The theme for Week 31 is "Flew the Coop." The phrase "flew the coop" means to have escaped or run away. It can also refer to someone when they leave their parents' home. Or it can be chickens. Take your pick. Click here to check out all the themes for 2023.
When I think of the phrase "Flew the Coop," my mind conjures up images of elusive relatives who seem to vanish from our lives. These are the ones who are present during census records, but as soon as they come of age or get married (especially for women, whose names may change), they become hard to track down. Even young men tend to go their own way, and we are left wondering where they have ventured off to.
However, there are several options available to find these elusive individuals. Sometimes, we can discover valuable information in obituaries, where people may list their siblings' names, including the married names of women. This can lead to new leads and "locations" to search for their whereabouts.
Another helpful tool is DNA testing and matching. Platforms like Ancestry's Thrulines allow us to select our ancestors and explore potential descendants. It's possible that our matches have built out their family tree from one of those relatives who seemed to disappear. Additionally, the Shared Matches tool can reveal relatives who may not have an extensive family tree but could be connected to the elusive ones. By expanding their family trees, we might find a path back to the missing relatives.
Once we successfully locate these individuals who have "Flew the Coop," the feeling of gratification is indeed quick and rewarding. It brings a sense of completeness to our family history, knowing that we have reconnected with these previously hidden branches of our family tree.
Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!
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