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Question: How do you usually react when you see people boast about getting their genealogical lines back into BCE!?
I guess I'm a traditionalist and to me, if you don't have the documentation to back it up, it's just hear say!. Written records before 1500 are pretty scarce and I can't see how anyone can claim to have gotten their genealogical lines back before the Common Era!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
the STANDARDS for genealogy are pretty much with what you say!.!. if the documentation doesn't exist, it is not considered provable!. Of course, that does not mean that Julius Caesar didn't exist, but we are talking about proving to who you are related or descended from!.
There is a huge difference between historical records, and ones focused on anthropology!. It is not that they are "wrong", but they take a different approach!.
Unfortunately!.!. as is obvious here!.!. not everyone agrees with what is recognized as good documentation!. SOME lines can go back, but the majority won't have provable records!.
My approach when people brag about this!.!. smile sweetly, make a friendly comment if possible!.!. and change the subject!. They want to accept "their" research, and can be very offended if you challenge it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If some of your ancestors were in the ruling classes (I have an ancestor that fought in the battle of Hastings, and do have the full bloodline back somewhere around here) then it is possible to go back to around the 900's!. However, the dark ages were characterized by a drop in knowledge to the point where any records that were kept are suspect!. If someone does tell me they are related to so and so way back BCE, I mention it's quite possible that I also am!. ;)Www@QuestionHome@Com

jews can - rabbinic families kept exact records to brag about their lineage, and these papers were passed down throughout the generations!. many of my friends can trace themselves back to one of the many well-known descendants of King David, and from him they can go back to Adam!. in fact, although there are many jewish families that can boast this, many more know only who they are descended from (as i said, jews like to brag about this) but know that the documentation to prove this has been lost in the war!. for example, my close friend is descended from the Biblical High Priest Elie - who judged the Jews 931-891 BCE!. but the family tree was lost when her family fled during the Holocaust!. she knows this to be a fact because it is a source of pride within her family that they are genuine priests!. so in answer to your question: there really is no documentation for anyone claiming to be able to trace from the BCE's!. but in a religion like judaism or a culture like the chinese, in which one's genealogy is a source of pride, names andd dates are carefully recorded - so where there is no legal proof (which was often faulty, anyways), family legend substantiates such claims!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'd say that they're probably relying on oral history rather than written documentation particularly if most of their documented ancestors lived in the British Isles, Germany, or France!. That doesn't mean that their ancestry doesn't extend that far back (and beyond), it only means that it can't necessarily be proved!. So saying, according to the blather on the Macquarrie and Clan Donald web sites, I'm the proud descendant of Kenneth MacAlphin (843-858 CE), King of the Scots and Picts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I doubt very very seriously if they have DOCUMENTED family lines going back that far!.
Documentation is the meat of genealogy, not assuming!. As you go back the documentation is less!. Too many things not recorded and too many records destroyed or lost!.

I know some have tried to link the British Royal Family to the Royal Line of David, but it is based on speculation and jumping to a conclusion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I could see it if they were chinese or something, where they actually kept records of such things!. but i'm descended from europeans, who went through this thing called the dark ages!. my ancestors got naked and painted themselves blue before battle for crying out loud!. how did they keep records!? with their last names!. like robin's son was named robinson!. but that was only good for one generation, lol!. that, and my family is from the south!. lot's of burned up office buildings in the south during the civil war!. that is where i am stuck at, the civil war!. dangitWww@QuestionHome@Com

There is no way of telling if their information is legitimate!. More than likely not, unless they can link on person to a family without a doubt!. Either land records, wills, probates!. There is no way!.
Family bibles, if found from an early age, may give a hint though!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You are correct -- records were not kept in any meaningful way until the Middle Ages at the very earliest, and then of course coverage is very spotty!. Anyone who claims earlier than the 16th Century is treading on thin ice, in all probability!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I can trace mine back to the pre Civil War era, I'd hate to try to go back any further than that!. I agree with what You said there about documentation, otherwise it is just hearsay!.

*Edit*
Did She ask You for all that bunk Nothinguseful!? Boyyyy are You ever aptly named!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I normally say, "Wow that is great" and let it be!. If they want to live in their dreams, I let them!. Let them do what ever makes them happy!. Why NOT!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Descendants of the Roman citizens are the only group who can successfully trace their lineage into BCE!. The rest are using folklore and pirated genealogy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It depends upon whether they are doing it tongue-in-cheek, or if they're seriously misguided!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I react very skeptically!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

well all of us do have genealogical lines back into BCE so
dose it matter !?Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Jewish people would probably be the only
group of people who couldWww@QuestionHome@Com

READ:
“Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past Through Our Genes” by Steve Olson
"Genealogy 101" by Barbara Renick and
"Trace Your Roots with DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree" by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Ann Turner!.

“Before the Flood: The Biblical Flood as a Real Event and How it Changed the Course of Civilization” by Ian Wilson

I refer you to the 2-volume "Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales: Containing a record of all ranks of the gentry, their lineage, alliances, appointments, armorial ensigns, and residences; ancient pedigrees and memorials of old and extinct families; notices of the history, antiquities, physical features, chief estates, geology, and industry of each county; rolls of high sheriffs and members of Parliament for three hundred years, etc!., etc!. Second issue, revised and much enlarged" by Thomas Nicholas, M!.A!., Ph!.D, F!.G!.S!., &c!.
Copyright 1872, 1875!.

And check out: http://www!.domesdaybook!.co!.uk/

I am skeptical about YOUR claims!. First of all, I am not an atheist, so I do not use "BCE", but B!.C!. and A!.D!.
Julius Caesar was born before Christ; so was Nefertiti, all of the pharaohs, etc!.
So, according to YOU, they did not exist! Wow!
also, if you read the books I referenced above, you will find out that a very significant proportion (up to 20%!) of the birth certificates claim the father is the husband of the mother, when in fact, someone else was the father! So much for your records!
Throughout all of recorded history, what is put into records depends upon whom the record is about; the rich could, and still do, have records made to suit their desires!.

You say "traditionalist", well, that is wrong also!. The Welsh "traditionalist" (read the 2-valume set aluded to above) trace their ancestry back to before the time of Christ, when the Romans slayed the druids by the 10's of thousands, and the fields were soaked in bloood!.

As to boasting, that, in my case, is also false!. I do not brag about any thing!. I do state facts!. Most people prefer lies to truth!. Just look at who is now President, not to mention who was President before Bush!

So, it is up to you; believe in truth, or follow the atheists!.

By the way, my DNA test substantiated what I found by papertrail!. So, how do you discount that!?Www@QuestionHome@Com