Fleshing out the Story: Context Matters
How do we go from avid genealogist to storyteller? How do we bring a single ancestor back to life? How do we take a set of facts, essential the bones of our ancestors life, and tell their story as a three dimensional ancestor that you want others to know more about?
Research of course! There’s lots to be gleaned from what you already have. Whoever the ancestor you chose, they arrived into this world of two parents who have stories of their own. For our purposes we will only tell parts of the parents story that enhances the ancestor’s story. We will select and imaginary ancestor Rebecka. Let’s say Rebecka spelled with a “K” was the daughter of a coal miner in Pennsylvania. That will be quite a different story than Rebecka born to an aristocratic plantation owner in Virginia. Context matters. [See my earlier post: Reformed Genealogists: Turning Trees into Stories.]
We also need to look at the time frame and what was happening when Rebecka was born. Did she live during the American Revolution, or Civil War. Did she have brothers or a father who fought in a war? Did her mother survive many childbirths or died giving birth to Rebecka? How did she get her name? How many siblings did she have? Was there a step parent? What was her birth order? The last of 6 girls. The oldest child and the rest sons? How do these things affect her life? Did she marry young, typical or late in life? Did she have an occupation, go to school or perhaps University? Did her family move often? Why? [For more on this topic see Katherine Scott Sturdevant’s “Bringing you Family History to Life through social history.]
1) At this point you may wish to write a list of questions you would like to ask or answer about Rebecka.
The next thing, is to find material based in the time frame and place she lived. Look for diaries, historical novels, histories, letters anything you can find that will put you “in the mood” to think about Rebecka.
2) You can do a google search or find an archive that would be relevant and do some scratching around. You can do a library search for a place and see what pops up.
Once you feel familiar with the place and era you can do some digging. Things you might want to include in your story.
- Maps
- Letters
- Photos
- Illustrations
You can find these through Google searches or on Ebay or from your own collection. You might search for postcards of a place. Etching of a place or occupation. If you are publishing your piece you should look for “out of copyright material” that you can use freely. As of 2025:
©
- Works from 1929 and sound recordings from 1924 are now open to all in the U.S.
- For works created after 1978, copyright lasts for the author’s life plus 70 years.
- Even with copyright extensions, the maximum copyright term in the US, for works published before 1978, is 95 years from publication.
I recently told my class: a few well told stories of your ancestors have a much better chance of survival than thousands of names, dates and places in your family tree. Stories have more life in them, and are likely to be the gift that keeps on giving. Of course, it is impossible to write stories of all your ancestors. So concentrate on the ones that speak to you. It could be because you know part of a family legend about them or something piques your interest.
Examples of Ancestor stories on my blog Wheatonwood.com/blog for reference.
- My Woman Warrior Pioneer Mother: Catherine Adeline STEWART MURPHY MOSIER a self assignment on one ancestor
- Revolutionary War Details in Ancestor’s Pension Files: Peter P Hall Fleshing out a Revolutionary War ancestor
- Hans Moser c1623-1696 was from Austria not Switzerland The farthest back ancestor of the MOSER family
- A Soprano’s Aria Introduction: Chapter 1. The introductory Chapter for my great grandmother’s diary transcription.
- A Tale of Two Soldiers My two Civil War ancestors compared
- Deep Diving: Water Wheels and Paper Making in 19th Century Sweden My Lundberg family in Sweden and Why they were always moving
How far you go with your story is up to you. A few paragraphs or a story with several chapters. Whatever you write is going to tell not only your ancestors story—but a bit about you, and what you cared about. If you are looking for inspiration try one of the Family History Writing blog Posts. Remember this is supposed to be an adventure, not a chore. Have fun! Happy digging.
Kelly Wheaton © 2025 – All Rights Reserved
Wheaton Wood 
Hello Kelly…Thank you for your latest”Out-pouring “Another Gem!In 1978 I met ( Through my Youth Work Qualification courses )..a very personable and perceptive – clever man”MIKE WEEDON.”His Life experiences,were very much People Driven.I observed,how much the ‘Hierarchy’..of the Nottinghamshire C. C .Youth Service acknowledged his work rate..and abilities.He had,an almost enviable ability to “Get his Head round any Human Problem ( He was a disciple,ofLESLEY BUTTON …then at Swansea University.Lesley,was a well published author. Thanks for your Blog…Cousin Geoff.
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