On my fathers side they have traced the family back to 1175 in Scotland, the farm house is still standing and is a memorial to the family (who were famous Covenanters). One of them, John Howie wrote Scots Worthies, which is still in print 300 or so years later. It covers the resistance to romish persecutions 1200-1700. It was amazing, we went to the farm 2 years ago, and then to near by Fenwick, where many of the family were buried, it was amazing reading the old tomb stones. One of them is about a young solder who was captured and after they had killed him "they made sport with his head". One of my GGGG(whatever) grandmothers is also a legend, she threw a fire grating at English soldiers when they broke into the house and gave time for her husband and sons to escape. The fire grating is still there in the museum. My Grandmother was born there and came to Australia when she was 16 and still had her Scottish accent until she died 2 years ago. I remember thinking as a child that as every one got older they must develop a Scottish accent, not something that just my Grandmother had.
On my maternal Grandfathers side, they have traced them back past the First Fleet (to Australia). Its funny, in America everyone is proud if they can trace them selves back to the Mayflower etc with coming to America to flee religious persecution, and in Australia everyone is proud if they can trace themselves back to a criminal on the first fleet! well one of our ancestors was on the first fleet, but he was a botanist, so that is not as interesting

. However we do have an ancestor who was 'transported' as they so nicely called it (and we are immensely proud of it), he was caught forging banknote, we have a copy of the banknote. He would have got off with a fine, but he wanted to come to Australia and so he swore at the judge. His wife came out with him (they could only afford passage for one) and when they came to Australia, he was assigned to her farm and worked for her as indentured labour until he was free, 15 or so years later. Anyway, its funny to see that the artistic streak (not the swearing) has been handed down in our family. My sister is a very talented artist and I can copy anything. My husband was away for a month and a letter came in that had to be signed in a hurry, he asked me to forge his signature. My brother-in-law was with me at the time and he said "B..... H... you can see why your family ended up in Australia" (I only use my powers for good

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That's my family and I am proud of it. It was amazing to go and see where my ancestors lived, and died. My husband knows nothing of his ancestry. I have asked his parents, but they say nothing. He comes from Croatia, and I think a lot of records have been destroyed in various wars that have been though there. Anyway, he can have my family history now.
What are the stories that you have found about your family? I would love to know what has happened to other people.