What's in a Name?

So, I got a HUGE boost to my search by hooking up with my Great Aunt Nelly and her family. My dad's cousin, Beverly. My family tree has moved from about 30-ish to 249. Grant it, I still haven't put on everyone from my dad's family and their line that I know about.

I still don't know much about my great grandmother, Dorcus. Or her father.

Where did they come from? If they were Jewish, like we have always thought, why do some think she was born in Jamaica and some think she came over when she was 7 or 8. Why do some think she came via the UK and some think she came from the middle East.

The time roughly when her dad came to Jamaica suggests that he could have been fleeing persecution.

then there is the last name, Reittie. Why do the only Reitties to show up in any search I am doing seem to come from Jamaica (and therefore probably from her brother, Ned, and therefore are all related to me as well). I can think of a few suggestions to that. Firstly, that her dad changed the last name when coming to Jamaica to be able to track his line. Or that they had to change their name to sound less jewish. Or that he left family back and they all died during the holocaust or during a previous persecution. When I was searching, there is a family name Riettie in jamaica that are actually Italian origin. THey added the e at the end of the name to trace the line. If that is the case here, the word "reitti" is Finnish, meaning "path" or "route". Reitti is also close to the name "Reitman", which is Jewish.

Who do I think I am?

I have been trying to make my family tree for about a year now...well, more like 9 months. Its hard when you are doing it alone with only information with your parents. And a lot of it is hearsay from other relatives.

So, I am now interviewing...interviewing as much family as I can to get the information that I need to leave my girls and the rest of our family.

Last night was my first night of interviews. I interviewed Aunt Sylvia. What a wealth of knowledge. I learned so much. So many stories. So many family members. We have to have a part II with a video camera. I can't possible take in so much information.

My first goal is to find out the names of all 16 of my great-great grandparents. So far I have 1 (as well as one great-great-great grandparents).

Aunt Sylvia asked me if I was going to write a book about it. Well, more than likely not, but I likely will be blogging my progress...or hardships.

Today, I may get the opportunity to interview my great aunt, Nelly. She lives in Mississauga, and was my grandfather's sister (so she was born "Whittaker"). I have lots of cousins out there that I know and have met, but never really grew up with...and they live just in our backyard! This will be a good time to get to know them as well.

Aunt Sylvia has a picture of my great grandmother in her room. Its the only one I have ever seen. My dad looks JUST.LIKE.HER. And I look like my dad. Draw your own conclusions.

People on my immediate list to interview:

-Aunt Sylvia take II

-Great Aunt Nelly

-Uncle Ron (my dad's cousin...his name Willis, his mother, Ivy, born Whittaker). I heard he has more pics of my great grandmother.