 Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother discovered she wasn’t an only child after all when someone contacted her because this woman’s 63&Me report showed she had a sister in California. She and my mom met and stayed in touch until she just stopped hearing from Jean (pre-pandemic by years).

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#28

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spencerwindes Report

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Deutschland Mädchen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What was his name, does anyone know? This would be an interesting story to research more.

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#31

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Brankepaven Report

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Miss Frankfurter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't miss something like that. They saw. They heard. They weren't going to give up someone who killed a collaborator.

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#33

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lorez99 Report

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Deutschland Mädchen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please tell me you named YOUR son Edward as well. (If he has one. And yes, I know he can't see this.)

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#34

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Rob_Aske Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wowie-Zowie! My paternal grandfather traced his family back to the 900s and found out that the family name (Jett) meant “keeper of the keys.” Since the city’s keys aren’t turned over to just anyone, this makes him minor nobility.

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#36

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rayjenardon Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m sooo jealous! I had a crush on Paul for probably 25-30 year...from my childhood well into my 20s.

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#38

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RayHagarNV Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yowza! Check that out! I learned at my father’s funeral that he had been awarded three Bronze Stars for bravery during the Korean War. (My father was an alcoholic who spent all of his money at the bar, leaving my mother to scramble in order to feed me and my brother. When she found out she was pregnant with my sister, she left him, divorced him, and received sole custody of us from the court.)

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#39

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JustInCaseKate Report

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Materyst
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saying this as a German. I think it is wrong for people with Nazi ancestors to cry about it and feel bad and ashamed. This has nothing to do with you. You were not a part of it. It's not you who has to live with the guilt.

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#42

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

VickyKramer16 Report

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Yugan Talovich
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate to be a party pooper, but the Cherokee Trail of Tears was from 1830 to 1850. You may have a very long lived grandmother, but that photo does not predate the Civil War.

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#43

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mendozasi10 Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandfather’s people settled in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1600s, which means they likely owned slaves. In my will I’m going to leave whatever money I still have in my various accounts to the NAACP as reparation for this ugly history.

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#44

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

SchmittChantel Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My great grandmother (born in 1894) married Mr. Robinson, had my grandmother, and later divorced Mr. Robinson (I have no idea how she pulled that off back in the 1920s as a practicing Catholic), married Mr. Ness, had my great-aunt, left Mr. Ness and without divorcing Mr. Ness, shacked up with Mr. Robinson, carrying his name to her grave. It apparently caused quite the scandal in her small Oregon town.

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#47

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cheris0722 Report

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Amanita Virosa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grace Sherwood, taken down a dirt lane now known as Witchduck Road and dunked.

#53

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

summerbrennan Report

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Klas Klättermus
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is pretty common with family stories of people being decendants of bastard children of kings. They seem to get around and contraceptions or abortions was probably not a big thing until in the 1900's. My great grandfather was such a bastard to a king, but the most interesting ancestor is perhaps Joséphine de Beauharnais or Empress Joséphine of France who was also Napoleons first wife. Some of my ancestors (her relatives) got beheaded in the French revolution, but if memory serves me right she became Empress like 10~ years after the revolution

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#56

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GenaBMcCown Report

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ilikeplants
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the Reivers? Apparently that's where most of the Scotch Irish people in the US Appalachia areas have their origin, as well!

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#62

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samanthacotten Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...”with two small children.” Did you mean to convey they were left behind or she murdered them?

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#65

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Danlar85 Report

#70

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

nmcvey Report

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Cindy Lloyd
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't feel bad. My 2nd great grandmother was a madam. She even owned the house and had three other prostitutes that lived with her. Her name? Annie Smith. Her son had my grandfather who had my father so I am a "Smith" but I have come to believe that I can never trace that family. It's probably a fake name.

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#71

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MikeWiseguy Report

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Deutschland Mädchen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know of two brothers who were on opposite sides. They had to fight against each other...

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#74

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auntie_beans Report

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Thomas Sweda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So technically, he/she DIDN’T come over on the ON the Mayflower.

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#76

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lifesafeast Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tomatoes are a member of the nightshade family, which also includes potatoes, bell peppers, chili peppers, and eggplant. 🥔🌶🍆

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#78

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

djglowell Report

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Cindy Lloyd
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh that reminds me! My husband's family were victims of two Indian attacks. The first was my husband's great-great grandfather. He had a farm in Texas and the Indians tried to steal some of their horses and cattle. One of the farm hands took an arrow to his chest and still managed to stop them from stealing anything. The man survived and the gg-grandfather was forever in his debt. The second one was much more tragic. One of the cousins from the same farm family was a young girl. She was at the school house that was in a remote area. The school house was a cabin without any chinking between the logs, so Indians surrounded the school and began making calls at the children. The Teacher opened a hatch to get the children under the floor and all the while she was taking arrows. If I recall she managed to get all the children under the floor before she collapsed, but there was a gap in the back or something. One of the Indians pulled my husband's cousin out from under the school and the girl

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#83

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SFBrianT Report

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#84

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921spike Report

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Cindy Lloyd
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sam was fighting for justice of his brother, which it sounds like his brother's lynching was unjust. Reminds me of how the Jesse and Frank James family got started. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Jesse and Frank worked with Sam. As for the Nazi thing, many were forced into it or brainwashed into it. It's hard to imagine how these things happen, but is no reflection on you.

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#85

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MushKat Report

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Cindy Lloyd
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read about that on Wikipedia. That is a tragic story! It's the kind that makes you question humanity. At least y'all don't suffer from the same demons your great aunt did.

#86

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

ClemUhhh Report

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Tim Douglass
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is no one "guy" who invented mass-produced consumer products, and the industrial revolution was the product of thousands of people in many different places, so I'm going to cast some doubt on this particular story.

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#87

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notmiketee Report

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Tobias Rieper
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we celebrate july the 4th in UK as the day we kicked you out of the empire just kidding we love our american cousins

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#88

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KeenEye_NY Report

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#89

Family-History-Oddest-Coolest-Fact

TheReelRandom Report

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Analyn Lahr
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forgive me for being dumb, but what is NA? Do you mean North America? If so, I've just never seen it abbreviated.

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#92

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chascates Report

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Thomas Sweda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Alas, my ancestors, family and relatives, did absolutely NOTHING.